Invitations - and work-in-progress

The invitations for the opening, re-opening, of Dave's old studio in Haslingden arrived from the printers today and I've started sending them out. It's only going to be open for one Friday evening (December 11th, 6.30 - 9.00 pm) and the afternoons of the following weekend.

The opening will be, in the main, for old friends of Daves, colleagues and collectors - but also for anyone interested in finding out what the Trust have been doing. The studio building is, as I write, still covered in dust (I am too) and the builders won't be out until next week. But excellent progress has been made, and its exactly this work-in-progress that I hope we'll celebrate in a few weeks time.

Some of Dave's work will be moved back to the studio - in fact as much as I can handle as we want to be rid of the burden of paying the monthly rent on the storage (plus the rates, water rates, and utility bill). There's promise of help these next few weeks from friends, so I'm very hopeful that the building will look good and be back in the business of housing Dave's paintings by the time we re-open.

Beginning to feel - exciting

The first of the rooms (above) to be completed and ready to receive Dave's work back from its stay in storage. Actually this is one of the smallest rooms in the studio and there's still a tremendous amount to be done. But with a deadline of December 11th now official, we've now got our work cut out - and a timetable to work to.

Today John Spedding and Ruth Evans helped myself and Kay, and how things moved so much faster! The floor upstairs is now just about finished being painted, and John made progress in painting the toilet cupboards and skirtings.

I went to the printers today and passed over the artwork for the invitation (hence the deadline, now confirmed). Next week the text for the monograph will arrive from Margaret, and I'll pass that on for printing in its turn. I would say that - it's beginning to get exciting!

A new van

I bought the second-hand van. Now I can move Dave's work when it suits me - or at least everything but the 12 metres (I measured them end on) worth of large paintings .

This because it won't be long before the building work is completed and we can start moving things back in. Next week I'll start putting shelving up; and Kay will help me paint the woodwork. In a couple of weeks we should have full access to the building and then preparations for an opening of the refurbished studio will start in earnest.

We're planning Friday 11th December to open with drinks and a small exhibition for friends, colleagues and collectors of Dave's work.