ashortlonghotsummerjustpassedmebye

 

So - my dad died..........whilst was re-reading David Sedaris I came across this quote by Saul Bellow, “Losing a parent is something like driving through a plateglass window. You didn't know it was there until it shattered, and then for years to come you're picking up the pieces.” Life goes on – the Summer ‘break’ felt both huge and long and blisteringly short. Closing a life appears to be mostly about being totally sad whilst undertaking a mountain of bureaucracy. A list of activity apart from the death thing - Premadonna festival Some great panels – Bee Rowlatt so good I bought the book - really enjoyed reading One Woman Crime Wave.

Latitude - What to say that hasn't already been said - it's a washed up mainstream commercial venture, trading on past glories, peopled by angry old people decamped on large rungs sitting in folding chairs in front of the main stage, but its down the road and it would feel odd not to turn up. The sad - Duran Duran - The good - Lankum was dark and brooding - The excellent – The Darkness was like a metal tribute band (in a good way) - The most fantastic - Chic with Nile Rodgers was awesome.

6 days in Hamburg - what an easy city to live in - so green with water everywhere - we cycled all weeks on bikes hired from Happy Bikes, the bike lanes are fantastic, although waiting for lights to turn green when there is no traffic is challenging. Art - saw so much, highlights include the show Manual for Survival at Deichtor Hallen, an amazing exhibition that asks deeply searching questions about where we are today. Had to buy the catalogue. Museums - after the art, the lens you look at stuff is in relationship to issues around waste, the environmental impact of humans and displaced energy. I loved the whole of the Museum Der Arbeit, the museum of work, fantastic exhibits which are obviously still used, especially the print room. Hamburger Kunsthalle has a beautiful installation based on Casper David Friedrich, whose work is also on display. Also got to see Serra's measurement of time/seeing is believing. The Spiegel canteen in the MK is gloriously trippy. MARKK is a glorious space, and it has a 'take no prisoners' approach to the truth. A show about lithium mining, relating this to salt Peter mining, a show about Benin bronzes the museum is repatriating, erotization of The Tirol region, alongside displays which celebrate Korean culture, including a yurt, a Maori meeting building and some of the oddest masks ever. The Maritime Museum down by the truly extraordinary harbour buildings has a whole floor of mini models of boats which will blow your mind, remember for each model there is at least one full sized example out there. The odd - you must go to mini world, it will disturb and engage in equal measure, sometimes at the same time. The silencing - a visit to Neuengamme, a WW2 work camp, built to make bricks for the German war effort was so insightful. From the individual, personal stories to the disturbing diagrams. It led to an overpowering understanding of the extensive bureaucratic systems set up by the Germans to control and destroy a culture, something akin to our role in Colonialism. This was especially pertinent as race riots were going on in England at the same time, no learning seems to have taken place. The space enabled my ability to reflect on the concept of a 'war effort' for all sides.

The show at Solid Haus was interesting – each year the work chosen is thoughtful and the people nice. Highlight was rewatching The Girl Chewing Gum, 1976 by John Smith, wonderful and laugh out loud Tom, 2007 by Jack Strange. Summer meals outside with old friends has been a wonderfully supportive activity and we have had some lovely days and evening (we did have some good weather. 

Tattoos have been a physical marking of the metal turmoil. I have some new ones and existing lines have been joined up in a very symbolic recognition. Thanks again to @jim_skins for the skilful, understanding and care. 

A weak(ish) in Croatia for a wedding gave respite and acted as a bookend to the Summer. Whilst there we checked out a bay where all the huge hotels were destroyed and abandoned. It was odd to be in these spaces of pleasure, I felt that I understood the activities that took place here, unlike say a castle. I have walked in these types of spaces, and it was truly disturbing to see them in such a state. The wedding was a Bosnian/English affair with great/odd music and fantastic conversations – I loved the photographer’s choreography at the ceremony.  

