First visit to the New Ceramics Gallery - V&A

Eventually I arrived on the 6th floor of the V&A to see the Ceramics. Its not easy to find... I'd made my way up to the 4th floor to discover the lift doesn't go any higher! So down I went, back to the Informatin Desk to get a different lift up to the lofty 6th floor!


Worth the trip, although I did wonder how many people actually make it there...

Sample of the magnificent V&A

I wandered round the Galleries not paying too close attention to which exhibits I travelled through but heading upwards to the Ceramics Gallery on the 6th floor.
Snippets along the way included an ancient 14th century staircase next to this wall of heads...
which made me chuckle!

A day at the V&A

To relax and find some space to think after my interview I headed straight for the Victoria and Albert Museum. I wandered straight into the Rennaisance gallery, struck with awe and wonder with my thoughts drifting to Italy...

I decided to sit down and write down how the interview went so I could move on from pondering the events of those 15 minutes and make space to take on the Centuries of history I was to be delighted by.

Pair of kneeling Angels

1450-1525

Probably Andrea della Robbia

The della Robbia family dominated the production of tin-glazed terracotta in Florence at this time, keeping their receipes secret.

If you look closely at where the glaze has come away from the figure, in the photo above, you'll see the buff colour of the clay and perhaps a layer of engobe that might have been applied before the tin glaze to ensure the glaze fit.

Winston Churchill Fellowship

I've been shortlisted for the Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship! Have a look here.

I’ve found the whole experience of applying for the Travelling Fellowship a very valuable one. The prospect of planning a trip (up to 3 months) to study and explore a project of one’s own defining is very exciting. I’ve loved the opportunity to dream and have become excited beyond words in imagining where I might go, who I would meet and the projects and companies I might be involved with. I’ve also found it immensely encouraging in speaking to professionals and practitioners in the field. It’s not difficult for the excitement to gain momentum when discussing a project and it’s possibilities. 

I'm sure positive projects will form out of this application experience alone. I also promise myself I will build on the positive contacts I have made and cement them for the future regardless of the Fellowship decision. I dare not wonder any further where being awarded the fellowship may take me!... for the time being back to the real world… but fingers x crossed!

IKON Gallery, Birmingham

I popped into the IKON Gallery on Sunday as we were passing. I'd forgotten what an impact the building has on me. It was built as Oozells Street School in 1887 and boasts classic terracotta detailing in quite a bright orange-red clay.

Day 3: Visit to Crab Tree House - Bay Windows

We met Lizzy at Crab Tree House, the cream house in the picture above, to discuss plans for putting bay windows into the two bedrooms at first floor level. Both windows on the ground floor are bay. The desire is to make the rooms more spacious. Paul thought it best to suspend the windows so as not to interfere with the roof, they would therefore, be window seats rather than walk in bays.
The house has a prominent aspect on the riverside and is in clear view behind the Grade I Church, as you can see from the photo. It is located within a Conservation Area and there is no visible president for 1st floor bay windows in the vicinity. Paul, with his experience in this area thought it unlikely the plans would be immediately well received by Planning and Conservation Officers.

Day 2: Lifton, St Mary's Church - Quinequennial Inspection

Pevsner's Guide lists this church as building located in an 'small and otherwise unremarkable village'. Paul and I travelled across Devon to the Cornish border, in the Mini stocked with the regular thermos of coffee and toast arriving at 10am uncertain of what we might find on arrival.

Straight up onto the roofs. The roofers were on site for us clearing the gutters, Jim and Tom were just finishing so we were guided as to the best places to gain access tot he roofs.

Up the tower we went, looking into the bell chamber and the ringing room on the way.