This newsletter, named as a tribute to Meret Oppenheim’s iconic artwork from 1936, is a series of imaginary encounters with Surrealist art.
So why has an aspiring novelist and ex-academic decided to send out these made-up stories about art and artists from the 1920s and 1930s, you ask? Here are some answers to this and other questions.
Why this newsletter?
Since the 1990s, when I pioneered the first university extension courses in North Wales on women writers and artists, I have celebrated women’s creativity across different art forms and periods of history. When I discovered the work of the women Surrealists it was like finding a source of inspirational energy: their work made me feel happy, energised and liberated and their life stories of negotiating a male-dominated art movement were utterly compelling.
As I pivoted from teaching to writing fiction, I knew that the women Surrealists were the perfect subject for a novel and the result, Swimming with Tigers, was published in October 2024. My motivation since running my earliest evening classes in chilly church halls, then wrestling with my manuscript to bring the Surrealists to life, and finally this new adventure on Substack, is to rescue overshadowed creative women and share the inspiration I derive from their work.
Why write creative pieces instead of descriptive essays?
As a former lecturer on postgraduate courses in art history, I initially planned to write essays here about the women Surrealists’ lives and the context of their work but when I began to draft some content, my pen got bored and had other ideas. Instead of writing traditional art criticism, I decided to go rogue and try a different, imaginative, format.
So, what you will find in The Fur Cup is a series of creative pieces inspired by passionate collisions with Surrealist art. For instance, I’ll interact directly with the content of a picture or compose fictitious scenarios of seeing Surrealist art. Sometimes I’ll address the artworks and sometimes (as in the first piece entitled ‘The Fur Cup Speaks’), the artwork will address me (and you, dear Reader).
Will The Fur Cup be fun to read?
My aim is that these imaginary encounters will inspire and entertain you. They are enormous fun to write, so I’m hoping they are also fun to read. And maybe the information I’ve smuggled inside these flights of creative fancy will lead you to a deeper interest in the art and artists of Surrealism and the huge creative potential of surrealist practice.
How often will you post and what will it cost?
I plan to post fortnightly and my intention is that this newsletter will always be free to subscribers and open to all. There will be no jargon, and you don’t have to know a single thing about art or Surrealism to enjoy the journey. Each piece will be about one specific artwork and I’ll include an illustration each time.
How can I tell my friends?
I’d like to share these imaginary meetings with Surrealist art, and my novel when it appears, with as many people as possible so, if you enjoy The Fur Cup, please spread the word.
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