PP8, Film Farm

We decided that we ought to photograph everything in the Piper archive and do some talk overs before I delivered it back to Goldmark Art, but in the usual manner of things this took longer than anticipated so a return home scheduled for Friday was delayed until Saturday, at which point Libby was despatched well nourished with the traditional Piper Forensic Kipper. But some good work under our belts and that's it for this year. About 5 afficionados we'd like to interview early next year and then it's down to editing.
Hope you join us again in 2009!
Best wishes, Libby and Charles (or should it be Charles and Libby? I'll try to work that one out by next year)

PP8, Aldeburgh

Beautiful morning and although pretty chilly and frosty, I couldn't resist a run along the coast, fresh air, fishermen already put in a day's work, sky the colour of Piper's Snape Maltings print. So cold, even the pebbles had frozen together on the beach. Following yesterday's early start (for Charles type characters anyway) he was allowed a later start today - 9.45 - positively sinful by my books.

Having packed the car we drove the short distance to the parish church where we photographed Piper's memorial window to Britten.

Thence to check out Maggie Hambling's beautiful shell (also a Britten memorial) and get some super 8 film of the Martello tower, bought some herrings and potted shrimps for supper from a beach shack (CM INSISTED I include their logo - see below) and on to Snape to replicate Piper's print. Unfortunately the sun was just at the wrong angle so we retired to the Granary for a delicious and most welcome hot courgette and herb soup, had a look in the shop to see if they had pencils to add to the collection (but too up market for that sort of malarky). Back to the grindstone and this time the sun had moved behind the trees so we more or less got the view we wanted. And you can see my trusty steed China (silvery Alfa Romeo) in the right hand photo - she who has performed such sterling work this summer taking us all over Britain.

And back to Film Farm, a delighted Pepper (the feline) and some yummy herrings in oatmeal cooked by Chef Charles @ Hare in the Gate (an excellent restaurant, well recommended).

PP8, Curwen Studio

Stanley, Libby and the Piper archive (only Libby's on the left but I couldn't put my name before Stanley's!)

Poor Charles was absolutely horrified because we had to leave at 8.30 this morning which meant getting up in the dark with the resident Film Farm owls (real ones, not just a BBC sound effect) a-hooting. A somewhat chilly morning and it took Libby a good 10 minutes to scrape the ice off her car windows. Anyway we succeeded in setting off almost on time and arrived at Curwen Studios, Chilford Hall, just outside Cambridge a mere 5 minutes late.
Stanley Jones, a legend in his lifetime, possibly the most important man in the history of printmaking in the 20th century, was the sweetest, gentlest, most modest of men and absolutely captivated us. He is also, fairly obviously, hugely knowledgeable and seemed delighted to see the Piper archive which he discussed in detail in a very approachable manner (i.e. without being unduly didactic). We left the Studios absolutely over the moon with our filming work.
But rather chilly after the insidious creeping chill of the Studio. Sainsbury's appeared to be about the only quick option available so Charles devoured a hot panini whilst I embraced a large cappucino. Then on to Aldeburgh, but by this time it was dark and we were driving along narrow country lanes with no lighting, no cat's eyes, lots of scary wide lorries and it has to be said that Libby was by this stage a decidedly unhappy bunny (unlike yesterday).
However the hotel was great and a reviving glass of red wine soon did the trick.

PP8, part 1

Monday 8 December set off for Goldmark Art in Uppingham to collect some Piper prints to show our guest star Stanley Jones at the Curwen Press tomorrow. Unfortunately they only had 2 of the 4 I'd asked for - but FORTUNATELY Mike was there and we had a chat (as one does) and I told him about the next exciting interview - at which point he just happened to mention that he owned the Piper archive from the Curwen Studios! An absolutely amazing treasure trove with photographs, initial ideas for prints, colour separations. So I set off for Film Farm an exceedingly happy bunny.