One thing that has been obvious recently (apart from the pennies in the bank falling through my fingers like fine sand!) has been the support that I have seen since the awful events of Boxing Day. This is not just on a personal level from friends and family (I still have a much needed back neck and shoulder massage to cash in – thank you Ruth and Julia!) but on a business to business level as well. For instance, Mike and the team at Print Bureau provided free banners to affected local businesses as soon as they could even though they themselves had also been badly hit by Storm Eva’s decision to relentlessly batter Calderdale. This was made possible in part by Apogee coming to their rescue too.
The amazing artwork for our banner was done by one of our much loved artists Angela Smyth. She just wanted to use her skill set in any way she could. This was a beautiful gesture and was done for us in the New Year so that we could hang the banner outside Heart Gallery to let everyone know we were stitching ourselves back together and we would be back as soon as we were able.
Then the Calderdale Rising campaign for businesses began. This has now ended with a really decent stash of cash in the pot for those businesses involved. This was launched by Kirsty McGregor and backed by CFFC who are behind the amazing flood relief fundraising for residents of Calderdale that has now topped the 2 million mark! Without Kirsty’s involvement and the collaboration of 103 small businesses from Calderdale getting behind her and promoting via social media etc I think I would have gone slightly insane sitting at home in my own little bubble of misery getting washed away by my tears!
After a long overdue catch up and much needed brain storming session with Kate Lycett once she had launched her fabulous Lost Houses project at The Bankfield Museum in Halifax I approached Vince at Abacus Framing in Mytholmroyd. Heart Gallery needed a little bit of space to pop up with Kate’s work and also Clare Caulfield’s work – two of my much loved artists also much loved by my customers.
Like many other Calderdale based businesses Abacus Framing have been indirectly affected by the Boxing Day floods despite not being flooded themselves if that makes sense. Footfall to our lovely valley is down so the visitor economy is suffering. This collaboration with him will help not only Heart Gallery have a presence by creating a little gallery space within Abacus but it will also help Kate Lycett and Clare Caulfield continue to sell their work locally and Abacus Framing to offer a very fine service too.
This pop up Heart Gallery with Kate Lycett and Clare Caulfield will be in Abacus until after Easter (perhaps longer so please do keep an eye on this blog) so please do visit, come and say hello, purchase framed or unframed prints and browse the other prints and artwork Vince has on show there too … including two personal favourites Jenni Murphy and Anna Wright.
Jenni Murphy – The Romantic Gardener available at Abacus Framing, Mytholmroyd
Love Birds by Anna Wright available at Abacus Framing, Mytholmroyd
After successfully selling work by Pippa Dyrlaga to raise funds for the flood appeal for householders the lovely ladies at Fleur De Lys asked me if I would like a window in their florists on Crown Street, Hebden Bridge to showcase more work by Kate Lycett.
We did the display together at the beginning of this week. The window looks really cheery and bright and has been making passers by stop and smile which is so lovely to see right now.
This is a little montage of the work that is on display and available to buy down at Fleur De Lys and at Abacus Framing by Kate Lycett and Clare Caulfield.
Vince at Abacus Framing has the whole back catalogue of Kate’s for you to look through and order from as well. You can pay by card at Abacus as the Heart Gallery card machine is down there but it’s CASH ONLY at Fleur De Lys.
I’ve known that these connections and collaborations are so important since I first opened Heart Gallery as collectively we make Hebden Bridge just amazing. A huge, heartfelt thank you to all my friends and family helping me through this but also to Vince and Claudette for helping out whilst we try to stitch Heart Gallery back together again! Don’t forget, with Mother’s Day fast approaching order your bouquet from Fleur De Lys whilst you are down there feasting on Kate’s work and Vince has plenty of sweet cards for you to choose from!
Heart Gallery Blog 