The Roving Framer’s been at it again: this time a short break in Cornwall, near the artistic hub that is St. Ives. Being a hot spot for those of an aesthetic-seeking disposition, there’s art a-plenty. Taking my framer’s eye with me made the trip so much more fun than just viewing the works of art themselves.

ornate gold mirror

One of the many mirrors at the hotel…

Staying at the venerable Carbis Bay Hotel, there was a proliferation of mirrors rather than pictures on the walls, probably to extend and reflect the very beautiful sea-light that abounds. Some were antique, gloriously curlicued and elaborate, others modern copies of antique frames hung in multiples in some rooms. A tray frame displaying a housekeeper’s chatelaine caught my interest, too, as something I would be happy to try to do back at the studio should the opportunity arise.

display frame for chatelaine

A nicely presented display frame containing the chatelaine…

A train ride into St Ives (two adult day returns? That will be a snip at £4, please) had us visiting the Studio, Garden and Museum celebrating the work of Barbara Hepworth. That I loved. All her pieces made you long to reach out and touch, but notices forbidding this made me sit on my hands, metaphorically speaking – I had to caress via my camera, with some happy results. Being sculptural, there isn’t much to comment about regarding framing, but in fact the way her works are displayed is a form of framing – putting them into the context of light and space, and letting the pieces speak for themselves. And looking at one work in particular – Pierced Form (Epidauros) 1960, made in guarea wood (no, me neither) had me snatch a shot which ’framed’ my other half rather neatly, as he admired another piece on view behind it.

barbara hepworth sculpture

Getting creative with ‘Pierced Form (Epidauros)’…

tate st ives

Admission to the Tate St Ives…

A double ticket entitled us also to go to the Tate St. Ives, where we admired the ceramics exhibits and puzzled over some of the more peculiar artefacts. I really don’t know much about modern or conceptual art, but try to keep an open mind – you can admire something without necessarily wanting to have it on your wall at home (I recall being awestruck at Picasso’s Guernica in Madrid, but even if I had a wall big enough, wouldn’t want to witness its agony on a daily basis). There were some clever things, thought-provoking things…and downright bonkers things: anyone want to display a plastic u-bend with a flower sticking out at home? Thought not. It probably marks me out as a philistine, but I can’t help thinking there’s a wee bit of Emperor’s New Clothes Syndrome in a lot of the stuff fetching vast sums these days. Thank goodness we aren’t often called upon to frame it.

Yes, putting things into context is more our style, striving to bring out the best of the image or object. So satisfying, too. I won’t be volunteering if we get any flowered u-bends in, though, Tim. Just so you know.

Tilly