Things I am currently very excited about

I have a long term obsession with feral children and indeed all things Fortean, and yesterday I found this book in a second hand bookshop in town:

The story of a boy found living wild with Gazelle in the Sahara

This lead me onto discovering this website: Feral Children which will now provide me with hours of enjoyment no doubt.

I also am currently very excited about my new book, remember I mentioned it a while ago? Well here's a sneak at it:

It's a book i've had on my wish list for a long long time, and it arrived on the day of my deadline, so perfect timing- and I managed to find a half price copy too! What is it I hear you ask? Well it's this book: Annette Messager: Messengers
I've been rationing myself out as it's such a lovely book and it's almost unbearable to crack open the smooth golden pages, but every night I take a little look at some more and curl up feeling very happy with myself for being a good girl who did her homework and got a treat (even if she did pay for it herself)

And finally- i'm realising how great it is to have a partner in crime- a co-conspiritor in getting things done. Since our meeting on Monday, Claire and I have been coming up with ideas for future shows, press releases, pieces of work, all sorts- this is just what i've been missing out on!

CALM AIR ALL ICE

Claire Elizabeth Platt

Today I had a meeting with my partner in crime Claire. We are exhibiting together in May and are trying to be super organised with our press and making sure that we are somehow cohesive despite the fact she makes WWII planes and I make things from old hankies. I think it's going to come together really nicely and I spent the bus ride home thinking of words that have meaning for both of us, and doodling ideas for posters and so forth. Working with someone else is really good for me i've discovered- I am a natural born collaborator, and although this show will be us presenting our individual work in a shared space, it's so good to have a partner in these plans for world domination. We've got plans for a few more joint ventures ahead of us- but are always looking out for new projects, so if you can think of something the 'Calm Air All Ice' team might tackle let us know.

Kirsty Hall at Prick Your Fingers

Images Kirsty Hall

My friend Kirsty has an exhibition opening tomorrow at Prick Your Finger in London town. She's going to be there performing her 'Pin Ritual' and is asking people to contribute their own pin-based stories. Kirsty exhibited her pin pieces in the 'here' gallery a while ago and they have a really lovely soft quality to them, it's a strange word to describe work made from the obsessive compulsive drive to pin hundreds of sharp pointy things into fabric, but the thing I remember most about the show is just a feeling of softness and lightness.

From Kirsty's blog:

Prick Your Finger is at 260 Globe Road, Bethnal Green, E2 OJD and the opening hours are Tuesday to Friday from 12 - 6pm and Saturday 11am - 6pm. The show opens on Friday 23rd January and runs until Saturday 28th February. If you’re in London, I hope you’ll get along to see it.

There will be an official opening on Saturday 24th January from 2-6pm. If you’re in the area please do come along and meet me. I will be performing Pin Ritual and I believe there are plans for tea and cakes.

There will also be additional pin performances on the following days:

Friday 23rd January from 1-3pm
Friday 27th February 1-3pm
Saturday 28th February, again 1-3pm

If you visit when I’m not performing, there will be a book of pin stories to read and you’ll have the opportunity to leave your own pin story.

I Intended to blog about this last week in order to give you some advanced warning, but the show is on until the end of Feb so you have time to catch it.

I also intended to blog about ZINEFEST!!! Which I was going to be going to tomorrow (with Miss Mithi ) but I had over estimated my free time, money and health and instead I shall be staying at home reading my new favourite book (more on which later).

Boobs and Bums

I'm not really here, i'm really busy downstairs finishing off work for a deadline tomorrow, but I was worried you would forget about me so I decided to titilate you with some boobies. And then I thought that's not enough so I threw in a bottom as well. These are a few of my more recent life drawings and apart from the fact they don't fit on the scanner properly, which makes them a bit lopsided, i'm pretty pleased with them.

R.I.P. Tony Hart

I didn't ever get any of my work shown in the gallery, maybe because I didn't ever send anything in- but I can always remember watching with amazement at the skills of some 8 year olds and being convinced they'd had an adult to help them. R.I.P. Tony Hart.

Collecting Colour

A very much needed break from being stuck indoors. The sun was out for a while so we went for brunch in the park and a cup of tea on the beach. I took these photos because I need to remember to keep my eye tuned for colour combinations and the winter light is the best light for making the sky blue and boring things exciting. Can you tell what I photographed?

