Richard Woods Fermynwoods Contemporary Art

Pendle Hill Witches

Last week on BBC 4 there was a documentary " The Pendle Witch Child" presented by poet Simon Armitage, based around Jennet Device the child who testified against her family who were subsequently executed as witches. Aside from some rather annoying animations depicting some of the historical characters it's a great overview of the Pendle Witches and the trials socio-political implications as well as Jennet's own demise. IT also singles out the first forensic investigation into a witch trial, where science and superstition collide.

Plus it features Ronald Hutton on more than one occasion which is always an absolute joy! For further reading here's a great interview with him.

Grains

Whilst fannying around un-riotous Brighton waiting for Alex to finish work I inevitably found myself in Infinity Foods looking at the packages of grains pulses and variants which for some reason I find endless fascinating. I will admit I have always liked the branding and ethos of Dove Farms flour but these two handsome packages caught my eye and I felt they deserved a post. Very Angie Lewin.

Some Favourites

Samizdat

Poster made for a Samizdat Exhibition

I recently saw a copy of the above book My by Yevgeny Zamyatin in the Out of This World show at the British Library. Well worth a look if you have the time! Amazing printed cover, there were also two others made by the same printer.

St Peter's Seminary and BOAC

St Peter's Seminary is a disused Roman Catholic seminary in Cardross built 1961-66. It was built by Scottish architects Gillespie, Kidd & Coia and is considered

to be one of the most important modernist buildings in Scotland. GKC are well known for their application of modernism to institutional buildings such as churches and university buildings. Heavily influenced by Le Corbusier the architectural critic Jonathan Glancey wrote,

"The architecture of Le Corbusier translated well into Scotland in the 1960s. Although the climate of the south of France and west of Scotland could hardly be more different, Corbu's roughcast concrete style, could, in the right hands, be seen as a natural successor or complement to traditional Scottish tower houses with their rugged forms and tough materials".

Although there are no immediate plans for regeneration of the building it has been the site of many art programmes both permanent and temporary courtesy of NVA and the Scottish Arts Council.

Another Gillespie, Kidd & Coia building was the BOAC offices on Buchanan Street in Glasgow, the fab interior is shown below.