Open Studios

Open Studios at the Briggait

I'm exhausted after a full on weekend in the studio - but a weekend in the studio with a difference as not much work was made at all. It was the official launch of The Briggait, the building in which my studio is situated, and so it was an Open Studio event where the artists opened their studio doors to the public.

After the Open Studios on Friday night there were speeches and then a performance in the main atrium space.

On Saturday and Sunday the studios were open from 12pm-5pm, and I enjoyed talking to the constant stream of people who came for a look at our work. I met some very interesting people and had some brilliant discussions.

I also enjoyed looking around the other studios in the building and meeting the other artists (many of whom I had never met before).

Photos of the weekend will be uploaded soon, but in the meanwhile, do take a look at the reviews and online images:

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/features/editor-s-picks/revamp-puts-new-art-into-briggait-1.1042153

http://news.scotsman.com/arts/Glasgow39s-iconic-former-fishmarket-The.6430132.jp

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/glasgowandwestscotland/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8845000/8845932.stm

http://www.thebriggait.org.uk/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/waspsstudios/

Eiji Hiyama's Cardboard Playground (JP)

Eiji Hiyama is the founder of "World of Cardboard" where all everything is created from
cardboard. As co-founder of the special-brown paper and cardboard society, I can honestly say that Hiyama is one of the greats!

Thomas Moglu

I recently came across work by Thomas Moglu and was attracted to his use of repetitive marks and pattern making.

His work can be viewed at http://www.booooooom.com/2010/07/07/artist-thomas-moglu/#more-18887

Canada

I've just returned from an amazing trip to Canada.

I have got thousands of photos to sort through and edit, but will then be uploading some images to the blog!

I visited the Banff Centre which was much more expansive than I had appreciated. Some great facilities, and an incredible setting to work in.

The Fiona Tan exhibition at Vancouver Art Gallery was one of my art highlights, particularly her two-channel film installation titled Rise and Fall. Some very powerful shots of waterfalls.

I was also excited by the activity of the non-profit artist run centre called ArtSpeak. Artspeak presents contemporary practices, innovative publications, bookworks, editions, talks and events that encourage a dialogue between visual art and writing. The gallery is currently inhabited by experimental, small run, and self-published artist books, magazines, and fanzines that have been made by Motto, a Berlin and Zürich-based bookstore. I love the way that the books are displayed on the walls, although reading those at the top is somewhat difficult!