Lady MacBeth: February 2015

Sunday, 22 February 2015

A week in photographs

Hello! So I've decided that I'm going to do a few more short(ish) posts in between my more labour intensive ones. I take hundreds of pictures on my phone each week which mostly just languish on my computer or, if they're lucky, make it onto my Instagram so it would be nice if they got used in a more useful way. The past week has been particularly busy and visually enticing, I hung the exhibition at The Glorious Art House last weekend with my mum. Whilst I was in Exeter I visited RAMM, which I wholeheartedly recommend if only for the wonderful rose pink walls. My boyfriend and I celebrated Valentines late with a lazy pancake morning on Shrove Tuesday. I'm not much of a pancake fan but I made American style ones with added cinnamon and they were fluffy perfection! I spent the rest of the week painting and beginning a large scale embroidery I am making for an exhibition alongside my brother and mumma coming up in April (more on that at a later date!) The week was rounded off with a visit to the Eden Project yesterday for The West Country Folklore Symposium that I mentioned in my last post.

I mentioned in the last post that I'd post a few photographs from our exhibition at The Glorious Art House so it's quite heavy on pictures from there. The exhibition is on until Thursday, so there's still plenty of time to visit.

In other news the much anticipated (by me at least) new album, God's Hand, by Hot sugar leaked this week, it's SO good. Probably the greatest ever. You can get it here and check out all his other amazing stuff here. He's been getting so much good press lately due to Broad City sampling some his bits on their second season, it's always good to see someone get the success they're due!

Hope you all had a great weekend.

The Virgin of Guadalupe I, 2014

Paintings and soft sculpture by Penny MacBeth

Penny MacBeth

Downstairs in the cafe of The Glorious Art House

Me trying to look fancy at the private view

God in Bottle's by Penny MacBeth & Prints by me

Our Valentines inspired grotto

Visit to Ramm Exeter from L-R: East Russian horned hat, beautiful butterfly collection, freakily large bug, more amazing butterflies!

L-R: silly selfie in my new H&M dress, candy cane socks from the sales, beautiful plasterwork from the book Mexico Living, gorgeous rose pink walls at RAMM.

L-R: One of a selection of cards I made for Valentines day, fruity collage, breakfast of American pancakes, bananas, walnuts, maple syrup and coffee, more collaging!

Masked Folk, 2015

My stand at the West Country Folklore Symposium

The pot plants of my 1970s dreams at The Eden Project

The only picture I got of my ensemble yesterday (wearing Portuguese folk dance skirt, Hungarian embroidered waistcoat and a vintage cotton dress from Past Times. All accessories made by Penny MacBeth.)

Tuesday, 17 February 2015

The Charcoal Burner

Hello! Wedding fever has ceased and I am back in the realm of living. I spent the last weekend hanging my latest exhibition, Gilding the Lily, in collaboration with my mum, Penny MacBeth. It's at The Glorious Art House in Exeter until February 27th, do go along if you're in the area (they do an excellent coffee in the cafe downstairs!) I'll post some pictures of it later this week too.

On my mind today though is British folklore, more specifically English Folklore. I've long been fascinated by the rich selection of folk customs and traditions that Britain has to offer. Cornwall has a whole host of weird and wonderful events; the Obby Oss at May Day in Padstow, Cornish hurling in St Columb Major (a truly terrifying event) and the Furry Dance in Helston to select just a few.

The Obby Oss- illustration by Barbara Jones in English Fairs & Markets by William Addison

Source: 1

On Saturday I'm off to a symposium dedicated entirely to West Country folklore. I couldn't be more excited, there are whole number of speakers and exhibitors speaking on an amazing array of topics (should you wish to attend you can find out more here).

In aid of the symposium and the imminent arrival of spring, I donned a suitable sprightly outfit and set about creating some pictures with a spring in their step. I was loosely influenced by the costumes of morris men and mummers but mostly I just wanted them to encapsulate the wonderfully English love of trees and all things green. I love folk customs that use foliage and flowers as adornment; wrapping their faces with twigs and leaves, could there be a better way to welcome the new season?

British Folklore, Tim Walker, Vogue UK

Source: 2, 3

My own ensemble consists of entirely vintage items, mostly gifts with the exception of the pantaloons which were a purchase last week from a vintage sale. They are incredibly comfortable and an item I have been after for many many months!

The outfit (I nearly forgot this influence!) is also in part an homage to my forefathers. My mum has recently been investigating our family lineage in order to make family trees for various elder members of our family. I've always loved folk stories and a favourite from my own family is about my great-great-grandfather (I think that's right..) on my maternal side. He was a charcoal burner who one day went off in to the woods, only to return 30 years later and die three days later. I've always liked the idea of wandering off into the woods, barefoot and fancy-free so here is my version of that (all be it at the top of the stairs in my house..!)