Showing posts with label art. Show all posts
Showing posts with label art. Show all posts
Wednesday, 17 October 2012
Aren't these so graceful?
Sinfonietta of Light, Exhibit of Susumu Shingu's floating sculpture in the octagonal basin of Jardin des Tuileries in Paris. October 10 - 28, 2012
Saturday, 14 July 2012
Furness Tradition brings people into the town from all over
And a what great kind of people they are.
They are for the most part very people oriented with a great sense of fun and living life to the full. They are people of all ages, sizes, backgrounds and seem to generally fit for their age. They love acquiring learning, sharing and developing skills of older generations. They are motivated to put in hours of practice for the pure joy of doing things because they want to. They are for the most part fit mentally but also fit physically.
These are :
The type of person that worked together during the last world war to raise morale when the country was in imminent disaster from being invaded by the Germans.
The kind of people that set sail in their small boats to bring back the troops when they were being driven into the sea in Normandy.
The kind of people that, when faced with adversity instead of wingeing and complaining, get out their musical instruments, write a song about it or narrate a story of knights performing heroic deeds to raise our spirits and 'laugh disaster in the face'. Others use a craft or art to add something worthwhile to our lives.
The kind of people that go out of their way to help others when needed
They bring a breath of fresh air to the town in contrast to the sad commercialisation of the town by people hell bent in promoting 'festivals' that make money.
They encourage people like themselves in our community to take activities like the Lantern Procession out of the hands of power seeking individuals and return them back into the hands once again of a community group.
They see through the hype from government encouraged Royal celebrations,
Olympic torch relay nonsense,
Football and Tennis mania and even the
'Cumbria in Bloom' farce
They encouraging very local 'bottom up' activities by little groups of nobodies who get together without 'official guidance' and do their own thing.
They are good at conveying a strong message in the subtle ways of song writing, poetry, fiction, art and craft - the things we all value.
These are the kind of people and activities that are going to be needed in the future years
when the bulk of the population who follow the Red Top Media continue to blame others for the mess we are heading for
because of Global Warming,
because of Economic Disaster,
because of the Population Explosion,
because of Ethnic Cleansing and turmoil taking place in countries like Northern Ireland, Syria, Lybia, Egypt, India, Afghanistan, Iraq etc and
because of the "What we need is growth " Brigade at a time when the world's resources are stretched to the limit.
In contrast to people here in Ulverston who seek to find fault with any attempt to be positive, they just get on quietly and make music, dance, make beautiful things and celebrate the good things in life.
Hopefully a bit of their positive outlook will rub off and encourage each one of us.
Long live the Traditions of the past as they are carried forward by the young people of the present here thankfully in Furness
They are for the most part very people oriented with a great sense of fun and living life to the full. They are people of all ages, sizes, backgrounds and seem to generally fit for their age. They love acquiring learning, sharing and developing skills of older generations. They are motivated to put in hours of practice for the pure joy of doing things because they want to. They are for the most part fit mentally but also fit physically.
These are :
The type of person that worked together during the last world war to raise morale when the country was in imminent disaster from being invaded by the Germans.
The kind of people that set sail in their small boats to bring back the troops when they were being driven into the sea in Normandy.
The kind of people that, when faced with adversity instead of wingeing and complaining, get out their musical instruments, write a song about it or narrate a story of knights performing heroic deeds to raise our spirits and 'laugh disaster in the face'. Others use a craft or art to add something worthwhile to our lives.
The kind of people that go out of their way to help others when needed
They bring a breath of fresh air to the town in contrast to the sad commercialisation of the town by people hell bent in promoting 'festivals' that make money.
They encourage people like themselves in our community to take activities like the Lantern Procession out of the hands of power seeking individuals and return them back into the hands once again of a community group.
They see through the hype from government encouraged Royal celebrations,
Olympic torch relay nonsense,
Football and Tennis mania and even the
'Cumbria in Bloom' farce
They encouraging very local 'bottom up' activities by little groups of nobodies who get together without 'official guidance' and do their own thing.
They are good at conveying a strong message in the subtle ways of song writing, poetry, fiction, art and craft - the things we all value.
These are the kind of people and activities that are going to be needed in the future years
when the bulk of the population who follow the Red Top Media continue to blame others for the mess we are heading for
because of Global Warming,
because of Economic Disaster,
because of the Population Explosion,
because of Ethnic Cleansing and turmoil taking place in countries like Northern Ireland, Syria, Lybia, Egypt, India, Afghanistan, Iraq etc and
because of the "What we need is growth " Brigade at a time when the world's resources are stretched to the limit.
