One of the great frauds in this world is art. Loved by those who believe they belong to the 'educated intelligensia,' but too often appear only to appreciate what they are supposed to apppreciate, and denigrade that which is not popular with the chattering classes. In the end money is what matters. If a creation, for want of a better word, is considered by someone to be worth a few million then it will be considered 'Great Art,' even though a six year old could do better. I could go over all the artworks displayed unknowlingly upside down, or the cleaner who swept away rubbish from the gallery floor only to discover this was a man's 'expression' re society! But I will avoid all those.
It's just that I discovered the 'Turner Prize' is upon us once again.
The annual opportunity for some clever 'artist' to offer an 'artwork' that makes no sense, describes nothing, yet will be lauded all round and leave him with enhanced reputation and £25,000. Yet another example of modern art reflecting a dead culture.'
What a good picture this is. 'The Mornings Catch,' by James Clark Hook, 1877.
This tells us much about the rough lives out forefathers lived. Not just the danger of all night fishing in rough seas, often quite far out to sea, but also the hard work left for the women in the morning. The fish has to be sorted, taken by creel to where customers lay in wait, and hopefully a good deal done, possibly door to door. This on top of whatever house they possessed, possibly rented, stone or hard dirt floor, outside toilet, no running water, several children at that time being sent to school, and normal daily routine had to be followed.
There was of course no pension, no welfare state, and people worked until they dropped, unless they, or a relative got lucky and made a fortune. Fortunes in the 19th century could of course be made and lost within a generation. Limited medicine, no painkillers bar chloroform, smoking, poor diet, though the fisherfolk and farmers could manage reasonably well, and most dead by their 50s.
James Clark Hook 1819 - 1907, became quite famous for his sea pictures. He painted so many they were known as 'Hookscapes.'
I must admit I like sea pictures and this one, the view, the colours and the reflection of life in late Victorian Cornwall (at least many were painted there) appears true to life. Painting however, does not indicate the smell of the fish! In this way we are lucky.
Wandering the streets yesterday I came across this hanging around outside the Institute. I call it 'Institute' though it has not been one of those for many years. Built by the Courtauld's for the sake of artisans seeking encouragement it is now a combination of 'Arts Theatre' and antique shop. Today I noticed, she had gone and had been replaced by a table of unknown price. I have never actually ventured inside, I fear I may buy something, so I canny speak of the quality of goods to be seen. It has been operating for some years now however. At Christmas the hall is made use of by local actors for their pantomime or other theatrical offering. I have not ventured inside to watch those either, though they are usually popular.
Nothing else has happened. It's the weekend so football rules.
In between games last night I noticed the shadow on the wall. This struck me as interesting and as I took a few shots of this and attempted to get the colour right I ended up with what call a 'work of art' and intend to offer this to the Tate Modern and sell for around two or three million.
As this will lead to an exhibition somewhere I am collecting similar but different art works which will gain me fame and fortune, however I need to find a name for such work and an explanation to reveal to the art lovers and their money what I am trying to say through this work. You and I know I am saying "Give me cash!" However art lovers do not think like this so I am suggesting the first one concerns 'how light shines but we do not know what that light hides.' 'The brightness hinders our understanding of what lies behind the wall of glare that blinds us to reality.' The second one s obvious to anyone with eyes that see. 'Calm, peace, serenity in a world of hostile intentions is always possible to one who sees.' I am glad I had that whisky now...
The abstract view is clear here. Obviously this refers to the damage caused to the green earth by man's (never woman's you note no matter how many of their plastic things kill fish) misrule of the world on which he abides. Just a straight million for that one would do.
Even the sky was at it as I trudged home from Sainsburys this morning. High above the flight to Malaga the sky was telling us to always look up as the clouds hide the blue but it is always there! Will you come to my first exhibition, can you teach me how to talk middle class pap...?
Hmmm yes it's that time of year again when history is replaced by textiles. This is not quite true as the Silk Weavers Archive are responsible for this and many folks come from all over to their Textile Day each year. We hold an exhibition during this time and this one features many 'works of art.' Now my opinion of 'works of art' varies from the opinion proffered by 'art lovers' as I live in the real world. To this end I have been told in full and frank exchange of views with the ruling authorities I am not allowed to refer to the 'artworks' as 'Tea towels.'
