Artweeks Artwork from 'grimm project'

this one was based on keturah's suggestion that it be more deep red like a poison apple

This version was based on Kayleigh's suggestion that it was more colourful

I was desperately hoping these might be used in the promotional material for our upcoming Grimm's Fairy Tales related end of year show in May; however, the harder one grips on to something the more it slips through the fingers. I understand the rest of my group (hi guys if you're reading this!) wanted something to represent all of them,  but I still think this looks cooler than the image our tutor suggested - it also represents loads of things to do with fairy stories!

The icons were all suggestions that my classmates gave me at the beginning of the project -  I like the concept of democratic art that's made by a group - although clearly I'm a mass of contradictions as I wanted MY ART to go o the flyers for the show, not the more collectively made screenprinted book designs.

I guess that's the thing about democracy; sometimes you just have to accept the majority view!

the original black and white versions

aUd10gr4pHT=

aUDIOgraFT @ jaqueline du pre music rooms

ED

b4 it hap

pen

E

D

Add D PriorNoise

<

scratches maDE== when static PLAyED

Anvil & Stirrup, now

caption captured

audiograph software 4 ipad :)

Great concert put on by OCM - although I was a bit miffed that they wouldn't let me in to see Trevor Wishart in the 1st half because they were 'recording' - surely with electronic music made of samples they would take a feed off the sound desk and also several people walked out of the door during the first half.  Moan Moan bloody moan.  However, second half was very interesting, I've tried to capture the mood of the different pieces in these sketches. My favourites are the speakers and the couple listening.  I gave the drawings to the artists (and couple) and they all seemed pleased with their pics.  I liked David prior's long mutation of water sounds most I think, although Anvil & Stirrup were very friendly, and there was something cleansing about their pure tone drone tune.

Speakers unspoken

This is a digitally edited version of the Anvil&Stirrup image above - I imported it into Illustrator, Auto traced it onto 2 different layers with different thresholds, then  added a brick background (as this was what was behind them in reality)

Speech Project

Speech Project  / Fulham Broadway

Last night I went to an amazing concert hosted at the North Wall by an Irish Mancunian called Gerry Diver.  He's gathered together recordings of famous Irish folk musicians (including the indomitable Shane MacGowan & legendary Christy Moore) talking about their experiences and philosophies of life, transposed the rhythm and cadence of their speech into musical notation and, by mixing & overdubbing these elements with fiddle & other traditional instruments (and his partner Lisa Knapp's haunting vocals), created stirring, atmospheric, evocative pieces of contemporary music .

Hot Press calls it "Irish traditional music put through a Steve Reich blender;" I myself had immediately thought of Reich's Different Trains when I first heard "Old Time Musicians" on the Speech Project website.

The music was accompanied by imaginative  & mysterious visuals created by Matt Jamie amongst others.

For a while I've been sketching artists & the feelings music creates in me whilst at gigs, and I was particularly  pleased with last nights' results.  I was using a new toy, a watercolour brush which has water in the handle, so you can paint without having to dip your brush in to water all the time.

I try to draw or sketch really quickly, or at least to finish each piece within the duration of the song / piece. I took images from the video, and the live performers/instruments, and interpretted them fluidly (literally) on the page, wherever they seem to fit best.

When in New York

My Margaret

[untitled]

I ran out of water after 4 paintings, and continued with pencil sketches only...

Sincerely Felt

Music for Tape Loop / Million Times

Famine

During the gig I thought I recognised the keyboard player and when Gerry introduced the musicians and mentioned 'Gaz' I thought, "yup, I was right"!

Gaz the pianist whom I know from Hulme days

After the concert I walked up and said hi to the performers in the gallery space / foyer. I showed Gerry my paintings and he called vocalist Lisa Knapp (his partner) over - they were both very complimentary and asked if they could put the pictures on their website. Of course I agreed and, as has become a recent habit inspired by my partner Martine Votvik, gave them the originals whilst keeping only photographic evidence for myself. I thought it neatly symmetrical that there were 7 pictures, 1 for each of the band, and one for me!

Gerry  also asked if I'd write a blog entry for him - thus the extreme length of this post :) - and when I mentioned my original intention to actually interview him for OX105 FM, he readily offered to give me a few minutes of his time after he'd done his scheduled interview.

After a little hanging around, I got set up with Gerry, who kindly agreed to record our chat on his Mac, and we talked about Steve Reich, the Irish experience, growing up in Manchester & future projects; hopefully this will be available  online soon! 

I had a great chat with Lisa (about music and shampoo!), &   chatted to Gaz (all to briefly about Manchester days and current activist activities).

I haven't enjoyed a night out so much in ages, and felt thoroughly welcomed by the performers; they really made me feel that I had a talent worth exploring, and the music they created was really inspiring. I urge you to get a copy of the CD!

ps Lisa Knapp's CD "Wild & Undaunted" is really good too "An album of traditional  folk song's peppered with some original pieces.  Produced by Gerry Diver."
         

The Wishing Glove Tree

I was so exhausted when I put these photos up originally that I couldn't face writing them up, but they do need _some_ explanation :)

So this is my much delayed installation piece "The Wishing Glove Tree" which I created for my Foundation Degree Creative Arts & Design Practice course at Banbury OCVC.  It was 6 weeks late for hand in, due to serious anxiety problems which I developed during the latter part of last year. I'm happy to say I feel I've overcome a lot of those issues now, and the result is this!

We started with the concept of  "3 little words" and I was given Rural, Wishing & Gloves as mine.  This idea of a tree with gloves tied to it was a very early one, and I collected (only single abandonned) gloves over the course of the winter -  so much so that it has become an OCD obsession of mine (there is a glove on the carpet in the house I'm in behind me, and it's taking all my will power not to pick it up!)

Participants can use the hand cut paper to write their own wishes on using the quill & ink

The gloves drip coloured fluid (ink, pomegranate juice, bluemouthwash) onto the wishes 

I also thought some people might stuff their wish into a glove for fast tracking :)

The white glove at the top flashes - each finger contains R,g & B LEDs - it's amazing! I stuffed it with wire to make it make the peace sign :)

The main idea is that the things people wish for come true when the writing is obliterated or washed away by the dripping water.  Originally the gloves contained frozen water, but the erratic temperature inside the classroom meant they defrosted too quickly. I toyed with the idea of having the tree outside, but it was way too cold on the day to do such a fiddly exercise!

Oh, and the tree came all the way from Oxford by train - God I wish I'd videoed that it was crazy!

I was really pleased to have made this, with the help of the lovely Jodie!, as it was a idea that resonated with my pagan leanings, my interest in country traditions (wishing trees using ribbons for wishes are very common in Britain) and my wish to get more involved in installation / performance art.

I do have some video of the piece which I need to upload, so more updates to come!

blessingforce

nice little exhibition at the OFS - particularly taken by the Meg Ryan orgasming / Lion roaring juxtaposition & Sebastian Thomas's dislocated collages - it's funny as his large piece "it's here, there & everywhere" is a direct quote from my art history lecturer's increasingly manic cry when talking about PostModernism, which ST's work clearly references.

blessingforce

MegRyanLion

did a coupla sketches there, one a copy, one original, which I've scanned then vectorised in Illustrator.  Guess the lionlady is a little disturbing, but it sums up something about female sexuality.  Kinda wanted  to make the Seb thomas collage homage more accurate, as he is very anal about geometry, but I'm not him, and too tired anyway :)