re: 'Modern Expression', BIG ISSUE article

Recent BIG ISSUE article on the subject of the state of modern art at the 100 year anniversity of Modernism. The two most interesting collectives shared a desire to puncture the pointless irony, blah blah and celebrity culture of postmodern art, replacing this with passion and energy.

Savage Messiah Fanzine



Check out the website:

http://savagemessiahzine.com/

The universal and ineluctable consequence of this crusade to secure the city is the destruction of accessible public space. The contemporary opprobrium attached to the term ‘street person’ is itself a harrowing index of the devaluation of public spaces.
To reduce contact with untouchables, urban redevelopment has converted once vital pedestrian streets into traffic sewers and transformed public parks into temporary receptacles for the homeless and wretched.
The American city, as many critics have recognised, is being systematically turned inside out- or rather outside in. The valorized spaces of the new megastructures and supermalls are concentrated in the centre, street frontage is denuded, public activity is sorted into strictly functional compartments, and circulation is internalized in corridors under the gaze of private police.
Mike Davis City of Quartz

Pil and Galia Kollectiv

Our artwork is primarily film, video and performance based, though we also make collages and sculptures / installations related to our films. It explores utopian discourses of the twentieth century and the way they operate in the context of a changing landscape of creative work and instrumentalised leisure. We are interested in the role of politics and commerce in relation to the paradigms of modernism and the avant garde. We often use choreographed movement and ritual as both an aesthetic and a thematic dimension. Reading dada and the Bauhaus backwards through punk and new wave to rescue the humour and critical vitality that have been subsumed by the canonisation and commodification of modernism, we find new uses for the failed utopias of the past.

http://www.kollectiv.co.uk/

THE BIG ISSUE website: www.bigissue.co.uk/

Finally -- The Room!

I should have blogged about The Room ages ago, but I've descided to do it now as t'other day when the lads and I went to The Barbican's 'The Bad Film Club' to see Wiseau et al. on the big screen.

The night was brilliant. We walked down to the lowest floor (-2), to be greeted by a giant poster of Tommy, the movie poster [see above] that got the world's love affair with The Room started in a lot of ways.

Sam was dressed as Denny, the resident child-pervert, complete with wig. Tom was dressed in a tracksuit, wife-beater and beanie as 'Chris R.', a drug dealer who makes a fleeting, pretty much non-sensical appearance. Lewis had a pair of underwear in his pocket in homage to the famous "me underwears" scene.

We looked around at the other giant nerds, some who frequent the bad movie night, some like us who were first timers drawn there by the chance to see THE ROOM!!1! Some famous people that were there were Peter Serafinowicz, Graham Linehan and Robert Popper. They were kind of comparing the film. This means making witty comments and observations whilst the film is running. Some were funny and inspired and these guys cleary love the film, but I'm pretty sure that greg and sam were just as if not more humorous.

On the whole, if you enjoy making foonny comments about the films you watch with friends, The Room is a pretty safe bet for a great night.

Def check out bad film club: http://www.barbican.org.uk/film/series.asp?id=525

The Room: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Room_(film)

Hooray for the kids! #3: Art and design

Harry Hasson

Famous for having his name spelt wrongly in a beat-box video I made one time, Harry Hasson is a designer, some might say. Similarly to Ham, I'm on the same page as this guy - his work is joyful, fun and generally inspired (see ratchet furniture, above).

Check out his website:http://www.designatharrys.com/hasson%20projects.html

I also follow his blog 'things harry likes'. Check it out. It is good. ;)

Draw the Line

This is what orignially inspired me to write this series of posts.
There are some great things being done by my friends. It gives me great joy to brag about them.

Lancaster University graduates exhibition 2009. It would be GREAT to follow these guys and see where they go in the next couple of years.

Check out the only review I could find and the mentioned artists. Hopefully they will have websites.

http://thelunecyreview.wordpress.com/2009/06/23/draw-the-line-09-lancaster-university/

Zanny Mellor

The most commerically successful of the moment, Zanny HAS A TROPHEE! She came thrid in a Llyods TSB competiton -- and check out how good her work is! Illustration has always been my bag, and I love the mellowness and flow evidence in her work. Plus it's nice to see people doing what they love, doing it well and hopefully making a few beans on the side.

Zanny's website: www.zannymellor.com/

Anyone in Bristol? Want to see zanny's work in a proper gallery and everything!: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=129409054671

Hooray for the kids! #2: Literature

El Gruer

Break-dancing, poetry slammer.

