I’m suffering now from some kind of digital swine flu. My web host is infected and all of my webspace has had to be taken down. I’ve moved everything over to my blog and hope for the best. EMAIL me if you need anything…
what a headache…
November 16, 2009
An A-Z Of Possible Worlds
I attended the launch of a striking new book An A-Z Of Possible Worlds by A.C. Tillyer, just out now on Roast Books
Actually A.C. Tillyer is Anne Tillyer, a remarkable woman with whom I shared some brilliant adventures travelling to Russia on not one but two occasions … ( I won’t post any photos of those here) Anne self-published a (highly collectible!) graphic book, “Bobok,” several years ago, so in a way An A-Z Of Possible Worlds is her second publication. As you can see from the picture below, it’s not just a book it’s a gorgeously-packaged piece of book art.
An A-Z Of Possible Worlds
Some reviews:
http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/book_reviews/An+AZ+Of+Possible+Worlds-5541.html
- more on the Roast Books web page.
You can buy it from Roast Books, or Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/Z-Possible-Worlds-Boxed-Set/dp/190689406X – or order from your local bookstore. Mine is The Broadway Bookshop http://www.broadwaybookshophackney.com/
November 10, 2009
untitled
ports
Originally uploaded by artsite
A still image from a new piece I’m working on. The film and photo-series is an exploration of stasis, depicting the point of arrival to or departure from several Mediterranean ports, a series of lacunae during a meditative journey whose destination i never articulated, nor anticipated.
No title as yet –!
November 3, 2009
Buenos Aires
“Postindustrial Baroque” will be part of the Optica Festival review at Cultural Center San Martín in Buenos Aires (Argentina) November 5th and 7th .
My god, next time I will most certainly go! It’s inspiring thinking that this film we made is being shown in places all over the world.
October 26, 2009
Optimistic
I was invited to be part of the TINAG (This Is Not A Gateway) Festival this past weekend. My good friends Hilary and Dan, who are “Optimistic Productions” put on a great music and films event for the festival closing.
Hilary and Dan are making a wonderful film called
How to Re-Establish a Vodka Empire!
which you can find out all about on http://www.myvodkaempire.com/
It’s a great story: hidden family secrets, Russian Revolution, travels to deepest Ukraine in winter – and vodka…
The bonus of the film is that it’s not only about Dan and Hilary making a film about how to re-establish a vodka empire, but they are actually creating a vodka empire, with the marvelous “Zorokovich 1917″ vodka - hopefully available near you soon! Watch for the film on More 4 in 2010.
The event itself, “Optimisitic Immigrants” had an overall theme of east-west migration. I showed Mosti: The Bridges of St Petersburg, and Europa: Days in Berlin. I’d forgotten how dark Europa is – it’s been a while since I watched it on the big screen. Somehow I feel more optimistic about life than I was when I made it: at that time I was musing on the way we move blindly through history, weak and vulnerable yet wilfully ignorant. Hmmm. It’s not really that disagree with that now, it’s just that I feel a bit less apocalyptic than I did back then.
Europa, still
October 8, 2009
British Home Office Restrictions on Visiting Artists
The petition against the home office’s ludicrous restrictions preventing non-EU artists and academics from participating the UKs cultural life is getting closer to our target of 10,000 signatories. When we reach our target we will send a delegation to 10 Downing Street with the petition. We’re nearly there, but I’m writing to you for your help.
The points based system which replaced the far more flexible work permits will be a year old on 27 November. We want to hand the petition in by that date to mark that moment when our freedom to invite artists, writers, poets, dancers, musicians, academics and intellectuals – professionals and amateurs – were taken away from us.
Very recent examples of barred entry included:
US artist Cristina Winsor detained and deported for allegedly intending to sell 2 small paintings at a local arts event in east London;
US artist MP Landis, his wife and 4 month baby detained and deported for not having the correct paperwork; Glenfiddich Distilleries invited him for a summer residency;
Indian artist Anirban Mitra refused a visa for the same residency opportunity after waiting for 4 months for a decision at great expense;
The home office and the UKBA need to get a sense of proportion. Hundreds of community, amateur and cultural groups are being affected as well as big national arts institutions.
We need to send a loud message to the Home Office that these ludicrous regulations need to be seriously reviewed and reconsidered. This petition has collected a huge breadth of voices from all walks of life, nationalities, political and religious persuasions.
If you haven’t signed it, PLEASE do so. If each of you can persuade a friend, colleague or family member to sign the petition then we’ve more than reached our target.
The petition link is: http://www.PetitionOnline.com/MCvisit/petition.html
Below please find an article by Manick Govinda regarding the new British Home Office rules that are greatly restricting the opportunities for artists from outside the EU to visit Britain for any cultural purposes. As an artist who has participated in many cultural exchanges, and recently curated a show of Canadian artist in London, I am seeing these rule from the inside and they are unfair on both the visiting artist and the wider British public.
The petition against the home office’s ludicrous restrictions preventing non-EU artists and academics from participating the UKs cultural life is getting closer to our target of 10,000 signatories. When we reach our target we will send a delegation to 10 Downing Street with the petition. We’re nearly there, but I’m writing to you for your help.
The points based system which replaced the far more flexible work permits will be a year old on 27 November. We want to hand the petition in by that date to mark that moment when our freedom to invite artists, writers, poets, dancers, musicians, academics and intellectuals – professionals and amateurs – were taken away from us.
Very recent examples of barred entry included:
US artist Cristina Winsor detained and deported for allegedly intending to sell 2 small paintings at a local arts event in east London;
US artist MP Landis, his wife and 4 month baby detained and deported for not having the correct paperwork; Glenfiddich Distilleries invited him for a summer residency;
Indian artist Anirban Mitra refused a visa for the same residency opportunity after waiting for 4 months for a decision at great expense;
The home office and the UKBA need to get a sense of proportion. Hundreds of community, amateur and cultural groups are being affected as well as big national arts institutions.
We need to send a loud message to the Home Office that these ludicrous regulations need to be seriously reviewed and reconsidered. This petition has collected a huge breadth of voices from all walks of life, nationalities, political and religious persuasions.
If you haven’t signed it, PLEASE do so. If each of you can persuade a friend, colleague or family member to sign the petition then we’ve more than reached our target.
The petition link is: http://www.PetitionOnline.com/MCvisit/petition.html
Thank you.
Manick Govinda, Visiting Artists Campaign Co-ordinator, Manifesto Club
September 28, 2009
“Postindustrial Baroque” again
The film continues to tour, courtesy of Optica,who’ve been organising a fantastic touring programme taking in Latin America and Europe. The film has just been screened in Paris at the Sala Luis Bunuel (how wonderful) at the Collège d’Espagne, and is about to screen at the Centro Huarte in Huarte, Navarra.
The film also had its German premiere at the gallery Loophole in Berlin, in a programme running alongside the Art Forum and other seasonal art events. The premiere night also featured live performances by Agnes Domke and Natasha Mayran.
September 1, 2009
Postindustrial Baroque continues to tour
Cordoba, Spain 10 – 12 Sept 2009 at the Filmoteca
August 24, 2009
Postindustrial Baroque screened in Buenos Aires
At the Art Factory and at Biblioteca Nacional, Buenos AIres, Aug 27 – Sept 01
I wish I could have been there! Argentina stirs my imagination mightily.
