Art House Coop Sketchbook Show in New York

I have taken part in a sketchbook show organised by The Art House Coop for the past few years now. They have recently moved from Atlanta to Brooklyn where they have opened a library, so any one can visit and borrow your sketchbook. You are sent a Moleskin sketchbook and you choose a title, you respond in any way you like within the confines of the book and then post your book to New York where it enters the library. At least some new libraries are up and running and forward thinking and open.

You can see an article in the NY Mag , where the show has been reviewed, if you are lucky enough to be in New York you can go and tell me what its like or send me a photo, I would love to know what it all looks like.

The Go! Team and VIP's

The Go! Team last night were fantastic, they are loud, energetic, vibrant, busy, eclectic, wonderful and really superb. I have no idea were they get their energy from, Ninja bounces around and pushes the boundaries of performance to the extreme and the rest of the band scamper around, changing instruments and vocals quicker than you can blink. Their music shows a real insight into how composition and musicality works to the greater good. A small plea, my partner would give his right arm to hear "Everyone's a VIP to someone" played live, so if you are reading this and have influence !
For me they remind me of 1980's TV theme tunes, Phil Spector's wall of sound, The Velvet Underground and Nico and (oddly) Joy Division.
Go get the new album and watch the video for "Ladyflash", superb.

Deserts, Portugal, Elvis, JFK and others.

I have been thinking about travel recently, I normally get through to April before my itchy feet set in. Though the phenomenon has set in early this year. Its not the sort of yearning that means I have to travel just that deep-seated longing that makes my life a bit unhappy, that constant niggle in the background that something is not quite right.
I have a friend who lives in Portugal and she describes a particularly feeling that, they have as a nation, that is like homesickness but even more intense and only the Portugese have the ability to feel this. I think I have the opposite of this, I am homesick for other peoples nations. I feel that I am that particular type of English person who feels more at home in the Deserts, wether they are hot or cold, but on a personal level I prefer the heat.
I also hanker to travel to places I cannot go, I want to go and see Blondie in the 1980's in New York, I want to attend JFK's funeral, I want to see Elvis in Las Vegas sing Suspicious Minds and many, many more. I know that I cannot do these things apart from through film, photographs, first hand accounts and then in my imagination.
So I am now using my imagination.

Windows, Elvis and World-tours.

After flapping around for about 8 years I now have a new front door and some new windows. They are lovely, no holes, no rotten wood and no gaps. They were very efficiently fitted by a rockabilly musician and his mate, great chats about music and collecting Gibson guitars whilst the wind whistled through the house. No whistling wind now though. I am luxuriating in the silence and thinking about Elvis, triangles, glitter, the postcard, JFK, sequins, dayglo, foil and rather oddly seedy British seaside resorts ( I know that the list is odd, but in my head seaside resorts are the odd one out). I might have to go on a tour. Then I could have t-shirts and merchandise printed up, or a grand-tour-like idea, on the train to Venice stopping in Rome, Milan and the Amalfi coast, I digress.
I think I need to travel soon.

Glitter, Glitter everywhere.

My glitter obsession is spreading, the ability of glitter to make you smile is amazing, how such a small ephemeral, shiny speck can do this is astounding. The opening of "The Paris Correspondence School" at the Minnie Weisz Gallery was glittery.
Have a look, see what you think.
I hope my glittery-ness is as enjoyable to you as it's to me.

Grey or Gray ?

Grey or gray, that is the question.
So wan are we, so pale with care, like crushed florets under horses hooves we tread.

Anyway, I am dreaming of warmth, watches, the masons, coffee, maps, piers, pink glitter, envelopes, tape, wolves, blanket stitch, blueberry scented pens, cabled legwarmers, pewter shoes, grey button-downs, glaciers, nuclear, triangles, hoods, silver, crochet.

And other stuff as well. My dreams are eclectic, busy and ephemeral, I suppose that is the mark of a dream, a good dream. I dream.

Anneka French's review of Au + Ag show at Trove

You can read the full review here.

I am, at the moment, in correspondence with Anneka, I hope to tell you more about this soon.

You can read the full review here.

Brogues, daydreams and wish fulfillment.

This day is now over, thank goodness. I am wondering what it is all about, why do we think at all ?

I am still hankering after a few things though, boys in Brogues ( I do like a proper shoe), sea-gazing, the wishing for more people to write to ( I am a postcard sending obsessive) and a desire for the idea to descend easily. I am not sure what I mean by any of these statements, if you could help out I would be immensely grateful. After my day the smallest crumb (preferably one from a custard cream) of comfort would be gratefully recieved.

I now need to explore the idea of dreaming, I feel I don't do enough of that. Day dreams are blissful if done right.