A stroke of luck

Today I visited my old flat to ask the new tenants a question / favour (long story not worth detailing). I had intended for it to be a brief visit, but I got talking to the lovely new occupants and we shared landlord stories. As they were showing me around the 'renovated' flat, I saw something familiar on the floor of my old bedroom. Immediately I recognised the large sheet of cartridge paper as belonging to the portfolio of artwork I created on my foundation course and sent to GSA with my application for the Environmental Art Degree.

Dave had found the collection of sheets under a cupboard (I really thought I have looked everywhere and taken everything from that room when moving), and along with his other flatmates, had sorted through them picking out some pieces to keep and put up in the flat. The other sheets had been folded and were waiting outside in a pile of rubbish to be collected by the bin men tomorrow.

I quickly rescued the other sheets, and was amazed at my luck of being in the right place at the right time.

Dave told me of how he and his flatmates had enjoyed going through all my work and selecting pieces for their flat. I feel delighted that I just so happened to be there when the work was still outside rather than in the landfill.

exploratory drawings

Ive been experimenting with creating complex structures from simple forms.
These drawings have prompted me to extend the work into a three dimensional realm.

collograph prints

Forthcoming exhibition in South Korea

I was invited to exhibit work in a group show in South Korea, and have 3 works featured in the exhibition; Abacus, my quest to find a shaddock and Cat's Cradle.

The show opens on August 28th, and more details can be seen on the poster.

I will be uploading documentation once I receive it!

Analogue - Turn up the colour

I always try to pop into Analogue when I am through in Edinburgh. The problem is that I always find a book I want to buy!

As well as being an incredible home to a range of art and design books, the gallery operates a changing exhibition programme.

The current exhibition was just up my street as it is very colourful

Martin Creed at the Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh

'Down Over Up' by Martin Creed at the Fruitmarket Gallery in Edinburgh was a real delight to visit and a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Much of Creed's work appeals to me on a number of levels. The inherent humour in his work is refreshing, and his work is visually appealing, especially when he uses colour. But his work is far from superficial. It deals with the human desire for humans to try to order what is around us.

The first Edinburgh Festival special episode of The Culture Show http://beta.bbc.co.uk/i/tdzc3/
asked some important questions:

Why do we find pattern satisfying?
Are we just creatures of habit?
Or do we classify the world to help us understand it?

collage installation

I have been extending my collages onto a larger scale so the forms grow over walls...

Schema at Scottish Opera

I was recently invited to exhibit some of the work from my 'Schema' exhibition at the Scottish Opera Technical Centre cafe.







If you fancy going, the address is:

40 Edington Street

Glasgow G4 9RD

and here is a map
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=scottish+opera+technical+centre,+map&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&hl=en&hq=scottish+opera+technical+centre,&hnear=&ll=55.872951,-4.259605&spn=0.014446,0.045447&z=15&iwloc=A

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!

Christopher Coppers

I was recently sent an email directing me to look at work by Christopher Coppers.

Coppers creates three dimensional pieces using magazines which he cuts to reveal their many layers and colours.

Welcome Home

Today I visited Welcome Home, "a multi-disciplinary gallery and retail space, based in Glasgow's west end, with an onsite studio space for production, artist in residence schemes and workshops.

Focused on making art, design and craft accessible to all, it provides a space for new designers and members of the public to create, learn and educate. The site sources unique and interesting work from local, established and emerging artists and designers, as well as bringing new talent to Scotland from elsewhere. Loosely based around the idea of rooms in a house - the site hosts exhibitions in the 'drawing room', workshops in the 'studio', books in the 'library', jewellery in the 'dressing room', and so on. The name Welcome Home also comes from the idea of having everything under one roof.

The current exhibition features work by a number of illustrators who have produced prints. There was a good variety, and all on sale at very reasonable prices.

I will certainly be 'heading home' more often.

Anna Emilia

I was recently sent an email with a link to Anna Emilia's website and blog, and really enjoyed her drawings in the 'Spring is coming' series.

To see more of Anna's work, please visit
http://www.annaemilia.com
http://annaemilial.blogspot.com

Lists

This looks like an interesting book - I will have to add it to my list of books to buy!


A review can be read on the pikaland website:

http://pikaland.com/2010/06/04/review-lists

spreading forms