WEIRD films in our window

Lighthouses Film Festival event

In case you didn't get to see our Lighthouses show-reel last week I'm posting some of my short films here. This is the first time this idea has been part of New Cross and Deptford's ongoing , ever-expanding free film festival. The event involves people showing films of any sort projected onto screens in their front windows. Our show-reel was a repeating loop with seven short experimental films lasting around 13 minutes in total. Large crowds wandered the streets on Thursday 2nd May 2013 and the event was well received by all. Next year I'm sure there will be even more houses participating so watch out.

Tree Love Week

Investigate tree love week at Beuysterous

Recent new prints

Prompted by the prospect of exhibiting work in the group show mentioned in the post below, I have been making fresh prints. I am posting images of these over the next few days. This print is topical in that it deals with something recently in the news. I read about and became intrigued to learn of the phenomenon of strange effects that non-human based parasites can induce when ingested by humans. In this case the ingested entity is toxoplasma gondii and the fact that it seems to influence the behaviour of its human hosts in subtle and peculiar ways,,,and interestingly affects males and females in different ways. 

Group show

Please come and see some of my new print work in this group show,,,now on.

The return of Bosci......

Some of you may remember, and some even got to see, my installation artwork earlier this year called Animal Within. The piece was made for display for three months in the old ruined Anglican Chapel in Nunhead Cemetery in South London ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nunhead_Cemetery) . 
also (http://nanila.dreamwidth.org/821685.html). also (http://unextinctionmachine.wordpress.com/2012/01/06/animal-within/)

Theres a chance to come and meet Bosci, the character who caused all the fuss, this coming weekend Sept. 7th to 9th 2012 in Nunhead but this time not in the Chapel. As part of Nunhead Open 9 exhibition in the Old Community Centre, slightly hidden away just after the shops, opposite the big willow tree, at 56 Nunhead Lane just before the corner of Nunhead Lane and Linden Grove. SE15 3TU

This weekend only, inc. Friday...Sept. 7th to 9th 12noon to 5pm daily...all welcome to the PV friday 6 to 8 pm.

Transforming Animal Video

Theres a soundtrack to go along with this and the other experimental films here. Best listened to with headphones and thanks to Swin Deorin whose sounds I have used from his downloads at "Internet Archive".

Beekeepers linedance

Thanks for coming......

The Telegraph Hill Festival Open studio weekend was about a month ago now and I met some people who know my work via the blog here. At times it was quite manically busy. Thanks to all those who came and especially to those who left nice comments or bought some work. Here's a new item, a little video..rather crude and poor quality here on the blog but you can tell me what you think by leaving a comment below.

Open Studio coming soon.

I live in South London in a super area called Telegraph Hill. Every year there is a local Festival http://www.telegraphhillfestival.org.uk/welcome.htm

for two or so weeks this year culminating in the artists' Open Studios. I have taken part in this ever since we moved to the area and enjoy the opportunity to open up the house for visitors to come and see my work and working space close up. This year the Open Studios are on Saturday 31st March and Sunday 1st April, 2-6pm and there is a link to the map on the page mentioned above; or just click on the second here.

come and visit...I look forward to meeting you I'll be selling my prints, paintings and ceramic sculptures. This clay figure here is an example of some of my work and this one here has interchangeable heads.

Saggar firing of suited figures

I have been asked about the glazing finish on the clay suited figures I have been posting images of. There is in fact no glaze involved but what I love using is a saggar. A saggar is a heavy clay tomb like box that can be used to create a kiln within a kiln. Originally saggars were used to cleanly fire precious clayware in coal-fired kilns where the heated atmosphere would have been full of nasty contaminants. Each glazed bisqued piece was carefully sealed inside its own saggar and these were stacked inside the kiln keeping their micro-environment hot but clean. I use the saggar in exactly he opposite way by sealing in contaminants with the piece being fired. I have experimented with packaging the figures with all sorts of things such as wood, bones, metal, coal, shells in fact anything is worth trying.

The saggar is loaded up and sealed tight with clay and fired.

Then opened to reveal interesting colouration and effects.

Damaged protective suits.

Nunhead Chapel Artwork Removed!

My installation in Nunhead Chapel has been removed without any consultation or discussion at all. On Thursday just gone the creature, his bedding and food and I travelled by car to the beautiful old ruined Anglican Chapel and the artwork was installed ready for 3 months out in the elements. The animal figure which I have nicknamed Bosci is the central element of an installation piece called Animal Within. It's the second in a series of artworks in public places curated by Jolanata Jagiello under the title Angel Looks On.

I'm really hoping the decision will be reversed and the public will get a chance to see this intriguing piece soon, so check back for an update. Leave a comment. Or contact the Head of Cemeteries at Southwark Council here in London UK. It seems the artwork was considered too scary but I have spoken to lots of visitors who loved it and were spreading the word that it was something to see, despite the short time it was there. I think people are being denied the opportunity to engage with a thought provoking piece and if found scary, denied the chance to examine why that should be so. He's not intended to scare but to represent us all. In the meantime I'm posting some images of Bosci in the making to give you some idea of what he is like.

Admittedly the early head structure is a little weird.

Materials like leather and wire will ensure the sculpture lasts the coldest wettest three months of the year. The eyes, lids, lips and teeth allow changes of expression to be made over the period of the display.

The carefully built body, hands and feet can also allow changes of posture and expression. A removable fur mask gains access to the face.

We discuss the imminent move to the cemetery.

The day of travel arrives.

Then its aurevoir....

On our way to the chapel. Thurs. 5th Jan.

Three figures in survival suits

Head specimen number 1.

These three little etchings are made by creating an initial tonal shape using tusche lithographic ink. As the tusche solution dries on the plate its microscopic emulsion of greasy particles settles into amazingly detailed patterns which can be etched . Then I enhance these marks adding linear structure by etching many short bites.

Head specimen number 2.

Head specimen number 3.

Come and visit....Open Studio next weekend April 2nd and 3rd

Next weekend you have a chance to see lots of my work in our house in South London.

See here for a map to locate my and all the venues.

http://www.telegraphhillfestival.org.uk/findus.htm

This is part of an annual event that forms part of the Telegraph Hill Festival. Dont miss another venue; the now world reknowned Nunhead and District Municipal Museum and Art Gallery where I have been kindly invited by the great grandson of the illustrious Museum Founder and general philanthropist, George Alfred Gellatly, to exhibit some recent work in the Gallery. There are wonders to see there including a full lecture and theatrical performance programme running over the weekend from 2 to 6 pm on both the 2nd and 3rd of April. There will be commemorative busts of the great George Gellatly available at bargain prices in the expanded Museum Shop; and a chance to see the soon to be unveiled redevlopement plans for the site.

Objects from a recurring dream

I've been working on some sculptural pieces for an exhibtion which forms part of our local Telegraph Hill Festival here in South London ,UK. If you've never visited before then its certainly worth while and all are welcome to visit my home and see plenty of new and old work. If you want to find out more simply google Telegraph Hill Festival to find lots of events and a map of the 25 artists venues including no. 15 which is mine. More on this soon.

Burry Man Suit

survival suit

More work for sale up North

I have several small prints in a nice show in Hull, Northern England at the Artlink Mini Print 2010 exhibiton. The theme is obvious, small but affordable print work in any medium. The show starts this Friday the 3rd Dec. 2010. I'm posting an image of a new print re-vitalising an old favourite theme of mine; Kinder Egg Toy instruction sheets. Sadly current Kinder Eggs are far less rewarding often being simple solid one piece characters but in the good old days I used to love buying them, mainly for the small piece of paper showing how the complex item was to be put together. Here are some I wish they'd made.

here details of the miniprint venue;

http://www.artlink.uk.net/index.php?idsection=3&subid=2

Xmas Art Bazaar

If you live in South London or fancy visiting the area where I live (called Telegraph Hill) then pop into The Hill Station and find some affordable art to buy. From next Monday the 22nd of November until December 26th our wonderful community space-come-cafe are hanging massive numbers of small desireable artworks by local artists all for immediate purchase and all keenly priced.

I'm posting here a picture of a recent drypoint on perspex. This work wont be one of my submissions as its rather too big but do come and see if you can spot my other things.

more about The Hill Station and the Bold Vision here;

http://ourboldvision.blogspot.com/search/label/art%20bazaar%20christmas%20gifts

See more new work up North

I've been selected to show some new work in an exhibition at the beautiful Northen Print Gallery in Newcastle here in the UK. The show is called Northern Footprints and is a follow up to the successful Northen Print show last year where I sold out my large "A crime-free day in the busy life of Batman" drypoint edition. So if you are in the area pop in and see printmaking at its best in many different forms. The exhibition is on from 17th November to 22nd December 2010.

http://www.northernprint.org.uk/pages/gallery/current-exhibitions-events.php

Northern Print,
Stepney Bank,
Newcastle upon Tyne,
NE1 2NP

below are some small sections of a new very detailed print I've recently finished which is available for purchase entitled "Disaster on Adam West commemorative flight HA29".

Meet Yvonne and Barry

Come and see Yvonne and Barry; hanging in Morley Gallery this week.

See some new work. South London

I have a selection of some of my more recent prints in a group exhibition in South London at the moment, ending Friday 12th Nov 2010. The venue is Morley College just near Lambeth North Tube Station. Come and see, come and buy! see above. Come this Thursday the 11th to our second (closing party) P.V. and meet me and have a glass of wine.

the eyes of a god

new prints