Wednesday, 15 October 2008

Lucy KeanY TOMFOOLERY

Gallery of Modern Art Edinburgh and the Dean Gallery, Edinburgh.





On Tuesday the group made a trip through to Edinburgh to visit the Gallery of Modern Art at Belford Road, where we saw the collection and the Tracey Emin exhibition. The group really enjoyed seeing "Landform" by Charles Jenks and seeing the sculptures in the grounds. Tracey Emin's show was very impressive and although it might not have been everyone's 'cup of tea', everyone agreed it was interesting to see.

Then we went to the Dean Gallery situated directly across the road, which houses further collections including The Surrealists and Eduardo Paulozzi. We also saw works by Scottish artists Alan Davie, from Grangemouth and Anne Redpath, and John Bellany from Port Seton who all trained in the painting department at Edinburgh College of Art.

Wednesday, 8 October 2008

Amy Marletta

Amy Marletta came out to Falkirk on Tuesday to give the Village Voice group a presentation about her artworks and it was really good to see her images and hear her talking about residencies she's done at Generator Projects in Dundee and at the Scottish Sculpture Workshop in Lumsden, Aberdeenshire. She is part of an artist collective called Ganghut and they have been making collaborative projects in Scotland and internationally. Last year they resurrected the Lumsden Gala Day as part of their residency, which was a great success, and they are currently in the process of setting up an exhibition space there, which opens soon.

The group really enjoyed meeting Amy and hearing about her practice. She's just started on the Master of Fine Art Course at Glasgow School of Art and we will be including her work in the Twinning Project. We would like to thank Amy for travelling out despite the train strike, there's perseverance for you ! Also thanks to Irene for allowing us up to check out her flat in Leishman Tower. (Thanks again Irene!!)

Sunday, 5 October 2008

Alan Bissett Book Reading on Tuesday

Alan Bissett will be doing a book readi​ng at The Den on Manor​ Stree​t (the one with Mosca​rdini​s)​ in Falki​rk this Tues 7th October at 7.​30pm . Alan is Falkirk's answer to Irvine Welsh, and wrote The Incredible Adam Spark and Boyracers, both written from a very "Fa'kirk" perspective. He is a very entertaining and well worth checking out.

Check out his MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/alanbissett
or his website at www.alanbissett.com/



Thursday, 2 October 2008

John Houston - Scottish Painter

Yesterday I heard the sad news that John Houston passed away a few days ago. He was one of Scotland’s best known Landscape Painters, having forged a career over fifty years and developed a confident style and a huge preoccupation with the Scottish Landscape that saw him exhibit nationally and internationally. He was my Fourth Year Lecturer at Edinburgh College of Art, and definitely one of the best lecturers I encountered during my time there. He was one of the old guard of painters, along with David Michie (son of Ann Redpath), who had certainly found their own voice when it came to painting. He was always quite forthright about his opinions and although I didn’t always entirely agree with him, I always respected what he had to say.

In the years after Art College, after leaving Edinburgh and moving to Glasgow, I used to see him at Glasgow Print Studio where he would come through to make prints, quite often accompanied by his wife Elizabeth Blackadder. They were a very unassuming couple despite the success they had achieved between them, and John still liked to give me words of advice along the lines of “Stick with the painting” which I waywardly chose to ignore at that point in my life.

There are certain people whose star shines brightly while they are on this planet and maybe we take their brightness for granted while it burns. I am thinking of another artist of my own age group, Paul Carter, who died recently and who also taught at Edinburgh College of Art. Both these men have given much to the Scottish art scene through their artwork and their influence. Ironically, maybe it is only when these stars have gone out that we really realise the light from which we have all benefited.

Rest In Peace.

Friday, 26 September 2008

Piece from the San Francisco Chronicle, Anne Colvin at New Langton Arts

Between 7-11 tonight, New Langton Arts in San Francisco will inaugurate a program devised by Bay Area artist Anne Colvin titled "The Colony Room: Anne Colvin and Guests."

Each Friday and Saturday night through Nov. 6, Colvin will host a different performance event or screening. Future guests will include the band Rubber O Cement, writers Bill Berkson and Emily Wilson, and performance innovators Tim Etchells and Alex Hetherington.

The inaugural evening commemorates San Francisco conceptual artist Tom Marioni's milestone "relational" work, begun in the 1970s, "The Act of Drinking Beer With Friends is the Highest Form of Art," which took the form of sporadic get-togethers among art world comrades and invited guests.

At 8 tonight, Marioni will perform his sound work "One Second Sculpture" (1969) for the first time publicly and will sign copies of his book "Beer, Art and Philosophy."

