The first, hosted by the Confraternity of Neoflaggelants, started from the Scott Monument at 11pm and wended its way to a secret location (which, to no surprise, was Inspace). Alas, these zombies were considerably faster and less shambling than expected so I thoroughly missed their spate of late-night terror and wasn’t fancy-dressed enough to attend their party. Curses.

The second was more shambolic and of less certain origin. After much online confusion about the starting time and some wrangling of fake blood, a small group of undead left the Zoo Southside (Southside Community Centre to any locals out there) on Sunday afternoon for a bit of a stroll.

However disorganised the start, I have rarely seen a better behaved set of brain-craving monsters. They even waited patiently at the lights.

They eventually shuffled their way into Forbidden Planet where, I gather, there was some sort of zombie-related book reading. Uncertain about how well they might fare surrounded by books and toys, I left them to fester.

Time for a quickie on the High Street then. A surprisingly violent performance promoting what I think may have been a show about boxing…

And the welcome return of Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens. Well, I say welcome but I’ve not seen the show for about eight years and they might not be any good. I’ll try to see it anyway…

I’m not sure if the girl at the end is a Space Vixen, and was afraid to ask.

Last year, while wandering the Festival streets, some American girls foolishly tried to flyer me. About an hour of banter later I realised that I had to go and see their show; anyone who can put up with me in Festival spirits for that long much have something going for them. Skinny Bitch Jesus Meeting were they, and on a triumphant return this year for more absurd fun.

For a small show in a smallish venue (Whistle Binkie’s) they managed a pretty full house, probably due to their irrepressable colonial, er, charm? They’re a part of one of the Free Fringes – which I can’t help but love in principle, as they’re making the Fringe fringe again: go to a show, and if you don’t like it – or are poor – you don’t pay! There should be more of this sort of thing and fewer big names using Edinburgh’s crowds as easy tour fodder…

Seeing them again led to meeting further New Yorkers, all of whom were in some way involved in shows and generally lovely. Where other than Edinburgh in August can you meet someone whose job is a Sex in the City tour guide? Oh, New York I expect. Anyway, it amazes me that people can come across the Atlantic and perform for ‘free’ (with donations) without bankrupting themselves. I’m glad they do, though.

Coming up: Nice to see you, to see you…

The High Street (aka the Royal Mile) is not a useful thoroughfare for the duration of the Fringe as it is overwhelmed by the casts of various shows doing turns, street performers with the associated crowds and a multitude of tourists – with the occasional busker or irate local thrown in.

I was pleased to see that the Belt Up Theatre crowd are back and out on the street. They always manage to have a slightly better class of absurd makeup.

The High Street is filled with people trying to look eyecatching; in recent years this is not just to entice potential audiences but also to attract the attention of the many photographers prowling the festivals presumably in the hope that this will attract media attention.

The challenge I see here is to take the pictures that most of the photographers aren’t taking. There are two overused gimmicks for groups these days; people walking slowly up and down the street are probably the most eyecatching; I spent about an hour shadowing a couple of these groups, watching the cycle of movements and trying to spot the shot I wanted amidst the flurry of other people snapping away. This one came pretty close to what I was aiming for…

The other group cliche is people in leotards/catsuits and facepaint writhing and cavorting like some sort of elemental spirits. I have to say, when I see a dozen people all taking pictures of the same deliberate pose it makes me a little bit sad; this bunch were far more interesting from afar.

By far my favourite bunch to look at so far, though, are the group doing A Clockwork Orange. Men with eyemakeup, well made yet grungey outfits and the occasional shock of coloured hair is totally in my idiom.

And nothing satisfies more than a cute cardboard robot puppet. At least not if, like me, you’ve lost count of the number of times you’ve watched WALL-E.

After a hard day (ahem) of wandering the streets I discovered that I was going to the List Magazine Festival Party. It’s not the most exclusive event in the world, but in the past I’ve enjoyed myself and it seemed sure to be a good photo op.

This year the party was in the giant Assembly Spiegeltent by the Ross Banstand in Princes Street Gardens. Mercifully it was a lovely warm, dry night for it, as much of the proceedings went on outside the tent.

There was a limited free bar, further limited by the fact that the only bar to be found was about 40ft long with little space around it to queue. Average wait seemed to be 20 minutes.

The whole event is more about seeing and being seen than anything Fringe-ey. For me, it was lovely to bump into unexpected people, some of whom I hadn’t seen since working the Fringe eight years ago and barely recognised!

Since the Tattoo was on just upstairs, we were treated to some small fireworks overhead, prompting much cooing from those who’d managed to get to the bar a few times.

Eventually they gave in and let some perfomers on stage. After a teutonic group of tightly-clad high energy dancers who made us all think we were at Eurovision (girls in plasticky outtfits out front) and some remarkably well built dancers from Brazil (buff topless men out front) – both of which I eschewed taking pictures of out of principle, being all a bit too much like tittilation – the inevitable ukuleles came out.

And after the unavoidable burlesque girls with feathers and fans we came to an interesting cabaret show with a very charismatic MC.

Here we had some further, albeit more imaginative, striptease, a dandy with a remarkable ‘tache and specs rapping like a true gentleman, a lady with wayyy too many hula hoops:

And eventually some sexercise, which required a couple of volunteers from the, by now very tipsy, audience.

And after this it all started to wind down. Understandable, since it was fast approaching 2am. Most of the remaining punters retreated into the Spiegeltent, leaving the unusual furniture visible for the first time.

We arrived at the door of the tent just as the last song finished. Apparently we missed the campest tunes and queeniest dancing of the festival, so I’m not too upset. Gradually we were turfed out of here, leaving a stream of exhausted revellers slowly making their way out of the gardens.

