So, what do you do?

I went to a wedding this bank holiday weekend. A lovely wedding as well, it must be said. Now I didn't know anybody at the wedding other than my girlfriend (the reason why I was invited), and anyone who knows me will tell you I'm not the most socially interactive of people. Thus I found the day to be a challenge. I find it very hard to genuinely sustain chit-chat with people I don't know (and don't have any real interest in knowing). This is by no means any reflection on anyone else, most of these people were very pleasant, and very clearly they were much more natural at keeping their end of the conversation up. I did find however, that nearly always the first thing anybody asked me, apart from how I knew the bride and groom, was what I did for a living?
I kind of got sick of telling people how I'd just become a newly qualified teacher, it seemed that everyone there was a teacher, not too much of a surprise though since the bride was one. Twenty minutes into conversations of trying to remain enthused about teaching was starting to take it's toll. I'd much rather chat with people about other things than what they do for a living. After about the 4th failed conversation (and 8th alcoholic drink) I decided that I'd have a change of tact. From now on I worked in a supermarket. Nothing wrong with that but I soon realised that the conversation didn't last much longer after that. Maybe an "Oooh that sounds interesting", followed by "well it was nice speaking with you". But not much more. Which suited me but made me think. Is what I do for a living that important. should a conversation rely on a 'right' answer?
Anyway, as I said, the evening was lovely. I met some really nice people but I did realise, if I didn't already know it, how I don't really like that many people, or to put it another way, people just don't interest me that much. (but I am interested in interesting people). 
Maybe I'm just a miserable git. Yeah, it's probably that!
Glinka

The late, great Peter Cook

Peter Cook

I'm currently reading 'Tragically I was an Only Twin - The Complete Peter Cook' and I feel I must share some of the scripts and monologues included in the book. I love it when a piece of writing manages to make me laugh out loud, forgetting my surroundings and just laughing out loud! Anyway, here is a snippet of one of his monologues titled 'Sitting on the Bench' (expect to see some more posts over the coming days and weeks)


Sitting On The Bench


Yes, I could have been a judge but I never had the Latin, never had the Latin for the judging. I just never had sufficient of it to get through the rigorous judging exams. They're noted for their rigour. People came staggering out saying 'My God, what a rigorous exam' - and so I became a miner instead. A coal miner. I managed to get through the mining exams - they're not very rigorous. The only ask one question. They say 'Who are you?', and I got 75% for that. 
Of course, it's quite interesting work, getting hold of lumps of coal all day. It's quite interesting, because the coal was made in a very unusual way. You see God blew all the trees down. He didn't say 'Let's have some coal,' as he could have done - he had all the right contacts. No, he got this great wind going you see, and blew down all the trees, then over a period of three million years he changed it into coal - gradually, over a period of three million years so it wasn't noticeable to the average passer by. It was all part of the scheme, but people at the time did not see it that way. People under the trees did not say 'Hurrah, coal in three million years.'
(the monologue continues, you'll have to buy the book if you want to read the rest.)


Peter Cook, the funniest man to have ever been alive. 
Glinka

Art forgery

So, some Italian art collectors have been duped out of 8.8 MILLION euros after buying fake paintings. The full story can be read here. It has reminded me of a documentary I saw last year about a young man living at home with his parents in Bolton where he fooled the art world in selling what was thought to be a 3,300 year old statue of an Egyptian princess to a museum (read here). Yes, I understand it is wrong to pass something off as somebody else's but its not like they are claiming a Matisse painting is one they did. These people clearly have talent, they have meticulously painted and sculpted the art pieces to a near perfect replication. The art world at times is so concerned with who made the art works that quality is ultimately ignored. In a day and age where an installation of a light going on and off wins 20 grand, a genuinely talented individual is sentenced to prison for 4 years. This guy from Bolton should have had his own exhibition, not banged up (although a gallery in London exhibited his work earlier this year).
Don't get me wrong, I'm a massive fan of contemporary and modern art. (I am not a fan of 'highbrow' art, art that comes with an essay to justify it). Personally, I would PAY to see the works created by Shaun Greenhalgh and I like the fact that this loner managed to fool the art world. (If only I could do the same!!!)

