Ah-tissue

Ah blog. How lovely to see you again. In the name of spring, here are some beaded and embroidered paper body parts and objects I made last October and, in the state of high emergency I've been living under, managed to clean forget about until, oh joy! I came across them in a file a couple of weeks ago. There are some brain neurons firing away excitedly, a glittering heart (it's grey but I think it's still beating), a cochlea with it's little harp arrangement..a drowned brain, some exploding blood cells, surgical scissors and a pair of small and hopeful shoes..I can't understand how something that required so much patience and concentration (I'm not one of life's natural tissue-paper stitchers) could completely disappear from my mind as if it had never been there, particularly as I was planning on expanding the work. Anyway, I'll be doing something with it again now, and also attempting to keep the blog updated..

In pieces in Camden Town.

Parts of Frida Kahlo, Frida objectified. This has been a work in progress for some time now and the summing up and completion of it caught me somewhat by surprise. I rarely feel like anything's as finished as it could be but in this case, a few tweaks aside, I feel it's as it should be. I found it a pleasure in every way; working on 3d elements, painting and drawing simultaneously, all moving each other along; uninterrupted by headaches and with an urgent gallery deadline providing the ideal excuse to avoid shopping, cleaning and suchlike..total joy.
I also managed to avoid disaster long enough to make the opening, which I'll cover in the next post. I'd like to write more about this piece of work too. It's currently to be seen in the window of the Red Red Shoes gallery , in the show 'Wicked Love', curated by the brilliant Alina Gavrielatos.

Totally Amazing

...the realisation that I have lost approximately half my life to a migraine. Definitely a third. I wonder if during that lost third/half, spent in dark agony, unable to form a coherent thought, my brain has been secretly (and kindly) processing some interesting and useful information to be revealed to me at a later date in my life, when I can make good use of it? I'm very much hoping this is the case. On the other hand, bearing in mind the first migraine arrived when I was seven,if I've missed half my life, this means I'm now only twenty. But still look in my forties. It's bad from whichever way I look at it. Anyway, during the few hours left to me when I'm not in a dark room or trying to recall my own name and address as I start to improve afterwards,this is what I have made.

They are in a small group show in London with two other dresses, and will be part of my solo show in January. A longer blog post coming soon with news of new work directions, and more small rabbits. 'Til then..

Mental.

Phew, I've made some more work, a developement of the last lot really. I was sad to see it go this time, as I didn't have long enough to live with it before it disappeared. I do think I've taken the pet psychiatric unit thing as far as it'll go though. It's part of some work that'll be at New Ashgate gallery in Farnham, Surrey, opening on the..ah, can't remember. Will have to post that in a minute.

Mario's Cafe!

photo courtesy of artist Yusuf Ozkizil

Out of all the very wonderful places I've been able to show work this year, there is a particular venue I've had my fingers crossed for. I associate it with Good Things happening and a pinnacle of..not sure exactly what, yet. All will be revealed. But today I arranged my exhibition in the legendary Mario's Cafe in Kentish Town, London NW5.
Mario's has a long and colourful history; Mario himself is so cool (and lovely) they made a film about him and his establishment.
A recent show over the summer featured the works of Patrick Maguire, one of the 'Maguire 7', and the current show which has just opened features the beautiful art of super-talented Heather Blockey, a mixed-media artist as well as photographer.
The art is amazing, the coffee and food is amazing, the people are lovely..visit Marios if you can, number 6, Kelly St, Kentish Town, runs right off the High St.
I'm so excited to finally have my show sorted. February 2012. Thankyou Mario!

F Kahlo skirt and pelvis

Artist's canvas. Much easier to paint on than make a doll out of. FK's skirt is getting underway now, still plenty to do though. I still haven't worked out how to make the stand and support her on it ; I'm hoping this information will spontaneously reveal itself to me, at the same time I get magically bestowed some rudimentary carpentry skills.

Crutch and damaged foot

Found wood, metal bolts, false hair, fake flowers, resin.
Crutch with damaged foot. Being mended; part of a project. It'll be re-photographed for the website in the next couple of weeks.

Frida Kahlo Doll

Something I'm currently working on, first in a series. Her skirt is also in progress and she will have relevant accessories and a stand. Her amputated lower leg is re-attachable. She may or may not end up with arms.

Dead Mouse

This sketchbook drawing is neither a new work, a new idea, nor particularly good. But it's just taken me four hours to work out how to put this page together and I feel compelled to stick a picture on it. Stuffed dog and dead mouse.