One of the songs I play to give myself a good kick up the arse is Grace Jones' "Slave to the Rhythm". In particular, I love the 2010 Last Night at the Proms version which I share occasionally as she always blows me away. Her lyrics, an ode to her Nigerian grandfather, include "work to the rhythm...live to the rhythm...love to the rhythm". These phrases really resonate with me, particularly when I am in our beloved East End Gallery.
We arrived home on 25 August. The Gallery and Station House has both been looked after superbly. Our fabulous housesitter and Gallery volunteer, Ms Sue Martin, along with Mr David Lillico, Mrs Gracie Courtney, Mr Geoff Newby-Butt and Mrs Marion Bateman asked for nothing in return for opening the Gallery through rain, hail and shine. And lots of wind...
Plus, Mrs Rebecca Buglass and Mrs Marion Luck, who joined us in the East End Gallery, to establish Studio 116, just prior to our departure on our Great Escape, deserve special mention for revolutionising our combined spaces. We cannot believe that this opportunity to welcome Marion and Rebecca into our building has developed into an amazing partnership. They assist us and we assist them. They are delighted that their revenue has increased and we have benefitted exponentially by having additional and proactive artisans onsite. Rebecca and Marion have both taken the bull by the horns - handling sales, enhancing the Gallery and promoting our dual enterprises. We are so blessed to have these wonderful people in our lives.
We have had art come and art go. And the dust was more than evident and needed to be tackled. As a result, i became a willing slave to the rhythm and the whole Gallery has been turned upside down.This has created a lot of sweat and tears, a bit of blood (when I stab myself with wire), late nights and the odd early morning (which I don't do well). I managed to complete the latest incarnation of the East End Gallery just before last Saturday night's Sundowner. Was I pleased and relived. You bet I was...
And so, without further ado, here is a snippet of the East End Gallery and Studio 116 in September 2024 -
Introducing Studio 116...
Beverley Sunrise - Peter
Ptschelinzew
The Inlet - Samantha Connor
Tiny Dancer - Marion Luck
Marion's student Annie...
Marion's student James...
Marion Luck
Rebecca Buglass
"Rooster Cogburn" - Denese Borlini...
Pottery, wood, watercolour and acrylics...
Chest of drawers x 2
"Through the Studio Window"
"Manchurian Pears"
"Yellow Submarine"
"The Wheatbelt Way"
Mosaic table...
"Whiter Shade of Pale""
Botanic illustration and quilts...
Front table...
Cards galore...Jeans bag SOLD
"Starting a Family"...
Gone Potty...
Looking west...
Northern wall...
"I am Woman, Here Me Roar"...
Origami butterflies...
Pottery by Jan Cross...
Ladies...
"Beverley Backroads"
cards
pottery
I had a grandfather on my father's side
He's ninety-five years old
His great-grandfather came from Nigeria, from the Igbo tribe
I don't look like my mother and I don't look like my father
I look exactly like my grandfather
And I act like him
Do you act all the time?
Not all the time, no
You work all day and men you know
The wheels must turn to keep the flow
Oh, oh, oh
Build on up, don't break the chain
Sparks will fly, when the whistle blows
Oh, oh
Slave to the rhythm
Oh, oh
Slave to the rhythm
Work to the rhythm, uh-huh
You build on up, don't break the chain
Sparks will fly, when the whistle blows
Fire burns, heart beats strong
Sing out loud, the chain gang song
Oh, oh
Slave to the rhythm
Oh, oh
Slave to the rhythm
Oh, oh
Slave to the rhythm
Oh, oh
Slave to the rhythm
Never stop the action
Oh, never stop the action
Never stop the action
Keep it up, keep it up
Never stop the action
Slave to the rhythm
Keep it up, keep it up
Never stop, never stop
Keep it up
Work to the rhythm
Slave to the rhythm
Live to the rhythm
Love to the rhythm
