Little Avenues Pre-school on platform 2

A fantastic Christmas display by the Little Avenues Pre-school. 

The Little Avenues Pre-school is located in the bungalow in the grounds of Broomgrove School.  The pre-school is for children from aged 2 years- rising 5's and is run by experienced and highly qualified practitioners.  Contact Jane or Marie on 07895180207.

littleavenues@hotmail.co.uk         www.littleavenues.co.uk

New displays

 

We've gone all Christmassy this month, with an origami wreath and a 'twig' tree.  These are both made with 'scrap' materials, wrapping paper, newspaper, foil and twigs gathered in the university grounds.  Proof that Christmas doesn't have to cost the earth.

The new prose on Platform one is written by MW Bewick, and illustrated by Ella Johnston.

MW Bewick lives in Wivenhoe. He is a journalist, writer and musician, but not always in that order. His Possible Fictions blog can be found at mwbewick.wordpress.com. He also presents the Strange Brew show on Radio Wivenhoe.

Words and pictures- Winter edition

If you haven't managed to get a copy of our leaflet, all this edition's prose and poetry is now available to read on this blog (under page WDTL).  The beautiful illustrations are by Charmaine McKissock.

All change

 The new poem on platform 1 by Laura Kirwan, entitled 'Noah'.

And don't forget to pick up your copy of Words-Down-the-line

Winter's coming.

The Autumn poster is up at the station (pic to follow) and the Winter edition of Words Down the Line, is ready to take on your travels.  We hope you enjoy it.

Can you guess what they are yet?

Wivenhoe Photographic Group

WPG is an informal collective of photographers who meet once or twice a month to take pictures and discuss photography in the context of the wider art world. They also undertake the occasional group exhibition. The group is not a camera club, so it doesn't matter the size of your equipment - just what you do with it. There are no subs, and the only criteria for joining are enthusiasm for art and a relaxed attitude to life.

The Photographers 

Adrian Multon

Adrian is a freelance commercial photographer and photography / Photoshop tutor. His commisioned work includes product advertising, catalogue and editorial photography.  Adrian works with individuals and groups of all ages to improve their photographic and image editing skills.  In 2010 he ran a series of one day Photoshop Workshops at the Nottage.

Adrian's personal work nestles somewhere between fantasy and reality, and is broadly guided by the pictorialist movement of the late 19th and early 20th century. 
Adrian has exhibited in Colchester, London, Brighton, San Fransisco and, of course, his adopted home of nearly 20 years, Wivenhoe.  His work has been published in various books and magazines, including front covers for Fusion Flowers and Colchester 101 magazine.  Adrian is proud to exhibit with the Wivenhoe Photography Group on Platform 2.
 website: www.adrianmulton.co.uk  email: photo@adrianmulton.co.uk

Pauline Rendall

Pauline has been a keen photographer for as long as she can remember, ever since she was given a Kodak Brownie at a tender age. No one in the family was safe from having to pose and say cheese.  However, these days she likes to take an experimental approach, and enjoys finding an unexpected angle on every day objects. She mostly uses a Nikon D90, but for unanticipated moments also carries a small Canon compact.

She has previously exhibited in the The Wivenhoe Gallery at Cutting Corners and also came joint second in a competition run by Essex Police, aimed at representing a range of aspects of East Anglian life. Her other creative enterprise is writing fiction. She has published several short stories (including one in our very own Words down the Line) and currently has a crime novel out on submission.

Wivenhoe Photography Group

A little taster of our new eye-catching display on Platform 2, by Wivenhoe Photography Group.  More information to follow.

2012 Station Adopters' Awards

George and I have just come back from the 2012 Station Adopters' Awards ceremony, in Chappel and Wakes Colne Station, where we managed to win a 'special' station award.  We think it might translate as 'most unusual station'. So to keep with this theme, here is a picture of our new station scarecrow 'Wendy', (fully waterproofed) and made by our very own Charmaine McKissock.

