Comments flowing!!!

Hello - from a weary performer!!  Just a little too long for me (2hours).  Still, I can`t say I didnt enjoy it, because it gave me so much insight into the way Religion and it`s appendices are viewed -or not - nowadays. The 2 hrs went so quickly - we had many viewers, and it was very exciting for us all.  There is a rota this week so all the artists wont be in together now until we have to dismantle on Friday p.m.  If you can my friends - do come and see the work, and grab a cuppa and cake.  The venue is a wonderful old victorian property in immaculate condition:  15 Dudley Street, Grimsby.

The pic on the left includes an illuminated sculpture by Barrie Hughes, from his current work, and also depicts part of my performance work.

POIGNANT or what?








The picture below is my paying homage to the `door` with a symbolic gesture.  Also showing some art-work in the background by Monica Leeman.

On the way home from the very exciting opening night we called at Louth to see the huge crochetdermy Lions in the square, suitably installed in glass containers, by Shauna Richardson.   It is difficult to describe the size of these lions - awesome!

I am so glad I got to see them - caught a small glance of her work in Berlin  - The golden Teddy.  This will probably be a travelling display - take a look at her web page to check.

That is about all the news for now  - ciao e` questo clima estivo - non badarla!

`Invisible killer`

Hello -I know it sounds (why sounds)  dramatic, and you may think I`m slightly mad but I maintain this disability is `killing`.  Okay!  Just imagine you walk into a room full of `friends, relatives, acquaintances, colleagues etc, and on a good day it is okay - in fact you can probably get the gist of ongoing events that have been discussed by clarifying with a Buddie later on, and that means making sure you have got all the info correct!  You gather in small groups perhaps and begin to converse - good if you can see the lips.  Over the years I have gradually, subconsciously picked up the ability to `read` lips.  Straight on helps (sideways a little more difficult, depending on the level of hearing at that moment.  Large rooms - difficult, conversations from a distance - difficult, conversations turned away - difficult.   I don`t mean to make anyone feel that I`m asking for guilty apologies -  NO NO NO - its just that this week has been particularly awful.  The last month it has been approaching slowly - then Wham - full-blown distortion of life!  I hope it will be fixed on the 18th June, what I will do if it isn`t, madness springs to mind.   I have joked in the past that sometimes it is useful to turn off my aid when noise crescendos and bounces - can I now say to the Gods of fate -  I didn't mean it.
Briefly, my ear (only one good one ) is blocked, not by neglect, but by a prescription medication prescribed on the 7th which meant I could not have my re-test obviously, but was sent to have my ear flushed by the syringing method - result: bruised ear.  Nursing it now to hopefully try again on Monday!!! I wonder - are there any advances in this field? We can get solvents for all sorts of things can we not?

I leave that epiphyanistic dialogue now to normal things!

I have retrieved my work from college - now it is dispersed between home and Dudley Street.  My door and my feet - sculpted by hand in clay but not fired - are ready for display in the groups exhibition, commencing on the 25th June until 29th June. we open on the Monday evening with refreshments etc.

This a detail shot of another piece that will hopefully find a place there.  It relates to the `Tree of Life`.  I have re-worked it slightly from the original. 


Some other things completed - to start the ball rolling with our `Degree show Fund` are the ear-rings. So far I have made twenty five pairs. Fiddley job though.  There will have to be a consensus on the selling charge with my colleagues.

I have tried to make these as diverse as possible - in fact no two pairs are the same!



Other activities from a personal view point is limited, but I intend to get going with something practical soon - just wish I could get rid of this HISSING noise, which has intensified with the loss of hearing.

I bought a lovely Sketch-book from in house (college shop) - it has a snake skin design, and anyone that knows me well knows how much I admire the design and texture of natural animal skin.   I have been reading lots and lots - mostly to do with memories and its different types, interspersed with re-reading on favourite artists. 

The `tops` bag for Paul is gradually getting some depth to it - I hope he`s not expecting too much.

Hope to see everyone at our exhibition - IF - thats IF - I`m feeling better There may be a performance in the offing.

Ciao!

The `Waiting` Weather or not?

Salve mi Amici,  What a difference the sun can make to the day. We do need the rain of course, so I`m trying not to complain.  Still wet days are baking days - chocolate of course.

I have been slightly hampered with aches and pains this week so have not been very active in the garden, however I made some impression and did plant up some ` pretties`in hope.  As far as art is concerned, it is difficult to stop - the mind is a wayward component - I love it!