In contrast to people here in Ulverston who seek to find fault with any attempt to be positive, they just get on quietly and make music, dance, make beautiful things and celebrate the good things in life.
Hopefully a bit of their positive outlook will rub off and encourage each one of us.
Long live the Traditions of the past as they are carried forward by the young people of the present here thankfully in Furness
Sunday, 3 June 2012
Evewright's Walking Drawings in Cumbria
An image of horses on a beach in Cumbria is to go on display in London's Royal Academy.
Some lovely art work here at Evewright's Studio - well worth a visit.
Watch the videos here!
Sunday, 6 May 2012
Sunday, 5 June 2011
Birkrigg is a must today
If nothing else.
You'll meet a lot of people with a broad smile on their faces.
That's a rare occurence these days.
Make every effort even if you have to drag yourself up by very small movements on your hands and knees.
You'll find someone there to help you down.
What's it all about?
Listen, listen, listen.
Lots of creativity in making sounds from the wind.
Harmonic Fields
If you get the chance go several times in different conditions.
Lots of ideas to spark off other activities . . . .
Ulverston will never be the same.
That's true of course every day of the year with the people who live here.
You'll meet a lot of people with a broad smile on their faces.
That's a rare occurence these days.
Make every effort even if you have to drag yourself up by very small movements on your hands and knees.
You'll find someone there to help you down.
What's it all about?
Listen, listen, listen.
Lots of creativity in making sounds from the wind.
Harmonic Fields
If you get the chance go several times in different conditions.
Lots of ideas to spark off other activities . . . .
Ulverston will never be the same.
That's true of course every day of the year with the people who live here.
Sunday, 20 March 2011
Wednesday, 16 March 2011
Thursday, 10 March 2011
The value of top rate performances
They lift the spirits and provide inspiration and motivation for difficult times.
Art really is extremely import to communities.
Here in Ulverston we are very fortunate to get regular visits from top rate performers.
An example is the Manchester Camarata which I regularly review.
Their last concert in the Coro is still with me now. Seeing and hearing a group of people that put everything they've got into a quality performance for its audience is inspiring.
They are returning with a performance of something in the classical music world that is very special:
Berg's Violin Concerto
Here at the Coro on March 24th at 7:30
By contrast my visit last night to the Preston Guild Hall was a big disappointment.
They were performing Brahm's German Requiema work that has thrilled me many times in the past with its deep emotion.
It depends heavily on a good choir.
We were totally let down.
As I listened to it I reflected on how lucky I was to live in Ulverston for at least two reasons:
- That the Manchester Camerata visited us with their top rate musicians
- That we had a Flag Festival coming up where our Ulverston Flag Group will put on a performance of such quality that it will impress the art experts from all over the UK that are visiting us for the 10th Anniversary of Print Fest on Friday April 29th
Join us in demonstrating that we are a community of top performers that know how to put on a beautiful show that draws people from all over the country. There is work of all kinds for those that want to get involved - gd at tygh.co.uk
We already have one festival were so many of us demonstrate this spirit :
The Lantern Festival where quality and inspiration abound.
Now we have another tradition to continue :
Flag Fortnight
Thursday, 3 March 2011
Something else that will put Zest in your Life
A rare quality these days.
I'm convinced that anyone taking her class will enjoy the experience.
Make the most of her before word gets around - I am.
Thursday, 23 December 2010
Another snow sculpture
From Derek at Swarthmoor:
Definitely my last snow sculpture for a while, my seasonal visitor
"Arthur Itis" is giving me grief.
Regards Derek.
"Arthur Itis" is giving me grief.
Regards Derek.
Friday, 17 December 2010
The sinking feeling in my stomach
Has now disappeared.
I've taken the plunge and offered to organise and run the next Flag Fortnight should this help be needed.
I've already been offered:
Storage for the Flags
Help on the day to put flags up and take them down from several fit young men. Looks like we've a potential team of over ten of them.
Having been deeply involved with this project with Elizabeth Green who led the team that made most of them, a few years back, I go into this project with my eyes open.
Here's an interview I filmed with her a few years back followed by my attempt to make a dramatic March of the Flags - pretty good stuff even though I say it myself. I like the Prokofiev music - from the Romeo and Juliet gang confrontation.
This is followed by the video on Flag Fortnight itself - now getting good ratings on Youtube - 1,800 viewings.
Done to promote the happy side of Ulverson - bit of a fudge really - but it has high 'feel good ' factor which is what we need these days.
I've taken the plunge and offered to organise and run the next Flag Fortnight should this help be needed.