I am pleased to say that we were not the only adopters on the 'Sunshine Coast' to pick up awards today.  Colchester and Kirby Cross also came away winners.  

Rag Rugs and Fabric Art

A beautiful new display in the Booking Hall.  These fabric designs (the bee is actually a Rag Rug) were created by Charmaine McKissock who lives in Wivenhoe.
For close ups and more information about the artist, please see our Booking Hall page.

The Hungry Caterpillar comes to the station

Lovely bright display on platform 2 by Wivenhoe Preschool.  To find out more about the pre-school and to view the works of art close-up, please see the Platform 2 page.

Autumn edition of WDTL

The Autumn edition of Words Down the Line is now at the station and on-line (see the WDTL page) with contributions from Martin Newell, Pauline Rendall and Candyce Lange.  Illustrations are by Ella Johnston.

Books-down-the-line.

  

Wivenhoe station in bloom. 

 The new bookcase.  Please feel free to borrow or swap a book for your journey.

Books down the Line

George has just installed a lovely little bookcase in the Station booking hall; both bookcase & books were kindly donated by Steve & Becca Garrett in support of the CRP initiative to provide bookcases across a number of stations on the line.
'Books Down the Line' is intended to encourage travelers to borrow a book for their journey, and either return/replace it in due course.
We hope you enjoy them.

New exhibition on Platform 2

The new exhibition on platform 2, is a series of scenes of Wivenhoe, captured by local photographer Jonathan Scott.  The sunny weather (not complaining honestly) has meant that the images I have taken does not do the exhibition justice.  Please pop down and see them, as they are much more striking in the flesh.   

Jonathan's interest in photography started more than 10 years ago but it is only in the last 2 years that he has started to take it more seriously.  He prefers to take seascapes, landscapes and fine art; experimenting with black and white images and spot colour.  He tries to keep the images as close to natural as possible.

John has had his photographs appear in national magazine 'water craft.'  To view more of his work, visit his facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/JonathanScottPhotography or email him johnathanscott@fsmail.net

Summer edition.

The summer edition of Words-Down-the-Line is available on the station, with contributions from Hazel Humphreys, Susan Allen and Margaret Phelps.  You can also click the page on this blog to read it.  The leaflet is illustrated by Charmaine McKissock.

Poetry on Platform One

A poem by Mary McQueen on platform One, which can also be found printed in our May issue of WDTL

East Anglian Railway-Photography competition

Broomgrove Infant's School display

A bright, cheerful display of work by Broomgrove Infant School, around the topic of Brazil.  Let's hope the sun continues to shine on it.
To see the work in close-up, either visit platform 2 or take a look at our Platform 2 page.

Booking Office Art

Some beautiful 'rag' wreaths designed by Charmaine McKissock, on show in the Booking Office.  

Charmaine McKissock trained in Contemporary Arts & Craft in the Orkney Isles, and comes from a background of healers and creatives. She has made illustrations and publications for many voluntary organisations and charities. She is a published author and producer of a radio programme ‘Wivenhoe Women’, which aims to give a voice to local women about their lives, opinions and interests. She is settled in Wivenhoe and works as a consulting specialist in Education.

Cabinets

We are hoping to have some new cabinets erected on the station in the next couple of weeks, so the timing of the displays have been knocked back accordingly and will be now be changed in the middle of the month.  Keep a look-out, Broomgrove Infants are up next.

Missing cat

Please look out for Trixabell while you are on your travels.  She has been missing from Station road since Wednesday and has a fluffy, stumpy tail. 

Thank you

Culpeper's remedies-Platform One

A little bit of background on the Culpeper remedies used in Juliet Lockhart's exhibition.    Now on Platform One.

