I think for many years now I’ve really loved September… I can think of a few obvious reasons;
In Britain September is the start of a new term for many schools, colleges and (maybe even) some university fresher’s weeks, so I guess it’s unsurprising that, for some of us, we’re excited.
Leading on from this, as I don’t have children, September is the BEST time to go away on holiday – the weather’s still nice but is inevitably quieter as those, forced to take holidays outside of term times, are elsewhere.
No doubt ‘summer’ will have disappointed many of us (not me – I don’t care for super heat) and yet September is almost guaranteed to be full of sunny days, evenings will still be warm enough for sitting outside and I’m a huge fan of the quality of autumnal light… in many ways it’s richer, deeper, more intense.
September, more recently for me, signifies the beginning of one of my favourite cultural events of the year – the British Ceramic Bienniale. The epic takover takes place in Stoke on Trent and comprises two months of exhibition and events in and around the city centre.
I loved these signs that adorned the pavements of Stoke city centre, guiding visitors to and from the different exhibition and project spaces.
Clayground Collective on-board Ikon’s Slow Boat, September 2013 Image courtesy of Clayground Collective
Clayground Collective, giant, interactive clay installation outside Ikon, part of the city-wide, Four Square’s weekend, September 2013. Image courtesy of Jas Sansi.
Loved this… the city centre pavements were adorned with these beautiful ‘markers’ leading visitors to and from the beinnial on the opening night.
I’m particularly excited by the culmination of a long-term project, Clay Cargo, set up by the wonderful Clayground Collective aka Duncan Hoosan and Julia Rowntree. We’re in for a real treat as poets and artists present new works, commissioned as part of the Clay Cargo project, to create new works in response to specific sites along a journey between Stoke and Birmingham.
The work of artists David Binns, Rob Kessler and Matthew Raw will be incorporated into the project exhibition. Poets Rachel Long, Elisabeth Charis and Barry Taylor will read their poems in full on October 17. This session 2-4pm will combine words and making.See more at: http://www.claygroundcollective.org/#sthash.PhIIQ8Ua.dpuf
I can’t wait!
