Learning from Others

Yes, sigh, I know; nothing for ages and then two posts in one day.  I've spent the day consolidating my list of outstanding posts going back now ONLY to 2015.  I will get there, eventually.  Whilst so diligently engaged, I found this post from a visit to the Portimao Museum, Portugal in 2011 and thought it worthwhile revisiting in light of my OTS (quilts-by-me blog) and other artistic endeavours.   

Portimao: Photo Marathon.  The Portimao Museum had organised a Photo Marathon Competition (2011) and on our visit we were fortunate to see the creative results.  Firstly there were 2 categories – Underwater (serious underwater camera work) and Digital.  Each category was then broken down into a series of themes to which the entrants had to produce 3 A4 sized photos.  Digital for example, had 8 themes and therefore needed to produce 24 photos.  These photos were simply mounted on card (no frames) and exhibited in theme order.

Seeing them made me understand why the winner had been chosen.  His work was essentially the tightest – all photos were portrait, all perfect close-ups that complemented each other, of subjects that spoke clearly of each theme yet related well as a whole.  The colours were bold and dramatic subject lighting was well balanced throughout.  In this way the whole worked as a complete presentation, flowing well as a design, almost mosaic like in quality, which fitted the surrounding old city (and its pavings).

Being a quilter I got a little caught up in this project.  A big part of working in textiles is taking the time to stand back, balancing the “pieces” or blocks into a well-balanced whole.  So, I learned quite a lot about the value of working in series; imagining connections between a single work, a series or indeed of a larger body of work – just like an artistic mind map.  Fascinating.

I sadly don’t have any photos of these photographic works at the Museum (no photos allowed) so I’ve included some general ones from their collection instead to add to the watery theme.

(By the way, I hope the new Tag boxes make searching easier...)

Diving In

Bread by Bus

Mr DIY and I said farewell to our travelling companions at the village of St Catherine and caught a local bus back to Dahab.  It took us a while, but we eventually worked out that the flat, round objects on the dashboard were breads.  We started to relax…

A Cool Corniche overlooking the Gulf of Aqaba

So began a wonderful few days of diving whilst I renewed acquaintances with my moggie friends at the many cafes along the corniche.  One was particularly charming – a regular old gentleman, until I tried to gently move him off my lap.  The claws, ever so slowly dug into my leg – a reminder that he, not me, was in charge of seating arrangements.  I did eventually escape to find another nice silver shop while Mr DIY splashed about madly in some very clear diving spots.  We could hardly believe we were on the sleepy fringes of the Gulf of Aqaba and a mere stones throw from the Suez Canal.

Meet the Boyfriend

More Animals - A Woven Mat

Watch Tower