Nettle

Nettle… consumes the phlegmatic superfluities in the body of man that the coldness and moistness of winter hath left behind. …. is a safe and sure medicine to open the pipes and passages of the lungs, which is the cause of wheezing and shortness of breath, and helps to expectorate tough phlegm, as also to raise the imposthumed pleurisy; and spend it by spitting; the same helps the swelling of the almonds of the throat, the mouth and throat being gargled therewith.

Thistle

...The seed of this Star Thistle made into powder, and drank in wine, provokes urine, and helps to break the stone, and drives it forth. The root in powder, and given in wine, and drank, is good against the plague and pestilence: and drank in the morning fasting for some time together, it is very profitable for a fistule in ay part of the body. 

Comfrey

…the great comfrey helpeth those that spit blood:…the root boiled in water or wine, and the decoction drunk, helpeth all inward hurts, bruises, and wounds, and the ulcers of the lungs, causing the phlegm that oppresseth them to be easily spit forth; it stayeth the defluxions of rheum from the head upon the lungs…

Rose

…Red Roses strengthen the heart, the stomach and the liver, and the retentive faculty; they mitigate the pains that arise from heat, assuage inflammations, procure rest and sleep, stay both whites and reds in women, the gonorrhea, or running of the reins, and fluxes of the belly. The juice of them doth purge and cleanse the body from choler and phlegm.

Extracts and drawings taken from Culpeper’s Herbal Remedies written by Nicholas Culpeper (1616-1654), first published in 1814

June's writing

June's WDTL is now at the station, beautifully illustrated by Charmaine McKissock.

Calling local artists

Here's a link to the Slack space facebook page.  They are looking for work to exhibit...https://www.facebook.com/groups/53195698461/.

More about Juliet Lockhart and her exhibition

Juliet Lockhart

Culpeper Series

 I asked Juliet to explain the ideas and thoughts behind her work on platform 2:

"A sense of place and the myriad of stories that lie within are paramount in my work.

 The Culpeper series was made at a time when my two children and I had to leave our home and find a new place to settle.  It was not a move that any of us really wanted.  One of the hardest things to leave were the plants that I had grown and nurtured in the garden.  All the plants used in the images come from the garden there.

 At the time I was thinking about those times in our lives when we lose our voice.  Whether it is taken from us, or we chose to lock it deep inside of ourselves or it becomes the struggle to express what we feel, many of use experience this lose to some degree.

 So I turned to Culpeper to discover what plants he used to treat all things oral, ailments of mouth and throat.  I layered his story with mine and that of my children.

 More than ten years later when I am revisiting these images I am still wondering and working with those whose voice has been lost for whatever reason.

 Much of my work is site specific and always includes story.  The work either springs from a tale or becomes the inspiration for a new telling.  Culpeper features again in these two pieces with thistles and roses.  The work also reflects my passion for all forms of puppetry; shadows make their presence known in this tale of betrayal, jealousy and a timely reminder that revenge is best served cold.

To find out more about Juliet and to explore more of her work visit:

 www.julietlockhart.co.uk

 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Juliet-Lockhart-Studio- Page/349458498411826

 and http://insideoutartinmind.blogspot.co.uk/

Jubilee June

The new 'Words Down the Line' has been printed and is in the process of being folded.  It will be down at the station soon!

June's exhibition by Juliet Lockhart

The new exhibition on platform 2 is by local artist, Juliet Lockhart.  Juliet is a visual artist, and her work is part written, printed, stitched, and constructed.  She works in many mediums including fabric, paper, wood, metal, natural objects, and fibre.
This exhibition is entitled 'Culpeper', and takes its inspiration from three elements: the 16th Century Herbalist, Nicholas Culpeper; photographs of plants Juliet has grown (which Culpeper used in the treatment of all things oral); and her children. 
For more information about the artist and to view more of her stunning work please see her website. http://julietlockhart.co.uk/

We hope to have a poster on Platform One shortly, which will describe some of Culpeper's remedies; specifically, those used in Juliet's work.  In the meantime, we have a small poster in the cabinet, a reminder to listen to our very own local radio station 'Radio Wivenhoe', and a new show, 'Wivenhoe Women' , in which some of our WDTL contributors will be interviewed.

