The Mum’s The Word Project is the result of a creative exchange between writer Kate Thirlwall and artist Tim Smyth, as they embarked on parenthood in two different cities: Oxford and Norwich.
Kate started putting her feelings into words during maternity leave and Tim answered them in pictures. In the process they both rediscovered their love of creativity as a tool to process experience.
The twelve poems and illustrations tell their story of the first year as newborn parents with candour, love and a sense of humour. Their hope is to resonate with people on the same journey. The project is dedicated to Kate’s son Otto and to Tim’s daughter Astrid.
Karólína Lárusdóttir:
Wondrous Happenings
Granddaughter to the strongman of a travelling circus and owner of Reykjavik’s first grand hotel, Karólína Lárusdóttir ‘s distinctive work is greatly inspired by her Icelandic upbringing
Sarah Wiseman Gallery is proud to present Wondrous Happenings , a rare chance to see works by the renowned Icelandic artist Karólína Lárusdóttir as we celebrate her 75th birthday. ‘Wondrous Happenings’ will be the first solo exhibition of Karólína ‘s work in nine years.
Born and raised in Iceland, Karólína Lárusdóttir moved to Oxford to study at the prestigious Ruskin School of Art at Oxford University, graduating in 1967. Despite remaining in the UK for many years, Karólína admits, “everything in my work is to do with Iceland: the landscape, the people, the way I remember life as a child”.
In this exhibition of etchings, the artist shares strange yet engaging scenes that convey her childhood impressions of a country that remains faithful to ancient customs and traditions to this day. It is said that many Icelanders regard self-sufficiency and independence as important personal qualities to have. Coupled with a national pride in their Viking heritage and for many, a belief in a ‘hidden people,’ Iceland’s traditions are a curious blend of no-nonsense stoicism, with the indubitable acceptance of the existence of other forces.
As the granddaughter to a strongman of a travelling circus and owner of Hotel Borg, Reykjavik’s first grand hotel, Karólína Lárusdóttir’s work is greatly inspired by her unusual Icelandic upbringing. With regular visits to the Hotel, she was witness to many gatherings and social encounters. Hotel Borg was at one time central to Reykjavik’s social calendar, where society parties and dinners took place. Much of the social custom and their peculiarities are typical subject matter for Lárusdóttir’s etchings; her imagery is often populated by chefs and chambermaids, customers taking tea or dancing, referencing characters frequenting the hotel. Faces are unsmiling yet expressive and intense, relating to one another as if in tacit understanding. “There’s nothing worse than seeing a picture of a smiling person”, says Larusdottir, “there&rsquo! ;s always more going on than you think”. Despite drawing on a bank of her personal memories and imagination, she does not want the etchings to become too sentimental.
Karólína’s work is underpinned by the other-worldly and mystic elements of Icelandic culture. Using wry humour, she enhances the surreal and timeless qualities of different happenings, depicting stern-looking angels and other mysterious characters that appear in her painterly and colourful etchings.
Karólína Lárusdóttir’s quietly captivating works are held in collections around the world, including the Vatican Collection, Rome, the Royal Collection of HRH Queen Elizabeth II, the British Museum and the Iceland National Collection in Reykjavik.
‘Wondrous Happenings’ will be Karólína Lárusdóttir’s second solo exhibition with Sarah Wiseman Gallery, having exhibited with the gallery in 2004. Her last solo exhibition at The Contemporary Art Gallery in Reykjavik in 2010.
Heavy Pop & Modern Art Oxford present Mellor + Ideal Marriage
FRI 22nd MARCH | Modern Art Oxford, Oxford
FREE ENTRY – SIGN UP HERE: https://bit.ly/2Dnv4U4
or WeGotTickets
AGES: 14+ | Doors 8pm
– Mellor –
‘This is refreshing indie music to remind you that you are alive and the future does hold plenty of promise’ – Fresh On The Net
‘I’m sure there’s gonna be a lot of fans of this kind of music’ – Frankie Francis, Amazing Radio
Mellor are a Reading-based indie band taking their name from Joe Strummer aka John Mellor. After a reshuffle of members the new line-up has settled on: Gary Kingham on vocals, Sam Igoe on drums, Kristian Bell on guitar, and Josh Woodward.
Support for Mellor has come from far and wide – they’ve featured on the Spotify Indie list, Transistor and Hot New bands playlists, Apple Music’s Breaking Bands playlist, had national and local radio support from Tom Robinson, John Kennedy, Frank Skinner and most recently Abbie McCarthy on BBC Radio 1, who hailed previous single Safe Word as a “Straight up Indie banger”.
Catch Mellor’s electric live show at Modern Art Oxford as part of their nationwide tour finishing at Camden Rocks Festival, London. Mellor new single Helsinki will be released on the day of their Modern Art Oxford headline show.