This is the best I could do, G -->

I am an avid fan of El's work. As a contemporary, she encouraged me to write better and as she moves on to performance poetry she continues to inspire me to be creative. Saw her first professional gig, accompanied by beat-boxer Harry, at Greenbelt.

Humorous, concious, touching and personable poetry.

Atm she is working with the kids in Ireland. I bet they won't know what hit 'em. THAT'S ONE FOR LITERATURE!!!

Website: http://elgruer.com/

Hooray for the kids! #1: Music

People I know that are goings to be famous.

Jo Gillot

For The Lunecy Review via Jo's MySpace:

... odd lapses into Kate Nash-isms before her voice swoops and soars again like a more robust Joanna Newsom and the strength of her lyrics becomes more than just clever clever word play.

Beautiful, soulful and playful accoustic ditties. I hearts it.

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/jogillot

L.Kay

The busiest man I know. A champion of hearty gospel music. A great player, musician, man and a wonderful and encouraging disciple and brother.

From YouTube:

L.Kay, GGM and Chancie, 'Finally say Goodbye'. This tracks about leaving the past alone, letting go of it and moving forward, following Gods will and plans for your life, but the key thing is that you have to Find God first before you can let Go of the past.

Check out the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Iw4I-gdIU0

Colonel Mustard

A great band from Hastings. Chatting to Haydn, they seem to come from multiple dimensions to create a real, real mixed bag. What larks, eh! Can you tell that he went to college with Billy Childish!:

Colonel Mustard are a group of five guys, each with their own excentric and ecletic tastes and influences, bought together by their need to make unforgettable and fun music. They will take you on an emotional musical journey, all the way from melancholia to moshing, making sure your senses are titillated and inspired and left wanting for more. With helpings of mellow funk through to euphoric gypsy two-step, sweet lullaby waltz’s and just a dash of Ska, the five Colonels will take you on an adventure never to be forgotten.

Check out t'MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/wearecolonelmustard

Oggling mind-boggling blogs

This is a celebration of the great blogs that I follow. In a sense it is a responce, but more about exposing their wonderful thoughts to a "wider" readership:

The Long and the Short of It
Wonderfully Bible-driven blog of ponderings, how to write a blog and what is important to shout about. Also a bit like a Fab ice-lollie. Very readable, engagable and with definite clout:

I just wrote a massive blog-post, dealing with life, the universe and just about everything my little brain could think to talk about. I was witty, I was clever, I was generally trying to write the best darn blog-post there ever had been. I then opened the Bible and read this: ...

http://natalie-hill.blogspot.com/

Scribblings From My Desk
This blog is a mix of stuff that is hearty: very real, very well thought through and researched. It is a joy to read and I have found it very helpful personally. It is also a hub of other great teachers -- just check out the blogs on the right hand side.
I particularly like the recent post about Robbie Williams :)
http://peterdray.blogspot.com/2009/09/robbie-williams-bodies.html

A Lamp to Our Feet
Well, now we have a rich fruit pudding of a blog! Book-smarts, honesty and real-life situations are a few reasons why this is just quality.
I'm going to try and put into words, drawing from my meditations and thoughts on both these books over the past few weeks, exactly why I feel more joyful because of them but it's going to be a struggle because it seems paradoxical and confusing even to me!
http://alamptoourfeet.blogspot.com/

Punk, barbershop, the market, teaching

Star Hipsters
These guys rule.
Socially concious punk rock.
Check out these lyrics ...

Right men just bleed the poor
And I can't take no more
'Until We're Dead'

For me this rings bells with Chris' thoughts from the pyrotechnic drama we say at Greenbelt (totally forgotten what it was called ...). Throughout was the lament of 'Give everything you have to the poor ... Is this too much? ... Then give a tenth? ... Is this too much? Then don't steal from your poor brother ...'
Chris' thoughts were that in a sense we (in the MC West) do deprive people all over the world of their natural resources to keep us in states of luxury. I feel that 'Until We're Dead' reflects that frustration and the desire to make a change, starting with the man in the mirror if you like.

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/starfuckinghipsters

Barbershop


At the weekend Lewis and I went to a barbershop singing workshop. It was amazing! Lovely tunes and lovely people. Check out barbershop culture -- there is more to it than I thought and it is pretty cool (although less boaters that one would like). It is a good hobbie ... I'm not sure if I will 'join the club'...
Websites: http://singbarbershopinsussex.com/sussexharmonisers/index.htm

Borough Market
Another weekend, anthoer AMAZING adventure! Borough Market is absolutly brilliant. Everyone is friendly, london style, which is perfectly wonderful. And free samples! Kevin and I ate so much cheese! Can't wait to go back!
Website: http://www.boroughmarket.org.uk/

Teaching
It is great. What have I learnt? Loads! I think the most important thing so far is LISTENING. This is hard, as at the moment all I can worry about is 'am I doing it right?'
We'll get there in the end, eh?

