I totally agree.
Yesterday I was in Ikea and saw these panel curtains that are used to create space divisions and I thought that they would be just ideal. They are transparent and come in three colours: pink, green and white and the dimensions are 300 x 60cm. They cost £1.39 each and with 4 of them (£5.56) and a string or wire we would have a neat division. I almost felt compelled to make a donation to the forest but I only saw the green ones on stock (lime green). I have to go back to Ikea and I could enquire about getting hold of the pink, or at least the white ones. Now you may not like buying from Ikea, I don't know, but if you don't have a problem we couldn't find a cheaper solution and more in tone with the feeling of the golden room. Me thinks.
About the plants in the window I was looking at them and it seems to me that their would be room for the big plants to stay on the floor and the small ones could hang from the side wall which is very large. I agree with Ryan that it would be much better for business to have the chairs on the window. As it is and as lovely the set of plants are I feel that on the whole they act more as a barrier between the outside world and the Forest than a tempting display of what is inside and we need constant new people to discover the Forest or it runs the risk of becoming a cozy place for those that are already 'friends' of the Forest. The Forest is in a priviledged position to offer for free arts and events space and even space for selling people's work. Why are they not flooding in to use all these facilities and with good quality material as well??? My guess is that they obviously don't see it as worthwhile. So it's a loss for all of us.
But we do have some great art work that goes unsung and mostly unseen by the wide world: the tons of art work that keep happening in the walls of the basement!, i.e., the stairs going to the basement, the corridors of the basement and the toilets!!! Boys, is that art in progress!!! One feels sometimes like sitting on the stairs, as you go to the toilet, and take time to admire it. In fact I think that there should be a permanent note on the gallery to inform the public of it. Seriously. Even more, with all the art that goes on the toilets, if we managed to have a paid person to clean them everyday we would be serious rivals to the champions of toilet presentation: the mighty public toilets of North Berwick! Have you been to them? They are the proud winners of year after year 'best kept toilets'.
Can you picture it? a space with pine fragrances, or whatever...,( the fragrances could change to fit the subject on the wall) and where residents of Pilton and Costorphine would come to take solace and inspiration... and men in suits would check it out regularly to spot the next Picasso...