It was nice to be invited by Rebecca Riess and Alexander Costello to be part of For Folk Sake https://thecut.org.uk/events/for-folks-sake-2/ and a spending afternoon was spent talking art whilst choices were made.

handmademachines

Continuing to work on 3D prints, pushing the printing to the edge of its parameters. By exploring the potential of the process, the unexpected happens. The outcomes are unlike those on the screen but are no less interesting. The latest works are at the far end of the settings - 0 fill, 0 support and its parameters are set at 1. Who knows what will happen as the work starts to gain some form of fragility in line with the human hand and in some way celebrates the unknown. This year’s Latitude was fun – highlights include the glorious Pulp, the hypnotic Tinariwen, dancing to the always fantastic disco shed and singing along to Beatles Dub Club – hilarious. Onto screens - Asteroid City was glorious and yet strangely tiring with the excessive details in the costumes, sets and the clever script – both the words themselves and the general story – a must see. Songwriter, the 2018 documentary about Ed Sheeran is stunningly beautiful – mesmerizing when songs are created from almost nothing it’s a little like magic. Next up the 2023 documentary Sum of it All.  Just getting into Champion – lots to think about all accompanied by a great soundtrack.

latitudetiredbutstillthere

A Quiet Place - "Kevin" Garnet Mimms

well - it's that time of year so it must be Latitude - having attended all of them from day one it's easy to see the changes that have taken place - initially an alternative space with a bold live art offer we now have a NEXT and Pepsi Max - George Ezra where once we had Kraftwerk. There is also a feeling of a general lack of care, the program had lots of difference from what was actually on the stage, each tent feeling similar, the Film and Video space appears to have no direction, or anybody actually hosting hence acts were often 30 mins late and the usual rolling program of odd and interesting short films was gone. Finally the wood feels lost and slightly sleazy rather than purposeful. Oh well - anyway the highlights for me was the almost magisterial Simon Armitage who spoke with confidence and professionalism, a really class act. Egg - a comedy duo with great energy who were very funny http://eggcomedy.com/about-us/ Luke Wright - keeping the edge of old school anger alight, an alternative island in a sea of mainstream https://www.lukewright.co.uk/ Los Bitchos, all female guitar band playing a soundtrack to a dodgy psychedelic Mexican cowgirl film https://losbitchos.bandcamp.com/ Mark Kermode - talking about the bands he has been in was just a warm glow of knowingness Underworld - a 10 minute version of Born Slippy Daughter by Adam Lazarus was a harrowing series of uncomfortable calibrated questions https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2018/aug/11/daughter-review-canada-hub-kings-hall-edinburgh-fringe-festival The Middle Floor - easy going hip hop garage tunes from Ipswich https://www.facebook.com/themiddlefloor/ Sons of Kemet - afro jazz madness, their entire set felt like it was on the edge of collapsing with every member of the band (two drums) playing fast and furious giant solos throughout - totally excellent. http://www.shabakahutchings.com/sons-of-kemet/ The real highlight of the weekend was John Cooper Clark on Desert Island Discs - superb tracks, thoughtful and insightful commentary - a true gentle giant of words - tremendous radio https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000701x

latticeknowhow

Constellation - an exhibition of bookart that I have some work in has been extended till August 14th - https://www.wyofile.com/a-constellation-of-artists-books-challenges-viewers/ so again if you happen to be in the area pop into the County Library in Cheyenne, Wyoming. https://lclsonline.org/constellation-inspiration-and-the-artist-book/  The break means that I have had some time to create new work for knowwhere - monumental miniatures that explore lattice structures.

White cube Bermondsey has a show of 3 people - Peter Dreher's obsessive paintings of an empty glass are truly excessive and the paintings of Des Lawrence go beyond painting, their conceptual and practical making have an almost impenetrable otherness. A visit to Tate gets you a very busy lesson in 'reflected light is interesting, with Olafur Eliasson and Takis has some magnets and bulbs - the only compensation was that the Tate had left out the more dubious sculptures of women that was in his show at the Palais de Tokyo in 2015. After a long drawn out set up Captive State has a nice but fairly clearly transmitted twist and with Lying and Stealing we may of been here before. Its Latitude weekend - mainly looking forward to revisiting Underworld but quirky second choice is going to be the proto-analogue-electronic - KOKOKO - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QwjURBSIPA

finaldaysofworkandsomeplay

some images from the 2018 MA Book Art Degree show - it has one of the most interesting catalogues produced by the students in the courses long history. a link to the presentation I gave at Making Materials Matter conference for science teachers on friday. https://www.slideshare.net/l.bicknell/presentation-for-making-materials-matter-with-video-links   I'm already looking forward to Spill Festival - https://spillfestival.com/spill-2016-brochure/ I have got the 2018 program in my hands and highlights have to be Shared Saliva, David Hoyle, Le Gateau Chocolat, Kernschmelze II, Jodee Mundy Collaborations and of course you cannot go without seeing Forced Entertainment - Complete Works: table top Shakespeare. I saw them last doing it at the Barbican and was mesmerised. Latitude was Latitude - a real highlight for me was John Hopkins whose sound and visuals always blow me away (how does he get from one set of sounds to another?) alongside a fantastic glitchy version of  open eye signal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q04ILDXe3QE he played the glorious new work I only know as trailer https://www.residentadvisor.net/news.aspx?id=41150  Also came across Jimothy Lacoste which was fun. The program was a little thin and the heat and dust meant a lot of sitting around hanging out with people so a nice time was had by all.

good'guys'andgoodvibes

The MA private view at Camberwell was a great night - so many Book Art alumni conversations amongst the thoughtful work. The excellent catalogue explores the book and presents the students in an intelligent publication.