The evening will include a screening of Melvyn Bragg's 1985 television interview with Francis Bacon, who helped to make the Colony Room Club in London famous as a hangout for artists.

Tickets to "The Colony Room: Anne Colvin and Guests" are $5 at the door; a $50 subscription is available for the entire series. Information at (415) 626-5416, www.newlangtonarts.org.

- Kenneth Baker

Wednesday, 24 September 2008

Twinning Project - A Calendar for Callendar Park

We are now working on our final project which is to create a calendar, that will be distributed to all the Callendar Park High Flats, and we are starting to pair up artists with residents.
Anyone interested in having a piece of Contemporary Art in their homes, for a short while in October please get in touch !

Here are some photographs taken at the studio of artist Kenny Hunter, who is most famous for his sculpture of The Firefighter Sculpture outside Central Station in Glasgow. We have been in discussion with Kenny about a suitable piece of work for this project and it looks like it could be a squirrel !



Wednesday, 17 September 2008

Sunday, 14 September 2008

ALT-W, New Media Scotland

Programme_Alt-w Awards Announcement
Paparazzi

Following the exhibition Alt-w: New Directions in Scottish Digital Culture at the Centre for Contemporary Art in Glasgow, New Media Scotland is proud to announce that the following eight projects are the recipients of the 2008/09 Alt-w awards.



Production Award: Cybraphon
Ziggy Campbell, Simon Kirby & Tommy Pearman (Found)
found-electronics.net

Inspired by the nickelodeon this is an interactive version of a mechanical band in a box. Consisting of a series of robotic instruments housed in a glass display case, Cybraphon will behave like a real band. Image conscious and emotional, the bands performance will be effected by online community opinion.



Production Award: Mutsugoto
Tomoko Hayashi and Stefan Agamanolis (Distance Labs)
www.distancelab.org

A communication system for long distance lovers. Unlike mobile phones, e-mail or SMS messages which use generic interfaces in business-like contexts, Mutsugoto allows distant partners to communicate through the language of touch as expressed on the canvas of the human body.



Production Award: The Loop
Wendy McMurdo & Paul Holmes
www.wendymcmurdo.com/

Exploring the relationship between digital gaming, fantasy and play examining the nature of interactivity itself. Alt-w will fund the creation of an experimental film which will delve into the psychological state of the player of a kinetic figure-skating computer game.



Production Award: A Short Film about War
Thompson & Craighead

www.thomson-craighead.net

A documentary made entirely from information found on the world wide web. In ten short minutes viewers are taken around the world to a variety of war zones as seen through the collective eyes of the online photo sharing community Flickr, and as witnessed by military and civilian bloggers.



R&D Award - project2891
Benjamin Dembroski
www.dembroski.net

A system that encourages engagement from less technically experienced artists in the development of both hardware and software solutions for nodal device art installations. The simple user interface will provide control of connected hardware, as well as other nodes via the Internet. A series of free workshops will explain how to use the system and suggest how it might be modified for creative applications.



R&D Award - A Million Lies;
Once and Only Revealed After Death
Alex Hetherington
www.alexhetherington.com

Researching the nature, psychology, construction, philosophy and consequences of lying. The work will include the construction of personality, identity and personal truth and will explore cultural forms that employ fakery, sham, scams and deliberate misinformation. This research will lead to exploration of these themes both online and through performance.



R&D Award - Aeolia
Sarah Kettley

www.sarahkettley.com

This project explores the nature of space and place and will examine the concept of a bodily connection with the land through sketch prototyping of stretch sensors in sculptural textile forms. The resulting series of woven pieces for the body will be remotely connected to three-dimensional forms in the Scottish landscape, combining information from each to create unique low frequency feedback to be experienced by the wearer.



R&D Award - Imagine 3D
Emma Tolmie
www.emmatolmie.co.uk

Assuming the role of digital voyeur, visionary and creator the artist will explore the potential and the practical limits of a retro-futuristic subversion of the experience and aesthetics of film. Mixing low-tech gadgetry and high-tech imagery she is developing a heads-up display and unique digital content that re-imagines the concept of stereoscopic imaging.



The distribution of Alt-w awards is managed by New Media Scotland and funded by Scottish Screen and Scottish Arts Council.

Tuesday, 2 September 2008

Artist Talk

We will be doing an Artists' Talk on Wednesday 3rd September at 2pm - 3pm in the Park Gallery, Callendar Park. All welcome !

Favourite Trees from Callendar Park.



This image was created in collaboration with the Village Voice Group, which meets every Tuesday at 2pm in the Education Room of Callendar House, all welcome! Feel free to come along.

We are about to launch the Village Voice website, and create the next edition of the Village Voice Magazine and we are also planning a trip to Edinburgh soon.

