As we are about to demolish most of Blackpool, in fact the demolition is well under way in the Northern Gateway area around Talbot Road bus station and the Station. May be we could take a leaf out of what has happened in other parts of the world and make use of some of the buildings before they bite the dust to host a major Urban Art Fest. I suggest Talbot Road Bus Terminus for a start, what do you think?
One particular example of such a Fest is at 11 Spring Street in New York, a building popular with Graffiti and Street artists was used to host a major event before it was renovated by the famous Wooster Collective.
Check out the video below and the Wooster Collection website here.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Vhills- Scratching the Surface Exhibition - Lazarides
I visited Lazarides Gallery in Soho last week to see an exhibition by Street Artist Vhils - Portuguese-born Alexandre Farto, age 21.In the context of current offering from the art work this is some of the most exciting and stimulating work I have seen in the past few years of hammering around galleries of all sizes and persuasion. As a fine art student I find Vhils experimental use of materials and media very exciting.
Of late he’s taken to creating works purely from in situ materials. Advertising hoardings are torn to make fresh images, and plaster drilled and chiselled away until the remaining relief forms the work. He is experimenting with ink and household bleach, rusting steel, stencils and industrial resins. His use of found material like old painted doors is particularly interesting. A far cry from graffiti and mindless tagging.
This is just a small sample of the work on display and I am afraid the photography does no justice to the original works which are both large and tactile. You really need to visit the exhibition, 3rd July to 1st August, so get a wriggle on.
Find more work here, this is also one of the best Flicker sites for Street Art.
Scratching the Surface by Vhils - Video
Even if you are not into the Street Art of Vhils this is a cracking example of the video makers art and well worth a watch.
Music - Gustavo Santaolalla Work by Vhils http://www.Vhils.com/
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Books On-Line
As a student books become a way of life as a result I have strained tendons in my left wrist from hauling weighty tomes around. So the idea of being able to access my books on line is a very attractive one. I have been researching possible sources. Here is a list of initial contenders which I have yet to research fully.
Books.google.com
This a site I have used and works well. Also known as Google Book Search, there is a wide range of free book and magazine content, much of it downloadable. Occasionally they allow partial download of copyright restricted books. I found it good for contextual studies literature.
DailyLit.com
Out-of-copyright classics, most are free.
FreeBookSpot.com
A source of downloadable textbooks, saved as PDFs, meaning that unlike most electronic book formats, the diagrams and illustrations are preserved. Most take less than 60 seconds to download over broadband.
Worldcat.org
Find items in libraries near you, lets you search the collections of libraries in your community and thousands more around the world. Results link directly into citation software such as Zotero.
World Digital Library
Libraries and archives from around the world have come together in a project to share their collections of rare books, maps, films, manuscripts and recordings on-line for free.
Project Gutenberg
The first and largest single collection of free electronic books. From Karma Sutra to David Copperfield.
Books.google.com
This a site I have used and works well. Also known as Google Book Search, there is a wide range of free book and magazine content, much of it downloadable. Occasionally they allow partial download of copyright restricted books. I found it good for contextual studies literature.
DailyLit.com
Out-of-copyright classics, most are free.
FreeBookSpot.com
A source of downloadable textbooks, saved as PDFs, meaning that unlike most electronic book formats, the diagrams and illustrations are preserved. Most take less than 60 seconds to download over broadband.
Worldcat.org
Find items in libraries near you, lets you search the collections of libraries in your community and thousands more around the world. Results link directly into citation software such as Zotero.
World Digital Library
Libraries and archives from around the world have come together in a project to share their collections of rare books, maps, films, manuscripts and recordings on-line for free.
Project Gutenberg
The first and largest single collection of free electronic books. From Karma Sutra to David Copperfield.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Eureka moment - Figure/Ground
Interesting how Eureka moments pop up quite unexpectedly! I was browsing Robert Motherwells work "Premonition Open, with Flesh over Gray" in the Bernard Jacobsons Gallery, Cork Street, London the other day.
I am vaguly familiar with Motherwell from an essay I wrote about Pollock and Abstract Expressionism. I have to confess I had dismissed his work as boringly repetitive. When you have seen three black lines in a variety of configurations painted on a coloured background the tenth version becomes repetitive if not boring! However I had only ever seen his work in books and on the internet and a bit like recorded music it is no substitute for the live performance.
Casually if not disinterestedly perusing Motherwells large canvases on the walls of said gallery I was suddenly aware of the subtly of these black painted lines. I could hear the monaural Yorkshire tones of Norman Travis ringing in my ears, preaching the theory of the figure ground relationship. There it was in graphic reality, Motherwells subtle smudges of background colour across the ubiquitous black lines immediately presents the dilemma, which came first the blackline or the smudge of orange? Which was figure, which was ground?