Latitude - volunteering to introduce Suffolk primary children to a music festival is such a great call. this years experience was even better than last - in the light of how the world feels it was a joy to introduce the idea of fun! once the job of chaperoning children and supporting teachers was over it was off to engage in the experience that is Latitude - some recommendations from the mass of eclectic cultural activity - Sheffield Documentary Festival https://www.sheffdocfest.com/  had immersive VR - the most extraordinary film was step to the line about transformation in an American maximum security prison, I was so effected I 'steamed up' the goggles. Martin Creed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUz77tOOFOA was just punk at its best - I loved his word play and his dedication of a song to terrorists set just the right tone. Mark Thomas was ferociously on the button - I almost died with laughter at his description of the DUP going to buy bread!!! Mark Kermode talking with Paul Greengrass was a consummate interview, I was moved by Pauls description of Setright’s thoughts on Senna's flow as well as where to stand when making a film. I never fail to be astonished and moved by Linton Kwesi Johnson's strong, respectful stance. Max and Ivan had gentle narrative comedy sketches with a neat twist. In terms of dancing late night disco shed was a winner as always but if you wanted something harder DJ Semtext, was the answer, Kurupt FM is confusing - so knowing that it becomes the thing it is questioning - or is it!  FatboySlim was a hoot - big beat with all encompassing visuals - and finally - Dave a winner - very cool, intelligent danceable beats. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5N7V2fkpJqk

lookinglisteningchanging

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?

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

andthepointofrecyclingis....

recycling - I know - if we all do our bit we will in some way save the world - but..... the aftermath of Latitude is a depressing place, although working with RAW to collect materials to work with on a project felt that maybe it was ok.  no.............................. it was quite sad.

newwaysofthinking

Assessments are all over and all is well - the postgraduate exhibition at Camberwell for the Book Art MA will be excellent – there is some stunning work and the show looks good if I say so myself. It’s full of challenging, contemporary anarchic work. Every year I am stunned by the inventive ways the students explore the idea of the book, its properties and the very bookness of the book and this year is no exception, in fact there are some stunning examples where genuinely new ideas are explored.

Working on my thoughts for what I want from the experience of working with scientists at The Cambridge Nanoscience and Nanotechnology doctoral training centre (NanoDTC) over the summer. I think as ever when collaboration is on the table the obvious thing is the sharing of methodology, access to new ways of thinking and new materials but really for me it’s to be surprised and challenged – to not know – to be a little lost and maybe fail a little if not gloriously. We shall see.

Working with RAW and Lavish at latitude this year – looking at recycling, rethinking, re purposing and up-cycling abandoned materials – it will be fun – and then there’s the festival itself – the 10^th anniversary – I’ve attended all of them and there have been some awesome moments – for me its become a little dull with very few things on the ‘i-must-get-to-see-that’ list but maybe something will catch my eye (maybe the LADA sessions on Friday night) – it was interesting to go on site and stand where the sunrise arena will be before its built – the glade it sits in is so sweet – somebody had a great vision when they thought of transforming the space.

dancedancestance

Recovering from Latitude – Saturday was a 6 hour dance fest starting with the wonderfully raw Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Karen O - what an outfit - followed by Hot Chip who have some tremendous sounds and then the mighty 3D Kraftwerk (a spaceship landed in my brain). The sound was so crisp and the 3D excellent – it would be more difficult for an experience to be so what one expected

Other highlights were Germaine Greer talking about the invisibility of women – and British Sea Power playing the soundtrack to the documentary From The Sea To The Land Beyond

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

earthalleluiah

well – latitude – yes – many excellent moments - words, images, sound and a lot of dancing but – highlights– rubberbanditz, hypnotic brass ensemble, late night gimp fight, reverend billy and the church of stop shopping choir, shunt and of course linton kwesi johnson and so now to work.