the continuing conversation between art and life
Professor Mal Archaic: (dry, academic cough) "Excuse me. I take my role as lecturer on Health and Safety upon this Blog, on the Friday evenings quite seriously. This work is so vital that I am mystified as to why we do not have such films running every weeknight. Anyhow. Enough about me and my superbly …
Continue reading "Friday night is Health and Safety Night: Seating"
The bookshops are full of Michelle Obama's autobiography: "Becoming". Here is an audio recording of her reading her own words (on BBC), recording the start of what it was like to become First Lady. Click here to access audio recording, if you live in the UK. (I'm not quire sure how you'd access this, if …
This 5 minute video lets Kaffe Fassett describe in his inimitable, colourful way, how he discovered knitting and brought his painterly eye to it, bringing a wave of colour into 1980s knitting in Britain. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-vR_hi1Gtw Also, don't miss another post on this blog about quilting here. Both these videos are recorded in his home, which …
Ladies and Gentlemen, (drumroll) a short appreciation of the writing and style of Chuck Jones. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHpXle4NqWI There are creative takeaways on humour, setting up a joke, characterisation and inspiration - "You can find it any place" says Jones.
the importance of visiting national art galleries when you're a creative, quote by Paolozzi
Previously posted but I enjoyed rereading it this morning. I doubt if any writer has ever complained of being encouraged too much. Do share with any writer or would-be-writer friends.
I found myself writing this encouragement to a young writer approaching a course in Literature at University – but much of it is useful to any beginning writers:
This is tough. You think “But I haven’t had my first novel published!” “But I haven’t sold my first filmscript…..” and the minute you say “I’m a writer” to other people, they will ask “So what have you sold?” – which doesn’t help.
But being an artist and selling work don’t always flow together.
Van Gogh was a painter to his fingertips, worked hard all his life and only ever sold ONE painting, while alive.
Think of what you want to have achieved in 5 years.
Aim for it.
Don’t just meekly do what will get you good marks in School…
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Today is the opening day of the newest exhibition at the National Gallery Modern Two in Edinburgh: Eduardo Paolozzi and Andy Warhol, titled "I want to be a machine." I attended an opening lecture at lunchtime and then went across town to see the exhibition for myself. Curator Keith Hartley introduces lunchtime lecturerAnne Massey; "Transatlantic …
One way to find time to write poetry while working full-time, is to write in your lunch-hour. Frank O'Hara did. Even with a hangover. Some of his poems begin by noting the time (his lunch hour seems to have been 12 to 1 pm) and then he simply says what he's doing, eating, feeling and …
Continue reading "Writing poetry in lunchtime: Frank O’Hara"
Professor Mal Archaic: Ahem, it is my pleasure to introduce, as usual, the Friday Night is Health and Safety Film Night here at ,&. Tonight, we welcome to the small screen those well known speakers on Global Warming: Professor Steve Martin, Dr Idle and Sir Thomas Hanks. Which reminds me of my favourite song, "T …
Continue reading "Health and Safety Film Night: Global Warming"
Poets: if you manage to get a publisher to print your work in a pamphlet - how can you increase sales? (And also - how many sales can you expect, in which ways?) Poet Fiona Moore had a "moderately successful" pamphlet of her work printed by poetry published Happenstance - and noted how many copies …
