The spectator takes over ...

Well 'Searching for the Spectator' turned out to be (as usual with these events) a bit of a mixed bag. However, as the only 'spectator' who'd actually experienced one of the projects discussed (Uncle) Mike Ostler came up trumps ... that man needs a Blog ... I for one would certainly read it!

As usual he downloaded to me more information about new developments in Thurrock than I could have unearthed in hours of Interweb research. He then gave a funny and engaging presentation (after I lined him up with a brief history of how Bata-ville began and showed a film clip of the egg dump by way of an intro to the trip) provoked more questions than any other speaker, and apparently then held forth in the pub! Next time I'm just going to give him the DVD and stay at home ...

I have to confess that our session (presented with the Juneau's and Adam from Grizedale) did feel rather at odds with the rest of the day. I personally failed to see the connection to other more gallery based pieces discussed. It's not that I don't find this work interesting I just think it's attempting a type of engagement so different to the work we were presenting that any comparison seems a rather pointless.

Ironically having listened to people talking about 'art engagement' all day - some of the most limited kind - I went to an amazing theatre production by 'Punchdrunk' that evening. As I experienced a 'one-to-one' with an actress who locked me in a room alone with her and then blindfolded me, I had to laugh as I thought back on the rest of the days engagement!

Posted Wednesday 26th September, 2007 at 12:10 pm by Nina

Bata-ville news ...

This Saturday I'm heading off to Reading with "Uncle Mike" for a Bata-ville outing as part of Searching for the Spectactor: Art for New Publics A One-Day Symposium organised by Artists in the City, and the Department of Fine Art at the University of Reading.

Meanwhile it's all go at the Bata Resource & Reminiscence Centre ...

"The Bata Reminiscence and Resource Centre, based in East Tilbury Library, Essex, has recently made a successful bid to EEDA (The East of England Development Agency) and received a grant to enable a major refurbishment of the Centre and Library which will provide extra space for displays and exhibitions. Since it’s opening in 2002 the Bata Reminiscence and Resource Centre has been so successful collecting hundreds of photographs and many items of memorabilia that it has become impossible to entertain interested groups in the limited space that remained.

Work should be completed by the middle of October 2007."

We can't wait to visit - in the meantime you can find lots of new materials on their great website, or see the article written about East Tilbury on Radio Praha.

Posted Tuesday 18th September, 2007 at 2:24 pm by Nina

Happy Tuesday

This morning I was waiting for my bee buddy to arrive so we could have a look through my hives, when the phone rang - ah, the life of a Northern artist.....
On the line it was Pippa Hale telling me that Nina and me are in the final shortlist of four for the Northern Art Prize, the winner of which is decided via a show at Leeds City Art Gallery in late November.
We're part of a diverse shortlist, so who knows - wish us luck!

Posted Tuesday 11th September, 2007 at 2:51 pm by Karen