Pictures I love .........

Scarf from exhibition Beauty as Duty MFA Boston

Rice package in our local indian store

Christmas wrapped building Boston

Professor Drummond awards Malina Omut MFA at West Duffy !!



More beautiful type in Charleston it looks fresh out of my mum's 1950's Good Housekeeping

Marcus Kenney Sculpture I took my undergraduate class to the 1704 Gallery Savannah such inspirational work for all of us

Home for Christmas !

We did it ! what were we thinking of ! we drove 2010 miles for thanksgiving, through rain storms and the three largest cities in the USA to spend a wonderful few days in Boston Mass. with our old friend Lynn and her extended family of fourteen. My what an epic trip to get there and have turkey! It was so enormous Mike found inventive ways to cook the left overs shepherds pie with turkey, turkey curry and rice ............. We are hoping that christmas in St Ursula will not be turkey ! We are not sure we would do that drive again highway 95 is not pretty enough and speed limits really curtail time, but we did enjoy the sense of a place travelled by road and are planning a road trip to Nashville when we come back in the spring.
Christmas spirit has struck, jingle bells , the salvation army jangling outside every shop , Savannah wreaths are everywhere it feels strange to see when temperatures are still in the high 60's. Our house is packed up, days of cleaning and clearing for rentals while we are away, home for Christmas to see friends and getting ready for the next adventure. I am very excited about working back at the University for a couple of days on an installation of sorts in the Eldon Gallery, a collaboration with Sarah Turner about being here and over there and back again. We have fun in mind. Soooooo Christmas Greetings to everyone and Happy New Year and reporting out until news from Lacoste in January 2012.

Rough and Ready

I have had such great students this quarter, my graduate class set up an exchange project "rough and ready" via Face book with Bucharest School of Art, Romania, nine students from each school worked around a theme of the Mysterious Stranger we swapped sketches and completed each others vision, it was interesting to see personal work being developed by someone else and visa versa. I loved the outcome! I swapped with the Professor from Bucharest . I spent a very happy five hours cutting and collaging and made a piece I really connected with . Scissors are my pencil. We are hoping to make a small publication when the dust settles from the end of term. Collaboration is always a positive way to connect with the world. Much good work has been completed , work that makes your heart sing and some so moving it makes you cry, comments which make you feel you have done something a little right and teaching is worth it. I am just looking forward to a little more me time , reading and drawing without having to worry that assignments are to be written and the deadlines are only mine.

Where did the weeks go?

SCAD Museum of Art re-opened with a new multi million dollar rebuild and opened its door for a preview night for students and staff , it had a real WOW factor once home to the Savannh railway it has been redesigned and houses some incredible pieces.have a peek on http://www.scadmoa.org/. Students were in love with the largest touch screen I have ever seen.
I am astounded that the ten weeks has passed so quickly and I am assessing work and submitting final grades to finish the autumn quarter. Where did all those weeks go? The school is quiet , I have packed all the sketchbooks up filed them on to my desk for collection and realise a little sadly I will not be back here until Spring 2012 as I leave for Lacoste France to teach there for a term. I have an exhibition in Morris Hall where I teach, twenty pieces made over the last ten years I hope to get to see it before we pack and leave for home. As my students here say “Hey Professor we are done !” Yes end of my second quarter I am getting there slowly !

Spooky Savannah

I have been woken by the gentleman across the road mowing his patch of grass outside his house and the passing of time is marked by his change of attire. When we first moved in to Duffy Street in August, he was happily running up and down in shorts sporting a bare chest , now fleecy layers and long trousers abound , the winter chill has arrived in the mornings and I love it .
Halloween came and went Savannah is the place to experience ghostliness and goulies, haunted houses dressed to death, plus the oddest collection of stuffed dummies decapitated brides and robots floating around the town. You can be anything on Halloween! Pumkins galore which are still hanging decorating doorsteps and gardens for Thanksgiving.

Everything in America is bigger !

Halloween is STILL coming its been here forever , women dashing round shops brandishing sprayed ghosts for decorating the porch, its mind blowingly serious........... I have followed ladies round the store collecting pieces to ensure the spirit of Halloween does not fade here in Georgia! I spied this big beast in City Market in the historic District . This pumpkin is a whopper ! I have succumbed , I bought a real one as I would every year at home and am taking delight in trying to carve something strangely creative.