I've already been offered:
Storage for the Flags
Help on the day to put flags up and take them down from several fit young men. Looks like we've a potential team of over ten of them.
Having been deeply involved with this project with Elizabeth Green who led the team that made most of them, a few years back, I go into this project with my eyes open.
Here's an interview I filmed with her a few years back followed by my attempt to make a dramatic March of the Flags - pretty good stuff even though I say it myself. I like the Prokofiev music - from the Romeo and Juliet gang confrontation.
This is followed by the video on Flag Fortnight itself - now getting good ratings on Youtube - 1,800 viewings.
Done to promote the happy side of Ulverson - bit of a fudge really - but it has high 'feel good ' factor which is what we need these days.
Friday, 10 December 2010
More creative art!
One of you has sent a link to the site where these can be found:
And this one
Reminds me of a politician!
For more of this brilliant work click here
Meredith Dittmar
Saturday, 20 November 2010
Tuesday, 16 November 2010
The other side of the story behind the Lantern House Art Book
I find there's a totally different take on this book if you dig a little.
My main problem with this project is understanding what it's all about.
The Book doesn't help itself - it doesn't give information about how the photographs came about.
The Lantern House hasn't communicated well.
The press could have helped us more.
Now it's my task - self imposed!
First I still approve of spending money , even £30,000 on the arts even if some of that money comes from our taxes. In this case perhaps some of it wasn't.
So first of all perhaps none of the money for this kind of project should come from taxes. There are plenty of people still loaded with money who could fund this kind of project.
For me there are plenty of opportunities to encourage creative expression without spending much - pottery on the railings - for instance.
If we're talking £30,000 , how about a sculpture by Chris Brammall - the money would have been spent here and the result could have been long lasting.
So what was the book about.
All the photos are linked directly to a person's view of colour. I guess it was an attempt to get us to reflect.
The video that has been made on Youtube helps though you need patience to hang on and listen to it all.
If you do, you'll get a much better idea of what the project is about as students interview themselves to describe what a particular colour means to them.
What would be interesting would be to hear from the rest of the people involved in the project what it meant to them.
I still come away thinking that the book is more about the Lantern House rather than the people in the town. However I've still to talk ato someone involved in the project directly.
I'm told that when 20 off the street were interviewed by Radio Cumbria, 16 liked the book.
It certainly is helpful to each one of us to be got to stop and reflect.
However this kind of initiative has to be finely tuned to the people one is dealing with.
Now the book means more to me than it did but I'd still prefer a Chris Brammall sculpture for the same money!
Below are links to most of the newspaper articles, provided by the Lantern House, some of them include participants stories:
book-launch-marks-end-of-colourful-art-project-
painting-the-town-red
bright-ideas
-art-book-project-branded-a-waste-of-money
Hundreds_help_to_paint_Ulverston_red____and_green_and_blue
Ulverston_book_spreads_word_about_the_town
My main problem with this project is understanding what it's all about.
The Book doesn't help itself - it doesn't give information about how the photographs came about.
The Lantern House hasn't communicated well.
The press could have helped us more.
Now it's my task - self imposed!
First I still approve of spending money , even £30,000 on the arts even if some of that money comes from our taxes. In this case perhaps some of it wasn't.
So first of all perhaps none of the money for this kind of project should come from taxes. There are plenty of people still loaded with money who could fund this kind of project.
For me there are plenty of opportunities to encourage creative expression without spending much - pottery on the railings - for instance.
If we're talking £30,000 , how about a sculpture by Chris Brammall - the money would have been spent here and the result could have been long lasting.
So what was the book about.
All the photos are linked directly to a person's view of colour. I guess it was an attempt to get us to reflect.
The video that has been made on Youtube helps though you need patience to hang on and listen to it all.
If you do, you'll get a much better idea of what the project is about as students interview themselves to describe what a particular colour means to them.
What would be interesting would be to hear from the rest of the people involved in the project what it meant to them.
I still come away thinking that the book is more about the Lantern House rather than the people in the town. However I've still to talk ato someone involved in the project directly.
I'm told that when 20 off the street were interviewed by Radio Cumbria, 16 liked the book.
It certainly is helpful to each one of us to be got to stop and reflect.
However this kind of initiative has to be finely tuned to the people one is dealing with.
Now the book means more to me than it did but I'd still prefer a Chris Brammall sculpture for the same money!