I am vaguly familiar with Motherwell from an essay I wrote about Pollock and Abstract Expressionism. I have to confess I had dismissed his work as boringly repetitive. When you have seen three black lines in a variety of configurations painted on a coloured background the tenth version becomes repetitive if not boring! However I had only ever seen his work in books and on the internet and a bit like recorded music it is no substitute for the live performance.
Casually if not disinterestedly perusing Motherwells large canvases on the walls of said gallery I was suddenly aware of the subtly of these black painted lines. I could hear the monaural Yorkshire tones of Norman Travis ringing in my ears, preaching the theory of the figure ground relationship. There it was in graphic reality, Motherwells subtle smudges of background colour across the ubiquitous black lines immediately presents the dilemma, which came first the blackline or the smudge of orange? Which was figure, which was ground?
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Mall Galleries Exhibition - Update
Visited the Private View at the Mall Galleries, London on Monday 6th July to receive presentation of my runner up prize in the Daler Rowney " Make Your Mark" art competition.
The works were hung in conjunction with the RBA 7th National Students Art Exhibition. An interesting feature of the exhibition is that the work was displayed alongside work by members of the Royal Society of British Artists (RBA). My work was hung alongside a Peter Blake! How cool is that.
Update: Robin Dukes was kind enough to give me a mention in his column in the Blackpool Evening Gazette this evening.
Saturday, July 04, 2009
Fine Art Exhibition - 1st Year BA
Fine Art Exhibition by the 1st Year BA students from Blackpool Art School. At the Village Walks Art Spot, entrance off Queensway or from the entrance alongside the Post Office at the rear of Teanlowe Centre, Poulton le Fylde. The exhibition will run from 29th June to 31st July, Monday to Saturday 9.00 am to 5.00 pm, entrance free.
A wide range of work from the end of year show. Artists exhibiting include Alistair Parker, Sue McAuley, Ann Charlesworth, Sue Godsiff, Claire Heaton, Anton Byrne-Carter and Rebecca Armitage.
A wide range of work from the end of year show. Artists exhibiting include Alistair Parker, Sue McAuley, Ann Charlesworth, Sue Godsiff, Claire Heaton, Anton Byrne-Carter and Rebecca Armitage.
Channel 4 Life Class: Today's Nude
For centuries, artists have taken inspiration from the naked body. From Leonardo da Vinci to Lucian Freud, life drawing has always been a way to understand the human form and ourselves.
Bringing life drawing to the masses Channel 4 is running a series of 5 programmes "Life Class: Todays Nude" starting 12.30pm, 6th July and for the next 4 days.
This week-long series gives viewers an opportunity to learn to draw through five half-hour nude life drawing classes, one a day, with access to a renowned artist tutor in each, Maggi Hambling, Humphry Ocean, Garry Hume, Judy Purbreck and John Berger.
The audience is invited to pick up a pencil and use the class to develop their skill or interest in drawing at any level.
Drop-in life-drawing classes are being organised in London, Glasgow, Bristol, Manchester and Southampton...
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Mall Gallery Exhibition
I entered the Daler Rowney international art competition - Make Your Mark Competition way back in in October 08 and much to my amazement was placed as runner up! At long last I am about to receive the fruits of my endeavours. My work will be shown at The Mall Galleries, The Mall (You know where the Queen lives) London SW1 from Monday next 6th July till the 11th July and I am off the private view on Monday evening. My 1st Private view, so I am a little bit excited. You can find more information in the original post here.
The exhibition is being held in conjunction with the RBA 7th National Students Art Exhibition, so there should be some work woth a look.
The exhibition is being held in conjunction with the RBA 7th National Students Art Exhibition, so there should be some work woth a look.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
David Hockney: A Bigger Picture
The film is shot over a period of 3 years following him as he leaves California, his home for the last 25 years, to return to his native Yorkshire to paint a very English countryside.
The film captures an extraordinary moment in Hockney's life and work as he approaches the age of 70 and captures his transcendence from a period of anti-photography in his work to post-photographic where he rediscovers what photography can lend to his work. Using interviews with Hockney and his sister Margaret, the film explores the more personal motives for his return and his homecoming coincides with a desire to re-invent his whole approach to oil painting, after a six-year break. He paints en plein air for the first time, out in the landscape, through the seasons and in all weathers.
IMAGINE David Hockney: A Bigger Picture, is on BBC1 30 June 10.35PM, a Coluga Pictures production. For more information go to www.colugapictures.com and interesting video clips.
Daily Telegraph review.