Opportunity for local artists

Essex & South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership are looking to commission an artist to produce artwork to brighten up Braintree Freeport Station.

They want your ideas. It could be on a railway theme, shopper theme, or local theme. The station is located at Freeport shopping centre. If you are interested please submit your CV’s and idea’s to Lynda Stone via email by the 6 June.

They have funding of £9,000 for the complete project. They would prefer Braintree artists for the projects, but local Essex artists can still apply.

If you require any further information please telephone Jayne Sumner on 01245 435772.

source:  http://www.15queenstreet.org/post/23474388648?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

May's prose and Platform One poetry

The May WDTL is about to be folded and placed on the station.  It includes poetry by Stephen Beattie and Mary McQueen, as well as prose by Petra McQueen.  The beautiful illustrations in the leaflet are drawn by Charmaine McKissock.  In addition to our new leaflet, we have a  poem by Alex Toms on Platform One.

Ghost Ship

I see you for the first time

at the hospital today. The sonographer

smears gel on my stomach

and rolls the probe over it.

Your image swims on the screen,

hazy as fog above a mapless ocean.

Moored to me by a silver thread, you seem

insubstantial as a ghost ship – the merest gust

and you’d resolve yourself

into a fish, a sea monster

or nothing at all.

Yet you drift, oblivious

to me and my fears,

your spine thick as a barnacled keel.

A coming and going of whiteness

indicates your heartbeat –

a winking beacon.

If I could, I’d send you

three bright stars to light

your nine-month night, guide you safely

to the harbour of my arms.

May's display- Millfields Primary School

There was a slight break in the rain this morning, so we were able to put up our new display.  May's fantastically colourful range of artwork and craft, is by pupils of Millfields Primary School.  Their display shows pupils' interpretations of famous works of art.  

 

For 'close-up shots, and more information about this school-please see the dedicated pages on this blog.

Millfields' exhibition...coming soon

We're hoping to fill the station up with art-work by the pupils of Millfields Primary School tomorrow.  Fingers crossed we get a break in the rain.

Tweeting a shared story

http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/about-us/latest-news1/shortcrimestory/

This looks like fun.  I wonder if we could do something similar?  The writer, Martyn Waites, lives in this area.

The standard

Slightly wrong information, but all news is good news!
http://www.essexcountystandard.co.uk/news/9635129.Poetry_and_artwork_springs_into_life_at_Wivenhoe_station/r/?ref=rss&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitte

April's display

The new display is at the station.  On platform 2 are photographs by Daisy Stone, a pupil at Colne Community School.  At just 16 she is our youngest solo contributor and has printed, and mounted the pictures herself.  In the booking office is a new display by the Wivenhoe Pre-School made from fabric and paper.  Wivenhoe Pre-school is a small, parent-led playgroup catering for children from 2 years old.
The new Words-Down-the-Line is also out, featuring a mixture of poetry and prose from Matt Linley, Leslie Bell and Phoebe Southgate.

For more information about these groups and the displays, please see the relevant page. We hope you enjoy them.

Poetry by Broomgrove pupils

The poetry poster went up today on platform one.  We hope you enjoy it.

Off the Rails talk at first-site

It wasn't all a dream....thanks for the video of us Matthew.
http://matthewlinley.wordpress.com/2012/03/19/offtherails/

Slack space conference

Well George and I did our bit today for Off the rails, and no one fell asleep during our talk, so it's all good. Hopefully we've inspired some more people to adopt their local stations & at the same time support their local artists/writers.

Broomgrove Junior School takes over the station

Our new displays are by pupils of Broomgrove Junior School. A lovely display of artwork on Platform 2, using the theme of the raging planet; some fabric work in the booking office; and poetry written by two of the school's students arriving soon on Platform One.

