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.

contextopeningapplication

spending time at the moment on an application to grants to the arts to undertake work with 3 museums and collections in the region – meetings with all parties have been really exciting and productive and if i/we get the money it will make for a really positive 12 months.

the work on the lost books project is almost finished and i continue to read around the subject and am captivated by how contemporary Gerard Manley Hopkins poetry feels, there is a knowledge of and an inherent interest in the idea of context and the importance of connectedness.

the images are of a performance of landscapist from the opening at the Camberwell space of bookmare. 

momentbeforeanactionanactionandarepeatedaction

bookmare is/was a great success - the show has a number of marvellous moments when the works are in dialogue with each other and in my case with the space itself. the illustrated presentations were most excellent - the event was tweeted live - if interested - @ccwgradschool #bookmare. stack 665 given by arnaud desgardin focused on his piece in the show which explored the idea of book choice and re presentation as art piece and talked with passion on both the selection of books, the idea of the book and the mediation required for this kind of work.  claire louise staunton curator of flat time house gave the most eloquent presentation of the ideas behind john lathams work I have ever heard - truly informative, thoughtful and entertaining - lots to think about around the idea of the time/moment before an action, an action and a repeated action -  and the role that the objects play in his practice - meanwhile I talked about my historical proximity to a factory building and the men who worked in it, its relevance to my practice both now - some huge ideas such as skill, revelation and testimony were covered by anecdotes whilst also throwing in references to an interview with the lead singer of the dirty projectors, a possible role for the artist in society exampled by the show next door at the south london gallery (stephen willats) and a piece of work I had just seen at invisible - the show at the hayward - a text piece by robert barry - A GREAT CONCERN TRANSMITTED TELEPATHICALLY all in all a good experience  http://www.slideshare.net/l.bicknell/bookmare-presentation-with-notes . now onto latitude!

latelateandbookbombandcare

on train home – only an hour and a half late due to incompetence on train companies part but this is  nothing new – anyway gaining access at the weekend to areas on Orford Ness usually unavailable to the public was most excellent – all thanks to Commissions East and the untrue Island Project http://www.commissionseast.org.uk/html/casestudies/Untrue_Island/Untrue_Island.htm

the afternoon working in the care home on Monday in Harwich was really rewarding with all the ideals of the project – supporting and developing the creative work that carers are involved in with the residents they work - in place http://www.suffolkartlink.org.uk/creative-carers.htm

today was all about developing the final show at Camberwell for the MA Book Art course and then helping to hang the bookmare show in the Camberwell Space – when I left it all looked full of potential and very exciting with many dialogues happening between the work in the show and the space itself - the marvellous folding of the printed matter undertaken by the students will enhance the whole thing http://www.camberwell.arts.ac.uk/camberwellspace/futureexhibitions/bookmare/

symposiumchair

a day at home after a lot of meetings, workshops and teaching. Some highlights were Matthew Bourne at Ipswich – the show is a touring triple bill of acclaimed early works celebrating 25 years of the companies work. Spitfire is very very funny even after all this time – there is a moment in the Town element of Town and Country where a potential lover expresses his angst – chillingly awe inspiring – for me the infernal gallop is too close to a west end musical but even in this there is a wonderful element when the dancers fall into a repetitive sequence that takes your breath away – if you get the chance - http://www.danceeast.co.uk/whats-on/592/New-Adventures-presents-Matthew-Bournes-Early-Adventures/   

symposium 2 at Camberwell was a truly positive day – comprising the work of students on the book art course – my job is to chair and give an overview and to enjoy the presentations, which I did. It was excellent to see the journey they had been on, the engagement with the teaching on the course and a general air of academic professionalism. Discussion ranged from the book as a transitional object, controlling the means of production, the role of audience in the work of artists, the seduction of consumption, consumerism and capitalism and possible alternatives. I am looking forward to a possible show-reel of artists who work with the book but who have also worked with moving image, either as final pieces or in the research towards an understanding of practice.

the printing for bookmare came from the printers, really pleased with it - the folding starts here, only 499 to go. http://www.camberwell.arts.ac.uk/camberwellspace/futureexhibitions/bookmare/

tonight its doctor who with punchdrunk in Ipswich http://www.ip-art.com/what's-on/the-crash-of-the-elysium.aspx and sunday is orford ness with  commissions east http://www.commissionseast.org.uk/html/casestudies/Untrue_Island/Untrue_Island_about.htm working my way slowly to latitude via creative carers and tutorials at nuca – who said the summer was quiet? 

finalshowprintandtrip

The private view at nuca last night was a full affair – with some interesting work on display http://www.nuca.ac.uk/thegallery/badegreeshows the textiles are represented well by the web site designed by year two design students Mike and Adam – check out their site and the work of textile students at http://www.nucatextiles.co.uk/ or go to norwich to see the work.

The bookmare design for print is finished and a visit to the printers on thur will be added to the itinerary during a trip to London with MA Textile Design students from nuca for new designers and the RCA. http://www.camberwell.arts.ac.uk/camberwellspace/futureexhibitions/bookmare/

artisthecentreoftheworld

last night I gave an illustrated talk at the Private View of the Level 3 & Level 4 Diploma in Foundation Studies Art, Design & Media at Wensum Lodge in Norwich. http://www.slideshare.net/l.bicknell/presentation-to-wensum-lodge when asked by Nicola Naismith www.nicolanaismith.co.uk  I thought that it would be relevant and interesting to think about the role of art, artists and creativity in society - both for the young people embarking on their lives and the parents and carers who support them. The show is excellent with a wide range of quality work – a wonderful slice of old school art college activity – go and see - http://www.norfolk.gov.uk/Leisure_and_culture/Adult_education/Types_of_courses/Courses_for_learners_16-18/NCC086964

more work on the bookmare for Camberwell has led me to Hans Holbein’s dance of death alphabet http://www.dodedans.com/Eholbeinalf.htm

psychogeographicbookmare

i’ve been invited to exhibit recent work and present a paper at the 1^st bookmare – an event developed for the Camberwell space out of the postgraduate research program.

My research for this proposal has been around book arts relationship to skill and making, alongside reflecting on my personal connection to concepts such as testimony and revelation within a book art practice, specifically how this has been informed by my early psychogeographic history.

A visit to snap yesterday, an exhibition of contemporary art at snape maltings - it was a great opportunity to look at spaces that aren’t usually accessible.