This is the first chance I have had to blog since the WASPS Open Studios weekend last Saturday and Sunday.
The weekend got off to a slow start. I was sitting in my studio fro quite a while wondering if our new ideas for getting people through the building had failed but it soon became clear that the torrential rain was keeping people away. The theory is that a bit of rain brings peopel to events such as ours but I guess monsoon weather just makes people stay at home.
Once the rain went off, visitors started appearing, which was a bit of a relief considering the huge amount of work which had gone into getting everything ready.
From that point on, I just did not stop. A huge “thank you” to everyone who came along, it was quite overwhelming. Sunday was even busier and I found myself for the first time ever in 5 years of Open Studios unable to make it around the building to see what other artists were up to. Apologies if I did not get a chance to chat to you but if you were in my studio you will have seen how busy it was. Thanks also for all the comments, feedback and of course to those of you who purchased artwork. It was strange to see so many paintings leave the studio and by the end the red dots were everywhere.
I was even treated to a Ronnie Heeps print. I have a huge admiration for Ronnie’s art and as I also have a thing for Boris Karloff as Frankenstein, this was a double treat.
Cafe Sejuiced has been an integral part of WASPS at Hanson Street for five years and very sadly, following Open Studios, the cafe had to close its doors.
Two new cafes opened nearby recently and it seems that with the recession biting (or is it just the media moaning) people are watching their pennies. The cafe served quality food and was famous for it’s adventurous soups.
On Monday with the cafe closed it felt as if the heart of the building had gone. The cafe will be sorely missed by all the artists and by the lunchtime visitors who preferred something more than an unhealthy East End snack.
I wish the cafe owners and everyone who worked there all the best with wherever life takes them next. They were a great team of people.