We went to catch up with number one son yesterday and also to fit in a couple of galleries - in Manchester.
The `Cornerhouse` an exhibition of short films, european I think - interesting nevertheless.  Then Manchester Gallery, Mosley Street, two exhibs going on there atm, one was an African display and that was incredible, plus very diverse in content.  Photography, film, sculpture and installation work, some with recycled materials.  Also particularly interesting for me, an interactive piece before entry.  Paul King was in mind when I saw the first huge piece - about 25 feet long and nearly as deep - made from re-cycled bottle tops. I wonder what he will do with the tops he receives from his savers of tops?   The taking of photos was prohibited so can`t show you what I`m talking about - but to say I could have walked round again and again and will probably go again since its on until September must give you some idea of the impact it had on me.

The Photography exhibition was beautiful also - it included a Sara Lucas and a Cornelia Parker!

Some try-out sculpture last week was quite successful, for me and I must admit it is infectious plus I think it is possible to do loads of work with it - what do you think????

This was my first try and so a bit crude.  This is only amusement really, still good though.

Also, can I share my pleasure of getting in  touch with my cousin Jean, and her family. She has retired quite near to us - York.  The following picture is of my Paternal Grandfather - I have never seen this before, why I cannot say, but isn`t he handsome, a great photo`.  Imagine please - getting to the age of 64 and then to see a picture of a worthy relative (of which I had no idea existed) - long story - AMAZING HIGH.

Finally, I would like to thank my son and his partner for a great gallery trawl, after a scrumptious lunch at Jamie Olivers, and shopping for nibbles at Carluccio`s. Really Special treat.  Came home late listening to Diane `somethingorother` on the radio and singing along to sixties music - Great day altold, and not much traffic to boot. 

CIAO!

`ART - FULL` again!!

Thursday set off for London, overnight stay to return on the 14.08 from Kings Cross to Newark on Friday.  The after effects of trawling the Nat. Portrait Gallery steps, and later climbing the sharp slope up to Maresfield Gardens to view The Freud Museum and look at Louise Bourgeois installations and pieces and analytic writings, once and then again later on to listen to Prof. Griselda Pollock on Psychic Geometry was not only worth it, it was invaluable for me - I now understand my own feelings and how they managed to take hold of my whole being without deterioration.  The flash-backs to experiences of silences, and secrets, of guilty looks, of sad looks, disdainful looks, lustful looks, and the very last look I received from my mother.  I still feel the guilt of this, I shouldnt have left, even though she was surrounded by others.  She was the very spring this piece of life had sprang from and I was the latest spew!  The last successful offspring of life.  This is for her - my art will be my gift. Be it good or bad, I know she won`t mind.  ART IS EVERYTHING AND EVERYBODY:  ART IS LIFE.

I want to say after this monologue, that pain can be controlled and that`s just as well.
It was obvious that my companion was feeling the pace - but we were having such a good look at all we could.   The querie my colleague had for the curator at the Portrait Gallery was safely despatched, and then a short wait for entry to the Lucien Freud
 exhibition.  Displayed chronologically, it showed his prowess and strength right up to his last brush stroke.  This exhibition, even for a non-painter is awesome.
Unfortunately I have no pics of it - but plenty of praise!

Friday morning - Tate Britain.  The new design is coming along nicely, but unfortunately, for me too many steps - and this was to take its toll on me later into the evening.  The first display we came across was very interesting - I have made a mental challenge to note all ways and types of display of art-work, this year.  The four seperate displays consisted of mixed pieces of work with a very subtle connection running through them - interesting to see the inclusion of video/film clips shown together with new works (perhaps paintings) and older works i.e. Graham Sutherland paintings, placed on stands of modern simplicity.

 This was a refreshing way to appreciate the old masters.   We saw some beautiful abstracts by Frank Bowling  - a technique of slip/slide/pour painting.  A Francis Bacon I havent seen before - The Dog.  Which I`m sure you will agree is full of movement.


 

I took particular note of the following sculpture display - the plinth was un-adorned, un-painted and revealed only as it appeared - a cardboard box!

My thought turned instantly to Chris.
I feel he would approve of this?  He is so up to speed with modernity.