Read everyone's blogs -- they are greats!
Lots of love

Chatty

A selection of my thoughts on a tea-fuelled September evening.

Ham

I love Sam's blog. He writes about just the same sort of things I do.
Check out this blast from the past with the killer title 'If you fell over in the woods, would you make a sound?':

"I don't know why I'm directly addressing 'you' ... as the reader of this blog, as, obviously, nobody reads it, so you don't exist. "

Genius. I'm going to have to read them all.

He's also just got his website up. I've just had a look at it and it is ACE. I'd no idea he'd done (so much) work ...

http://www.samdransfield.co.uk/index.html

***

The BNP prt. 2

Fear comes from hate.
Hate comes from fear.

We have to love the BNP.
Someone has to.
Listen to thier stories.
They need to be broken with pity and love.

Love breaks fear.
Love breaks hate.

God equip us for our mission.

***

Amanda Palmer

The only reason I would follow twitter really is to follow Miss Amanda Palmer's tweets. She is a hugely sweet person, a great artist who loves music, her fans and her life. If I was to have a fictional dream (fictional and dream?!?) dinner party she would be the guest of honour. She uses Twitter and her blog as a world-wide love note to her fans, posting secret shows, using fans ideas, posting photos etc.

Wonderful.

Who is Amanda?: Amanda's Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/whokilledamandapalmer
Amanda's blog: http://blog.amandapalmer.net/post/171930303/fringe-london-out
Amanda's Twitter: http://twitter.com/amandaPalmer

***

My Folks

I'm sitting with my parents listening to C. S. Lewis on audio tape. They are pretty tired, almost falling asleep. I love them both very much. It is great being back home. I vow to love them, visit them and look after them as much as I can for the rest of our lives.

***

Teaching

Not long to go now. I start my course on Monday. I'm determined to give it my best. I owe it to tomorrow's youth.

More later, gang!

The Climate Rush

Hey, Suburbanaughts!

At the Greenbelt there was a talk given by Climate Rusher Tamsin Omond. So apparently she is a Christian! Not that this is what she is famous for, or why her Climate Rush protest group is famous:

Climate Rush is inspired by the actions of the Suffragettes 100 years ago, who showed that peaceful civil disobedience could inspire positive change. We are a diverse group of women and men who are determined to raise awareness of the biggest threat facing humanity today - that of Climate Change. Our government acknowledges the huge problems we face from Climate Change, but carries on with business as usual. We demand DEEDS NOT WORDS because individual choice alone cannot curb CO2 emissions if we are to stop runaway global warming.

http://www.climaterush.co.uk/who.html

There is nothing in itself wrong with this. But I think that there are bigger threats to humanity than climate change; the Climate Rush group are only scratching the surface. The motives for Tamsin and our fellow brothers and sisters show that the natural concern for our planet springs from a desire to worship God:

1 O LORD, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory

above the heavens.

2 From the lips of children and infants

you have ordained praise

because of your enemies,

to silence the foe and the avenger.

3 When I consider your heavens,

the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars,

which you have set in place,

4 what is man that you are mindful of him,

the son of man that you care for him?

5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings

and crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;

you put everything under his feet:

7 all flocks and herds,

and the beasts of the field,

8 the birds of the air,

and the fish of the sea,

all that swim the paths of the seas.

9 O LORD, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Psalm 8 (It was the best I could do on the spot. I love this psalm anyhow.)

Think of all the brothers and sisters doing great work that generates so much coverage that goes under the radar within the secular media. Think of all the Christian Sufferagettes who strove for justice not only for thier contemporaries and generations of women to come for the glory of God.

God bless you, Tamsin.

"Deeds not words". Whatever, everybody.

Lots of love xxx

Web link: http://www.climaterush.co.uk/whatnext.html

Tamsin's Twitter: http://twitter.com/tamsinomond

P.S. My friend Simon has just started a new blog about his adventures in New York. This makes me very happy.

Childishness

1At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

2He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. ..."See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.

Matthew 18.1-5/10

So I saw Billy Childish at Greenbelt this year. He communicated the importance of a "child-like" perspective of the artist:

Children play. Adults pretend.

Children wonder. Adults "know".

This draws startlingly close to the passage in Matthew, imagery that describes the attidude (and the wrong attitude) of someone seeking sanctification or something. I don't think it was a coinsidence I found this passage later that day.

What are the points Jesus and Childish are making here?