Pompey grey skies for a day

I have made all my students appreciate the beautiful type that litters the wall in Savannah I LOVE it ! Much of it makes me think of the hand painted signs we saw in Liberia when working with Save the Children, there are a lot of talented sign writers out there. Savannah has their fare share and it needs to be recognised.

Its half way through the Winter quarter and I have been wading through paper, portfolios , sketchbooks, ideas and mid term grades, what pressure for everyone, students and staff alike to make the grade. I set my calendar a day early as I was not going to be subjected to the last day dash for grades to be submitted, I felt in my first quarter here teaching. I still feel very much the new girl and yet the old one ! years of experience yet trying to make it all fit in to the jigsaw here in Savannah.
Days seem to roll in to one long week, there is a ritual for the days and by Thursday its celebration night with a cocktail! The weather has shifted from blue skies to full rain clouds, monsoon downfalls and thunderstorms, I welcome the Pompey grey skies a little it suits my autumnal mood and I only wish I was in my studio painting. The one thing that is missing is a good read of the Sunday magazines in bed with a cup of tea!
Mike is always busy ! though I am uncertain what he does do for the six hours I am away at the office! I have seen sneaky packs of fudge being bought and demolished without a bite! the bat smell is subsiding slightly and comes and goes with the change of the wind.

Cats can't keep away .........

Some people say that cats follow me wherever I go, I started to believe it wasn't true when I moved to Savannah, little or none to be seen in my garden despite the large vagrant population around the town, one lady has forty out on an island nearby.
However this morning a lucky white cat was found sunning itself by the grapefruit tree, I tried to not get too excited as I have started to miss my cats in Southsea after listening to them purring on the telephone! The grapefruit are ripening and we are not getting too excited every peach we have had purchased in the county of peaches has been a dry old disgrace.
I am getting notes ready for Monday and realise that preparation has become the name of the game, such a different timetable to
Portsmouth, where ideas were paramount , will this be the way of courses in UK when fees increase, skills are on demand, a balance of the two would be a wonderful place to be in!

Drawing on a Sunday

There is nothing more wonderful than being alone drawing in my studio, it has been a long time coming and I am set up and rearing to go. The thought of an exhibition in Morris Hall Illustration School, has made me very excited to produce a few new pieces which talk about crossing the pond. The humidity has gone, Mike has crept off to the auction house and I have three hours of head space to mull ideas around.

Just can't stop looking at birds ....

I cannot stop being drawn to blooming birds these appeared on our roof at work infact

I have started noticing them as silhouettes everywhere a new collection ....

Autumn its official !

It seems extraordinary that we have now been back in Savannah for a whole month, so much has happened it feels just like yesterday. The school quarter has started and it is must be the same the whole world over, Morris Hall has suddenly come alive with the excited voices of new students, greetings of long lost friends, the chitter chatter of summer stories like the noisy little sparrows that appear in my back garden every morning. I am teaching several classes which include graduates drawing skills, it is an exciting programme , I love the classes and the variety of international students from Vietnam, Rumania, Thailand and Equador, it makes for an exciting and creative dynamic. We laugh a lot and realise language differences can prove a challenge "knackered" is not a known word!

Mike and I have been busy cleaning and clearing and making West Duffy Street spick and span and comfortable for Emily and Seth who flew in on the back of five tornados from Atlanta. We hoped they loved Savannah as much as we do, it was a whirlwind of a visit, Emily arrived with her long list of places that the Design Sponge blog recommended http://designsponge.blogspot.com and along with some of our suggestions we ticked them off at a great pace. Dolphin watching round Tybee Island, a personal ghost tour by our dear friend Louis and meeting new friends seemed to be top on the list, surpassed only by a Segway tour with Mike for Seth at the end of the holiday.
I have to admit I thought the dolphin tour would be disappointing but it was a fantastic and moving experience at least fifteen dolphins danced around the boat and drenched Seth when they came up to breathe , opening their blow holes all over him! We celebrated the experience at out favourite little bar. The one treat is a cafe cocktail given to everyone who happens to be around as the sun sets, the owner blows a conch shell and everyone toasts the planet! Before we could turn round it was time for them to go home, it was like that dreadful Sunday night feeling, preparing for school on Monday, I had when I was a child. We all tried to be jolly but tears flowed and I found myself crying on my way to teach. They are now back in UK safe and sound , waking up to find all three cats sleeping next to them, glad to have them home ! We knew they had truly gone the dozen pairs of shoes were missing ! the house suddenly became silent , no banter, no margherita partners, no chitter chatter in the morning, it was like a child leaving home all over again! We miss them.