Below are links to most of the newspaper articles, provided by the Lantern House, some of them include participants stories:
book-launch-marks-end-of-colourful-art-project-
painting-the-town-red
bright-ideas
-art-book-project-branded-a-waste-of-money
Hundreds_help_to_paint_Ulverston_red____and_green_and_blue
Ulverston_book_spreads_word_about_the_town
Monday, 15 November 2010
The Lantern House Art Book Project
I've been hanging back, trying to make my mind up about this.
First I'm all for Art. It can uplift the spirit.
True it's not essential to keeping our bodies alive, but this is where I believe we sometimes get our values the wrong way round.
Do we exist to function or to live?
Functioning here is feeding, surviving, having a home.
Living is feeling good and having a high self esteem. The image of a mouse preening itself , sending the message to the cat four feet away "Catch me if you can", comes to mind.
Materially, 99.9% of us in Britain are well off.
"What?" You reply.
Compared to those in Pakistan that are still suffering the aftermath of the floods we are very well off - even those of us that experienced the floods here.
If we could get out of winging mode, we would realise we have all we really need.
What upsets us is feeling hard done by; in other words we feel that "other people" are having a better deal than ourselves.
Alright, look at it this way:
I know people in Ulverston that are living very fulfilled enjoyable lives with very little money and in cramped homes.
So Art. What place does it have.
It can lift the spirit; make us smile, feel good. This after all is far more important than owning things and having money. Art is something that can make us feel alive - to LIVE.
Does this free book do that.
For me it doesn't - it's a missed opportunity. £30,000 spent on the wrong thing.
For me it's an ego trip for the artists who produced the book and doesn't seek to make Ulverstonians feel good.
Had it been a compilation of pictures of colour that we had taken, painted, chosen then it would have been about us. The claim that it resulted from our input is very tenuous and in my opinion fabricated.
The art is too top down ie:
The Lantern House comes up with some artists that express themselves on our behalf. Art comes to Ulverston and we are supposed to appreciate it. They come down from on high and deliver to the plebeians.
On reflection, I would have preferred people to come to us and help us to express ourselves. The book - and it needed to be something to be proud of could have been about the expressions of art of Ulverston People themselves and we could have all wondered and been encouraged by what was inside the heads of the person next door. We could have been asked "What things do you see that have an amazing colour?" I might have replied "The shades of bluey grey that come out of the early morning mist as I look out of the window on a wet day"
I could have then been asked "Can you capture this in a photo?"
Some would reply "No, but I'll try. " or "Would you try to do this for me"
Then we'd have a collection of what was important to individuals in Ulverston - the time and effort of the Lantern House people would have concentrated in helping us express ourselves in a way we were proud of.
Instead we have a book that few of us will bother looking at. We may find a use for it but it won't be as a book. Why should I spend my time to look at a collection of pictures that someone else has chosen.
They are their ideas not mine.
Once again the Lantern House has done something that few people can identify with.
The activities that I appreciate are those that help me develop and enable me to be able to give something of the art that inside my head to others.
The kind of thing that has succeeded to do this has been the Lantern Procession - well done the originators at the Lantern House.
Some times you get it right, sometimes not.
I have no problem with £30,000 spent on Art especially in these hard times when we need cheering up and made to feel good. It was what it was spent on I didn't like.
What did other people, who were involved with the project, think ?
I know one of the people mentioned in the list at the back - I'll ask her.
First I'm all for Art. It can uplift the spirit.
True it's not essential to keeping our bodies alive, but this is where I believe we sometimes get our values the wrong way round.
Do we exist to function or to live?
Functioning here is feeding, surviving, having a home.
Living is feeling good and having a high self esteem. The image of a mouse preening itself , sending the message to the cat four feet away "Catch me if you can", comes to mind.
Materially, 99.9% of us in Britain are well off.
"What?" You reply.
Compared to those in Pakistan that are still suffering the aftermath of the floods we are very well off - even those of us that experienced the floods here.
If we could get out of winging mode, we would realise we have all we really need.
What upsets us is feeling hard done by; in other words we feel that "other people" are having a better deal than ourselves.
Alright, look at it this way:
I know people in Ulverston that are living very fulfilled enjoyable lives with very little money and in cramped homes.
So Art. What place does it have.
It can lift the spirit; make us smile, feel good. This after all is far more important than owning things and having money. Art is something that can make us feel alive - to LIVE.
Does this free book do that.
For me it doesn't - it's a missed opportunity. £30,000 spent on the wrong thing.
For me it's an ego trip for the artists who produced the book and doesn't seek to make Ulverstonians feel good.
Had it been a compilation of pictures of colour that we had taken, painted, chosen then it would have been about us. The claim that it resulted from our input is very tenuous and in my opinion fabricated.
