Yesterday I made a great discovery. After I left the office I went to the library to work on my career project (which I have to deliver in September :S) and at the shelves next to my table, among the most variety of books, there was The spin doctor’s diary by Lance Price. It’s a journal of an ex BBC Political Correspondent who worked at 10 Downing Street during the first years of Tony Blair’s government. I started to read it, and totally hooked me. I think it’s interesting to read it nowadays, when it’s going on the News of the World phone-hacking scandal, which has become a national debate about the relation between journalism and politics. 

*PD: finally yesterday I could enjoy a lonely and quite night in my home. In my home we’re 6 people living here: my “English parents” and four Spanish girls. So, as you can imagine, it’s difficult to be alone, or just have quite moments. And yesterday, instead of going out with them, I preferred just to stay at home, cooking, watching the news, reading and watching a film! Just the night I needed! 

Art at Cockington (my favourite place in Torquay)

Last Thursday was the opening of “Art on the English Riviera” at Cockington Court Craft Centre, a free art exhibition which includes two pieces of land art. 

 

The Horizon Cube by Henry Bruce (creator of the Dartmoor chair).

 

And the Hazel Cloud by Mike Fletcher, a piece that comprises of 1000 large sticks of Hazel which people will help decorate with the red earth of Cockington.

 

It was a great and funny afternoon. First,I had a great walk to get to Cockington, it was so calm and quite.

 

 

I could take lots of photos (luckily it was a sunny day) and drink white wine and eat canapés with Mike Fletcher and his charming family.

And listen to the amazing life music played by phillip henry and hannah martin.

Journeys inside the Journey: Plymouth

 

 

 

 

Although we had been told that Plymouth has no attraction at all (mainly because it had to be rebuilt after being bombarded during the World War II) we had a really good time and discover some charmy places. Like, the Barbican, the city’s oldest quarter, or the Smeaton's Tower, a red and white lighthouse.

Death and The Maiden

On Thursday I went to the private view of Torre Abbey's new exhibition: Death and The Maiden by Robert Lenkiewicz. Lenkiewicz was an internationally renowned artist from Plymouth, whose paintings usually explored hidden communities and difficult social issues. What I most like, were the two large books both hand-illustrated and the plenty of draws and sketches exhibited. 

My parent´s visit (II)

 

 

 

 

 

 More about my parent's visit! On Sunday I took them to Exeter, where I’d just been, but wanted to show them the beautiful Exeter Cathedral. We also watched the Great Britain’s Formula 1 Prix in a pub and ate a delicious cream tea in a terrace at the Cathedral Green.Finally, when we came back to Torquay we had a sunny walk along the coast.

My parent´s visit (I)

Last weekend my parents came to visit me! We had a really good time! On Saturday we spent the morning walking around Torquay and buying food and books in a street market. Then, we took a bus and went to the lovely fishing village of Brixham. We had the famous Brixham crab sandwich with a glass of white wine in the Harbour. After, we went to the little town of Dartmouth. To complete the day we had an dinner at Number 7 restaurant where we ate amazing fresh fish. I’ll be sharing Sunday photos in the next post!

The Lupton House

These are some pictures from an opening of a new contemporary studio workspace at Lupton House, near Brixham. This beautiful Georgian House totally stunned me. It is set within many beautiful acres of gardens and woodland, and it has a rich history: during the Second World War, the gardens were neglected while American forces occupied Lupton House in preparation for the D-Day landings. The house has been vacant since 2004, when it was abandoned as Gramercy Hall School, until it was taken over last year by the Lupton Trust, whose aim is to develop the site as a community enterprise village. I had a great time there, taking pictures, walking around, making a clay figure (mine is the one with the necklace) and eating delicious cakes! I’m just thinking about going back for a Sunday excursion! 

 

Journeys inside the Journey: Exeter

On Saturday I went to Exeter with some friends. It was lovely to spend the day walking around, doing some shopping and visiting the amazing Exeter Cathedral. We also ate a delicious pizza in a terrace near the cathedral green, where there was the Exeter Craft Festival! So nice!

Coming soon

Last year, the controversial Giant Chair of Natsworthy was dismantled. His author, Henry Bruce, will show soon his first piece of outdoor sculpture since his 20 ft high oak sculpture chair creation. Cockington Court Craft Centre will host the world premiere of the Horizon Cube exhibition, from Friday 22 July to Monday 29 August.

So, one of my first tasks as an intern in the Torbay Council’ Arts&Culture Department, will be to promote this exhibition, especially on the internet and social media. So excited!

Photos from Henry Bruce’ website