the Story

"If, in the New Year of 1788, the eye of God had strayed from the main games of Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa, and idled over the huge vacancy of sea to the south-east of Africa, it would have been surprised in this empty zone to see not one, but all eleven ships being driven east on the screaming band of westerlies."

Source: The Commonwealth of Thieves - Tom Keneally

Back to my life

During past months it was like I disappeared into a world of work, sick, and recovery. Luckily I have made it to the other side and after an awesome holiday to NYC and San Francisco I have been plotting my way back to art and studio world.

Recent activities to remind myself of good stuff:
- Ellen Gallagher at the Tate Modern
- Narelle Jubelin at Marlborough Contemporary
- Rachel Whiteread at Gagosian
- Open studios at Park Studios
- Souzou at the Wellcome
- Seeing Aga's MA grad show at St Martins
- drawing on a rooftop terrace with great friends that I studied with
.....and of course back in the studio
oh and awesome dinner at Dishoom.

It has got me front and centre back into what I need to be doing and so I will also be trying to be blogging in a new and different way.

Great kickstarter campaign

18 languages still strong

So stage one is made, 18 vessels completed as I start the next stage of this work I started 23 months ago.

60 from 250? progress

Slowly slowly some progress and momentum.

tea, toast, snow & winding

A perfect day with snow falling and I am on a day of making. So the day is full of tea, toast, watching snow falling and winding, winding, winding. Frank to keep me company seriously the day is quiet, lovely and I am being given a great day. This is all while London is being covered in snow and I am sure a lot of travel chaos out there that I don't need to deal with.

Today my goal is to finish stage 1 - number 20 it is going to be close I may be winding into the small hours of the dark snowy night - I may even have some mulled wine left from Christmas so I am sure I will manage.

A quick project really it was only started April 2011.

My only endorsement of chain smoking - momentum for making work

Thanks to Austin Kleon for this great little animation and reminder.

I am starting to write down all the mad ideas I have that I want to explore post completion of the current mammoth task so I can keep the momentum.

Getting there- 60 from 250?

Number 18 is complete I don't know that I am going to complete number 20 by the end of tomorrow evening but I am pushing at it. Number 19 was started at midnight last night, feels exciting to be making progress at least starting to get there for this stage.

I wish time was elastic I want more solid making time. Very happy to start the last day of 2012 with blueberry pancakes, and spending the last day of 2012 making art finishing with friends and tequila.

Stage 1 to the year end......20 objects

This year has been very up and down I terms of the time I have been able to carve out for art making. I have been working on 60 from 250? project for over a year and a half and I needed to gain momentum and therefore I set out in November when get truly back into the swing of it to complete 20 vessel objects by the end of 2012. Knowing that I have a Christmas break from my day job I had a great chance, it is going to be close and it has meant that my break has been based on the sofa twisting and winding and stitching. Apart from eating turkey, mince pies and drinking coffee baileys. It is going to be close and I hope to feel all the better for the big commitment to art, some sense of momentum and some serious making time( which is always the best Christmas present).

Maybe it will be worthwhile

Seems to me that it is complete madness that I started making the first vessel object back in 2011, first one completed in April. How does time move so quickly, the weeks and months escaping me. Sometimes there is just a glimpse that it maybe a worthwhile endeavour (if you call art that).

These objects are time consuming and often frustrating. Right now, I am determined to keep the momentum I have developed in the last 6 weeks and complete 20 of the objects by 31st December 2012. This will allow me to reflect in January on the work, look the collective objects at a decent development point, until then I will be twisting, wrapping and winding.......

Completed object vessel No.15

Back into the swing of making and finally making some progress, completed number 15 of the vessel objects last night. Enjoying mostly taking risks, dyeing objects, spray painting and pushing the limits of the materials with new shapes.

routines - an hour every day

The challenge of losing your routines and trying to create them again. Clothing object 10 complete for this initial stage, it has taken months. I am desperate to get back to my routines that facilitate hours spent at the studio, hours making, hours towards my art practice.

Committment for this week is at least to spend an hour a day on art practice. The crazy thing is I love love making and working at my art practice just life, new home, new routines and a huge amount of procrastination has got in the way.

Sunday, done! And now the hard work begins.

Inspired by Austin Kleon, I have boxes to tick each day.

Frank the puppy

Welcome to my world Frank the mini Yorkshire Terrier Puppy. He is super tiny and super full of mischief and love. This has been on life list for at least 7 years, featured in wedding vows and now we finally have a puppy in our lives.