The film captures an extraordinary moment in Hockney's life and work as he approaches the age of 70 and captures his transcendence from a period of anti-photography in his work to post-photographic where he rediscovers what photography can lend to his work. Using interviews with Hockney and his sister Margaret, the film explores the more personal motives for his return and his homecoming coincides with a desire to re-invent his whole approach to oil painting, after a six-year break. He paints en plein air for the first time, out in the landscape, through the seasons and in all weathers.
IMAGINE David Hockney: A Bigger Picture, is on BBC1 30 June 10.35PM, a Coluga Pictures production. For more information go to www.colugapictures.com and interesting video clips.
Daily Telegraph review.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Fine Art Exhibition
Fine Art Exhibition by the 1st Year BA students from Blackpool Art School. At the Village Walks Art Spot, entrance off Queensway or from the entrance alongside the Post Office at the rear of Teanlowe Centre, Poulton le Fylde. The exhibition will run from 29th June to 31st July, Monday to Saturday 9.00 am to 5.00 pm, entrance free.
A wide range of work from the end of year show. Artists exhibiting include Alistair Parker, Sue McAuley, Ann Charlesworth, Sue Godsiff, Claire Heaton, Anton Byrne-Carter and Rebecca Armitage.
A wide range of work from the end of year show. Artists exhibiting include Alistair Parker, Sue McAuley, Ann Charlesworth, Sue Godsiff, Claire Heaton, Anton Byrne-Carter and Rebecca Armitage.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Picasso Painting with Light
Looks like Picasso did light painting experiments in photography. Here's a gallery over at Life.com of his various light painting pictures.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Blackpool Art School Exhibition
'Variety'09', End of Year Exhibition at The Blackpool School of Art & Design, Palatine Road Campus Blackpool Lancashire FY1 4DW.
My work can be found in Year 1 Fine Art and Professional Practice Studio is on 1st Floor, top of stairs turn left. There will also be lots of really good stuff to see, Photography, Graphic Design etc etc. Foundation work can be seen at the Park Road site.
Private view 17th June 6-9pm General Public 10-4pm from the 18th-24th June
We hope to see you there!
My work can be found in Year 1 Fine Art and Professional Practice Studio is on 1st Floor, top of stairs turn left. There will also be lots of really good stuff to see, Photography, Graphic Design etc etc. Foundation work can be seen at the Park Road site.
Private view 17th June 6-9pm General Public 10-4pm from the 18th-24th June
We hope to see you there!
Layers of History - Mixed Media
Sunday, May 31, 2009
The Client From Hell
If you are thinking of setting up your own business you should watch this first!
RSVP
RSVP
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Channel 4 programme - Faking It - Graffiti
A nostalgia trip. Remember the Channel 4 programme, "Faking It". Below is one about the impossible task of converting a country "Toff" into a Hip Hoppy "Graffer"! An interesting insight into the "Graffers" world.
Link
Link
Street Art Influences - Matt Small
Artists draw their inspiration from a wide range of influences and sources. I am finding myself drawn more and more to the vibrant dynamic Street and Urban Art scene, not to be confused with Graffiti, although they share the same platform and there is a considerable crossover of cultures.
Typically these influences include increasingly familiar names such as Dale Grimshaw, Guy Denning, Connor Harrington, artists whose' art now commands exciting prices.
In the course of one of my Street Art photographic forays, I came across Matt Small, he likes to call himself an artist and although he is unquestionably in the Urban/Street camp. For anyone who likes to experiment with their art, media and materials this guy is an exciting inspiration.
Updated 15.05.17
Typically these influences include increasingly familiar names such as Dale Grimshaw, Guy Denning, Connor Harrington, artists whose' art now commands exciting prices.
In the course of one of my Street Art photographic forays, I came across Matt Small, he likes to call himself an artist and although he is unquestionably in the Urban/Street camp. For anyone who likes to experiment with their art, media and materials this guy is an exciting inspiration.
Updated 15.05.17
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Photoshop - Warping Text on a Circle
I am working on a digital imaging assignment at the moment which involves creating a design for a Windsock to be used as part of a public art installation on Blackpool south promenade.
One of the problems I have come across is creating text wrapped (warped) around a circle with a word at the top and another at the bottom of the circle. The word at the bottom the read left to right. I searched my Photoshop books and the Internet for a method, took me best part of a day. Part of the problem is the Warp Text tools in Photoshop don't quite do what you would expect them to do. I was about to give up when I came across a tutorial on YouTube by Chris Rose.
It is so easy when you know how and a picture (video) is worth a thousand words. Thanks Chris.
One of the problems I have come across is creating text wrapped (warped) around a circle with a word at the top and another at the bottom of the circle. The word at the bottom the read left to right. I searched my Photoshop books and the Internet for a method, took me best part of a day. Part of the problem is the Warp Text tools in Photoshop don't quite do what you would expect them to do. I was about to give up when I came across a tutorial on YouTube by Chris Rose.
