Meet the experts

Since neither of us live in London, getting there with all the equipment, finding accommodation and then scheduling interviews ain't easy, but so far Richard Ingrams has very kindly agreed to be interviewed which is sterling news. So this week I re-read his excellent Piper's Places in preparation. The London sally is planned for mid March and I'm desperately hoping to fit the other afficionados in for the same period (although one expert has unfortunately dropped out). We're also planning to visit Windsor Castle and get the feel of the place ('unlucky with the weather Mr Piper' - keep up) and ditto Fawley Bottom. Will keep you posted!

God bless all those who ...

The brand new spanking, sophisticated, beautifully formed, well fit, Brangwyn website was launched this morning at about 10.00 hours, loads more info and loads more images. So much for those sceptical beings who, observing me reading Dreamweaver for Dummies at Christmas looked at me askance, Libby, creating a website, you have to be kidding?! But I did it! Never underestimate the Tigger Libby (another WtP ref - see previous entry). Anyway, DO visit the site (http://www.frankbrangwyn.org/) and let me know what you think. Here's the opening splash:

A mild diversion

We were to have done some editing on the Curwen material 28-30 January but the previous week Mike Goldmark rang up - what did I know about Epstein? Not a lot, but I'm a fast learner. Did I fancy doing a piece to camera about his Epstein exhibition, due to be taken down at the end of the month? Not one to resist a challenge, I thought long and hard for about 20 nannoseconds and said YES! So then I had to alert Charles to our new plans and hoped he'd agree, and start mugging up on the great man. Since I was due to stay 3 days with mea mater prior to meeting Charles this necessitated rising well before the lark (6am) and keeping the wols (as in Winnie the Pooh for the uninitiated) company at night (well until midnight anyway after which I turn into a sloth) in order to read all the necessary books and formulate a cunning plan for a critique of Mike's show.

Actually the research wasn't that arduous because I became captivated by Epstein's talent, energy, enthusiasm and refusal to bow to traditional approaches to sculpture (or anything else for that matter). A long day ensued at the Goldmark Gallery on the 29th January during which we dismantled most of the exhibition anyway, moving exhibits around (or rather getting others to do that since the sculptures are pretty heavy). Went rather well though I say it as shouldn't, and here for your delight and delectation is Charles captivated in turn by the breasts of the Shulamite Woman and Girl from Baku (so what's new?!) and Epstein's wonderful orgasmic 2nd portrait of Kathleen.

What else has been happening in January? Apart from some Brangwyn authentication reports for various London auction houses, I've been occupied learning Dreamweaver and trying to drag my Brangwyn website kicking and screaming into the 21st century. Charles has been working on Charlotte Bach and Fiore de Henriques and trying to protect Dot from his new hooligan hens, whilst the pair of us managed to finish FBSG Northampton. Toodle-pip!

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.