thepastisablur

iterations of the film for ALL have emerged from the studio this week.

songs from the second floor - a film by Roy Andersson made in 2000 that somehow is about Brexit and the place we are now. The final solution to the problems of the people is devastating. Those in charge, the business people and politicians  (because they have read many books) are lost - the whole film is a marvel. invited to participate in BOOKMARE project 2 - the title of average sunlight the strange thing was that I just found myself somehow drawn to looking at a web site of my old school (the school was closed down then knocked down and a huge tribute site has been created) something melancholic about the phrase of average sunlight! the photos of past students ........we shall see.

listeningandwatchingthefuture

I may of found a new space to show work for Art Language Location in Cambridge - in

the Land Economies building  - as a result I've been working on a new film adding and then stripping away backgrounds to create dialogues within the work. I so loved sing street http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3544112/ a tender beautiful film that will make you laugh and cry sometimes at the same time - it's a 'must see' that captures something wonderful about the importance of music in a young person's life and you have to adore the big brother and his wonderful words of wisdom. high rise - great style but all the actors looked like they were asking the question - what happened? please no more films of so called unfilmable books that I love (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was a high/low point) - The everything store by Brad Stone is a disturbing insight into how Amazon became Amazon. It's a brutal read that explains why and where we are now as a society that is underpinned by Amazon's founder Jeff Bozos' belief in a quote by Alan Kay 'It's easier to invent the future than to predict it.' 

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Helping out on schools day at Latitude made it one of my best ever days at the festival even after 10 years and set the tone for me for the whole weekend! It was fantastic greeting the kids from the different Suffolk schools and taking them onto the site for schools day. Their excitement was beautiful and having the schools wristband and information sash meant that I felt it was possible to just go up to people ask questions and provide support if needed. Spotting sheep, fending off the Trolls under the bridge and helping pond dipping - excellent. Then after all that onto Gob Squad - very funny, gently subversive, interactive deconstruction of film - Christine and the Queens - sweet and then the crowd going wild when old school tracks are interspersed - why not just listen to the original track but then she is charming (old person comment, apologies) - Christopher Brett Bailey's this machine won't kill's all out assault on the body was grindingly awe inspiring - my second time and it just gets better with each experience http://christopherbrettbailey.com/ I really urge you to go see and be dealt with whenever you can - Grimes - squeaky electro pop - not a crime but...saturday Will Hutton excitedly talked to a room of like minded people occasionally sort of providing possible ways forward -  'seems like a good bloke'! Christopher Brett Bailey reading from this is how we die - I last heard this in a room as part of Pulse - the text felt fixed but here his adlibbing shocked me dragging and kicking back to the contextual reality of sitting in a tent in a field. The conversation at the wellcome tent around artificial intelligence with Prof Arthur I Miller & Dr Robert E Smith was constantly halted by their desire to agree their frames of reference and define concepts - most excellent. Cassette Boy = FULL ON FUN with great head spinning twists https://www.youtube.com/user/cassetteboy . Sophie - knob twiddling without much soul but great noises in there. Gold Panda - his beautiful swirling soundscapes were as ever complimented with lyrical projections. I can't talk about the awful Airnadette we will dub you - lip-syncing  is a great idea for 10 minutes but for an hour.....but back to dancing. Suggs - just no - old man wedding disco playing terrible records badly but then magically Rodigan is on the decks all old school sound system teaching us music history dropping squelching, fades all ska and dub and I am transported back in time to dodgy smoke filled rooms of my youth and all of a sudden its 3 in the morning  sunday Mark Kermode - my go-to film person was charming, thoughtful and direct talking about the responsibility of the critic. Mark Thomas's Red Shed had me in tears for an hour - it is important that people like him exist and his performance was a fairly sobering affair. Sh!t Theatre were a wonderful shambles, a new play with an interesting idea at its core, not quite sorted tech wise but I love their 'just getting on with it' attitude. Adam Green - (part of Mouldy Peaches) was just beautiful, stoner punk at its best! New Order  live - not interesting then not interesting now so wandered off around the site taking in the whole vibe for a final time. Where else can you sing along to songs from a big gay song book, dance to some old-skool jungle under the stars at the disco shed and in the Cabaret tent catch Kenny Everett arguing with princess Di and Freddie Mercury about who gets into Heaven (not the club) first. monday back on-site collecting material, tents and stuff to work with - general camping was carnage, who would ever consider recycling again?

