Hello everyone,
As the event and workshop year draw to a close, how I look forward to winding up with one to launch us into a reverie of summer dreaming…of lapping waves, billowing sails and exotic ports, when RICHARD & MATILDA DUMAS regale us next week, on FRIDAY 29 NOVEMBER with a presentation about their extraordinary sailing adventure: A YEAR on EL ORO.
I know this is going to be such a rollicking good armchair sea voyage! Between their evocative images, entertaining tales and collection of Til’s enchanting and transportive paintings of boats of all kinds (she’s been working away at some new ones since her sellout Journey to Ithaka exhibition at Maunsell Wickes Gallery earlier in the year), you may find yourself gently rocking back and forth in your chair!
I’m chatting to Til about how we might interpret her onboard catering and am keen to hear how she went about feeding a constant crew and picking up supplies in unfamiliar ports. Sailing aside, all this got me thinking about the re-supply of ships on those early exploratory voyages; the like of Cape Town’s ‘Company Garden’, where produce was grown not just for a burgeoning local settlement, but also for passing ships on long onward journeys. During the year, I’ve been periodically dipping too, into a book on the history of the gardens of St Helena…another port frequented by tall ships to top up supplies on their trading adventures, and mean to ask Richard and Til if St Helena was a port of call on their leg across the Atlantic: for it’s from the east coast of America, via the Caribbean, across the Atlantic and on through the Mediterranean we will sail…the kitchen garden here supplying provisions for our lunch table!
Personally, the idea of listening to this pair weave their tale without need to actually winch up an anchor, put out the fenders or fling a rope to a bollard appeals enormously! As did reading Richard’s book, A Year on El Oro, which will make a fabulous summertime read for anyone harbouring the secret notion of taking off for a salty life! There will be books on the day which Richard will happily sign, alongside a handful of Til’s paintings…all making for some potentially dreamy summer escapism.
How we would love you to join us and the small contingent who have already booked their place.
All the details and the booking form are here. As always, if you have any questions, please do get in touch.
Ship a’hoy!
Mickey
ps There’s just a chance I may run one Lavender Harvest Workshop in early December. If you would like to join me for that intoxicating experience…please let me know!