Friday, 29 August 2008

Monday, 25 August 2008

mineral stills #4






On it (American Voodoo Wish Machine) and Voodoo King Kenny, with email scam, John Sebastian Vitale and Alex Hetherington screening at Total Kunst, Edinburgh Friday 29 August 2008

Friday, 22 August 2008

Garlands slide images









These slides are photographs taken when I revisited the former gardens of both my grandmothers.

I have created an A4 leaflet to go with this slide projection, containing an essay about both these women and their gardens.

Anyone requesting a copy of this leaflet please email a name and address to janienicoll@yahoo.co.uk. Thanks.

Saturday, 9 August 2008

Garlands lyrics





Cocteau Twins Garlands lyrics

Garlands evergreen
Forget-me-not wreaths
Chaplets see me drugged
I could die in a rosary
Die in a rosary (x4)
Well, with these brave garlands
They never find out for her
They never find I'm lying
Well, with these etchings
Cravings convince
My cravings commence
Garlands evergreen
Forget-me-not wreaths
Chaplets see me drugged
I could die in a rosary
Die in a rosary (x4)
Well, with these scarve's scars
Cravings convince
My cravings commence
Well, with these splint's scars
I'm all that to you
I'm all that's who
Garlands evergreen
Forget-me-not wreaths
Chaplets see me drugged
I could die in a rosary
Die in a rosary (x4)
Well, with these scarve's scars
Cravings convince
My cravings commence
Well, with these splint's scars
I'm all that to you
I'm all that's who

Robin Guthrie is a genius

You don't feel damned
between the sunrise and sunset
You're damned well panicky
I know the rainy days
Please them or run on the turf

You could be raising money
with your momma
You might be sure when you're
round and dressed up with kid
Take a toast to that, imbibe
you're alone

Men are so nice
(Lays can be)
Roses may fly
Men are so useful
(He's a flirt)
Men are so useful
(Reflection beauty)
Men are so nice
He pleases me fine
(Reflection beauty)
Men are so useful

(Be able to feel)
Don't feel damned between the sunrise and sunset
You're damned well panicky, I know the rainy days
Please them or run on the turf

(You could be)
You could be raising money with your momma
(You could be)
You might be sure when you're round and dressed up with kid
Take a toast to that, imbibe, you're alone

Men are so nice
(Lays can be)
He pleases me fine
Men are so useful
(He's a flirt)
Men are so useful
(Reflection beauty)
Men are so nice
He pleases me fine
(Reflection beauty)
Men are so useful

Beautiful hands us no way
lies a means of love
(Men are so nice)

On sounds and guard the stone
and bed had a law
(He pleases me fine)
Answers written and I reason
(He pleases me fine)
In the reign of sex, blown more
than it's pleased to be
(Fine, fine)

He's a beauty affection, oooh

(x3

Happy Birthday, Elizabeth Frazer, 29 August

Thank you.

I love the Cocteau Twins, on Jay Leno, US TV debut, Bluebeard, are you the right man for me?

I love the Cocteau Twins, Garlands, self-produced montage video

I love the Cocteau Twins, Song to the Siren

I love the Cocteau Twins, Heaven or Las Vegas

I love the Cocteau Twins

I love the Cocteau Twins

Sunday, 3 August 2008

Song To The Siren

This Mortal Coil
"Song To The Siren" (written by Tim Buckley)

On the floating, shipless, oceans
I did all my best to smile
til your singing eyes and fingers
drew me loving into your eyes.
And you sang "Sail to me, sail to me,
Let me enfold you."
Here I am, here I am
waiting to hold you.
Did I dream you dreamed about me?
Were you here when I was full sail?
Now my foolish boat is leaning,
broken lovelorn on your rocks.
For you sang "Touch me not, touch me not,
Come back tomorrow."
Oh my heart, oh my heart shies from the sorrow.
I'm as puzzled as a newborn child.
I'm as riddled as the tide.
Should I stand amid the breakers?
Or shall I lie with death my bride?
Here me sing: "Swim to me, swim to me,
Let me enfold you."
Here I am, Here I am, waiting to hold you."

