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Making Time

 

 Dear All,

I hope you have had a good summer.  I know it is still August, but the birch trees in Assynt are already shedding leaves and the apple and plum harvest is ready much earlier than usual.  All we can do is accept the changing weather patterns and enjoy the sun and the bounty of the garden whenever we can.

Well, what a busy summer it has been for me.  I thought my life would become more quiet, now that I am giving up teaching, but it seems that all I have done is pique your curiosity and so there has been a stream of kindly, cheerful, well-wishing  visitors to my studio, all wanting to know how I am and what plans I have for the future.  And it turns out that in the process of trying to explain myself, my visitors have helped me bring those plans into sharper focus.

First of all, I have decided to give up my traditional Open Studio Wednesdays that normally run between Easter and October each year.  What I have found this year is that the weekly rhythm of meeting and greeting visitors has meant that I keep having to tidy up the studio (and myself!) so often that I am not able to generate the unsightly studio chaos that I seem to need at this stage of my artistic development.  I have a lot of ideas that keep getting shelved for want of big blocks of studio time alone with my thoughts.  I realise that this is not what everyone would want to do with their semi-retirement but I definitely do feel a bit of the Marlene Dietrichs coming on – at least for longer spells of time than my current arrangements allow.

So, instead, I intend to hold an Open Studio event for each of the four seasons, lasting approximately two weeks each time, and keep the weeks in between as quiet studio time.  I’ll start this autumn, when I will be showing a eclectic mix of work at my studio (see the picture advert).  And after the success of last winter’s show at my studio, I will be doing a themed exhibition again, come November.  For that, I thought I was going to make a body of work under the title of ‘Roost’, but now, it seems, I have changed direction somewhat and the exhibition with be called ‘Ark’.  I’ll send you details a bit nearer the time.

Other than the four blocks of seasonal Open Studio events, the only things punctuating my 2026 work calendar are the two week-long  guided retreats next year – A Stitch Beyond Spring and A Stitch Beyond Autumn.  Will this new arrangement mean I get down to more ‘serious’ work?  We shall see.  But I am excited to try. I do often reflect upon the facts that that the idyllic environment in which I live, and the luxury of being able to choose how I spend my time, are in such great contrast to the desperation that is being experienced by so many people around the globe.  But I feel that we must each make the best of our given circumstances and find a way to fulfil our individual potential in the most soul-sustaining, planet-friendly and community-enhancing way.  And I pray that if enough of us go about our quiet business with a generous heart, good will prevail.

All the best,

Jan

An Open Field

 

Well, that’s it folks! I’ve finished my last week of proper teaching. No more endless ‘To Do’ lists or lengthy lesson plans, just a wide open field of possibilities for this next stage of my life. Yikes!

Talking about fields: the last course was called A Field of Stitches, and with me were a great group of people with whom to end my teaching career. To get a flavour of our adventures, have a look at the Field of Stitches page of the website.

Another reason for writing to you is to remind you that I am taking part in a group textile exhibition at Studio 44 Gallery in Largs. The range and juxtaposition of works on display is exciting to see, so do go along if you can. The exhibition runs until 6th July, Tuesday - Saturday, 11 am - 5 pm.

So, I am entering this summer with an open mind and an open heart, wondering how it will shape up. I will likely make some small work and, in fact, a few new pieces are already on the online shop of my website, if you want to look. And then, eventually, I will start thinking about the next exhibition, which will be in the winter, at my own studio.

But there is no hurry for any of that. Let the summer begin!

Happy Solstice.

Jan

Open Studio 2025

 

 

Open hours from Easter 2025 onwards are as follows:

Easter Weekend (Friday 18th April - Wednesday 23rd April) 10 am until 4 pm

then

Wednesdays 10 am until 4 pm  until Wednesday 20th August.

Every day from Wednesday 3rd September until Sunday 14th September, 12 noon - 4 pm.

There will be a winter 2025 Exhibition at Jan's Studio under the title "Ark".  This will run from Saturday 22nd November until Sunday 7th December, 11 am until 3 pm daily, then by appointment for the rest of December.

All other times by appointment. Please email Jan  to arrange a time that suits you.

 

NB There may be the odd occasion that Jan cannot open the studio on a Wednesday so if you are travelling a distance to visit, please check with Jan that the studio is definitely open.

 

See the Open Studio page for more details.

 

 

Earthworks Move into Print

 

 

At long last the book version of the Earthworks project is complete!  And as I leaf through the pages of the book, I feel the warm glow of a job well done, thanks to the solid support of Chelsea Frew (designer) and Ricky Frew (photographer).

This beautiful, high-quality art book contains over a hundred pages of images and words celebrating the intricate workings of the earth, as experienced through the eyes - and hands - of textile and mixed media artist Jan Kilpatrick.  Striking photography by Ricky Frew illustrates the landscape that both inspires Jan’s work and provides the materials from which the work is made.  The nature-led processes involved in the making are also recorded through photography, along with a selection of the finished textile and poetry works that emerged from this immersive project. It is a visual feast.

Earthworks, the book, is a textile-covered, hardback volume, almost A4 in size.  It is limited to an edition of 500 signed copies and was launched on the 28th of May 2023.  It is only available through the artist’s website.  To make an advance order, please click here.

 

March 2023 

 

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