Finale Atypical Root

SUNDAY 2ND MAY 2010: 12-5: The Launch of the Govan Armada, Bike-So-Cool, and an exhibition at the Govanheim. Riverside Hall

The Bike-So-Cool convoy, left at 12 noon from David Dale Gallery (Bridgeton) travelled through town via GI exhibitions to reach Clydebrae Street for the Launch of the Govan Armada

I don’t know where to begin, this was an amazing event, not just in the day but also in the totality of the concept to celebrate and draw attention to life along the Clyde.

I went down to the launch and it was buzzing with kids, parents, and volunteers, around these super cool boats that were made out of the refuse collected from the river, they had a message of hope (message in a bottle) element and were ceremoniously launched into the Clyde via a dingy and celebrated by the creators and admirers along the shore.

The Bike so cool rode in from their cycle trip from the David Dale Gallery to Clydbrae, which traced the entire Atypical Root project via their bikes.

I really did not understand the Atyp project until I went to this event and then walked

home along the Clyde. I had previously explored events by Atypical Root earlier in the festival, but nothing impacted me as much as this day. There is virtually a wasteland between the Armada launch and the BBC, which is a good 20-minute walk between.

There is amazing architecture surrounding the Clyde as well as obvious neglect and overall run-down apathy toward the community and the history that have somehow met and found themselves suffering from the same kind of indifference.

This weighed heavy on me as I walked home, which is the West End, posh indeed. As I

was crossing the millenium bridge, dead center in the middle was a stencilled graffiti. Intentionally placed and intense; was it salvation or the end? Desperation.. The message said

I have just prayed to a God I don’t believe in.

Ironically someone pencilled in an S in front of Prayed which actually didn’t change it that much for me, sprayed or prayed both acts of intimacy, desperate for attention or intervention. At least Sprayed implies the planting of seed even if it was meant as a lude gesture. The Irony is absolutely as aloud as can be.

I can’t help but think of  Modern Terra  by Allison Gibbs and Christoph Büchel New Commission work a t Tramway. As much as those works affected me I couldn’t help but think “who needs installation when you can go to Govan and experience it first hand, without any pre-conception”. I suppose that’s the point without someone pointing out what’s going on, no one sees it.

What a state of affairs. I have been inspired and I hope to do a follow up with some of the heads behind Atypical Root. I believe this kind of project and some attention could make a significant impact on this landscape, and that is what Glasgow needs, on so many levels.

Lost and Found Street level

“King’s Ransom (Hybrid Tea), Linder, Sorcha Dallas

Still Life, Dan Miller, SWG3 off site Osborne St

Better World Sandy Smith, SWG3 off site Osborne St.

Metal Urban Jim Lambie, Modern Institute 14-20 Osborne St.

Musique d’ameublement A tribute to Erik Satie, Played by Jamie Bolland at Le Drapeau Noir

New work from Europe was part of a two-part location exhibition a selection of work from the Outsider Art Biennale previously held at the Rackstad Museum in Arvika, Sweden.

The work again was wonderful, the inhibition, and subject matter infer playful uncensored qualities and adult content. I think this combination is more prevalent in children than we like to admit and takes a state of mind where all content is un- censorable and all expression is direct and honest.  I always go away with a sense of relief and liberation when I go to project ability. I am under no duress or  am I subjected to “politically correct” art or “fashionable” content, just contact with un- inhibited content by people expressing their life and ideas.

Street Level has a fantastic collection of video installations that have been largely unseen from previous exhibitions.

Kevin Atherton

Stephen Littman

Pictorial Heroes

Zoe Redman

Stephen Partridge

Tony Sinden

These works are exciting and have survivied time as film media  and progressive technological advances are making even showing these works quite a challenge.

See them while you can it might be your last opportunity. The quality of the installation is superb.

Linder at Sorcha Dallas. This exhibition of new and old works is fabuloso. Don’t be afraid of masterbating women, take it in stride it’s not new it’s just not normally presented in a gallery for all to enjoy. Ah the strength of this work makes me feel a little better about being a woman artist in Glasgow. (A little personal insight into my own artistic interest) The collages are stunning and the sculptural installation makes me feel like I am still in the presence of the Cakewalk. On till May 22^nd it will be getting another visit from me.

Still Life by Dan Miller. The text accompanying this show explains the intellectual relationship you might have with the exhibition… I just liked how white, damp and phallic it was. What  a great space, I hope SWG3 can do more with spaces like this, it is so much more accessable than the Warehouse.

