Day Four & Five

My walk to Fresh Air each morning also means a walk by the neighbours … here are perhaps the cutest of the neighbours …

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They are totally oblivious, of course, to what’s happening over the river. Perhaps they will notice the stag that Dorcas Casey installed today ? (Photos to follow next week as I didn’t get round to photographing her amazing piece!)

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We all have been enjoying the sun as we go about our duties getting the garden and the sculptures ready for the opening next weekend … Fudge seemed to enjoy a well earned sunbathe in the driveway. The perfect weather means we’ve been eating lunch outside by the river, with delicious food from Sandy and Julianna.

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In the background – Bliss Hill

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Carol Peace

I decided it would be fun to show sections of the sculptures today, as I find they create beautiful pictures in their own rights, and also gives an element of mystery … and that you’ll have to wait until the show to see the entire piece.

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Belinda Harding

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Lucy Strachan

I have already shown Lucy Strachan’s ‘God Rod’ but it made for a pretty close up!

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Hereford College 2nd years arrived with pieces to start setting up next to the Stroud College work … it’s really great to see the up and coming artist work as well as the established artist work.

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Pete Rogers bought along two pieces … one, a water wheel of sorts, situated in the river by the square bridge, whirls around when the water pumps are turned on and provides quite a display. Another is a bridge that arches over a flower bed on the main lawn. Pete had to brave the waders to get his piece installed in the river, but it looked fantastic when it was up and running.

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Pete Rogers

The swans strode around looking a little disgruntled that people were putting up sculptures left, right and centre, and watched their two cygnets with a careful eye.

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God Rod looks great with Jonathan Garratt‘s Destination X.

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Jonathon Garratt; Lucy Strachan

Joe Smith was in and out with his Westmorland Slate ‘Pear’ the fastest of any sculptor yet. I love the use of slate piled up to create those curves of spherical shapes like fruit.

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Joe Smith

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The garden is looking better each day. The wisteria, one of my favourite flowering plants, is looking amazing sprawling over the side of the house.

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Miranda, Fiona and Eliza are busy setting up the Pool House Gallery, which has the theme this year of ‘Birds and Bees’ … I’ve seen some great pieces being unwrapped so it’s well worth a visit when you come to the show.