It is so easy when you know how and a picture (video) is worth a thousand words. Thanks Chris.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Saatchi On-Line Showdown Submission
I have entered Red Umbrella in the Saatchi On-Line competition "Showdown". I need your help to vote for the work should you consider it worthy of your consideration. You can see the work and VOTE here. The work will be displayed between 9.3.09 and 16.3.09. Thanks in advance.
This is a piece from my Foundation panel. The work is created using a process I developed as part of my graduation project. Starting as a digitally manipulated photograph which is rendered as a series of inkjet prints which are tiled and transferred onto a gesso primed MDF board ground using an acrylic medium process. The process results in an individual image with a uniquely distressed appearance.
Monday, February 23, 2009
The Reality of Childhood
Following from the CS lecture of 16th February 09 about Reality and Representation, I relate an incident which happened to me that brought home some aspects of that lecture.
On Saturday morning my 3 year old grandson he asked me if I knew where his “pooma” was. What is a “pooma” I asked, my wife informed me that is was a snorkel and an AA battery which when used as an offensive weapon was accompanied by the onamatapia “poom” when fired, hence a to Joe a snorkel and a battery represents a "pooma".
So what has this to do with CS? I felt this incident brought together the whole subject of visual communication as defined by Shannon and Weaver, Pierce, Saussure and Barthes.
Here we appear to have practical example of Semiotics and Linguistics at work . The information being received by me and my grandson about these objects is clearly quite different. From the visual information, he sees something that looks rather like a weapon based on signifiers picked up from watching Power Rangers and playing with his friends and cousins. I of course know this to be a snorkel and a battery.
But to Joe a tube with a "handle", signifies a weapon (gun) and a small cylindrical object that will fit down the tube, signifies a “bullet/missile”.
Is this in Pierces terms a convention? The conventional use of these items is one, to aid breathing under water, two, a source of power. But to Joe his connotation of a tube loaded with an AA battery is quite an effective weapon, a "pooma"!
In the words of Bathes, Joe’s connotation of these items is quite different to mine. Not only that but he has developed his own code, I had no idea what a "poom" or a "pooma" were but I am sure his friends and cousins do. And my wife of course who is an expert in juvenile linguistics!
POOM ...........................ya dead!!!!!!!!
On Saturday morning my 3 year old grandson he asked me if I knew where his “pooma” was. What is a “pooma” I asked, my wife informed me that is was a snorkel and an AA battery which when used as an offensive weapon was accompanied by the onamatapia “poom” when fired, hence a to Joe a snorkel and a battery represents a "pooma".
So what has this to do with CS? I felt this incident brought together the whole subject of visual communication as defined by Shannon and Weaver, Pierce, Saussure and Barthes.
Here we appear to have practical example of Semiotics and Linguistics at work . The information being received by me and my grandson about these objects is clearly quite different. From the visual information, he sees something that looks rather like a weapon based on signifiers picked up from watching Power Rangers and playing with his friends and cousins. I of course know this to be a snorkel and a battery.
But to Joe a tube with a "handle", signifies a weapon (gun) and a small cylindrical object that will fit down the tube, signifies a “bullet/missile”.
Is this in Pierces terms a convention? The conventional use of these items is one, to aid breathing under water, two, a source of power. But to Joe his connotation of a tube loaded with an AA battery is quite an effective weapon, a "pooma"!
In the words of Bathes, Joe’s connotation of these items is quite different to mine. Not only that but he has developed his own code, I had no idea what a "poom" or a "pooma" were but I am sure his friends and cousins do. And my wife of course who is an expert in juvenile linguistics!
POOM ...........................ya dead!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Semiotics - Toilet Signage
Whilst researching images for an article on the Semiotics of symbol based signs I was looking for an image of a toilet sign. Little did I know what a can of worms I was opening. As a compulsive photographer of just about anything and everything. I have an unhealthy collection of toilet signs of which this is just one, from Marks and Spencer, Manchester. I want to know why little boys seem to be excluded!
However my searches revealed that I am not the only sad soul in the world there are others much sadder than I. In the interest of researching the fascinating subject of Semiotics here is a selection of the toilet sign sites signs I found............
Gender signs
Semiotics-Toilet signs
Toilet signs
Coolest toilet signs around the world
Oltremara
If you know of any others leave me a comment
However my searches revealed that I am not the only sad soul in the world there are others much sadder than I. In the interest of researching the fascinating subject of Semiotics here is a selection of the toilet sign sites signs I found............
Gender signs
Semiotics-Toilet signs
Toilet signs
Coolest toilet signs around the world
Oltremara
If you know of any others leave me a comment
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