Prize surprise

Surprises - that was one of my hopes for the "Developing practice for makers through museum collections" course. I was thinking along the lines of finding exciting work by new-to-me artists, or starting to work in a different way on a new theme, things like that (which seem all to have happened, how good is that).

For some months I've been developing the "museum-maze" idea, in response to the "Inspired by the V&A" exhibition possibility, and  a few weeks ago was surprised to be selected for the show.

Last night was the "opening party" and the prizegiving, which was held in the auditorium at Morley College (the show is in the Gallery next door).

In the distance is the principal of the college extolling the virtues of adult learning - bending the ear of a government minister who was present.  And then came the prizes. I was flabbergasted to hear my name and the word "printmaking" and found myself joining a group at the front of the room. After being given certificates we were herded into place for a group photo. I'm so glad I wore pink shoes -

and then it was out to the college's secret garden for drinks - how lucky we were with the weather -

After a while I was hoiked back into the gallery to have my photo taken with my work, and encountered another printmaker taking photos (probably wondering why it qualified as print?) - and had a chance to babble on about how interesting the floors in the museum are, made by female convicts etc -

The gallery decided to show my "book" on a lightbox -

Earlier, just as I got to the gallery everyone had decamped to the auditorium for the bar and speeches, so there was a chance to get some general views -

The show is on till 19 June; nearest tube station is Lambeth North. On the V&A website are winners from previous years, when the museum itself ran the show.