The art is too top down ie:
The Lantern House comes up with some artists that express themselves on our behalf. Art comes to Ulverston and we are supposed to appreciate it. They come down from on high and deliver to the plebeians.
On reflection, I would have preferred people to come to us and help us to express ourselves. The book - and it needed to be something to be proud of could have been about the expressions of art of Ulverston People themselves and we could have all wondered and been encouraged by what was inside the heads of the person next door. We could have been asked "What things do you see that have an amazing colour?" I might have replied "The shades of bluey grey that come out of the early morning mist as I look out of the window on a wet day"
I could have then been asked "Can you capture this in a photo?"
Some would reply "No, but I'll try. " or "Would you try to do this for me"
Then we'd have a collection of what was important to individuals in Ulverston - the time and effort of the Lantern House people would have concentrated in helping us express ourselves in a way we were proud of.
Instead we have a book that few of us will bother looking at. We may find a use for it but it won't be as a book. Why should I spend my time to look at a collection of pictures that someone else has chosen.
They are their ideas not mine.
Once again the Lantern House has done something that few people can identify with.
The activities that I appreciate are those that help me develop and enable me to be able to give something of the art that inside my head to others.
The kind of thing that has succeeded to do this has been the Lantern Procession - well done the originators at the Lantern House.
Some times you get it right, sometimes not.
I have no problem with £30,000 spent on Art especially in these hard times when we need cheering up and made to feel good. It was what it was spent on I didn't like.
What did other people, who were involved with the project, think ?
I know one of the people mentioned in the list at the back - I'll ask her.
Thursday, 3 December 2009
Is Art useless?
Yes.
What's wrong with that?
Think of the 'Art' that's around us.
Hoad Monument - a giant useless sculpture.
East Enders a useless fictional set of stories.
The Dickensian Weekend - lots of stalls selling useless objects - of course some of them were selling essentials - like Mulled Wine.
Man U vs L'pool - a pointless 'battle'.
Yes they're all useless but could we live without them?
In fact would we want to live without them or something similar.
Art is ultimately what we live for. It feeds our emotions. It helps us feel good.
It leads us to choose how we decorate our rooms - the type of furniture, the wall paper, carpet bed cover, plates and cups. How we plan our garden, what car we choose.
So can we stop knocking it - different people like different art - but to say that its useless misses the point.
Without it, it would be pointless, which of course if you stop and think, it really is!
What's wrong with that?
Think of the 'Art' that's around us.
Hoad Monument - a giant useless sculpture.
East Enders a useless fictional set of stories.
The Dickensian Weekend - lots of stalls selling useless objects - of course some of them were selling essentials - like Mulled Wine.
Man U vs L'pool - a pointless 'battle'.
Yes they're all useless but could we live without them?
In fact would we want to live without them or something similar.
Art is ultimately what we live for. It feeds our emotions. It helps us feel good.
It leads us to choose how we decorate our rooms - the type of furniture, the wall paper, carpet bed cover, plates and cups. How we plan our garden, what car we choose.
So can we stop knocking it - different people like different art - but to say that its useless misses the point.
Without it, it would be pointless, which of course if you stop and think, it really is!
Saturday, 2 May 2009
Children will have a fantastic time tomorrow, Sunday
If they attend the drop in Printfest workshop in the Coro from 10.00 to 12.00 .
They can print their own pictures and with expert help, easily come up with some lovely designs to take home. All for free, I believe!
Some parents have travelled all the way from Stockport to attend!
They can print their own pictures and with expert help, easily come up with some lovely designs to take home. All for free, I believe!
Some parents have travelled all the way from Stockport to attend!
Sunday, 12 April 2009
Sunday, 5 April 2009
Celebration
A celebration of Chris Thorp's life.
At the Lantern House , Monday, April 5th, at 2.00 pm.
He will be there in the form of the influence he had on the people who knew him.
I'm looking forward to it.
A chance to tune in with the spirit that he has left behind in the many that I've not yet met.
.
At the Lantern House , Monday, April 5th, at 2.00 pm.
He will be there in the form of the influence he had on the people who knew him.
I'm looking forward to it.
A chance to tune in with the spirit that he has left behind in the many that I've not yet met.
.
Wednesday, 11 February 2009
Political correctness gone mad?
Is the suggestion of scrapping this sculpture crazy?
Is the suggestion that it needs £3 million to make it safe, political correctness gone mad?
Can't we have more dramatic sculptures in our public places?
With Chris Brammall in our midst can't we have more invigorating sculptures in our squares?
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