What Happened to Christine Henderson?

While up at Northlands in Lybster and  inspired by the hilarious Richard Slee's 'Unknowns' masterclass I found some horse harness parts in the scrap pile of a local known as Fred.  Fred also provided a surveyors chain which I fashioned into a nest to blow glass into.  The glass got kind of stuck in this so I was very pleased the next day when on our town mission to witness the master at work in the Wick poundstretcher, I was lucky to chance apon, in the the bins behind the Highland Hospice charity shop, a cheap wicker basket. It was the kind in which dried flowers are presented.  I threw the green foam stuff out which was a shame as Harry, an ECA buddy, had had to buy some using actual money. A badge bearing the name Christine Henderson, Shop supervisor was also on top of the bin.

This time when the glass was blown into the basket the entire hot shop got  got smoked out.  I blew into the vessel but mostly it was James Maskery who did the honors.  You can see Richard Slee in this image.  Unfortunately Vicky Higginson has darted behind James.  I was really weird just letting everybody else do all the work.  Richard had come to get me as I found it really hard just standing there watching as I really want to be able to work the glass I make myself.  Ultimately however because I knew the were serious time constraints on the work I just held my wheesht!  I wore Christine Henderson's badge as it seemed appropriate this time round. I wasn't working I was only watching what was going on.  I wanted to describe a narrative within my work and I imagined that Christine Henderson had been ejected from her workplace but not because she had done anything wrong but purely because she had been misunderstood.

When we were asked to set up our work like an exhibition I waited until everyone else had set up andworked with what I had been left with.  It was ideal as I saw the opportunity to stick the plank out between the plaster buckets and the shelf above.  I was able to put the bowl on the end of the plank and the badge next to it.  It described my narrative perfectly.  Christine Henderson metaphorically walks the plank.  I also made a spontaneous artwork to try and describe the mysterious hidden patterns in nature.

Later on the work took on another dimension when I considered the meaning of names.  Christine Henderson means Christ (or Annointed) homeruler.  I hadn't intended it but this seemingly jokey work had taken on a wholly more serious symbolic meaning.  Jesus also had to walk the plank and he too hadn't done anything wrong, he was only misunderstood and betrayed for money.

This made me quite sad and I worried that night about injustice and what happens in the world.  In the morning I received a phone call from Susan Ratliff a degree student at the National Glass Center in Sunderland.

This is how it went...(imagine Susans part in a Geordie accent.)

SUSAN;  Sarah, Sarah, I've got some really good news for you, its like fate....or Karma or something like that

ME : What, what is it Susan..(rubbing eyes)

SUSAN:  Its Christine Henderson, she has been reborn....she didn't have to walk the plank at all, she's best friends with the lady we have been staying with all week, shes now a really successful textile artist.

Phew light at then end of the tunnel.  The concept of rebirth is important to me and I was really happy that Susan used this term as quite often rebirth is confused with other more negative connotations, but this was so positive and synchronious that I held my breath when I heard her using it.

On another humorous note, if there is a God theres a bloody good sense of humor there.  I found, also in a bin a tiny Henry hoover which lives in my cupboard next to a real Henry.  Henderson not only means Homeruler but also Henry's son...I start to feel a little embarrassed when I imagine that if God is real Ive been keeping it and his son in the the closet next to all the shoes! Clearly though this mighty overseer has taken all the rejections on the chin and is always prepared to forgive!

Oh I nearly forgot, I got all the wood from Jenny Ross a local ceramic artists wood pile. Thanks so much for that!
Unfortunately because I wasn't able to pick up my things myself I have lost the origional plank, some chain and the additional horse harness parts.  If anyone reads this and knows where they are please let me know as I still havnt finished the work and I do need them to finish it!
Also massive hugs and thanks to Roy, Steph and Skye for letting me stay in my own wee turf roofed hoose and taking me up to Strathy beach where I swear I saw horses heads on the crest of the waves!



The remaining images are of Richard Slee's work, 'Rasp' and my other pieces, Power of the Horse and Face the Sun.  Its unfortunate that for mysterious reasons I keep being sent out broken phones by Orange, which even they admit cant be a coincidence.  I took a heck of a lot of photos while I was up Northands would have liked to include the work of everybody that I met up there.  Unfortunately once again they all got sucked into the void that is digital technology!  My work will be on view at the up coming Scottish Glass Society exhibition at the Briggit (?) in Glasgow.

Richard Slee Rocks!