this link
It almost follows on from what I was just saying. It's a good read.
Sunday, 5 April 2009
Today
Today I took a different approach to the headland. The very same route, just, a different approach. As petrol has gone back up AGAIN, and as I am soon to be out of work I decided to ride my bike to the location. I am slightly out of practice it must be said! The beauty of cycling is much like the beauty of walking. It exposes your senses to this new level of engagement that one can only achieve when out in the open air. There are many factors that are the same for both walking and cycling. Cycling is not as good however. It is still a bit quick... I suppose one could cycle slower, but where is the fun in that? Cycling also provides a slight detachment from the surface of the land. A barrier if you will. There is no barrier between you and the land when you are on foot, other than the soles of your shoes. No one says you have to wear shoes though...
On my bike I felt tired, but free. My legs ached, and my chest hurt, but was nice to feel free. It was nice to feel the sun, and the wind, and smell all the different smells that lingered in different places. I didn't really enjoy the smell of horse manure down the country lanes, but I suppose it's hit and miss as to whether you experience beautiful smells or ones you really could live without. My vision was flooded with new sights. You realise when you are travelling slower than usual that you actually miss so much. You are in a big car, travelling quickly through the landscape. You are concentrating on the road, trying not to crash in to other objects and people. There is no time to take things in. Besides, when you're in a car you are only exercising one sense when attempting to take things in. Seeing alone is not an experience. Seeing alone is boring...
I started reading 'Wanderlust' by Rebecca Solnit a couple of weeks ago now. I may have got distracted by another book or two that came through the post since then, (for your reference, these were 'A Field Guide To Getting Lost' by Rebecca Solnit too, and 'No One Belongs Here More Than You' by Miranda July) but after today gave me so much to think about I picked it up again. I think the whole purpose of this post is to share some of the quotes I have found with you. I have only read about six pages so far, but already I love this book, and get all giddy when I read something so very human, yet so very profound. I think 'Oh my, that is so simple, yet so completely brilliant! Why didn't I think of that?!'. I think I will post these in a reverse order of discovery.
When I think about driving my vehicle through places, this is the quote that seems most appropriate - 'Many people nowadays live in a series of interiors - home, car, gym, office, shops - disconnected from each other. On foot everything stays connected, for while walking one occupies the spaces between those interiors in the same way one occupies those interiors. One lives in the whole world rather than in interiors built up against it.' She writes this after telling the story of a friend of hers who had her van stolen. Everyone they knew thought it was a disaster, except for the woman whose van it was. 'There was a joy, she said, to finding that her body was adequate to get her where she was going, and it was a gift to develop a more tangible, concrete relationship to her neighbourhood...'
Actually, I will leave both you, and myself with these thoughts. Why is it that we lose this sense of being able? Why do we forget how to walk as soon as we get a car? Why do we let ourselves feel as though what our body has to offer us can't complete the task at hand properly? We are a complacent bunch...
On my bike I felt tired, but free. My legs ached, and my chest hurt, but was nice to feel free. It was nice to feel the sun, and the wind, and smell all the different smells that lingered in different places. I didn't really enjoy the smell of horse manure down the country lanes, but I suppose it's hit and miss as to whether you experience beautiful smells or ones you really could live without. My vision was flooded with new sights. You realise when you are travelling slower than usual that you actually miss so much. You are in a big car, travelling quickly through the landscape. You are concentrating on the road, trying not to crash in to other objects and people. There is no time to take things in. Besides, when you're in a car you are only exercising one sense when attempting to take things in. Seeing alone is not an experience. Seeing alone is boring...
I started reading 'Wanderlust' by Rebecca Solnit a couple of weeks ago now. I may have got distracted by another book or two that came through the post since then, (for your reference, these were 'A Field Guide To Getting Lost' by Rebecca Solnit too, and 'No One Belongs Here More Than You' by Miranda July) but after today gave me so much to think about I picked it up again. I think the whole purpose of this post is to share some of the quotes I have found with you. I have only read about six pages so far, but already I love this book, and get all giddy when I read something so very human, yet so very profound. I think 'Oh my, that is so simple, yet so completely brilliant! Why didn't I think of that?!'. I think I will post these in a reverse order of discovery.
