CUT HAIR GROW TREES

INK TREE

DOES THE SHOE FIT?

The business of understanding and explaining the art process can be a troubling one. What is good art, what is bad art and can they coexist? Is being bad - good? If everything was so pleasing would the world be a better place? With everyone agreeing would that be that sweet or do we need conflict ?

I came up with some sort of an answer while in a Glasgow Taxi a couple of years ago. I have always found these sorts of conversations rich and entraining in this wonderful city that adopted me in 1992. It when like this: “What do you do?” “I am an artist.” (sometimes this seems like a bad move, I do not think a baker or teacher would receive the same confrontational reactions that I have had, maybe I should try that next time). “Are you any good?” (how do you answer this, many rides and years later I have figured this out by saying I am a working artist, for if I’m making money someone must like it) on this wet night I said “Well, yes I’m good!” He asked what I thought of bad art and started to name a few artist he hated.  My reply was: “When you go into a shop to buy a pair of shoes, the store is full of different sizes, colours, designs and functions. Somehow you find a pair that fits, but you do not get mad at the other shoes because there are different, you are just happy to find one that looks good on you.” and with this I reached home.

Thinking about this a little more... what if you went into the shop and you were force to buy shoes that did not fit? Hmmmmmmm. (The Fly)

Well, here we are in last month of the year and it’s rounding up nicely. 

Nicola gave her presentation entitled "Can art be evidence?" as part of “SHARING KNOWLEDGE & INVOLVING ALL”, KNOWFIFE 4th RESEARCH FAIR 2007 on Monday. It was interesting for her to be invited to this research fair that mainly concerned understanding hard fact in terms of thinking about people, where art is an altogether subjective activity in that respect.

The first in the series of CLOCK PEOPLE – PUBLIC ART GATHERING ran smoothly and was very well received by the public on Thursday

Here is the blow by blow account of the evening with times and all.
CLOCK PEOPLE / PUBLIC ART GATHERING
7pm Start
The Public signs in
Welcome from Nicola Atkinson Does Fly and introduction
Nicola gives a presentation on her public artworks that she has created in places such as Cuba and Bosnia, followed by Artwork from Abbeyview
Bird’s Eye View by Stevie Jackson (music)
John Cavanagh calls for time by ringing bell.
Main lights turn off
The Standard Light is turned on
John Cavanagh reads about the history of time 
The public are asked to close their eyes 
Nick Fells, sound artist, plays his piece about time which he transformed from original recordings in Abbeyview and Nicola’s home
Le Question by Françoise Hardy (music)
John Cavanagh reads the story Passing places by Philip Miller  (commissioned by Nicola for Abbeyview )
Hallucinogène by Françoise Hardy (music)  
John Cavanagh reads the story SOUL AND CELL by Philip Miller
Le Question by Françoise Hardy (music)
John Cavanagh reads from Alice Munro story Floating Bridge
John Cavanagh reads the Ken Nordine piece – with Jump Monk the music of Charles Mingus 
Standard Light is turn off
Main lights turn on
Discussion with the public about time & place & future with Nicola and Alan Grieve, an artist from Abbeyview.
Refreshments served.
8pm END

Image © Sophia Pankenier