The meeting for the proposed exhibition for our group went ahead on Wednesday at Dudley Street.  The venue is large and will take careful handling, however it is decided to go ahead for the 25th - 29th June.  I`ll keep you posted.  We want as many of the group to take part and hope they will as it could be the start of our Degree Show Promotions and money raising for same.  At the moment I`m waiting to hear from a colleague who will be graduating this year as I have a possible prop for her space at Western, its getting close now - hope everything goes well and look forward to next Friday evening.  Best of luck to you all.  Caio!

"TIME OUT" All done and dusted.

Well, it`s that feeling I/ we felt last assessment, and last year when we finally handed in all we had to hand in.  The describing of this veil like phenomena that envelopes you after the frantic actions and soul/mind searching that precedes the words of finality and the last look before withdrawing and vacating your space and your work, is totally incommunicable.  This sensation will last until we drift back into the lighter side of conventional living, pressure-less, but sometimes bland.  Let`s face it, can we live without it, it`s part of our being, it will not lie down, we`ve got to go on, and that`s why we are what we are - artists, and we love it!  Leave a comment please if you think I have got it wrong, or let me know how you would describe the abandonment of the `Lamb to the Lions` syndrome.

For my last effort - I tried to source a `time-lag` connection for my confessional light.  This proved unsuccessful, with Maplins sending me round to Edmundsons who didnt have any stock of what I required.  It would have cost around £20 but if the switch or contraption is handy for future use it is not too much to pay.   The light can of course be switched on - but for a professional installation it would have been necessary to build a small room with maybe a doorway with a sensor mat, or movement sensor light
activated by the viewer.   I`m liking the idea of small rooms!!  The art ideas never stop do they? I will include some pics now:

The finished feet.

In position.

A fellow student helped me transport my main piece up to studio - always grateful for his help.  The floor is his doing too - looks good doesnt it? 
Do the feet look servile enough I wonder.

Possibly?

The inner feeling for this piece is saying yes, so they will become part of this piece and the shoes which are used with a metaphorical concept with regard to the experiential memory of doors and my reluctance to connect with them, or indeed to cross their threshold, will be placed on the step with the socks in readiness of the daily journey to church.





I will be in college next Wednesday morning to meet up with our group and catch up with news and then onto view a possible exhibition site!!  It is very exciting, and I am proud to be part of this innovative and forward looking set.  We hope to be well ahead for the raising of funds for the degree show in 2013.  Like some of the others I will miss the third years and look forward to being there when they finally go on show together in a couple of weeks time.  Good luck to everyone!

`Deadline` upon us!

Wow!  what a week.  So much activity in college - it`s jumping - it`s live!  Well, thats life I believe, one minute you`re coasting then suddenly there`s a buzz.  I can`t say I would have it any other way, but at the start of the week it seemed a mountain to climb, and that has reduced to a molehill.  It has been said that my cup is always half-full!  So I`ve got to be thankful for that.

Tidy up week - paint everywhere and filling in cracks, both human and structural. Some cracks appearing under the pressure.  Think of a problem then realise there is always someone worse off, thats my motto.  My performance was downloaded to a DVD version for hand in, so thats another tick for the list. It is a better quality from the last try in that the pixelation is much less.  I had a positive tutorial this week, and my main piece is almost finished and ready for placing in situ in the studio.  The `Candle Overload` is also at the point of readiness and holding up - in that - it`s not falling off/down!

There are one or two more candles to go on this piece - then it is done.

Having spent quite a lot of time down in 3D this week - they must be sick of the sight of me, but will endeavour to transfer my main installation piece to studio soon:
 
THE DOOR:  This is the most important piece yet - as I now know where my experimental work has lead to.  Taking me to the point of recognition.  I have no pics yet, but will get some to this blog next week.

The design students have been busy this week continuing with the assembling of their Pods.  Hotel/Bed suites.  They have  also been in 3D working and so I have seen the development of these - they are very innovative and quite unique, but I guess that is what design is all about. 

We have also seen performances from the first year students - we had an invitation to one of them - really very good interpretation of the beginning of the world `Genesis`.
Barrie and I gave an impromptu pep talk to year 1 yesterday - although they all seem to be doing well - still they appreciated the few words of encouragement.

Chris`s class tomorrow a.m. and who knows what that will bring?

Caio - a presto.

degree journal: The `DREAM SYNDROME` effect!

degree journal: The `DREAM SYNDROME` effect!:  I cant tell you how the time has increased its momentum-  you know the feeling when you have a dream when it `s a necessity to run, and you...