The Sea

Wave crasher

People splasher

Bloat floater

Beach basher

Stone carrier

Seaweed snatcher

Bubble bobber

Froth maker

Coral Keeper;

Keep it cleaner !

By Pheobe Southgate

Shark

The sharp submarine

Swiftly swimming through the water

Hunting out its prey

Like a bullet

Teeth like a jail

Dives down deep

Lifting up high

By Seth Barlow

You'll have to excuse the odd shape of the 'curtain' in the second cabinet, but we struggled to fit it in while balancing on a ladder.

For more information, or to see the artwork in detail, please view the Crab and Winkle Pages, and the Booking Office pages.

New writing

The new edition of WDTL is now on-line and at the station. We hope you enjoy it on your journey.

Next month's displays and Annie Fennymore

Make the most of the last two weeks of Jacqueline South's beautiful animal portraits. The next exhibition, by Broomgrove Junior School, will be up at the beginning of March.

For those of you who took an interest in Annie Fennymore's work in December, you will be pleased to know her paintings are selling well and she has booked to go to Australia, her dream. She is exhibiting her new paintings at the walk-in-centre in December this year.

The snow

Thank you Petra McQueen for this photograph of Jacqueline South's pastel print, in our current exhibition. Looks even better in the snow

Snow

Thank you Ed Stone, for this photo of our station last night.

The bridge- closure

For those of you who are infrequent travellers, there will be a temporary closure of the footbridge on the following dates 5, 12, 19 and 26th February. The station has an alternative route map available for people unfamiliar with the back roads of Wivenhoe.

Platform 1-crabs

This month sees poetry on platform 1 by Leanne Haynes and George McKissock. For more information on these poets please see our dedicated Platform 1 page.

Episode 1,

The crab slowly lifts his head,

sieves the sand in

fine inspection –

moves mastered by agility.

He notices my curiosity,

pen poised, edging towards

blank page-

He fast retreats.

Back to the hole from which it came

By Leanne Haynes

Crabbing

Some reek of sour mud

And lie heavy upon me,

Inert and unbreathing.

Others’ claws are sharp:

Cut the pages to pieces

Then scuttle away.

Some inhabit borrowed shells

Indifferent to my knocking

A surly refusal to play.

Even night’s elegant tracery

Is erased by waking light

Washing over me.

Magnificent monster

Lurking in the deep:

Exposure is waiting, and waiting.

By George McKissock

February is all about animals

On platform 2 we have copies of some beautiful pastel drawings by Jacqueline South. For more information and close-ups of this work please see the Crab & Winkle page.

The work is underway

Proof that the bridge is getting its make-over.

February's displays

Looking forward to seeing local artist, Jackie South's paintings in the Crab and Winkle and Poetry by Leanne Haynes and George McKissock on Platform 1. A reminder to grab the latest edition of WDTL before they run out!

January's writing now available on the station

January's issue of WDTL line is now on the station. Please see out WDTL page to read the writing on-line and learn a bit about the authors.

Poetry on platform 1

Alex Toms' poem, slightly delayed, now on Platform One. Don't worry if you miss it during the next couple of weeks, we intend to display it again in December.

Charmaine McKissock

I forgot to mention that our fabulous new OTR design was donated by artist (and author) Charmaine McKissock.

Slack space

Looks like we might be joining the Slack Space Regional Conference at First-site, to talk about OTR and using 'dead' space for art and literature. We will of course be taking some samples of the work we have exhibited, so some of you will have your pictures in the golden gallery (if only on our flip-chart!).

For more information about this event, the following link should take you there .http://www.firstsite.uk.net/page/conference-transforming-spaces

Railway bridge

We were informed today, at our adopters meeting, that work on re-painting the bridge is due to start in the next couple of weeks. I thought I'd add a 'before' picture so that we can see the difference it makes. Will keep you posted.