Support comes from Ideal Marriage, a new band from Oxford. In the final weeks of 2018, Ideal Marriage released their well received debut single ‘Better Now’ and played their debut show in Oxford. 2019 is all set to be the year Ideal Marriage truly establish themselves in the ever thriving Oxford Music scene. They’ve received support from BBC Introducing Oxford in the form of an interview and radio airplay and they’ve very recently finished recording their follow up material to ‘Better Now’, scheduled to be released very soon.
Ideal Marriage is made up of Christian (Vocals), Danny (Guitars), Dave (Guitars), Simon (Drums) and Stuart (Bass). They draw influence from Death Cab for Cutie, Foxing, Frightened Rabbit and Brand New. Their debut single Better Now is available now on Spotify and Apple Music.
Learn to knit in the round using circular knitting needles. We will look at how to start knitting in the round, how to avoid mistakes and will begin to knit a simple cowl.
Entrelac is a knitting technique used to create a textured diamond pattern and the result resembles basket-woven strips of knitted fabric. It can be knitted in one colour and is also very effective if several colours are used when knitting in entrelac stripes. Basic knitting skills only are needed.
Intermediate level, you should be comfortable with basic knitting techniques (cast on, knit, purl).
Materials: You will need a 4mm knitting needles and x2 50g balls double knit weight yarn in contrasting colours.
Come and create a miniature garden of your very own, with expert tuition provided by Gareth @spiderplantman. Learn about the various layers and materials used whilst you make your own cork bottled terrarium to take home and cherish. We will provide you with everything you need – it can get a bit messy so please do bring an apron if you’d like. Refreshments provided. Limited places available.
Book online here – www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/terrarium-workshop-tickets-58384813549 – or call the shop – 01865 200281
All our workshops make perfect gifts too, please let us know if you would like a gift voucher to present to the lucky recipient!
On Saturday 23rd March SneakySupperClub is back in our favourite Oxford haunt, The Isis Farmhouse Pub, by Iffley Lock. Come and join us for another great evening of five courses of delicious food, with a little fantastic live gypsy jazz from our amazing hosts Noreen and Adrian! Menu to be released soon and tickets are on sale now.
The Oxford Artisan Distillery is holding its next Local Food & Craft Market on Sunday, March 24th from 10-4pm. Come along to support independent businesses and organisations and pick something up for your mum for Mother’s Day! Kids can make a Mother’s Day card too in our Creative Kids Lab!
Do you use words to tell people about your business?! Then this workshop is for you…
Whether it’s on your website, in an email or blog, on a flyer, or in a Facebook post, your writing is communicating something about who your company is – and it’s not just about what you say, but how you say it. Ultimately the way you talk to your customers or clients can be the deciding factor for whether or not people will buy into what you’re selling.
So come join brand voice crafter and wordsmith extraordinaire Bethany Joy for an intensive session on brand voice. Merrily throwing marketing jargon out of the window and keeping things simple and fun, she’ll be offering you a practical guide to shaping the language your business uses so that through it people get a better sense of your organisational personality – and are inspired to engage with you.
** Light refreshments are included in the ticket price
You’ll leave with:
New inspiration about the power of language and how it can make or break your business
A simple but clearly defined brand voice for your business
Some mini guidelines to help you consistently write in a way that brings that voice to life
** Only 10 tickets available, so book now! **
Businesses who’ve come to this brand voice workshop say…
“Well-presented, fascinating and hugely practical – every business should be thinking about this stuff.”
“Beth’s workshop was super engaging and informative, yet with a relaxed and friendly environment – I learnt a lot!”
“This session really opened my eyes and made me look at our company’s language in a completely new light. It’s made me realise how much needs to change, but in an encouraging way that’s also shown me what the positive opportunities are.”
About Bethany Joy
A brand voice crafter and wordsmith extraordinaire, Beth helps passionate people with big ideas find the words they need to get got!
She began her working life in charity communications just over a decade ago, before moving on to comms and brand consultancy and then copywriting for a creative agency. Beth now puts bread (and bacon, always bacon) on the table by helping organisations find a writing style and voice that truly shows the passion and personality of their business, as well as creating gettable and irresistible copy for their websites, campaigns, leaflets and blogs.
You can check her out at bethanyjoy.org
A pragmatic, inspiring workshop hosted by Independent Oxford Business Services Member Penny Tunnell to help you set powerful goals and create a clear plan for 2019. Ideal for small businesses with big ambition. You will develop the tools and know-how to create, communicate and achieve inspiring goals for the year ahead.
Clarify your purpose and vision
• Structured reflection on learnings of the past
• Proven methodology for setting meaningful goals
• How to understand your customer better
• How to develop a clear sales plan
• Dealing with mind-set and motivation
• How to overcome barriers and make it happen
• Accountability and measuring performance
WORKSHOP CONTENT:
Sharing of ideas with other people in the same boat
Practical exercises for your business
A unique blend of coaching and training
Aligning of personal and professional goals
Feel empowered, confident and on track for a great 2019!
Networking Lunch included.
