A Single Red Rose……The People’s Flag…… Midsummer Magic……
by Bernie Bell - 07:23 on 08 June 2025
A Single Red rose….
Mike has got involved with a plan to assess footpaths in Evie & Rendall. His investigations took him to the shore at the Bay of Isbister, and he brought this home for me.......
I likes it, and placed it on my desk.
We were wondering where it came from and what it might have been part of, so I sent the pics. to Andrew Appleby – of Fursbreck Pottery fame – which led to the following exchange….
Andrew…..
“That is an eroded porcelain rose from a funerary wreath! Very popular in France, and preceded plastic. Also kept Potters in work.
Lovely to see it.”
Me….
“From a funerary wreath! That figures – I’m thinking of the examples in the recent Museum exhibition…
http://www.spanglefish.com/berniesblog/blog.asp?blogid=17212
I’m not keen on the entire pieces, which is why I didn’t take photos of them - but I do like my single, red rose.
And, what story is behind the wreath that it came from? So many stories behind found bits of ceramic, most of which we’ll never know.
Thanks Roo – my go-to Pottery Person!”
And I’m reminded of the piece of Slipware found on the shore by the Hall of Rendall….
http://www.spanglefish.com/berniesblog/blog.asp?blogid=16695
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The People’s Flag….
Friday night's chippy tea came in a Saltire box ...Yay!...
The People’s flag
Is brightest blue
Crossed by a broad
White line or two.
It stands for Scotland
Standing free
Not bound by force
Or adversity.
So raise the blue-bright
Banner high
Beneath its shade
We’ll live and die.
Though cowards flinch
And traitors sneer
We’ll keep the Saltire
Flying here!
BB – 2021
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From Jo Coates…..
“Midsummer Magic!
A solo show, an exciting workshop, a talk and some real talk!
A new exhibition by visual artist Joanne Coates. Red Herring explores the overlooked histories of women’s labour and class solidarity through the legacy of the Herring Girls—an itinerant all-female workforce central to the fishing industry between the 18th and 20th centuries. Developed during a six-month residency at Timespan in Helmsdale, the project is grounded in archival research, community collaboration and Coates’ lived experience as a working-class artist.
Red Herring brings to light the stories of the Herring Girls—also known as Gutting Girls or Herring Lasses—who travelled seasonally to coastal towns gutting and packing fish. Often underpaid, injured, and working in harsh conditions, these women formed complex communities that carved out independence in a male-dominated public space. A key moment of collective resistance—the 1936 Great Yarmouth strike—is highlighted in the exhibition as an overlooked instance of working-class feminist organising.
A set of 20 new works, using archival imagery, installation, photography, and ceramics.
Find out more here: https://timespan.org.uk/programme/exhibitions/red-herring-joanne-coates/
The planning alongside shows has always been a part of my practice, since the early days in my foundation year assisting on workshops at The Photographers Gallery. Now I've had the chance to co-programme one - Salt & Sliver. A weekend of events in Helmsdale -
https://timespan.org.uk/programme/events/salt-silver/
Woman's hour (!!), Simon Schama (!!!!) & more.
Earlier this year I featured on a bloody incredible series - Story of Us’ Watch here After a real struggle to be in the arts, and embracing my dual work as farm labourer, its a relief to know people will accept you. This episode really shows why the arts is needed what is capable of, and how it can better society. I might have shed a tear.
Service95 - No Trust Fund? No Problem – How To Get A Job In The Arts Without A Helping Hand (By The Creatives Who’ve Done It)
Guardian - Nine working-class creatives on class in the arts – and how they made it
Also Showing ...
Daughters of the Soil is now open at Farley's house and gallery. An old dairy farm, Lee Miller's archives and old home. A renovated agricultural barn. An incredible place to show work.
After the End of History - Stills - https://stills.org/exhibitions/after-the-end-of-history-exhibition/
Dis_place - Disability online virtual show - https://dis-place.art/
Many Hands - Sunny Bank Mills - https://www.sunnybankmills.co.uk/arts/gallery/many-hands/
Masterclass workshop @ Stills Edinburgh
Bit excited to be a small masterclass at Stills in Edinburgh this weekend. When I first graduated Denise at The Little barn gave me a bursary to do a small masterclass in London. It gave me a direction of how to shape my practice. This workshop will focus on creating your own manifesto, sharing how I have defined my work around lived experience.
Tickets Here:
https://stills.org/product/masterclass-joanne-coates/
Thanks as always for reading so far. A quick update to share some exciting bits. This year has been a....year. One where I've struggled with who I am as artist, feeling a real loss of hope towards class and class awareness in the Arts. I've always fought against, that soft rebellion but last year it was too much on too many fronts and took me back to a place I've worked hard to get out of. I really struggle with these articles about ' how i made it in the arts' as I don't really feel I have. I'm still milking cows, barely get a minimum wage, struggle with meetings but embrace and welcome new opportunities and challenges. I have met incredible people but honestly it's been a ride. This is less considered as I've been really struggling. I will always carry on and won't let that fire go out but for now stoking those ashes. Ready to rise from the flames as midsummer comes in.“
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My memory of ’Timespan’, Helmsdale…
https://theorkneynews.scot/2017/10/08/bernie-bell-bernie-mikes-road-trip-spring-2017-10/
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