Have you ever settled in nicely to a super quaint cottage in the south of England? No? I hadn't known the feeling either. At least I didn't until a few days ago when I made the two hour coach ride down to the small village of Alderholt by way of Ringwood. My friend and I guess you could say former professor though I never really had a class with him, Adam Brooks, has had a cottage down in these parts for the better part of 8 years. He and his wife Cindy spend part time here, part time in Chicago. Adam's currently on sabbatical from Columbia College Chicago, where we met some years ago. He's got time off until mid 2014 when he will return back to school to teach again. One of the perks of being a tenured faculty at an accredited college. See some of Adam's work here, under the name Industry of the Ordinary, in which he works with collaborator Matt Wilson.
The duo recently had a retrospective at the Chicago Cultural Center beginning August 2012 until late February 2013. I was able to take part of the Portrait Project, in which they commissioned artists to make portraits of Industry of the Ordinary. You can see more about that project on their website under Cultural Center.
Now on to the photos from Hampshire.
Caught an early bus from London to Ringwood. Really early.
Properly named.
Thatched roofs are killin it in the South of England.
Backyard.
Nice morning light, small garden on the right.
Nice grass, it had this strange blue hue in the morning with the frost still on.
After hanging around the house a bit and catching up on some writing we went out for a walk around Christchurch. This an adjacent town slightly bigger in size and boasts a 'vibrant' Monday market.
This fish monger was a right nice guy.
We scored bass for dinner, and kippers for breakfast morning following.
Onesies are hot right now.
This old church and castle fort are still standing around 1000 years later.
Seagulls everywhere.
Across the harbor you can faintly make out the Ile of Wight.
What you looking at swan.
This cheesy George themed pub around the way.
The following morning before I left we went on a trip to the New Forest. It's a national park about a 20 minute drive away from Adam's place. There's lots of wild ponies and fir trees and small woodland cottages. Pretty nice hike in there, it was great to smell the country air.
We surmised that the little hills and rolling nature of the fields were made by prehistoric glacier activity in the area.
Young love.
Adam walking in the forest.
After spending time both in the Irish and English countryside I have decided that I am a country boy at heart. I do like cities of course for their many things to do and cultural activities but the country for peace and quiet is really amazing. I don't think I could live in the country forever, but as a place to go as a retreat to travelling it is very nice.