Better World by Sandy Smith

This is a very interesting show. “promiscuous tarts” is used in the writing about this exhibition. I think that is a wonderful

description, I would say that the text is indulgent but so is the work and that’s what makes it great. It is exacuted  beautifully with extreme material contrasts, lots of shiny reflective surfaces in the midst of lots of colourful shiny lights. I f I were to describe this show out loud, I doubt it would sound like it worked, but there is a beauty in all the contrasts, persoanable suggestive texts, technology and architecture.  It is seductive and dream like, as a viewer I don’t always like a lot of intellectual talk to ruin my experience of a work; my inner child was awoken from the night I used to play with my light brite, and leave it on all through the night. “  never felt closer to you than this” is a great way describe the otherness that accompanies this exhibition.

Jim Lambie Metal Urban at the Modern Institute,

Coloring and compression, the combination of things recycled, walked upon, reflected and mirrored. Lots of color, lots of  compressed metal sculptures. I didn’t not like it, it was inviting, it had a Brancusi like feeling to the forms, not similar in simplicity, but the feeling of effortless exsistance.  It was like walking into a night club full of art, bright and mod. This was one of the last things I checked out that afternoon. I think I need to revisit it. ®®®®

Musique d’ameublement A tribute to Erik Satie, Played by Jamie Bolland at Le Drapeau Noir

 My last quiet event of the night. It was music being played on the piano, music of Saite. There was a strange guest amongst the crowd, I feel as if I have really missed something because I couldn’t make the historical connections.

Hopefully someone can fill me in. The atmoshere was lovely and I behaved.

28/4 Radius in Motion

New Work from Europe Touch Base, 43 Middlesex st. Kinning Park G41 1EE

Vulnerable threads Argyle and Kelvinhaugh st

Vestiges Park Glasgow Sculpture Studios

Prologue Endless Renovation,

New Work from Europe A selection of work from the Outsider Art Biennale held at the Rackstad Museum in Arvika, Sweden. It’s a little out of the way, Touch Base, 43 Middlesex st. Kinning Park G41 1EE, but I find that most exhibitions produced by Project Ability are filled with stunners.  There are some incredibly honest and genuine paintings that are full of joy, after Christoph Büchel New Commission it reminds me that art has a vast spectrum of impact, and these works are worth going to see. The energy and sophistication these paintings have can only come from a lack of inhibitions on the

artist part and I would like to have lived with these paintings; they remind me of why I am interested in art, intimacy, expression, beauty, and imagination. I will be checking out the other half of this collection of paintings at Project Ability, Trongate 103.

Vulnerable Threads have splendour of a work on the corner of Argyle and

Kelvinhaugh st. It is something that your eye just goes to and is in an innocuous corner, it’s more of a habitat that surrounds this work; the idea of fly posting on top of remnants is so exciting and finding the work that has been secretly posted by Vulnerable Threads. I have really enjoyed hunting them down and seeing them in an environment that everyone can access.

Vestiges Park A lowsalt exhibition. So fun and wonderful. Mythical, a secret country brought to light by the OOlite Sisterhood. I spent an hour in the park exploring the work, it really wasn’t enough time, and I hope I can go back. There are 15 to 18 different works, it’s a little hard to tell as they are all part of the environment, there’s a beautiful map that helps you navigate through this small park that feels so much

bigger. I’m going to include images to wet your appetite, you do the rest!

Prologue: Endless Renovation, Corin Sworn, Washington Garcia

There is beautiful simplicity to this work in its conception and in it’s aesthetic. Discovering the identity of someone through slides that have been thrown away, the audio of this exhibition is slightly difficult to hear, but they have printed the transcript for you and you can read it later, the idea stays in my mind as I wander away from the exhibition. My curiosity is peaked. It is the opposite of indifferent but not quite love.

Events coming up

Saturday May1 THE CLYDE IS RED: A MANIFESTO MAYDAY MEANDER

A ramble through the radical history of the river with Tam Dean Burn and Linda Duru. Starts on the river walkway in front of the Central Mosque Going to La Passionara statue.

Meet 12:00 Central Mosque

Mosque Avenue

Glasgow

G5 9TA

Saturday May1 International Sunflower Guerilla Gardening Day

18:00- 21:00 meet Clyde walkway

Clyde St

A subversive act of reclaiming a small part of the city that needs attention with interaction and fun. Working with nature to beautify an abandoned urban area in a short term mission with a long term outlook

Get involved in some guerrilla gardening, seedbombing or both to make a positive impact in your urban environment!

What to bring (optional): a bedding plant / gloves / a trowel / sunflower seeds No experience nessesary, just drop by and join in the responsible rebellion! This is a Radius event in association with Kabloom and Glasgow Guerrilla Gardening

SUNDAY 2ND MAY 2010: 12-5: This is the final Atypical Root party, which hosts the Launch of the Govan Armada, Bike-So-Cool, and an exhibition at the Govanheim. Riverside Hall will be providing food, and Govan Fire Brigade will be present, showing off their fancy fire engine. This is your final chance to see the trail- you can join the Bike-So-Cool convoy, leaves at 12 noon from David Dale Gallery (Bridgeton) travelling through town via GI exhibitions to reach Clydebrae Street for the Launch of the Govan Armada at 2.30.

