Midnight Sun Drinking Buddy by Scott Rogers (whittled wooden objects, twine, antique beer bottles, beer labels, beer, various other objects)

The Glasgow School of Art’s MFA 2012 Degree Show at the Glue Factory is well worth a visit. Be sure not to miss Scott Rogers’s sculpture Midnight Sun Drinking Buddy (image above) – it’s located upstairs on the balcony. At first glance, this sculpture seems full of potential energy. Tentatively approached, awaiting to see it spur into life, it soon becomes apparent that it is not a replica Fischli & Weiss work, rather an homage or slight reference to The Way Things Go. Huge congratulations to Rogers who won this year’s Glasgow Sculpture Studios Award.

Alexi Romanov by Claire Moore (Oil and Wax on Board)

As one of the only painters in this year’s MFA show, Moore’s work certainly stood out. Her use of nostalgia and how the portrayal of the past can be altered are beautifully portrayed in pieces which demand your long attention. References to World War II, the Polish Cavalry Charge of 1939 and Eastern European nostalgia are all explored.

Venus Flytrap by Urara Tsuchiya (performance)

Urara Tsuchiya’s Venus Flytrap performance is (in her words) “an anti-climax, boring performance”. However, the phallic-like costumes are hardly boring. Tsuchiya works with and takes inspiration from the Turner Prize 2012 nominee Spartacus Chetwynd, assisting with costumes. Creator of the Adult Baby Beauty Pageant Toddler’s and Tiaras for Glasgow International 2012, Tsuchiya wants to do more of these pageants so look out and get involved.

Other notable works at this year’s show include:

Studio Works 2011-2012 by Josée Aubin Ouelllette (mixed media)

Chase by Erik Osberg (HD video)

Augmented Reality Experience by Minka Stoyanova
“Designed specifically for the Glasgow School of Art, MFA Degree Show Preview, And Another Thing adds a virtual, gamic layer to the site of the exhibition.”

The MFA Degree Show runs from the 7 – 16 June 2012 at The Glue Factory.
You can find out more about the GSA MFA Degree show here.

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!