Autumn has arrived its official but somehow 89 degrees and high humidity does not feel like the scrunchy leaf kicking experience we know in the UK . I am dreaming of a woolly jumper experience even for five minutes! Shops are full of halloween I don't quite know what to think, but our secretary at school told me to go on Martha Stewart to get all my ideas to make a beautiful display for my house.Its real business here and taken very seriously, I am determined to get the drill out and make a pumpkin lantern and I may be persuaded to the witch making workshop next Friday watch this space ! I have heard mince pies are in the shops already ? has the world gone mad...............
We have exotic fruit in our garden we are so excited ! Are they oranges or grapefruit ? we are waiting for them to ripen , we smile each time we pass them ,i t makes us feel we are somewhere truly tropical. We are cautiously observing the plant life to make sure we know what will grow and learning about new fauna and flora. There is a sophisticated water system which keeps it all alive. Mike in true army fashion has improved its performance one hundred fold uncovering inefficient and broken sprinklers.

Back in Savannah !

We are well and truly back in Savannah rattling around in our new abode in the Victorian District. The house is every bit as delightful as we remembered it, Mike in his generosity and kindness lay everything out so we would arrive back to a newly made bed and a kitchen to cook in. Days have been spent re organising the rooms , trying to put our stamp on it , rectifying some of the
bodged jobs that Mike has discovered ! For a practical man like him he has been driven mad by the previous owners silly mistakes we shall simply call them "the dallas cock up"...... blinds fitted upside down, door handles that do not fit, crazy icing grout, painted acrylic bath, fridge which leans the wrong way all small things that take time to put right, so the list continues.
These all seem small fry to me in contrast to the dreadful smell that has pervaded the top of the house, I hate to say it but all it reminded me of was what we called "dirty boy smell" when I taught at Portsmouth ! Mike eventually told me it was bat urine which explained why candles wafting bed cotton aroma burned everywhere to hide the wretched pong when we viewed the house!We are working hard on it to clear the roof, it has certainly dissipated and Emily and Seth have not noticed it!
They arrived two days ago and we have loved them being here, after a late arrival after five tornados that surrounded Atlanta they were happy to collapse with a glass of champagne.
My Dad said I write too much and so I will endeavour to produce more images and less speak !

Leaving for Home farewell 33rd Street.

We are both now home, back in Southsea after a wonderful welcome home from Emily. What a momentous occassion the l sight of an exquisite woman carrying a rose and running towards me ! I have always envied the grand moments of emotion at airports, it was overwhelmingly beautiful to be hugged by our daughter and cry , laugh and kiss all at the same time. We are a little chilly and realising we now need to wear woollies and remember what a grey sky is.
We have had an amazing adventure for three months with still more to come! Mike moved us to a new abode, ready to occupy in August, my bike was stolen from the first floor balcony at 33rd before departure, plus my wedding ring lost at the beach, not too traumatic for three months, fairly good going for us in terms of disasters, meanwhile I went to Glasgow for three days as a critical friend to the Illustration Department. This is always an honour and a treat and an opportunity to see and buy fabulous work.

Birthdays came and went and came again ! more celebrations at St Ursula , my lovely twin sister threw a party and we drank champagne in to the early hours of the morning, welcome home ! So we are here for a short while to catch up with friends and family , to let Mike go back to a proper job! for me to paint and draw and become an artist again, to just be .........
We will not miss the colour of the walls in 33rd East, the angled sitting room, the angled bedroom, the washing machine that pumped detergent out of the door , the shower with three showers put in by a giant, nor the cupboards that needed a stepladder to open! We are looking forward to life by the park and a garden to step out in to however small ! Thank you everyone that has followed this awfully great adventure which is perpetually changing, we feel lucky to be able to say that.
Here's to Summer, fabulous fun and laughter and more Savannah in September ! ...........

Mike's birthday

Well, what do you give to the man who has everything, I had some great replies from my plea on face book and in the end
he should have had a magnet chick ! I wish I had bought it, but Mike modelled it in the shop, He was another year older on Sunday 22nd May and was not interested in celebrating ! I dressed up in clim film with a big bow round my neck, delivered a silver platter with lid from an old railway dining car serving up new underpants and a cook book he quite liked it ! ...............

Savannah highlights ......