When I think about driving my vehicle through places, this is the quote that seems most appropriate - 'Many people nowadays live in a series of interiors - home, car, gym, office, shops - disconnected from each other. On foot everything stays connected, for while walking one occupies the spaces between those interiors in the same way one occupies those interiors. One lives in the whole world rather than in interiors built up against it.' She writes this after telling the story of a friend of hers who had her van stolen. Everyone they knew thought it was a disaster, except for the woman whose van it was. 'There was a joy, she said, to finding that her body was adequate to get her where she was going, and it was a gift to develop a more tangible, concrete relationship to her neighbourhood...'
Actually, I will leave both you, and myself with these thoughts. Why is it that we lose this sense of being able? Why do we forget how to walk as soon as we get a car? Why do we let ourselves feel as though what our body has to offer us can't complete the task at hand properly? We are a complacent bunch...
Tuesday, 31 March 2009
Exhibition
Hello.
Some of my work is currently on display at The Royal Oak in Bath. It's only a very small collection of photos and a few drawings which were produced with the exhibition in mind.
You will find the work, in here
It's really lovely. Being a non-drinker means pubs are really not my thing, but this place is so old and wonderful. It has real log fires, and old creaky wooden floors. You should check it out, if not for the work, at least for the building. And if you like beer, then you're all set.
Address and contact info can be found when you click the link provided.
I hope you enjoy it.
Some of my work is currently on display at The Royal Oak in Bath. It's only a very small collection of photos and a few drawings which were produced with the exhibition in mind.
You will find the work, in here
It's really lovely. Being a non-drinker means pubs are really not my thing, but this place is so old and wonderful. It has real log fires, and old creaky wooden floors. You should check it out, if not for the work, at least for the building. And if you like beer, then you're all set.
Address and contact info can be found when you click the link provided.
I hope you enjoy it.
Neglected...
I've realised that it has been months since I posted on this thing. Not really good enough, I'm sure you'll agree. I've decided with my degree show coming up, and the prospects of having to enter the big wide world looming ever nearer, I should get my act together with websites and blogs and things. This will be where I will do most of the updating as my html skills are very much below par. Fingers crossed to a website coming soon... Watch this space...
Thursday, 27 November 2008
Look What The Tide Brought In.
After an inspiring series of lectures on environmental concern, and what we as artists can do in order to make communities more aware of the issues we are facing, I decided this would be an interesting feature of my current site specific study.
Located on a stretch of coastline along the Bristol Channel, Sand Point unfortunately ends up gathering whatever detritus washes up on it's shores. Approximately ten miles across the water from Cardiff, the Severn Estuary distributes all sorts on these predominantly deserted beaches. Home to many species of birds, and other wildlife (including live stock), this beautiful headland requires no intervention from man. In the time I have spent there I have seen more rubbish in the form of flotsam and jetsam than I have from people actually visiting the land. At this time of year people are scarce, but rubbish is plenty...
Here are just a few of the objects I have found so far. This series were all taken on the 25th of November after I noticed the sheer abundance of debris scattered throughout the ever present ridge of seaweed...
Fishing Line and Float
This was nestled in the grass verge that surrounds the bay. Entangled with not only the grass, but also some seaweed, this fishing line, complete with float stood out due to the incredibly vibrant colours of the line. As much as it troubles me to find this sort of object just left around, I find it difficult to remove it. I know it is only a temporary part of the habitat, and of course it poses a threat to local wildlife, yet, I don't feel as if I have the right to interfere with the location by taking it out of there.
Wooden Gate
Probably the best piece of detritus I will ever find. I really wanted to claim it as my own, and take it home with me. This one object held so many narratives within it. It was all I could do to just stand there looking over it, and like a small child, I conjured up numerous tales in my head about where it was from, and what it's previous habitat was like. It was truly beautiful.
Beer Crate
One of the last things I would want to find in this picturesque setting, but such is life. The thing that caught my eye as I approached it was this text on the side. I was really hoping it would give me some clues as to where it had come from. Unfortunately, it did no such thing...
Welsh Whole Milk Carton
...And then I stumbled across this, and what I had previously hoped for was written there on the label. The Welsh Dragon was a bit of a give away too.
Parachute Man
This was the last thing I found that day, hidden amongst some rocks over to the left of the bay. I couldn't work out whether he had been washed up onto the shore, or dropped onto the beach from the cliff above. Either way, I'd be gutted if I were the kid that lost him!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)