Next time: Zombies and Americans (no, they’re not the same thing)

Today I started the day with artist Graham Lister, he was updating me on his early morning install of Entry/Exit View (# 13 in the mini skinny) an intervention installation in North Kelvin meadow. Here is a sneaky peak in case the coo’s get to it before you.

I was tipped off that Vulnerable Threads had fly posted three collages so I started my hunt. Look for these: one on Argyle st. next to the Ashoka, one down near SWG3 and one near the pedestrian bridge right at the bottom of Kelvenhaugh st. I managed two out of three and they are beauties.

 Hint look to the cover of the mini skinny for identifiable characteristics. I don’t want to post any visuals; half the fun is discovering it for yourself!

I spent the rest of the afternoon making my way along the Clyde into town to explore the Glasgow international Book Fair, it’s only on one more day Sat. 17^th, don’t miss it.

There were some beautiful and creative books and ideas about books.

The evening was spent at the Sketchbook opening at Welcome home and I’ve posted an odd interview with Phil Kay, I’m not entirely sure why he was there, but I think he was doing a documentary about art… Scary but fun.

 A quick snap and shout out to  Podcart, Welcome Home, and Central Station for a great night.

17/4 Made in the shade 10:30-17:30

HALLelujah 2 opening 2-4

The Illogic of Repeat  opening

Forest Fringe at the Arches, last night so get in there! looking forward to it.

A natural development while creating an art practice is finding ones voice and having a sense of self worth and confidence to put it out there to a wider audience. There is no one way and if I believed that there was only one way I’d have probably given up a long time ago.

I have been building my community and confidence in small increments, learning about the well established art scene, artist run projects, private and public galleries, collectives, non-traditional art spaces, also by writing proposals, making work, more looking, attending lectures, talks, openings. It’s an overwhelming resource of creative wealth and opportunity. While trying to find my own artistic identity I have been my biggest obstacle, that little voice in my head created scenarios and negative responses before I had even really tried. A way that I have come to quiet this nuisance is to be as generous to myself as I am to other artists.

Individuals are at different levels and this diversity conveys prospects. A giant library of information to acknowledge. Something about silencing that inner critic is an important part of learning how to move forward. Fear is a terrible place to make work from, failure is a part of success, and what I am trying to sum up here is that it’s critical to explore ideas from a genuine place.

Radius is the result of considering other voices that are still refining themselves by taking risks, putting their work out their and confronting opportunity. It is a measurement along the path of discovery. To perceive in a radial fashion, moving from the centre out is exactly what I am trying to communicate, with this map and within.

R.isky and perilous to your sense of judgement

I.nexplicable activities

N.ot included or approved or endorsed by the official

G.i festival

E.xhibitions and events happening April 16 to May 3

F.reaking

R.iding on the coat tails

I.nteresting

N.ot included or endorsed by the official GI Festival

G.uerrilla

E.xhibitions and Events happening April 16 to May 3

It is the bewitching hour of 3:00 am and I have again woken from my cosy bed, partner and dog snoring away and I, am awake. I think I was having nightmares about how in my over exuberant and naïve energy I may be turning noses and excommunicating myself from any possible funding, acknowledgement, approval, preferential treatment, by saying “hey guess what I want to have happen and is happening whether you like it or not? A “Fringe”!  What is so ironic and somewhat amusing is that if you go to the official Gi sight and watch “the clip”, I’m in it! Endorsing the festival, anonymously, but I know that it’s me, I’m the first voice you hear saying, “It’s a different kind of scene from New York, or London, it has more grit to it, it’s somehow more genuine, more real.” This is real it’s not a spoof and I really meant it! http://www.glasgowinternational.org

I am anonymous in more ways than one.

Politics are for donkeys. I’m kind of exhausted and liberated at the same time.

Please see the call for submissions if you want your event or exhibit on an Atypicalroot map that will feature official sites, threads and risky bits that are any ones gamble to decide if it’s worth going to see.

This so far will be in collaboration with the Central Station, Atypicalroot, and The Skinny.

Yours lovingly,

Stephanie

Fringe

Peripheral

Alternatives,

Strand

Opportunity

It has been brought to my attention that the word “Alternative” promotes an either or situation. I was thinking more along the lines of “alternatives” or opportunity. Since moving to Glasgow five years ago, The GI Festival has provided a fantastic platform for contemporary art that I have enjoyed thoroughly.

It sets a standard and it also provides a process where the strongest work or the work that reflects the ethos of the festival’s committee is chosen to represent Glasgow. If this didn’t exist it might not be a great festival, it might be a so/ so festival.

For whatever reason my project was not selected; I still have it slotted in to the time that the festival will be on. I’m still doing all the work and I still believe that this project is valid and will be a great exhibition.

I’m squirming a bit because I may have inadvertently portrayed negative sentiment towards the festival. The truth is that it never occurred to me that I might be stepping on toes or reflecting badly on the festival itself. I’m definitely not saying I am competing with the festival, I’m just saying that I didn’t fit in to the festival, my project is on and people might enjoy it in the proximity of the official festival.

There is no undermining going on here. Glasgow has an incredible diversity and creative community. I want to see the GI but I also want to see the cusp. There might be something there that I can decide for myself is shit hot or not.

I think there will always be some disgruntled people out there that think it’s a personal slight not to be included. My opinion is, that energy is better spent keeping on, keeping on.

Glasgow hasn’t let me down yet, I’m diggin down deep to keep this positive and sincere, I’m an artist and director and I’m doin what I do. Watch this space for a new title to the blog.