Weston Arts Festival

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Last weekend was the beginning of the Weston-super-Mare Arts Festival 2009. I was (kind of) involved up at The Quarry as there was an open day with Open Studios and a sculpture trail, but to be honest, it was such a nice day that I spent most of it outside in the sunshine! But I did take Ruby on her first sculpture trail. (although I CAN'T WAIT to take her to see the sculptures at Broomhill)



There are lots of exciting things happening in my hometown art wise over the duration of the festival. On my birthday, I went to meet Camilla at The Mythical Beast Sweet Shoppe. It was lovely to meet her, and, as she wrote on her blog, I too hope we can meet in the not too distant future to drink tea and talk all things art related!

I also met a lovely fellow artist called Becky. Becky runs a little boutique shop in Weston called Frou Frou where another little slice of arts week was taking place. I loved what was happening here. Sometimes, exhibitions in places which are not exhibition spaces can feel a little.....well, wrong. Pieces can feel jarring and look a little out of place. But this place was entirely different. The pieces were meant to be an integral part of the shop so the lines between shop and art were blurry, and it worked really well. And I loved chatting to Becky. She is also an artist and mum, so she knows where I am coming from in terms of still needing to create despite having the pressures of a new little person in my world, and on how it has focused me and frustrated me in equal measure! And I feel more than a little inspired but everything I have seen so far.

I have a little idea brewing....... I never took fine art at University, as I always had a sense that I would not be good enough, or clever enough, or cool enough! Now, I have a small fire inside my belly. I would really like to go to Weston College and study the Applied Art degree that both Becky and Camilla studied. Talking to Becky, it sounds exactly what I need to really focus my art practice, and the thought of immersing myself in an environment where I can totally focus on my art and the artwork of others is deliciously appealing. I worry that I am being selfish even considering it, as it would require lots of sacrifice on both my and Dave's part. I'm not sure I can afford it, I'm not sure I could justify quitting work in order to do it, or to keep on working and have to put Ruby in nursery for 4 days a week to do it. Basically, it is a bit of a logistical nightmare!


But I can't get the thought out of my mind.....