Wednesday 31 July 2013

Rain on the Aldeburgh Beach

 A grey beginning to the day.
The first thing Lucy and I do is to install the scrim work in the top tower room.
Stretched tightly against the sides of the projecting bay, this speciality textile is normally used to line old canvas during conservation. But its very stable weave of  a synthetic fibre means it has low elasticity so that when stretched its weave does not lose its straight of grain and it stays square and true. The result is satisfyingly magical; light plays on the surface, dimly revealing the merest shadows of the winds beyond; the sounds leaking into the tower from the outside world are pushed far into the distance. I am very pleased with this.
Next up is the transformation of the boathouse itself. I do a trial run of yarn stapled to the timber lined space, then draped with folded sheets of graph paper like a clothes line.
This required much folding of the reams found on eBay. A good task while it rains. Francis helps competently, amusing us with stories of when he was a bank clerk, adding columns of figures by hand.
Lucy and I start in stretching and stapling the lines to the walls, here across the front of the fireplace.
Up and down the ladder she goes to reach into the pitched roof and cutting across corners. 
The yarn creates interesting shadows
By evening the skies have cleared and it is a beautiful evening.
Sam and Jane, friends of Caroline and Francis, are staying for a few nights and we decide to dine inside the installation. After scrambling all day, I have a quick shower and join everyone for a glass of excellent fizz on the beach, courtesy of Sam
Once again, Caroline conjures a feast with no apparent effort.
 
A spectacular array of fresh seafood on greens - prawns, dressed crab and hot smoked salmon, followed by a spinach risotto bejewelled with a whole brie.
In the back, here and above, a fully clothed wall of paper is just visible.
Totally knackered and I fall into bed.

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