Women's History Month at Dundas Street Gallery

I flew to Edinburgh again today for the Women's History Month private view at Dundas Street Gallery.  It was very successful.  The gallery was heaving with people.  My friend Lori had travelled by train to Edinburgh and it was delightful to see her.  She said she scarcely recognised me - having never seen me with a dress and make-up before!

Two pieces of my work were shown - the Self Portrait, and the Portrait of Aunt Joan.  They were staged well but not brilliantly.  I had a prime spot, on a pillar, right in the centre of the room, with a spotlight on the work.  The samplers were high enough on the wall, but there was a crease across one of them, which I would have ironed out.  The artist statement was too small and sited too low, and in the shadow beneath the work (this was the same for everyone).  My work looked good and lots of people commented on them.  Very flattering!

I liked the pussy hat; the indigo dyed labels, and another stitched piece "I belong here", written in the form of a French verb list.  I spent time talking to this artist, Nathalie Cortoda.  She is French, but has lived in Scotland for 20 years (with a pronounced Scottish accent!).  She was the victim of a violent xenophobic verbal attack, and this led to a stitched piece on vintage water damaged canvas, found yarn and recycled MDF.  

Nathalie Cordova.
This won my Best in Show vote.

Samantha Boyes.  "Along the Same Vein (daughter 11, mother 45, grandmother 82)
The threads/veins with hold the females in my family together are diverse and strong.  From innocent - to divorced and bankrupt, to old age and the loss of two dear husbands.

Cate Newton.  Big Pussy Helmet

Shan Monteith Mann.  Viewers' choice.  Best in Show.
And it sold - Hurrah!

Sophie Ferguson.  One Thousand Labels
This one sold.  Hurrah! 

I also liked the subversive nature of Samantha Boyes Along the Same Vein, where she had cast 3 hands in plaster.  Each hand 'gave the finger', but each hand was from a different person - the first was her young daughter, the next her own, and the last was her Mother's arthritic hand.  ' From innocent ... to divorced and bankrupt ... to old age and the loss of two dear husbands'.  Brilliant.

I went out for a meal with Samantha and her 3 friends - lovely meal, (if horrendously over-priced) with great company from people I had never met before.  Then a taxi back to the hotel, exhausted.