Time-table:

12-1 Judging of boats

1-1.30 Welcome by local councellor

Blessing of the Armada

Announcement of prizes

2.30-3.30 Launch of the Govan Armada

3-5 Bike-So-Cool/ Govanheim

This is a chance to meet the Atypical Root artists, check out several Atypical artworks and Root projects, see the AMAZING Govan Graving/Dry Docks, and munch on the finest Riverside Hall burgers (free to the first 100 people)… and more.

20/4 Radius in Motion

I started the day with a visit to Recoat A solo exhibition:  Matt Mignanelli travelled from New York to paint an installation within the space and hung a collection of new paintings. You can only see the mural for the endurance of the exhibition, apparently Recoat turn their head and look away as they paint over their mural wall every time they prepare for another show. So it exists now done by Mignanelli himself.

323 North Woodside Road, G20 6ND

Recoat Gallery presents “Alphanauts” a duo exhibition from Scottish Graffiti Artists, Rekor and Lyken at LA Bartenders new venue, 44 Houston Street

Exhibition Viewing: Thursday 22nd April 6-10pm

Auction of Artwork: Thursday 22^nd April 8.30pm

I then went over to

Entry/Exit an intervention in North Kelvin Meadow by Graham Lister. I like this piece for several reasons, this work is a

part of the artists’ community, it’s a part of a larger dialogue amongst the community that surrounds this open space; it has a history within the community and the work itself talks about the landscape and perspective, physically and conceptually. There’s a really nice story on video that I’ve posted as I was speaking to Graham about the vulnerability of the work to vandals.  I’m so pleased it has a happy ending. Take a picnic!

I was not supposed to cycle because I have a bad knee that doesn’t like it when I ride a bike, but I couldn’t resist temptation, there was a white bike outside Kelvingrove art Galleries and I used it to do my route across town and back. I left it where I found it and my knee complained. So I spent the rest of the afternoon exploring one of Radius’s on line exhibitions.

Stramash There are four audio works that are based around historical characters that have been re-invented through found text, creative writing and the voice. I think three of the characters are well known enough not to give you a background but one of them I didn’t know, and the audio work didn’t make sense until I knew this….

TAKI 183 is one of the most influential graffiti writers. His “tag” was short for Demetaki, a Greek alternative for his birth-name Demetrius, and the number 183 came from his address on 183rd Street in Washington Heights.[1] He worked as a foot messenger in New York City and would write his nickname around the New York streets that he frequented during the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Knowing this made it much more enjoyable and made the audio piece come alive for me.

I love the diversity and the flexibility that the Internet can bring to Radius. I hope to be off to that temporary bar across from Stereo tonight, I’ll fill you in on the name when I know what it is.

However, popped down to hang some site photos on the entry / exit railings and found that two of the pieces had gone missing. Now, I have completed intervention-based works in the past and am well aware and prepared for stuff to get moved, broken or, as was the case here, nicked. At the end of the day, the photographs of the installation and site are the real end products when this work is finished.

I went away and typed up a little explanation piece about the work itself; about the photocopy aesthetic and reproduction of real views, and added a sentence at the end saying that if the pieces could be returned, I would be most grateful, so that others could enjoy the work as I intended…..

Low and behold, when I went down to meet and show Stephanie Spindler (curator and director of Radius) round the site, one of the stolen boards was back in situ, and the other was wrapped in a bin bag at the base of one of the sculptures! I was very pleased indeed, and even though the person / people who took the pieces might never read this, I would like to thank you / them for putting them back – makes you realise that there are really decent folk about in Glasgow.

If it was you that took one of the pieces, email me at lister_art@hotmail.com and I’ll arrange to give you the piece in question after the show is done – to say thanks for your honesty!

we are asking questions of people on the street who are using white bikes, so here we’re posting some of the first responses.  if you’ve used a white bike too please give us your answers, what other questions you want us to ask, let us know where you are going, where you’ve spotted other bikes both being used and parked up, if you’ve made friends with other white bike riders etc

the first set of questions (and some responses) are listed below.  if there are answers, or questions, you’d like to add please do!

-  are the roads easy to use; did you have any problems with other vehicles?

‘one way system need to be figured out, but drivers were very courteous!’  ‘busy, but ok’

-  did the bikes get any comments through the day?  what?

‘yes!  and it was really amazing to be able to chat with other whitebike users’  ‘a few looks’

-  did you end the journey / your day on the same bike that you started on?