He is super cute and brings much joy to the our new home. It also helps me to spend less hours at the office which is a blessing. Still lots of training to be done, lots of learning for both me, the boy and Frank.

I am also enjoying how much joy he brings to other people, such a pleasure to be a part of.

Two items crossed of my list of things I wanted to do in my life - yeah!

Welcome to Olympics

I live in London town, a place taken over by the 5 rings and I must admit I fell asleep last night watching the opening ceremony. I am desperately trying to not to be an Olympic Grinch. I lived in Sydney in 2000 and loved it and had a ball, am I just older and more cynical or do I live in a different world now where inequalities are shown to me everyday, when I know life is so tough for so many on an daily basis. So I am now keeping my mouth zipped and let people make of it what they want, take the goodness and leave the rest.

So the most inspired I have been is the infographics created by Gustavo Sousa to look behind the pomp and circumstance.

'stripped-down statistics from each region through simple scale shifts of the tournament’s iconic quintet of overlapping loops. The rings represent healthy competition and union, but we know the world isn’t perfect. Maybe understanding the differences is the first step to try to make things more equal.'

Discovered via Fast Company Design
Check out the full article

If money wasn't an issue

I have list that helps me focus on what I really want when I don't limit myself to the practicalities of working and earning money to pay for life. I do need this list as often even when a great thing maybe about to happen I can opt for the safe option, I am so conditioned to give in or compromise, not to anyone in particular just life and the world. That voice kicks in of be sensible, be practical la la la la and on and on. So I am delighted to say that in the last few weeks that a few items have been ticked sometimes in rebellion to my own reluctance, so much that in the last few days I have felt a little overwhelmed with the goodness. I need to find new places for all the greatness. So strange really that when you receive what you truly want it can be a challenge in itself.

Thank you world for persevering even when I would find it easier to walk away.

New work 60 from 250?

As part of my ongoing work into my own cultural identity, showing new work at Open Studios this weekend.

Come along if your are in London town
Bow Arts
SE1 5SF
46 Willow Walk
Fri night 6-9:30pm
Sat+Sun 12-6pm

Here it is London town

It is happening, new installation of flags and open studios. Exciting times!

Inspiration - Claire Watson

Inspiration to the maximum, Claire Watson.

I am always looking for artists that work with textiles to make sculpture. I need to learn, be inspired and reference what is happening it the broader art universe. I then search among the few to find artists who utilise worn clothing as their material. Here I discovered the inspiration of Claire Watson.

the fabulous Mr Snelgrove makes fabulous New Eden

Dear Blog Universe,

You really must check out New Eden it is super fabulous and all created by Mr Snelgrove and his project partner Mr van Haagen.

New Eden follows the adventures of bickering odd couple Murray and Hamilton, two starship crewmen marooned and fighting for their lives on a primordial world after their starship crash lands on the wrong planet!

Can't wait for more.....

thanks Queenie for 4 days

I live in London and no I am not in Jubilation mode except that I thank Queenie very much for working for 60 years so that I could have 4 days just to catch up with myself.

My day job to the max

+ plus making some life plans

+ plus trying to see man on tour

+ inlaws here from Australia

+ frustration that art hasn't been front and centre

= Amanda in the clingon stage.

So much relieved to climb down from the cliff face on these 4 days and notice that am breathing and human and to sleep and eat what I like, to do what I want, and to watch and make into the lovely hours of the evening.

I can't say it has been an easy 4 days as Friday night my head was in work buzz, Saturday and Sunday to really feel my toes again. Stage 2 - working not to beat myself up for giving myself over so much. Stage 3 - reflection on being in the midpoint of the year move on to new space where I I go pick up all the pieces and move towards what I know is really important to me.

On to the highlight of the month - very exciting news, it was worth a midnight application in the edges of time from day job, I have been selected for the Bow Arts Open show in the Bermondsey Project Space- super YEAH!!

Bow Arts Open 2012: Bow Arts Open Show

Date:

Friday, June 29, 2012 to Saturday, July 14, 2012

Private View:

Friday, June 29, 2012 - 18:00

Opening Hours:

Friday 6 - 10pm, Saturday & Sunday 12 - 6pm

Address:

Bermondsey Project Space, Unit 7, Rich Industrial Estate, Willow Walk, SE1 5SF.

Our annual group exhibition showcasing original work from across Bow Arts' diverse artist community.

This year's show is curated by Bob & Roberta Smith, Skye Sherwin (Arts writer, Guardian), Emilie Faure (White Cube) and Rosamond Murdoch (The Nunnery).

amanda carmichael