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| “About an hour across the water from the isle of Iona is the isle of Staffa, home to Fingal’s cave. I made the stormy crossing a few years ago during a retreat on Iona. I have never forgotten how the cathedral-like cave with its history of famous visitors roared and spat from its mouth of 60 million year old basalt columns, and how the heave of the surrounding ocean gave the impression of pushing against the horizon, almost as if it would break through into another dimension.” At the top of this newsletter is an etching (finished with oil pastel) about all this. Being there, so perilously close to the crashing waves, striding the rough steps that led around the cliff to the cave felt otherwordly. And it’s why I have called my picture “Retreat”. Other worlds aside though, on a micro level, retreating is what I’m doing currently! Retreating from what, you may ask? Well, I hereby confess to having succumbed to the stormy effects of social media upon my state of mind and, therefore, all but retreating from Instagram and Facebook and escaping to the more measured environment of Substack where I’m starting to contemplate the connections between my poetry writing and my visual work. (My initial paragraph is a quote from one of these posts.) Substack seems to allow me the freedom to unlock the shackles of attempting to give the impression that I know what I’m doing! I love the space that people give each other on this platform and am enjoying constructive feedback and discussions online that go deeper! You might be interested to follow me or subscribe for free by clicking on the link at the end of this newsletter. And now to the workshops…. In addition to the long March weekend which is now full, I’ll be running two more workshops as follows:- Saturday 13th – Monday 15th June A long weekend with the option to book for the Saturday and Sunday only. Monday 10th – Friday 14th August The annual 5 day August Summer School (for want of a better way of describing it). This is a chance for beginners to learn new skills and the more experienced to follow their own paths with current or new projects, all tailored to individual need. To get the most out of the time I encourage you to book the complete week, but for special cases we can look at individual options for fewer consecutive days if appropriate. There will be opportunities to look at traditional etching, monoprint and monotype, drypoint and collagraph should you wish. So if you’re not already engaged in a particular personal project, you’d be welcome to try one or two of these during the week. For a reminder about the way I work and info. about the workshops,click here, and if you have any questions it would be great the to hear from you. Other news If you’re in the Dorchester area between now and mid July why not visit the unique Tincleton Gallery’s Spring Exhibition where you can see some of my work in the company of other gallery artists and guest artists. See the gallery’s website for opening times. They host wonderful concerts there too! I’m thrilled to be taking part in Printfest 2026 – details here. If anyone is in the Ulverston area between 30th April and 3rd May I would love to see you! In May and June I’ll be exhibiting with the 21 Group of Artists at the Artizan Gallery, Torquay – details in due course on website. I’ll also be showing with the Plymouth Society of Artists at the Crypt Gallery, St Ives in June, and at Peirson and Peirson, Plymouth in January 27 In July/August 2027 I’ll be showing in a two woman show with the wonderful Bristol based printmaker Jemma Gunning at Peirson and Peirson too. After the enormous success of our big show this time last year, hosted by Real Ideas in Plymouth, there are plans afoot for more Tamar Valley Printmakers shows this year and next. More info. to follow in a few months’ time! One last (but not least) thing. Part of my daily routine until May will be putting aside a slot for practising the parts for “Small Wonders”, a beautiful and varied choir piece written by Helen Porter, director of the Calstock based Big Jazz Choir. It’s premiering on the last evening of the Tavistock Music Festival on Saturday 16th May at 7.30 in St Eustacious Church, Tavistock. Do put it in your diaries! It’s inspirational and you’ll be sorry if you miss it!!. And so……If you’re interested in any of the above workshops I’d be delighted to hear from you. Please send me an e.mail and we’ll take it from there. After weeks and weeks of that immovable sheet of cloud hanging over us, we have just been gifted a full day of precious sunlight which, this evening, left a warm (if still watery) sheen of hope over the moorland hills. And so…on this note, I wish you all the best and look forward to hearing from you soon. Mary https://marygillett.substack.com/ www.instagram.com/gillett.mary/?hl=en www.marygillett.co.uk |
| Contact Mary: 07817 165856 Email: click here | Follow Mary: 
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