The month has past in an absolute blur!
Neil Wright’s book ‘Meeting Carl Roberts’ has won a Bronze award at the SAPPI book awards. I think it is richly deserved as Neil has worked hard and spared no expense to make a fantastic book. He hired a first class book designer, Durban’s best proof reader and used SAPPI’s best paper to get the results he wanted. The award is a stamp of approval by the cognoscenti and I am delighted and feel privileged to have a book of this quality about my work and my life.
I have recently been invited to consign works for an auction by Christies New York. I was initially surprised as it seemed to come out of nowhere, but of course I have exhibited at Christies London and they are a worldwide organisation. They have obviously forwarded my name and address to New York.
However, prior to this invitation I had agreed to take part in an exhibition for the delegates of G20 and the Heritage Arts Festival that will be held at Gateway in Durban, and of course I am committed to my word. Needless to say, I am working as hard as I can to try and take full advantage of all these opportunities. It does mean that I have a bit too much on my plate and am not sure if I will manage it all.
Talking of commitments, I still have to finish that work for my son, Jack, and his school (you know, the project with the 24, five year old assistants). Help! Send divine intervention.
At last my exemption which allows me to go onto the beach with a 4×4 vehicle to collect wood has been renewed by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. Hurrah! This time for they have made it for two years. An even bigger hurrah! It is vitally important for me as the beach has always been principle source of wood, and wood of a quality not available anywhere else.
The flat piece of wood I mentioned in my previous letter has turned into a beautiful work. It is now called ‘The Passage of Time’ and is made from syringa wood which was partially burnt. (Have a look at my website or my book). It has similarities with an ‘Icarus’ that ended up in the Pretoria Art Museum.
Got to get back to grinding, like Jack’s Giant I grind bones to make my bread.
