Creative clinic in the gazebo (From Stroud News and Journal)

Creative clinic in the gazebo

11:18am Wednesday 10th June 2009

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DO YOU remember the Charlie Brown cartoons? Lucy, one of the characters, used to sit in a little booth and advise people on their problems.

When I heard of artists Alice Hodge and Ralph Macartney’s plans for open studios, I was reminded of Lucy and her booth.

As part of open studios this weekend, Alice and Ralph, collectively known as Argh, are setting up a Creative Clinic in a gazebo at Blackboy House, Castle Street, Stroud.

“Uncannily I do look just like Lucy, and Ralph is the spitting image of Charlie Brown,” says Alice.

Visitors to the clinic will be encouraged to talk about creative blocks, sporting ambitions, ideas, personal problems, affairs of the heart, or anything else they want to.

After the consultation, Alice and Ralph will confer whilst the client is given some appropriate reading matter, which will vary from an art theory book, to a cook book, a body building magazine, a comic, to a football annual, or Horse and Hound magazine.

Alice and Ralph will then dispense a creative prescription, free of charge. This could be anything from recommending a packet of felt tip pens, to chewing gum, a walk to take, a particular book to read, a suggested hobby, music to listen to, a sport to watch, a meal to cook, a pet buy, a phone call to make, a card to send, a photograph to take, or a holiday being in order.

Argh's Creative Clinic is at Blackboy House, Castle Street, Stroud, Saturday and Sunday, 11am-4pm, (part of site09 open studios), and also next weekend. Entry free.

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