layeredstructures

working on new films of the new structures - these stills of the tests - at the moment there is a sense of the magician in the clips - onto some entertainment - Normal People was lovely and had a well crafted script that outlined the characters beautifully.  Extraction - was quite tedious, how many times do you need to see heads exploding? The final episodes of Better Call Saul season 5 were tremendous and leave everything open for season 6. SS GB was what it was when alternative histories take over - big on period detail, especially the sets, although I did recognise the foyer of the old Central College of the Arts Building and USAF Bentwaters which kept taking me out of the scenes. Fantasy Island has to be the most confusing film ever - so much so that it becomes a great watch in the company of like minded people. There are moments of laugh out loud hilarity from Steve Coogan in Greed and the meta moments of actual celebrities playing themselves playing a version of them being paid to attend a party at a party is head swivelling - it's Carry On the Big Short.

distractionsareimportant

walking through the area around the house has provided moments of relief as the trees do their thing. Revisiting the books on the shelves has led to this collection of images - just waiting for memes to be created. Anyway check out quite possibly the most global experience you will have today - http://radio.garden/search - a site housing on-line radio stations - great interface and the most extraordinary sounds - the whole world comes to you. Jodie Mack has created a body of  interesting films using textiles and her latest, The Grant Bizarre  https://mubi.com/cast/jodie-mack is an extraordinary 60 minutes that will give you fresh insight into textile production. Portrait of a Lady on Fire is a stunningly beautiful film - so much of it is about what is unseen and unsaid https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8613070/ here we are notes for living on planet earth https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11692010/ a tear was shed in the house as we watched a child try and make sense of the big questions around and within us, and finally you need to invest some serious time and mental energy with Westworld - There is a moment in series 3 Episode 4 that totally blew my mind!!!

alternativedimensions

away from the alternative world where I am working out what to watch at Glasgow International, creating a full schedule that includes all the parties and what would of been an extraordinary 4 days.......I have been busy reading - the issue of the model, how we use it/them and how we communicate ideas through both the eye and the hand. A key text is Models the third dimension of science edited by Soraya de Chadarevian and Nick Hopwood and supported by Geometry and the Liberal Arts by Dan Pedoe which has some great illustrations. The work in the studio continues with the reading informing an exploration of geometry and its relationship to the model through string, knots and wire.

meanwhile some watching Collette is stunning with gloriously outrageous acting from Dominic West while Keira Knightley makes sense of her world. Ozark  continued to disturb with its demonstration of how one person can destroy lives in such a seemingly casual way, it's all about survival. The main lesson continues to be to not get involved with drugs!! Unorthodox https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9815454/ is truly harrowing yet there is a strength that keeps you watching. Deep into season 3 of Westworld - episode 3 is a true mind blower with its commentary on existence through its commentary on the constructed world - or is it.....

alternativescale

so in the alternative universe somewhere I am returning from Spain after a few days in Seville it's been the first trip I've had cancelled as part of the current situation - meanwhile the work continues - changing the scale changes alters how the work operates in the hand. The video is a starting point both in documenting the work and developing  new work in itself.

films include - Bloodshot if you like your films superheroish with a twist, Little Joe if you like your films complex and layered. and there is Instagram - where to start.......... why I might get a dog - https://www.instagram.com/p/B6TJ1Q_nbXv/ textiles are important - https://www.instagram.com/p/B-VRUt3joBG/ teamwork is vital - https://www.instagram.com/p/B804rMahiBl/ working out how to behave - https://www.instagram.com/p/B-UnL9hhAL2/

observing the various systems companies have put in place to support social distance whilst shopping is intriguing -  there is a project there (this one is the coop in Halesworth).

foldingmodels

Time is always precious and getting time in the studio to actually make work is always a challenge due to the other stuff - workshops, projects, writing applications taking centre stage. But the last week has meant a new strand of folding, taking on board some earlier breaking of rules and thinking about transition. I now need to document how the pieces articulate and work in the hand.

meanwhile some films - The Gentlemen another outing from Guy Ritchie, more geezer action and for me Colin Farrell stands out as a coach doing the right thing (superb tracksuits). Dark Waters was a churning indictment of Capitalism's hold on the systems we trust. At the time I didn't get round to it but The Trip has it all, sun, food and acerbic wit from two middle aged men in a car. re-watched The Oceans 11, 12, 13 fun fun tricky fun, Brad and Clooney on cooky form.

foldedelastic

A couple of days of developing some existing structures. They are being rethought with the addition of elastic (I knew that the materials bought in New York 5 years ago would come in useful!!!) combining these materials of different qualities - the rubber and elastic explores the tension within the tessellated shapes, makes the pieces fix themselves into 3D shapes. Controlling the action of the pieces 'popping' into place within the hand is very satisfying, one can feel the act of tension and release, fold and revelation. meanwhile Spencer Confidential is one long fight scene which is dull and tedious, Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn is one long fight scene but witty and intelligent.   

busylookingandthinking

a visit to https://theartstation.uk/ Art Stations new space - the disused Post Office in Saxmundham was fascinating, for me the whole experience had an element of time travel, I remember spending most of my early youth playing in abandoned spaces - empty houses, deserted factories and derelict farms. There is always great potential in these spaces, the test is that the space does not impose itself on the work but the two complement each other, bringing out qualities that would not be seen without the other. That artists gain access to undiscovered or closed spaces is a wonderful facet of the role of artists and it is always a great experience for all involved - artists and audiences alike.

this year's birthday celebrations included a trip to London - I was again drawn to Steve McQueen's Tricky Girls at the Tate - it is so mesmerising and each time I see it (now up to 6-7) new themes emerge. Dora Maar has some gems in-between the vast solid body of images, I particularly enjoyed the street scenes and the deconstruction of her Surrealist images which lays out all the images that make up the composite image.  a couple of exhibitions - Play Well at the welcome and Cambio: Formafantasma at the Sackler space at the Serpentine contain some beautiful objects displayed beautifully - a walk in Nunhead Graveyard ended the day before getting on the joy that is rail replacement.