The Scad Fashion Show was supposed to be the highlight of the year,we were very excited and I had luckily been given a ticket by my new friend in Fashion Dean Sidaway from London who had kindly offered to take me. The tickets it turned out cost $50.00 and Mike and a friend Julie Lieberman went as a couple ! but ended up paying $100.00 for the worst seats in the house, no proper view, a fan next to them and a spotlight to interfere with the proceedings . To crown it all the gentleman shoe designer Manolo Blahnik had come to collect a life time award spoke for twenty seconds and forgot he was in Savannah ! I felt cheated and most of all for the students and parents who had travelled great distances in the USA for a fifty minute extravaganza that sadly did not live up to its expectation. I remember many a speech at graduation at the University of Portsmouth where artists and designers, the great and lovely Chancellor, the actress, Sheila Hancock took time to encourage and inspire the next generation of talent.

However what was a better night was the SCAD performing arts excellent production of The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical Hair at their theatre, in downtown Savannah. Mike was in his absolute element and tapped along to every song. The theatre was full and we even got up at the end and danced on the stage with the hunky man in the photo!

Two Weeks to go ............

There is a definite change in the wind rumbling through Morris Hall where I teach,

Students and staff alike have got that end of termitis ! final assignments looming, end of year grades to submit and the energy by all to keep on going is just about sustainable.  When only half of my class turned up, I mentioned  the spanish moss had tumbled through the open window across the empty seats, the ability to keep up they say is almost impossible,  I think we call it time management . One of my students mournfully admitted that homesickness had just become too much and overwhelmed her, she was struggling ..... I have sympathy.
It is a very strict building in Illustration we have a wonderful security guard called Mrs Daniells who everyone has the upmost respect for, including "Mr Mair " Mike Cross who has not the heart to explain his real name. She sits in the entrance hall to keep an eye on the proceedings and everyones I.D. No student can enter without it . Woe betide you if you come without shoes as my student found to his cost, he was forced to be inventive to get to class on time. On the note of timekeeping there is a very precise code for attendance, which many UK Universities could benefit from, later than 15 minutes you are marked absent, four absences and you fail. Its harsh and can be too harsh in certain circumstances , but it works ............

 

I am teaching a Masters class and have found the process intriguing , we have been pushing the idea of working to projects set from outside the class, one for a hospital ward and another for Working Class Studio which is a product development venture of Savannah College of Art and Design. The aim is to cultivate and promote the work of talented SCAD students alumni and faculty artists. This innovative concept for an educational institution marries function with fine art to deliver  a well curated and ever expanding mix of goodies in retail stores internationally.

SCAD also has their own shop, which has been a great source for presents. Have a peek at  www.workingclassstudio.com  

Silliness can still abound and the one thing that can keep you going is laughter, there is still plenty of that to fill the classroom . I am learning about cuddle buddies you take up with , to keep you warm in winter, to save on heating ,  plus a few other choice mates too flavour some to mention......

The things we do.................

Its not just a girl thing getting your nails done! Mike Cross can't bear to be left out and was lured in by the lovely women in the Nail Bar, he was treated for all his hard work to a deluxe  pedicure with hot wax feet bags, mud packs on the thighs followed by a polish up with two large pebbles !

Another Mothers Day May 8th

Another day to celebrate being a mother we were invited to brunch by Ed and Lisa

her mother was visiting from Port Rica and put us all to shame with her energy and joie de vivre.

Scrummy waffles and mimosas to boot what a delightful way to start a Sunday ! They say that we are never further  away than six people we know in the world, Ed Briant the Illustrator here in Savannah  and I have found this to be the case once chatting about old friends in London. He is off to pastures new in Maine and an exciting new life with his new wife to be Lisa Jahn Clough the book illustrator. 

As we sat sipping our drinks we felt as though we were back  in Mexico,  their house had a magical almost Frida Khalo feel to the studios , I felt extremely  envious of Ed's wallspace and couch to lie down on when the painting got too much.   

the royal wedding two unexpected guests....

 

 What excitement !  We have had two visitors appear  here in Appartment B, before getting their beauty sleep for the royal wedding  .... how kind!  We have taken our duties seriously, worn the masks kindly presented to me by my colleagues at Portsmouth , just in case I missed out ! and bunting supplied by my dear niece Flora. What fun we had running backwards and forwards to get in shot. The photo I love the best is "Prince William" le Croix  rampaging  through the flowers what a hoot  ! Sante !