Hi, I hope you’re well and have been keeping cool over the past few weeks?
In mid June, in collaboration with Carnegie Cafe, I launched my first group show with local artists in Herne Hill - Still, The Light. Inspired by the Summer Solstice, this exhibition brings together local artists exploring light in its many forms. Not simply as something we see, but as something we experience, seek, remember and gather around.
If you live nearby, we would really appreciate you popping in for a coffee and spending some time with the works. All pieces are for sale, please ask the staff for the price list. If you’re unable to visit, you can request the price list by replying to this email.
Carnegie Cafe, Carnegie Library
192 Herne Hill
London SE24 0DG
9am - 5pm
Monday-Saturday.
The exhibition closes on 20th August ‘26.
At its heart, this collaboration is about community, connection and the importance of supporting local spaces and artists. If you’re able to visit in the final weeks, please do and show your support by choosing a work to live with and or sharing the exhibition with others. There are a selection of small and large scale originals and prints available.
From the exhibition until now feels like a bit of a blur, with my youngest completing her GCSE’s, the heatwave, the world cup and a quick family holiday as both kids finished school early, I didn’t get much time in the studio.
I have however, been slowly working on a large work whenever I can. I am not in control of this one. It has an element of abstract florals, I tried to avoid it, I tried to make something else but It has its own plans! You’d think I would have learned my lesson by now. A reminder to myself: the art is always in control, I will always eventually have to surrender.
It’s one of my largest pieces to date, it’s approx 200cm w x 100cm h. I fought with it a bit, critiqued it allot and parked it. But then…
Last weekend, whilst listening to the magnificent Jazz musician Pat Metheny in concert at The Barbican, I had my first ever experience of Synesthesia!
As he played his final solo of the night - America The Beautiful, I was overcome with emotion. We, the audience had just been blessed with two hours of pure artistry by Pat and his band; Leonard Patton, Jermaine Paul, Joe Dyson and Chris Fishman.
I felt enlightened and inspired from the minute the first note was played and in absolute presence whilst the band shifted through what I can only describe as many levels of creative flow state.
The compositions, the music its-self, the ad-libs and the technical skills were unbelievable. It was inspiring to witness this level of mastery.
Even though I have a deep love for music, I listen to audiobooks in the studio whilst creating so I’d never even considered that I could experience Synesthesia.
Whilst Pat played his solo and took us to so many different places - visually, emotionally and spiritually, I distinctively saw an orange-pink glow appear over the stage and then, visualised myself applying that colour to my current unfinished work - It truly felt like an out of body experience! It was both beautiful and profound!
I am so very grateful for this experience. A huge thank you to Azart Gallery for the invitation and to Pat Metheny and his extraordinary band and crew for an unforgettable evening - one that will stay with me forever. 🤲🏾🙏🏾
Synesthesia is a neurological phenomenon in which stimulation of one sense automatically and consistently triggers an experience in another sense for example, seeing colours when hearing music or associating letters and numbers with specific colours.
I look forward to sharing the painting with you when it's completed.
Thank you always, for taking the time to read my news.
Courtenay. x
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