British Design Classic Stamps

I have to admit to feeling a bit dorky buying these stamps the other day- but look how cool they are, I mean who doesn't want a stamp with a penguin book on? These are going to my friend Gregory in America, but if you want a set let me know and we can trade for something dorky from where you live (or you could send me the money to cover the cost if you wanted to be boring).

all the trimmings.

I'm what you might call a bit 'out of sorts' at the moment, and i've fallen very behind on answering comments or emails and so forth. I wanted to make an appearance here to say sorry for that and I hope to be back to more responsive blogging soon. In the meantime look at these lovely trims I spotted while I was in London...which one would you pick?

London calling...

I'm off to London tomorrow, I think I might be doing some of this:


Maybe paying a visit here:


And probably lots and lots of this:

If you have any top tips for me let me know- I think i'm going to try and branch out from the V+A and visit some other museums for a change. I'm there til Sunday afternoon if you want to meet me for a cup of tea at all!

Job opportunity...

ADMINISTRATOR (Part-time)

£16,000 (pro rata 22.5 hours per week/6 month contract)

Picture This produces visual arts projects harnessing its unique understanding of moving image technology and contemporary culture. Picture This’ production and exhibition space opened in June 2007 in Bristol on the Harbourside.

We are seeking a part-time administrator to ensure the smooth running of the organisation’s internal financial and administrative systems and relationships with external bodies starting from the end of January 2009, initially for six months.

The successful candidates will have relevant experience and qualifications and be interested in working in the arts.

To apply down-load an application form from www.picture-this.org.uk, e-mail beth@picture-this.org.uk or telephone 0117 9257010. Application deadline: 5 pm Friday 12 January 2009.

Picture This,

40 Sydney Row,

Spike Island,

Bristol,

BS1 6UU

Dreaming of Sweden

Lately I can't stop dreaming of Sweden. Last night I took a trip to Stockholm, in my dream Stockholm had become somewhat muddled up with Berlin geographically, which meant that I struggled to get to Gamla Stan and couldn't understand why people were speaking German. This dream inspired me to try and find some of the photos I had taken last time I was in Stockholm, which i've just worked out was 6 years ago, almost to the day.

Chandelier in the Cafe Opera restaurant, where I had a very expensive meal

swans on the frozen river

snowy park

I have another photo somewhere which has a little dog in that looks just like Morran and I wonder sometimes if by magic I had taken a photo of Camilla and Morran while they were on a trip to Stockholm, I really need to find that photo!

This year I am determined to get back to Sweden, i've been trying to save money for a grand Scandinavian tour with Alys, and it feels like all these dreams are trying to force me into doing it sooner rather than later.

A Toy Society Christmas

Just before Christmas I took part in this:


I made this strange creation to set free into the world:

here he (she?) is all wrapped up against the elements and parked on a bench over looking the sea with instructions to take home if found:

Goodbye strange creature:

Look! I stood on the seafront photographing the sea (in other words spying) for a while just in case I was able to see someone pick up the toy, and this is the photo I took of the pick up:

After watching long enough to realise that these people had stopped and were taking notice of the toy I headed off with the biggest grin on my face ever, knowing that this wouldn't be the last time I set a toy free.

And do you know what? This story has a very happy ending indeed- the people who found the toy sent this email to the Toy Society:

Hello,

i was walking along Weston-Super-Mare parade (South West England) in the bitter cold wind with my boyfriend and my 14 week old baby girl when we came across a bag placed on a seat, Inside the bag was a home made toy with the words "take me home, I'm yours" written on it!!! Bella (my baby girl) was delighted and we picked it up and took it home

Bella is so happy with it and it has a wonderful home and a loving owner who will grow up knowing the kindness of a total stranger.

In return I am pledging to make a home made toy and place it somewhere to be found and continue the chain of kindness.


Best Wishes Lucy and Bella

Lucy has now pledged that her, her boyfriend and her mum are all going to make toys and set them free!

books books books

photo by Irina Troitskaya

It's that time again- the time when I ask you to recommend some books to me as I have a budget of £100 that has to be spent on art related books. I've already treated myself to this new book:

Abandoned Cars by Tim Lane

which as a graphic novel might just fit into the art category, but i'm not sure i'll get away with buying comics with this money, so if you have any recommendations that would be great!