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Francis Alys at David Zwirner was spookily simple but layered - Children's Games #15 and Paradox of Praxis Sometimes we dream as we live & sometimes we live as we dream are stunning videos. Simon Lee Gallery has Bas Jan Ader - his falling films from the 70's seem to say something timeless. just a couple of the exhibitions I saw before getting to the private view at Camberwell which was magical - the work looked great and the atmosphere all thoughtful and joyful. I seemed to spend all night talking to wonderfully beautiful past students who are all out there getting on with it, doing well and being happy - telling us how the course was great and that we do a good job - something I realised I needed and I received presents which is always nice - thank you.

teachingandsharingisgoodforthesoul

textile designs engagement with teachers day at NUA was successful Grainne and myself, with David and Neil presented two great sessions that enabled everybody to be creative and understand what we do on the course. I have received nomination for a teaching award for my work at Camberwell - it's great to feel what I do is recognised as valuable - thank you - it is much appreciated.  Les is always very energetic and enthusiastic, who will be devil's advocate to ensure are assumptions are challenged.  Always ensures that all individuals in our group (we range from 10 to 16 if 2nd years included) contribute to the group discussions i.e. moderates - otherwise a few noisy individuals would take over.  Most of the students are non-UK and many from China so it's important that space and time are given for everyone to contribute and be listened to - otherwise we all miss out.  Les has brought in his own work too.  Essentially a very enthusiastic teacher whose own practice is wide-ranging and collaborative. White Cube at Masons Yard - the 70s work by Dora Maurer is both beautiful and thoughtful - the pieces are a puzzle but this aspect of the work isn't overbearing allowing the viewer to enjoy the folding. If you are in the area the extraordinarily designed mechanical arm outside the Royal Academy is mesmerising - working out how and where the camera is in relationship to the arm is part of the fun. Punk 1976-78 at the British Library is just sad - it's strange to see one's own personal history becoming historicised and part of a mainstream - punk (lowercase) an activity that never set out to be documented is represented by the beginnings of individual expression through the use of the photocopier and bad haircuts, at least the music is present. some films - nice guys - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3799694/?ref_=fn_al_tt_4 funny and clever with laugh out loud moments - "you remind me of somebody else who said they were just taking orders - Hitler"! z is for zachariah - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1598642/ rethinking Eden Black Dynamite http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1190536/?ref_=nv_sr_1 a knowing blacksploitation experience that is occasionally very funny but mainly lame. looking forward to Grimes at Latitude - making do with the Stella McCartney Film POP https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VewWPx6Xf3c at the moment meanwhile I've been recommended Christine and the Queens  - i like her laid back sound - it will work well in the sun!! - http://www.christineandthequeens.com/catq_language/ I can recommend ....Rodigan who I first saw under the westway flyover - if you love your Reggae - http://www.latitudefestival.com/line-up/artist/david-rodigan-journey-through-reggae if you like your theatre challenging - sh!t theatre in the Little House will be.http://www.latitudefestival.com/line-up/artist/sht-theatre-letters-windsor-house if you like your entertainment full of double entendre - duckie is for you - http://www.latitudefestival.com/line-up/artist/duckie-presents-ursula-martinez-figs-wigs-barbara-brownskirt-frank-chickens-disc a friend of mine is  performing in Carnesky's Finishing School - http://www.latitudefestival.com/line-up/artist/carneskys-finishing-school it will be transgressive. the film tent is full of great stuff - films about Gary Numan and by Ken Louche who is in conversation with the great Mark Kermode, Adam Buxton with Louis Theroux and a Bug TV David Bowie special and then there's Cassetteboy vs DJ Rubbish. finally if you like your sound to assault you Christopher Brett Bailey's This Machine is for you http://www.latitudefestival.com/line-up/artist/christopher-brett-bailey-machine

110percentworkingonit

Working on creating the support materials for the teachers open day on Tuesday - join fold reveal: This practical workshop will give you the opportunity to explore the use of the heat-press and folding in creative and experimental ways using a range of different types of materials. In the workshop you will have the chance to use traditional techniques in experimental ways to create new and exciting fabrics. Lots of pleating, folding, cutting and testing - looking forward to spreading the Textile Design at NUA word....

some films - A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1883180/  wonderfully odd, it will make you stop and think.

Elvis and Nixon - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2093991/?ref_=nv_sr_1 a film that deconstructs a photograph, Spacey IS Nixon but Michael Shannon plays Elvis as otherworldly, disconnected from reality, a lost soul searching and haunted. Marauders - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3963816/?ref_=rvi_tt convoluted heist movie.

a day out in Norwich for the British Art Show - http://britishartshow8.com/page/norwich-1521 - an exhibition oddly bookmarked by two of the pieces I loved which explore the earth as a shifting living entity with Sequencer an installation by Benedict Drew and the film, Children of the Unquiet by Mikhail Karikis. http://www.mikhailkarikis.com/category/all-projects/children-of-unquiet/ Highlights for me are Ryan Gander - it's always a pleasure to see his quick thinking mind at work and the images of the studio with starting points for work or even the text being the work is a joy. http://www.lissongallery.com/artists/ryan-gander  Feed Me, Rachel Maclean's film is just extraordinary and comments on many of the hates and fears of our current societies concerns - it is a must especially as you can't see the whole work on-line. https://vimeo.com/167875122

websiteislive

i now have a web site http://lesbicknell.wixsite.com/work