Glinka

Every little helps...Part 2

Tesco Economy-style advert for the Financial Times, by DDB London

Funny, that my other post was called Every little helps for no apparent reason, so I decided that this would be fitting for a little rant. Not related to art (however just a concern for the minutiae of life) I just wanted to mention how much I hate using self service machines in supermarkets. I was faced with (in the new Tesco in Piccadilly Gardens) my biggest fear when I was refused, (yes refused) service at the checkout by a girl who was sat at a till point. The assistant said to me 'I'm not serving...you know how to use the self service?' Yes, I do know how to use the self service and yes I am only buying a cheapo £2 meal deal (sarnie, crisps and a bottle of water, not bad!) but I don't wanna use the self service machine. I don't like them, I don't wanna like them and why on earth are you sat at a till point if you are not serving? Every little helps or not so it seems..

Every little helps...

I'm sat at home pondering this weekends possible forthcoming events, and can hear some ragga music and a bit of mc-ing outside. Where from I do not know? Not my bag of course, but they sound like they are having fun nonetheless and that's all that counts! So just a little thank you to Manchester Photography for mentioning us on their blog! This is a well respected local photography database and we feel privileged to have a little mention, so thanks for that : )

Other stuff alongside, I nipped to the Cornerhouse the other day and watched the Gainsbourg film.
Apart from the extremely small cinema space and the fact that the film stopped half way through and we were all sat in complete darkness (I kid you not), the film portrayed the angst, torment and colourful perspective of a self destructive charismatic genius (not my usual type, honestly!) and his continual affairs. I was shocked to discover that the actress Lucy Gordon who plays Jane Birkin in the film had committed suicide in real life. I always find such a tragic waste of life so difficult to understand. Real life mimics art as always (or is it the other way around?)... Next on my list is to see the new Coco and Igor film. Shame I'm not on 2 for 1 Orange Wednesday's, unless anyone's offering any freebies? Cheerio, Anouska

The Beautiful and the Damned - new street art at Mooch Manchester

Image copyright Gemma Compton

Fun day ahead tomorrow... Another show to tell you about. This time at Mooch gallery in Manchester. The shows title already has me intrigued. Click here for more details. It runs until October 2nd and admission is FREE!

Cecil Beaton @ Imperial War Museum

Image copyright Cecil Beaton

Sorry, my original post was a little misleading... Cecil Beaton's World War II dockyard photographs are CURRENTLY being exhibitied at the Imperial War Museum North. It runs until July 20th 2011 so there is plenty of time for you to go and see it. I'll be there tomorrow! (I originally posted that it doesn't start until June 2011, I must have been half asleep. Apologies!!!)

Click here for more details.

Glinka 

Frida Kahlo

Not been on here much over the last few days. Been a right little busy so and so. One of the many things I've been 'busy' doing is watching Eggheads (I do like a good quiz), one of the questions was; Who was Frida Kahlo married to? (I knew the answer by the way!!!) But more importantly, it reminded me of her work and how amazing (and traumatic) her life was. Brilliantly portrayed by Salma Hayek in the biopic 'Frida', a must see for any fan of Kahlo or cinema... her work touches on beauty and tragedy, loneliness and pain. Amazing stuff.... Glinka

Ooh it's Friday the 13th!! Follow us on Facebook!!!!

We now have a Facebook group. I know, exciting isn't it? Please join here to fully reap the benefits of our fabulous updates.
Oh, and be careful today, what with it being Friday 13th and all. (Not that I believe in any of that nonsense!) Glinka

Nicola Rowlands 'Don't wait up for me' at The Art of Tea

At the end of the month there is a nice exhibition on at The Art of Tea in Didsbury, so have a brew and enjoy some great illustrations. It starts on 29th August until 28th November. Check out Nicola's lovely design work here. 'Til next time Anouska

Julia Corsaro

Image copyright Julia Corsaro

The beauty about art is that it can really inspire something in you and every now and then I see some new work that really energises me into getting off my arse and taking some photographs. Doug Dubois, Elizabeth Fleming, Lorca di Corcia, Annelies Strba are just a handful that gave me that much needed kick up the backside. Julia Corsaro is another one who has sparked some energy into me. Her use of muted colours and shaky focus gives some of the work a real sense of fragility, yet there is something else that is really stark and raw about her work. Check out her website here, lots of quality stuff to look at. Anyway, I'm off to the camera shop to buy some film, I won't get any pictures taken by typing words on here.

