08/03/11

I recently travelled down to Brighton to see the Grammar, Nonsense, Imagination Exhibition in the Brighton University Gallery. The work was by two courses, Fine Art Print Making and Performance and Visual Arts (PAVA). There was some very thought provoking work and also some really interesting pieces by a variety of artists. I really enjoyed the concertina sketchbooks by Megan Hopkins and Helena Beer, and the taxidermy work by ... So interesting to see someone resurrecting an old forgotten technique into something more new and contemporary.

One of the best points about the exhibition was that it was great to see a group of students working together to produce an event (the opening night), a show directory and gallery which had obviously taken a lot of hard work and consideration, one shame was that I feel the work may have been better split into two halves, as the PAVA work in it 3D nature meant that to average joe it rather felt like the fabulous 2D pieces missed something, which in reality they didn't.

The Exhibition is now closed but ran for 1 week from the 4/03/11 till 12/03/11

Close Up of Concertina Sketchbook

Megan Hopkins.

Interesting Display Technique

3D techniques, layering creates texture (Megan Hopkins.)

The work shown above is by Megan Hopkins view her blog at

http://plainsailing-megan.blogspot.com/

I also wonder if Birmingham City University could do a similar run of events? shows by different groups of people? changed regularly? would they be on or off sight? something to think about for dissertation maybe?

Last Tuesday...

Last tuesday I gave a talk to 40 older ladies from the Wolverhampton and Chase Soroptmists about my trip to malawi last summer to teach first aid in primary schools with the organisation First Aid Africa, they were really interested and funny and I had a good laugh and some tasty grub to boot!

It was first for me too as I met one lady who was 100, she got an extra bit of stilton for that! and also a lady called Marjorie who was 82 still at work, got an MBE for her services to the elderly population of wolverhampton, though she originally worked in a Butchers over the war and then moved into fashion, they were all very inspirational ladies.

Its got me thinking about my professional practice model and how I need to get my bum into gear about where and what I want to be!! even if I do chop and change like Marjorie!! Even if my goal is just to travel the world and meet lots of exciting people so that at 82 I can still be on the board of a business that has to cancel meetings if I cant make it!!!

Bloomin Heston...

The new cinema food according to him equated to fake sperm and a fowl smelling fish caviar?

How simple and convient!!