assessingexhibitionsandwatching

after watching the truly original film this must be the place with Shaun Penn i decided to get all the films out by Paolo Sorrentino http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0815204 first off was consequences of love which is a mafia movie without the usual tropes, meticulous and lingering in its detail - he really has a wonderful visual eye and the films display an exceptional use of the camera. He writes and directs with a singular vision, looking forward to il divo and family friend and then it'll be onto his short films and documentaries.

the 'book as response' for the library of lost books project in birmingham is finished and about to be packaged up to be send off. The work in the end became a mass of specific responses to the individual lectures and sermons which in some way are linked, all housed in a structure with many parts but still with a 'sort of' linear narrative.

two days in London assessing student work for the MA book art at Camberwell. There are some really innovative pieces that explore new ways of looking at and working with the book form - http://newsevents.arts.ac.uk/event/camberwell-ma-show-2012/

went to see the Welcome trust's latest show - Superhuman - it has some extraordinary objects, specifically for me the artificial legs and arms created for thalidomide children and also a challenging artists films that explores body enhancement via a gameshow! - http://www.wellcomecollection.org/whats-on/exhibitions/superhuman.aspx

late getting to it but also recommending Patrick Keiller at the Tate - a really fascinating show where the work of others is used to create a connective, curatorial voice - http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/exhibition/patrick-keiller-robinson-institute

film of the month survive style 5+ whats not to like about five interconnected stories, one of which is the story of a man who lives as a bird because the hypnotist who made him think that is killed in the middle of his act - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0430651/

hangingshowsandparalympicfire

another doorway and its all go – the show is up and the marks are in for the MA Textiles in Norwich and all is heading to the private view – this week i’ve been hanging/curating the MA Book Art show in Camberwell which has a really diverse range of book related outcomes, next week its the assessment and then what is always a most excellent private view. Off next to the Paralympics flame celebrations at needham market   http://www.eadt.co.uk/entertainment/needham_market_paraylmpic_flame_celebration_day_details_revealed_1_1487531 it sounds like an all out extravaganza! and then there is the Paralympics orchestra at snape tomorrow http://www.aldeburgh.co.uk/news/british-paraorchestra-and-paralympic-flame-visit-snape-proms at the Paralympics i will be watching out for Dan Bentley – the guy i worked with as part of journey to the podium – he’s playing Boccia at the Excel centre and I’ll be glued to a screen on sept 2^nd meanwhile http://paralympics.channel4.com/boccia/

hangingtheend

The post graduate degree show at nuca this year is well organised and looks professional - worth a visit - http://www.nuca.ac.uk/thegallery/madegreeshow its been  interesting hanging the textile show for 3 days this week in norwich and a very successful culmination for the students. Next week its hanging the MA book art show at camberwell for two days http://newsevents.arts.ac.uk/event/camberwell-ma-show-2012/
i've also been working on the bookwork for the library of lost books project in birmingham - http://thelibraryoflostbooks.blogspot.co.uk/ the work is becoming a multi-part response both physically and conceptually to the collection of annual hopkins lecture pamphlets.

somebooksreadingreadingreading

Back from a good break camping in the south of france with lots of reading, a couple of exhibitions and some time drawing.

Reading recommendations include the wonderful descriptive language of Hilary Mantel – Bring up the Bodies, thinking about memory with Julian Barnes – The sense of an ending, the textual assault of Will Self – My idea of fun, the violent truth by Robert Harris - Fear index and a brute of a book Stephen King – 11/22/63

Went to see the very moving permanent installation of Pierre Soulages black canvases at The Musée Fabre in Montpellier. The yearly pilgrimage to Chateau des Adhemar - Centre d'Art Contemporain in Montellimar which is a stunning space and yet the work always disappoints and the Musee de Miniature which never fails to give – how can you not like to see 12 camels in the eye of the needle! This year’s temporary show was of miniature origami.

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. 

highpointscare

well latitude had some high points - the sub bass from metronomy - battles harshness, eventually - the wit of john cooper Clarke - an informative Marcus Kwint discussing the brain with and Hannah McGill - the intelligent sound of SBTRKT is still with me but if I get a chance I’ll be seeking a night out with skittles again – fantastic collective sound with astute, biting words – get to them live soon. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36tnx71FtAA

so back to work and this week its creative carers - the next session is in a care home in Lowestoft – the whole project is giving me space to rethink a lot of the ways in which i work with people and obviously i’m also reflecting personally on a lot of the ideas that are being brought up within my own practice – meanwhile and looking forward to the world orchestra at snape http://www.aldeburgh.co.uk/events/world_orchestra_1

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!