Glinka

How Important Are Final Year Shows?

I was reading the Shutteritis blog the other day and I noticed a link to an article by the British Journal of Photography. The gist being - How important are final year shows (for degree students)?
They make some valid points; with students spending up to £1000 on their final exhibitions, are they worth it? and does anyone of note even bother to turn up? 


When students at University College of Falmouth were asked if they wanted an exhibition or a professional portfolio review instead, 80% opted for the review. I think that's fine, why can't student's have more say in what they get, after all, they are paying for the damn thing (my personal student debt is in excess of 20 grand!). 
If I had the chance to vote at the time of my graduation, I would have gone for the exhibition. I think there is something immensely satisfying about putting on your end of year show. And as for it costing up to £1000? Well, welcome to the real world. Very rarely do exhibitions come for free, especially on the scale of degree shows. You can pay as little as £7.50 for a portfolio review here, and anyway, shouldn't your university be giving you portfolio advice as part of the extortionate tuition fees?


Anyway, long live the degree show. I personally love going to them and seeing what the next group of creatives have to offer.


Glinka

I'm in Love With a German Film Star

Pictures by Anouska

Well I'm not really but you can't beat The Passions for some quality tunes. I've just got back from Berlin, which was totally fab. Such a hub of creativity and inspiration and I would recommend it to anyone. I've never been anywhere quite so cool before, it's such a good city. There are so many interesting markets, monuments, places to go etc and all the history of the city makes it so diverse...they have the best transport system (take note Metrolink) and the cheapest food and drink ever! I even stayed within budget which is quite something seeing as I had to pay excess luggage on the way back : /
One of the most mind boggling places I've ever been too is the Reichstag Building. It boasts a 360 view of the city and inside it is a helter skelter of glass, reflective surfaces and a continuous circular path, and although I queued an hour in the beaming sunshine and felt frazzled with dehydration at the end of it, it was well worth the experience and dizziness!
One of the other extraordinary places I visited was Tacheles Art House, which is an indescribable place unless you see for yourself. Covered in graffiti over several floors, as soon as I walked in I felt apprehension and excitement. I felt as though I needed permission to go in. In one room there was what can only be described as a the loudest banging (almost tribal sounding) by a huge group of performers who were totally let loose. I literally nearly burst an eardrum, it was incredible.

.

Further up as you continue up the winding stairs, you come across people working on bits and pieces of art in their studios, a gallery with some of the oddest paintings I have ever seen and a rooftop bar with cheap beer. I was curious how they have got the raggedy sofas up so many floors. I think the people from Kraak Gallery must have visited as it has the same kinda vibe.


Hopefully I will get chance to go back to Berlin soon as I really loved the place. In the meantime I didn't see any pigeons apart from these ones... they can't resist a bit of bread can they?

Christian Jankowski

As mentioned earlier on in this blog (last month), I went to the opening of Christian Jankowski's exhibition at Cube Gallery. Maybe I'm not high-brow enough in the art world but I thought it was a massive disappointment and any point that was trying to be made was lost on me, or just didn't interest me. In a world where there are millions of talented artists struggling for even a metre of wall space to have their work shown, Cube decides to have an exhibition where nothing is shown, thus in the attempt we appreciate 'the perfect gallery'. No thanks, not for me.

I'm interested to know what other's think of the exhibition.

Glinka

Mars and squirty cream...

Completely unrelated to art in any way, but as I was out and about in lovely Chorlton today, I saw a women sat at a bench with a Mars Bar in one hand and a can of squirty cream in the other. The amount of looks she was getting, including from myself, was incredible. But why can't a lady (or man) enjoy such a snack in view of 'us normal' folk.

A mars bar with squirty cream.... why the frig not?