bookartsnewsletter

started to document doorways lost - No. 71 February 2012 of the book arts newsletter ISSN 1754-9086 is out – published at the CFPR and edited by the wonderful Sarah Bodman – it can be accessed at http://www.bookarts.uwe.ac.uk/newspdfs/71.pdf my latest bookwork created for journey to the podium is listed on page 25.
a full day working on the large books for firstsite, thinking about the repeat symposium tomorrow at nuca, looking forward to seeing all the journey to the podium work at the Beecroft Art Gallery, Station Road, Westcliff on Sea, Essex – i’m taking the work down to be hung on thursday - the private view is on 2nd feb
meanwhile managed to see the new steve mcqueen film shame – a film so relentlessly boring that it moved into the realm of wonderful – the darkness, real time filming, and the claustrophobic way in which the lead characters life and flat is documented make it truly oppressive.

satanicmathsmadeboring

so try to imagine what would happen if your ‘groovy’ maths teacher had tried a little too hard to make maths ‘interesting’ – then arm them with a disfunctional yet ‘wacky’ pressi presentation – combine that with the idea of them then laying out satanic symbols on the floor in masking tape – of course missing the point and taking far too much time getting the angles right – sad - that was my evening with Marcus de Sautoy at snape as part of faster than sound – the only note of hope was the wondrous but far too short sound and visuals by Russell Haswell http://haswellstudio.com/

stillnessandsilence.

a busy time of meetings, emails and writing around the project that I am building to enable work to be made working in archives and collections – developing partners to work with. so far all parties are supportive, interested and have contributed to the ideas behind the proposal.
Camberwell has seen two weeks of group presentations focusing on the students project proposals – some really exciting work was presented – both actual work and the promise of it.
meanwhile a walk at the weekend saw stillness and silence.

finalworkreflections

just back from the repeat private view – the show has a very professional feel to it with some really interesting work. It was good to catch up with past students who i see vey infrequently and to talk with other members of staff at nuca who I only see at staff meetings. my work looks okay – couldn’t resist getting the work from behind the glass and explaining how it operates to people who looked interested – i also enjoyed the reflections of St George’s building in the glass.

puttingthingstogether

started to put together the display of my work for the repeat show at nuca – testing the layout under the glass – making the public unable to touch or manipulate the pieces will be an interesting experience for me to undergo.
the flyer looks good - the typography I designed for the title has been used and the publicity department have followed the general lay out i proposed – unfortunately the image of my work has been printed on a 90 degree rotation to its original – but it now looks unsettlingly interesting.
the day at nuca has been about focusing the students minds around the time they have left and the work they need/want to do – http://www.slideshare.net/l.bicknell/dates-to-go

startingaswemeantogoon

new year was all about the outside – a walk over the mashes at Aldeburgh in the evening and the next day the usual meeting at Covehithe. meanwhile a list of some of my highlights of the year, not all out this year but it was the year i found them.
Book, fiction – Wolf Hall – Hilary Mantel
Book, nonfiction – Folding Techniques for Designers – From sheet to form – Paul Jackson
Blog – http://www.thisiscolossal.com/tags/blog/
Podcast – Freakonomics closely followed as ever by in our time
Music, track – IMFAC party rock anthem http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ6zr6kCPj8&ob=av2e
or Ministry - Jesus Built My Hotrod http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXCh9OhDiCI
Music, album – Metronomy – The English Riviera http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFrNsSnk8GM
Music, video – i enjoyed the knowing postmodern madness of Duran Duran’s ‘film’ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSMbOuNBV0s but
Film – Departed http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407887/ closely followed by
Norwegian Wood http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1270842/
Film – documentary Over Your Cities Grass Will Grow http://overyourcities.com/
Gig – rubberbanditz http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBT4ZWy6Lm4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNFfDirBE6w
Dance – Akram Khan Dance Company - Vertical Road http://www.akramkhancompany.net/html/
Theatre – The Strange undoing of Prudencia Hart – National Theatre of Scotland
Live art – shunt at Latitude http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbL_VvV9tT4 http://www.nigelandlouise.com/
Event – faster than sound with Christian Marclay - Hoffman Building Aldeburgh
Exhibition, art – Lee Yongback in the Korean Pavillion at Venice Biennale http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IVFtFZLmMU&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbMjd5r1WYU
Television – Fresh Meat http://www.channel4.com/programmes/fresh-meat
Radio, series – in our time BBC Radio 4 http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/in-our-time/
Radio show – Radcliffe and Maconie BBC Radio 6 http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0100rp6 or Jarvis Cocker - Sunday Service http://editthis.info/cockers_sunday_service_archive/Main_Page