The song was first featured on Tim Buckley's 1970 album "Starsailor", and it has been widely covered by many artists including George Michael. Tim Buckley gave an early performance of the song on the final episode of The Monkees TV show which aired on March 25, 1968.
This Mortal Coil was a musical pop project of Ivo Watts-Russell, founder of 4AD Records. The project brought together key 4AD artists, as well as others not signed to the label, under an umbrella name. Among others, This Mortal Coil featured contributions from Howard Devoto, Colourbox, Dead Can Dance and, pivotally, Cocteau Twins. Between 1983 and 1991 This Mortal Coil released three albums—It'll End in Tears, Filigree & Shadow, and Blood—each of which consists largely of atmospheric interpretations of songs by 1970s artists such as Alex Chilton, Chris Bell, Roy Harper, Gene Clark, and Tim Buckley.
Two tracks from the first album, It'll End In Tears, feature vocals by Elizabeth Fraser of the Scottish group Cocteau Twins, who also recorded for 4AD. The better-known of these is the ethereal cover of Tim Buckley's "Song to the Siren", which created considerable renewed interest in Buckley at a time when his albums were not widely available.
The name "This Mortal Coil" is drawn from William Shakespeare's Hamlet and is a poetic expression referring to the earthly condition.

Thursday, 31 July 2008

Every commercially released Cocteau Twins song

Blood Bitch
Wax and Wane
But I'm Not
Blind Dumb Deaf
Shallow Then Halo
The Hollow Men
Garlands
Grail Overfloweth
When Mama Was Moth
Five Ten Fiftyfold
Sugar Hiccup
In Our Angelhood
Glass Candle Grenads
In the Gold Dust Rush
The Tinderbox (of a heart)
Multifoiled
My Love Paramour
Musette and Drums
Ivo
Lorelei
Beatrix
Persephone
Pandora (for Cindy)
Amelia
Aloysius
Cicely
Otterley
Donimo
Lazy Calm
Fluffy Tufts
Throughout the Dark Months of April and May
Whales Tails
Oomingmak
Little Spacey
Feet-Like Fins
How to Bring a Blush to the Snow
The Thinner the Air
Blue Bell Knoll
Athol-Brose
Carolyn's Fingers
For Phoebe Still a Baby
The Itchy Glowbo Blow
Cico Buff
Suckling the Mender
Spooning Good Singing Gum
A Kissed Out Red Floatboat
Ella Megalast Burls Forever
Cherry-coloured funk
Pitch the baby
Iceblink luck
Fifty-fifty clown
Heaven or Las Vegas
I wear your ring
Fotzepolitic
Wolf in the breast
Road, river and rail
Frou-frou foxes in midsummer fires
Know Who You Are at Every Age
Evangeline
Bluebeard
Theft, and Wandering Around Lost
Oil of Angels
Squeeze Wax
My Truth
Essence
Summerhead
Pur
Violaine
Serpentskirt
Tishbite
Half-Gifts
Calfskin-Smack
Rilkean Heart
Ups
Eperdu
Treasure Hiding
Seekers Who Are Lovers
Feathers Oar Blades
Alas Dies Laughing
It's All But An Ark-Lark
Peppermint Pig (7-inch version)*
Laugh Lines
Hazel
Peppermint Pig (12-inch extended version)*
Sugar Hiccup (12-inch extended version)
From the Flagstones
Hitherto
Because of Whirl-Jack
The Spangle Maker
Pearly-Dewdrops' Drops (12-inch version)*
Pepper-Tree
Pearly-Dewdrops' Drops (7-inch version)*
Aikea-Guinea
Kookaburra
Quisquose
Rococo
Pink Orange Red
Ribbed and Veined
Sultitan Itan
Plain Tiger
Great Spangled Fritillary
Melonella
Pale Clouded White
Eggs and Their Shells
Love's Easy Tears
Those Eyes, That Mouth
Sigh's Smell of Farewell
Orange Appled*
Rilkean Heart
Golden-Vein
Pink Orange Red
Half-Gifts
Feet-Like Fins
Seekers Who Are Lovers
Violaine
Cherry-Coloured Funk
Iceblink Luck
Mizake the Mizan
Watchlar
Heaven or Las Vegas (edit)
Dials
Heaven or Las Vegas
Evangeline
Mud and Dark
Summer-blink
Winter Wonderland
Frosty the Snowman
Bluebeard
Three-Swept
Ice-Pulse
Bluebeard (acoustic version)
Tishbite
Primitive Heart
Flock of Soul
Tishbite
Round
An Elan
Violaine
Smile
Tranquil Eye
Violaine
Circling Girl
Alice

Mineral Park install shots

Wednesday, 30 July 2008

Up On The Roof






CARPE DIEM washing line installation for a video work for Garlands exhibition at the Park Gallery, and Helen Beurskins Vintage Lanvin Scarf.
Some other versions of "Carpe Diem", at Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop exhibition Magazine '07; on the Kunstlerhaus window in Trollhattan, Sweden; and at the Embassy Gallery, Edinburgh in Associates, May 07. A special thank you to Irene and George Dickson who have been extremely patient allowing me access to the roof of Leishman Tower, and also to Judy Beattie of Marshall Tower.