In this smart, sparky, compassionate
book, Olivia Laing persuasively argues
that writers and artists can offer new
perspectives on life’s problems, both
social and emotional, especially in
tempestuous and uncertain times. Her
essays offer glimpses into artists’ lives,
their struggles, and describes their work(often provocative and idiosyncratic),
which offers up alternative ways of loving
and living. Like the painter Sargy Mann,
who had corneal edema, but “took a hair
dryer to The National Gallery, plugged
it in and calmly dried his soggy,
waterlogged eye in order to see
the paintings.” (Picador)Rachel Foxwell creates her range of
unique, handcrafted ceramic vessels
from her garden studio in Bristol.
Colours and lines found in the seascapes,
landscapes and colourful architecture
are the starting point for all her designs.
Rachel’s design process is very hands on
and each piece of clay is hand-rolled
before being meticulously layered with
ceramic slips and slithers of bold colour.
Once all the decoration has been applied,
they’re assembled to create simple
geometric, functional forms. Rachel is
showcasing some of her work at
‘Postcards from the Edge’ at the Byre
Gallery in south-east Cornwall (until 2
May), featuring ten acclaimed artists
inspired by the south west coastal path.
rachelfoxwell.comMaker of
the month
Minimal ceramics inspired by
the Cornish coastlineSearching for happiness
Funny Weather: Art in an Emergency by Olivia LaingWISHLISTRecycled glass carafe | £8,
Succulent in jar | £10
This artificial succulent will fool even
the most green-fingered of guests,
while the carafe makes a great vase
dunelm.comInthissmart,sparky,compassionate
book,OliviaLaingpersuasivelyargues
thatwritersandartistscanoffernew
perspectivesonlife’sproblems,both
socialandemotional,especiallyin
tempestuousanduncertaintimes.Her
essaysofferglimpsesintoartists’lives,
theirstruggles,anddescribestheirwork(oftenprovocativeandidiosyncratic),
whichoffersupalternativewaysofloving
andliving.LikethepainterSargyMann,
whohadcornealedema,but“tooka hair
dryertoTheNationalGallery,plugged
it inandcalmlydriedhissoggy,
waterloggedeyeinordertosee
thepaintings.”(Picador)RachelFoxwellcreatesherrange of
unique, handcrafted ceramic vessels
from her garden studio in Bristol.
Colours and lines found in the seascapes,
landscapes and colourful architecture
are the starting point for all her designs.
Rachel’s design process is very hands on
and each piece of clay is hand-rolled
before being meticulously layered with
ceramic slips and slithers of bold colour.
Once all the decoration has been applied,
they’re assembled to create simple
geometric, functional forms. Rachel is
showcasingsomeofherworkat
‘PostcardsfromtheEdge’ attheByre
Galleryinsouth-eastCornwall(until 2
May),featuringtenacclaimedartists
inspiredbythesouthwestcoastalpath.
rachelfoxwell.comMakerof
themonth
Minimalceramicsinspiredby
the Cornish coastlineSearchingforhappiness
FunnyWeather:ArtinanEmergencybyOliviaLaingWISHLISTRecycled glass carafe | £8,
Succulent in jar | £10
This artificial succulent will fool even
the most green-fingered of guests,
while the carafe makes a great vase
dunelm.com