I LOVE THIS TIME OF THE YEAR!

A time for mingling, for meeting family and friends and absorbing inter-cultural exchanges at all the local Fiesta Majors. I too use this time for networking and discovering new places, new people, new sources for writing.

In the heat of the day we no longer fight against the harsh sun’s rays, but to relax and savour the beauty of the siesta created for a reason – my body, mind and soul needs it!

How do I cope with the flies? It is quite simple really. I have sewn a silk see through scarf around an army issued desert field hat and just pull it down over my face. It has been remarked by one of son’s friends that it looks like a Victorian beekeeper’s hat. Great! It works!

There is an air of excitement rustling around the medieval streets of Tortosa as everyone are worker bees in planning and preparing their stalls, costumes and what delightful entertainment, music dance and song will full the night air.

Throughout the ensuing days (22nd -25th July) there will be many activities and long forgotten sports being revived and the babble of children as they join in. Many tired feet will result but rest awhile at one of the bars, or bales of hay- venture into untried restaurants and savour the local “medieval fiesta fayre”. But above all just go with the flow, mingle, greet and enjoy all you see and embrace all you meet.

Last issue I came across a wonderful craftsman who carves in pine and olive, the most amazing tables, benches, chairs as well as smaller items of bowls, spoons and salad servers, namely John Yeates of Suffolk now resident in Jesùs el campo.

Well, I have now discovered in the Lower Ebro Valley, another local Expat (from Northern Wales) who also carves abstract designs in wood . No less, John Daniel Dickinson, residing in Terrapico el campo Roquetes.

Though I have known of John D.D. and heard he did “some carving” now and then when he had time. What I didn’t realize was how brilliant he is at it! Now he has been gently persuaded and pushed by his darling partner Jo to commit fervently to one day a week to his craft.

The old adage lives on- “behind every successsful man is a woman!”

John Daniel Dickinson is a prime example of someone who has as an Expat, diversified to survive. Now he is so busy he hardly has time for his true pleasure. In my book review this month “A Career in a Suitcase” by Jo Parfitt, John could so easily have been one of her examples where she depicted people to “look inside themselves to create that portable career”.

John like most other artists are rather reserved in talking about their wonderful sculptors. Yet he has created abstract images that are interesting all the way around. One’s that beckon for you to touch and feel, to turn or move and to marvel at how the image changes.

He is reluctant to put name tags to each piece as the beauty of the image is in the eye of the beholder. (A name is very personal.) It can vary according to the light, or re-positioning within the same room – or even the mood of the on looker may see different lines, different things at different times. Such is the beauty of his craft!

At present, John is concentrating on olive carvings at the moment, as he is finding so much enjoyment in working with the multi-faceted aspects of that old Biblical tree.

Besides, one learns frugality as an Expat and he has built up a personal tidy pile of olive wood. This may have resulted from hours pruning someone’s olive grove and the owner does not require so much or any firewood for their winter store.

( Aside: Can I have your cut offs John? I never have enough firewood!).

He doesn’t start out with any pencil sketching or pre-conceived ideas. All his sculptures take many painstakingly long hours to fruition. They are all abstract, organic and definitely not geometrical precise, sterile nor souvenir shop-produced-type carvings. These are a labour of love. These are quality. These should be displayed in an upmarket gallery in Barcelona, Madrid or Valencia. The price depicts the quality and time spent in forming their uniqueness.

( No less than John Yeates exemplary wood carvings of animals on back of benches or his coffee tables that deserve pride of place in a posh villa or apartment.)

When chatting John Daniel Dickinson you find there is more to this man than just a sculptor in his foot high olive wood (and maybe almond in the future, he is considering…).

As a child he was always drawing. Later on he studied painting oils and water colours, a pleasure and talent he shares with Jo. However, he was never an abstract artist. He never intended to be one. It just evolved out here. He says with such emphasis how fantastic it has been in coming to Spain – a great medium for artistically inclined people!

John likes to work alone ( I can relate to that as a writer) and doesn’t like people looking over his shoulder until his masterpiece is complete. Once in his younger days he did pavement art in North Africa. Although he muses that it was great fun at the time, you felt you were like a performing artist in a Street Theatre. It is something you can only do for awhile, but it was a great artistic experience and a wonderful memory.

So what is his secret passion I hinted at?

This quietly spoken, tall unassuming male loves his guitar, singing and songwriting- strumming music to the words. On all accounts he is a great Rhythm (and Blues?) singer. I don’t know. I have yet to hear him. Apparently he has appeared at the Irish Bar in Tortosa and other venues…

Others may know him as a TEFL English teacher and has many achieving students to his credit. Is there no limit to this man’s talents.

If you would like to learn more about John Daniel Dickinson and his sculptures please contact me below.

Twitter@RosieReay

RosieReay@FodenPress.com

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Posted by editor on 2010-08-18 Filed under August 2010, General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry