eno slight return?

It seemed somehow "correct" that only a few days before 'Low Horizons " opens that an event such as "Music for Real Airports" should happen nearby! I was really excited to discover that in a response to Brian Eno's classic "Music for Airports" Sheffield's legendary electronic mysterions THE BLACK DOG and electronic artist HUMANSTUDIO combined to create this contemporary audio visual experience for 'SENSORIA' Sheffield's music/film/digital festival.

Arriving at the Millenium Gallery I hooked up with Gerrard and Sean and for 45 minutes the gathering crowd were treated to an eclectic dj set from Richard H Kirk .

As his set drew to a close a side door opened and we filtered into a darkened room.

A large screen dominated one wall and behind us shadowy forms behind a row of tables were illuminated only by the screen glow of numerous mac books.

Without any further ado the music began slowly pulsating . The screen flickered into life and we began our 50 minute journey. Black Dog electronic soundscapes hummed,bleeped crashed in unison with the screen based artwork . Fantastic. The electronic compositions here are miles away from Eno's airport but then they should be as we are now in 2010. The visualisations were inventive and not at all predictable . Having seen the birth of this kind of experience with Pink Floyd's oil wheels of the '60's into the huge extravaganza that was "Dark Side of the Moon" and onwards through the dance,trance and rave culture here are the new breed pushing back the boundaries again.

So it is-"the gift of sound and vision".." Kurtagonals ", Bowie and Eno were the inspiration for most of my "Low Horizons" paintings -as August Macke said " colors contain counterpoint, treble and bass clef , major and minor, just like music".

He was right and "Music for Real Airports"was another example of creativity using the tools of today to make art.

We slowly left the room making our way into the harsh reality of the Gallery spotlights quietly satisfied. On the journey home "Boards of Canada" quietly accompanied thoughts of my own airport visit and Finland.

I love Iceland....

I love Iceland so I am forgiving the awesome volcano for jeopardising not only my flight to Finland but the arrival of all my paintings!!! The good news is that quite a few have already arrived .Im still feeling just a little unsettled because everything is "up in the air"..ahh did you see what I did there......

Jussi over in Pori is confident that all will be well but its my nature to be pessimistic.

I spent most of Sunday tidying up my art space (by that I mean the garage) while listening to "introspection " by THE END , "MOONAGE TIMEQUAKE" (50'S America in fear of Alien Interference), "TOMORROW featuring KeithWest" and some early Dylan.

Just left with a strange empty feeling as I look around and see that all those paintings are gone!

Odd

one swallow...

one swallow doesnt make a summer.........but I saw one last night so.......

SPRING

Gosh ! Spring is officially here. I only know because there are lambs skipping about in the pastures just near the house! They do seem happy.I guess they are not aware of the future. A pair of blackbirds are building a nest in our laurel bush. Roxanne seems determined to scare them off. She's a lovely cat and useless at catching stuff so they are safe.

Pori is now two weeks away today and I am feeling excited and a little nervous. The strangest feeling was parceling up all the work ready for transportation .18 months work encased in bubble wrap and cardboard ready for D.H.L. to collect. My babies in transit !I am now putting the final touches to my "book of inspiration" for the gallery. This contains photos, artwork, quotations and lists of music , books and films that I have found helpful during the time I have been painting. This task is really a lot of fun and slightly indulgent , in fact, like a school project -I'm hoping for an A star!!

With all the work for Finland completed I have also spent some time clearing up my mess in the "studio" (posh term for ex-garage) and wondering what is next up?

Been for a great walk today at the Monyash end of Lathkill Dale. There is a pond full of tadpoles and newts. I was filled with nostalgia for the days when, with my friends , we could wander the fields and hills around Castleton and gather frogspawn for home and classroom. In the late 1950's you could do stuff like that. We were always amazed as those little black dots became tadpoles and then frogs. It was a great day when we let them out into the fields to make their way in life.

My favourites were newts. Mini dragons that were amphibious. I still find them fascinating today!

easter 2010

Easter has been important in my life for many years . I still remember when shops closed on Good Friday and everything came to a standstill-wonderful . Most folks these days seem to have lost sight of why we have an Easter Holiday and even if you have no religious feelings its a good thing to take some quiet time to reflect on life the universe and everything .

Having to work Good Friday I was wondering, as the "Son of God" was murdered, I why this day is celebrated as a good day. Jesus seems to have a wonderful life affirming message but as usual anything that offers freedom and hope for people seems to be squashed by "THEM".

Anyway I slipped some Gospel music on the shop P/A ( Blind Boys of Alabama) , and some Bob Dylan...always good for the soul and carried on with my musings.

Whatever you are up to this Easter take some time to re-engage with joy, peace, beauty and wonder...its important...trust me.

Have a happy Easter...

patti smith

I was overwhelmed when Jono appeared with two tickets to see Patti Smith in the Millennium Galleries , Sheffield. After a glass of wine at the legendary Frog and Parrot with the Good Lord we made our way to the gig. Patti read from "Just Kids" and sang songs accompanied by her piano player and guitarist Tony Shanahan. Apart from her performance which was truly magical, the readings punctuated with stories and anecdotes, the songs delivered with the passion and verve you might expect from such a figure of such magnitude, the most impressive and moving thing was the grace, gentleness and strength of a lady who has seen much and yet seemed egoless. Here was a woman of obvious power , experience and life who had lost non of her desire for life such was/is her presence. And the voice- rich and gentle yet strong and full of depth. She was happy to please the masses with "because the night" yet still able to deliver a prophetic "redondo beach". Patti Smith - poet, musician and painter. INSPIRATION. Please read her book, listen to her albums (I love "Radio Baghdad" on "Trampin") and beg ,steal ,borrow or even buy the dvd "dream of life". I dare you not to believe!

latest playlist and reading

albums: brian eno "discreet music"

stone breath "the silver skien unwound"

the silver mountzion "kollaps tradixionals"

the violet may white label tracks

jeff johnson "frio suite"

can 'tago mago"

these monsters "call me dragon"

sian alice group "59"

patti smith 'trampin"

reading Robert Bolano "Nazi Literature in the Americas"

Karin v. Maur "The Sound of Painting..music in modern art'

Maur's book on paintng,music and modern art is a wonderful work-the book comes to me at the perfect time as I am in this period of musically influenced work. What is pleasing is that the book justifies and voices my "spiritual intuition"and is given to me at this time not at the beginning of the period. Had I read the book earlier everything would have been colored .At least I know the "Keefagonals"and "Another Green World" series are pure! I have been struggling to explain in tangible terms how these works have emerged, now there is flesh for the bones! Georges Braque says 'when the mystery is absent,poetry is absent too- the quality I value above all others in art" Amen. How about a chapter entitled "The Chromatics of Light and the Rhythm of the Cosmos". dig that brothers and sisters !