21 September 1999

Talking at last

Hi Ju,

Liz has now left me to send you a more in-depth e-mail on my own, the one l sent you last night didn't get there, so we sent it this morning. I am slowly getting the hang of this new technology, Liz is coming back to check my work in a mo. It was great hearing of all your ideas, I've walked around the cloister area again this morning. We had a lot of rain yesterday, which has left the place a little muddy. The sun is now shining and I'd rather be out on-site than here, but that's life. As l said many of the images you have mentioned have also been passing through my mind.Yes I am all for using the cloister area, l think you need to be aware of its size. It's roughly the size of two football pitches and l think something small would be lost in it, unless it was a group of things.

The idea of a water vessel sounds great, though l think the maximum size for the kiln would need to be it's minimum size. David's kiln takes up to 32 inches in height, if it ends up a dish shape it can be fired on its side. The plinth idea is fine, it will give height, l need to look around about for wood, the gardeners may be useful information. A sawn log may be appropriate, we'll see. I've been doing some sketches, will send images from the A.H. office Thursday afternoon. The ones l tried to do incorporating many of the images you mentioned look very fussy and complicated, l then tried to simplfy things and went very zen, I'll keep at it and send you the thought marks soon.

I am still interested in a snake/spiral shape, it may not actually work with the water vessel but I'd like to give it a go and see, it wouldn't be so important to me if you/we scrapped it later. The idea would be to make a snakey winding shape (we have stones here l could use), this shape would go from the springhead and wind onto the cloister area, forming an open circle in which to place the water vessell/font/dish/something. This part l could begin next week, making things happen/begin. Once we have considered a design l can begin working on it , but it may take a while. If l coiled a dish/sculpture l have to wait a while to let it dry at certain stages or it would flop on me (an experience l often have). Something could be made over the three days l was here, then drying awaiting David's visit with car, to take back to Halifax to fire. So with making, drying and firing time you could say two weeks mininum. This gives us an idea of time, l hope it doesn't sound too rigid, I am open to thinking and trying different avenues.So if you have had any more thoughts do let me know. Love

Rita