‘still on same one! am keeping it to do Atypical Root’

-  what had you heard of the Provo movement or the White Bike Plan before?

‘nothing but read about it in NVA booklet’.  ‘yes!  and read about it ahead of coming to GI’.

-  what future do you see for the White bikes in Glasgow?

‘would be amazing…’  ‘would be good for the city’

-  is this a good spend of public funding?

‘ yes’  ‘yes, yes, yes!’

-  do you normally ride a bike?

mixture of yes, no and occasionally – so we’re capturing you all!

-  did you jump any traffic lights?

a resounding NO on all the questionnaires, hurray!

-  what other questions do you think we should ask other people?

‘where are you going?’

‘how can we make this happen?’

Next on to Rough Lux in a disused office space on Hope Street. Interesting exhibition by Salomeh Grace, Yvonne Mullock and Mair Hughes who present new work inspired by collaborative research in to historical attractions and artefacts and the mechanics of presentation.

The next ®Radius mapped event Vocal Sans at 48 King Street, paintings, prints and installation work by Ciara Philips an Jane Topping.  Liked Ciara’s fabric floor piece. Jane’s text prints that sit beside her paints are great images and give another dimension to the painting.  This show is on for two weeks – recommended viewing.

Also visited Goodd on James Morrison Street.  This design shop tucked round the side on St Andrews Square.  It is a great wee shop selling very covetable items.  The downstairs exhibition The Illogic of Repeat combined beautiful bespoke furniture, lighting and wall art.  http://www.good-d.com/

After that we tried to visit the shiny new Modern Institute but there was a long queue – next time.

It is all here at    http://radiusmap.org.uk/

This day felt as if it were full of extremes. Of course I am often walking in the park with my dog, and when I start my day I make sure to check no vandalism has happened to Roundabout… It’s a beauty, don’t miss it.

I headed to GSA to have a look at Inhale/Exhale by Alice Channer.

She has masterfully collaborated with the late Mackintosh as the work sings perfectly in harmony with the space.  I think that element of working with a space that is so dramatic and articulated needs someone to pay attention and in a sense collaborate and consider the space as it were a person.

It is sensual but also vast, it speaks of the body but has no semblance of it. I really enjoyed sitting with it and feeling as if I were in the company of a giant angel…

On the other extreme; the Glue Factory is punchy, gutsy, and raw I wasn’t sure what I was walking into it. I don’t think there is another place or exhibition on in Glasgow that has the same feeling as this place. One of the works had some text that I think encapsulated the spirit of the place.

“Fear Less

Less Fear

Fear Less”

 It was too much too absorb for the amount of time I could spend there, if you like adventure and a bit of raw around the edges and  rare in the middle, don’t miss this. Give yourself plenty of time to go through it. (two to three hours) The refinement is in the art work and the energy of the exhibition.

Modern Terra, transported me to another continent… and the disturbing thing is, it brought me to my front door. This is an important and critical work that speaks of our culture, how we live, what we make of it and how we disregard. I thought it was very powerful. Modern Terra defines themes in our contemporary landscape that are so close we can lean over and touch. Allison Gibbs work, Inland Navigations Void was extremely poignant. It looks as if she will be doing a  performance May 2nd at 2pm at the sight.

 To follow the activities of the space click here

www.modernterra.blogpost.com

My Finally of the day was after trekking all the way out to Speirs Warf, as I was leaving somone had parked a White bike behind the Glue Factory. Whoo Hoo! I road it all the way home with joy in my heart. I have to add that when I was riding it through the park I saw someone I knew and waved like I was five years old, frantically full open hand beaming that somone saw me on my white bike.  I left it in front of the Kelvingrove Art Galleries. Score!

What a great day!

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.

Today was the start of the festival for me, what a better way to launch into the city with an anarchist manifesto that supports bikes for all.

It was a great gathering! White bike project

Right before the NVA event I had the privilege

of installing Roundabout. A temporary

Sculpture sent from Indiana, by artist Brian McCutcheon, long time friend and mentor. Don’t miss it if you are cutting across the park! number 14 n the mini skinny listing! Roundabout in Kelvingrove park

16/4 is all planned out, I have the morning to catch up with Graham Lister who is also installing an intervention sculpture in North Kelvin Meadow Entry /Exit ( 13 in the mini skinny listing)

Unfortunately the  Fiona Tan lecture was cancelled due to volcanic ash… so I will be spending more time at

Glasgow International Book Fair at the Glasgow Royal Concert hall. It’s only on Friday the 16th and Sat. the 17th.

I will be attending the Sketchbook Show preview at Welcome home since I have a work in it! 19 in your mini skinny

I may squeeze a few things in, in-between…but I’ll post that tomorrow!