been sometime

So the Manchester Artist Bonfire went as expected..arrived with R and R and then sort of lost them both during the night. I had some A0 prints done at the Uni printers and had to be diligient about them in case of wreckage etc..they are for the up and coming Brick Lane gig that I have..that part of my art life is a little strange at the moment and I will elaborate a little more shortly.

I was the second participant of the night to burn work and I did my bit a little solemnly..a little too solemnly though I think. I didn't really want to go into the hoohaa of why and what I was burning, it was a little early into the proceedings and felt it wasn't justified. I did have a chat with an artist during my time at the fire and she kind of appreciated the one to one, I also spoke to several more artists during the night which was nice.

I felt that the night was a way for some participants were a escape to getting rid and finally disposing some artworks that where filling space in their lives both physically and sometimes mentally, but some of them used the time for some Da-Daistic performance etc. Louise Woodcock and Gary Fisher were both involved and used their time well..with Woodcock's Hammer Horroresque Red Skull dripping with Red Wax and Fisher's disjointed piece with audience participation.

I all though, I felt it was a good place to network and become involved with some collabrotive performance work. I met Roseanne Robertson who organised the event and I have been in contact with Louise, albeit via social networking sites. I'd like to be involved with other projects that I don't usually find the time to get embroiled with.

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So, this was Friday..on the Sunday I had to stay over in Manchester because me and others from IA where flying out to Berlin for five days. We were scheduled to fly out at 7.30am so of course..had to meet up at 4.30am??. This ment no sleep and well, no sleep until 1.30am Tuesday morning. Frazzled-frazzled and left in a strange city. I enjoyed the city, the atmosphere, the language barrier, the underground..the whole nine yards. I will definitley go back and see the things that I missed out on.

Monday..
After landing, I had to go for a lie down, shower and eat...after this I met up with some guys and we went to Alexanderplatz to have a look at architecture etc..we passed some sunken bunkers and found ourselves at the Jewish Memorial. I've taken some photos of this place both digitally and on film. I found it quite intense and monumental in a graveyard kind of way..which of course, that is what it was/is. I spent some time here just walking through the lanes of stones but then had to move on.

Tuesday..
I spent the day on my own and travelled to the Bauhaus Archiv which was close, incidentley. Because of this blunder, I found my self walking through the Tiergarkten and the Diplomatic District. I found myself at Gedenkstatte Deutscher Widerstand. This was a place that commerated the Gewrmans that died during the Nazi occupation. All the writing and descriptions where in German and I couldn't read what was written but I felt a profound sadness of what I have been looking at. I left here and sauntered on through to the Neue Nationalgalerie. Here I found a selection of sculptures both in metal and stone. I enjoyed my time here and spent quite a bit wandering, touching and photographing the exhibits..I went in looked around and promptly left. The Sony Centre which is around the corner is a huge complex of streel and glass and hustled n' bustled with commuters and tourists alike. At night, Transmediale opened it's gates for the opening night of their exhibition. This was an exhibition of scientific, biological, socio-geographical and pychological art not unlike what CUBE had last year but more itense on commerce. I quite enjoyed it, very interactive almost clinical in its undertaking. There wasn't a money shot for me though..I just meandered through, spoke to some of the exhibitors, played with a few exhibits and left.

Wednesday..
I spent the day getting lost, taking polaroids and photographs and getting to know one of my fellow students. We went to the Berlin Gallery and just looked at art that focused on Berlin as it's primary subject. I got to see some El Lissitsky's, Nan Goldings, Dada and Suprematism art and some sculpture. This was a gallery that focus on art as art and not as something that breaks barriers..although many works did when the where created. I bought a CD by Ed Blum..Musique fer Sprechtimme..this is a CD composed by Kurt Schwitters..

Thursday..
Bauhaus Archiv for the morning..which I found slighty disappointing ... It was alright though, showing what the students and teachers were up to in the 20-30's. I know now that foundation Art and Design is a xerox of what was happening back then.. I the afternoon, we tried to find the other Transmediale locations but got lost but found the district of the independent galleries which was nice.

Friday..
Back to the Jewish Memorial, Transmediale and the Sculpture Garden that I missed out on Tuesday and back home.

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I have the Link Gallery for a one man show that is dedicated to Lucian Fellowes. I am planning to show his Road-Side Markings
in A0 size and have a party.. but at the back of my mind I want to show exhibits from his road-trip..we shall see..
The Brick Lane Gallery is on next tuesday for a fortnight and I have to get myself sorted.
The book is in Magma.
I am part of a collabrotive exhibition at Blank Media..the concept is RELIGION and I have until March to finish my sculpture..it is based on megalithic/stone age sculpture..