The ladies who produce this charge in the region of between £60 and £600 for the items on show. I have not noticed any being sold as yet. However I did sell a card made from one of the designs on show (£2:50) and I did think the cards look very good and our customers will appreciate them at that price. Some have writing on them to reveal an artists view of the world, I was banned from adding my opinion to them also, and I began to wonder about the people, all women, who produce such 'works of art' and make money from it. Are these all middle class 'arty' women who see this a s a way to change the world or just a few who reckon they can make money out of this? One or two will be doing workshops but so far only one person appears to have signed up for them (at £25 a go). This goes down well at the archive so it is a surprise so few show interest, maybe they are working on their 'tea towels' 'works of art.'
The wee camera is not that good and does not bring out the colour properly on these 'works of art' however it was all I had and to be honest this one might be improved, or not as the case may be. Textiles, like cards made from the design, appeal to some but not to me, a cloth is ether the one you want or it is not but it is not something to spend much time worrying over. Some women do take a long time over such things however ensuring each design matches other items, not in this house...
With such an exhibition I expected this to be my view all day. However not only did they give me things to do but several people came in for a variety of reasons including viewing the exhibition. This kept me awake. Nothing else happened.
Yes indeed my weeks work is over. 10 in the morning till one is work enogh for me I say. In fact the girls at work made it abundantly clear that such hours were indeed sufficent for them also. I see this as concern for my welfare. The second week of Half Term saw another thousand kids cram into the hall, each paying £2 a go, mums also staying paying only £3 to keep them company. Cheap enough when considered against the prices charged at more commercial ventures. Having stuffed the till with slippy new £5 notes and almost run out of one pound coins, both old ones and some of the shiny new ones, I sat back to drink my tepid tea and found myself confronted with the middle classes coming to see the last week of the art exhibition.
Saturday will be the last chance to see the 'Skinny Dippers' as the show ends and the girls prepare for the textile exhibition that follows. I am not sure I wish to look at knitting, crochet, or textile stuff yself but this is how we survive. The present exhibition has brought in the crowds and at times so will the next one but I longfor a proper HISTORY exhibition!
A glance at the tree opposite the other day saw the wood pigeon settling down on an almost bare branch for the night. Today the same tree is awash with green! Spring takes so long in arriving and suddenly breaks out all over the place. Marvellous! Naturally I have been inside missing it.
Now I have time and if I find energy I must get out and take pictures of something different, I wonder what? Anywhere interesting is stuffed full of kids, anywhere else isn't or is too far off beam and what is left? Hopefully I will find out sometime this week.
As a little experiment I began the day by attempting to video the exhibition. It did not quite work as expected but gives a flavour of what it is all about.
This was not an easy operation as I had some things to do, the man was vacuuming the floor nearby, and worst of all the kettle was nearly boiling so I had to hurry.
The first two cover the main gallery, the next the second gallery space. There was a bit more but surely this is enough for you? OK, if you wish I may add the few seconds of other bits.
This Bardfield Painters thing is bringing folks in. They come from miles around, thee art lovers chase pictures everywhere, and all enjoy both the pictures and the way they have been portrayed. Quite right too she made a good job of the display.
An added joy is the money spent of books, cards and postcards that go along with the exhibition, visiting an art work makes many wish to take a bit of it away with them, so cards it is. All helps keep us afloat.
Like cats not all pictures move.
This is just a taste of the exhibition which kept me busy this morning. People enquiring about the afternoon event, a vintage local film show, were also keeping me from hot tea. However in spite of the pressure in which we were under Peggy and I managed to find time for gossip and other important things...
I woke with a bit of crackling this morning. This has become normal in this house. Daily I awake and the springs in the mattress, a mattress which I confess has seen better days - the relief of Ladysmith was one I believe - a mattress which requires replacing urgently with a real one. The noise as I head for my seven hour coma can be mistaken for one of those avant garde Radio 3 late night shows where 'modern music' is given its head. Heads which many of a musical bent would consider ought to be removed I suggest. Anyway the creaking and groaning, the crackling and crashing of aged springs which could be mistaken for my knees at the moment discouraged me and sent me off, eventually, to my mornings stint at the museum. Having held a book signing last night in which almost two hundred 'arty' people came to call there was a lot of clearing up to do when I arrived. This of course is not unusual, I usually spend the first hour removing that which belongs elsewhere to it's own lodge. Quite why women canny do things in a logical straight forward organised manner beats me. The cleaner agreed with me, clever and very busy man that he is, but I just carried on without one word of complaint as I always do.
There are those who do complain however, my associate who spent the entire day wandering off or grumbling about nothing. Not that I complained when she left me with an hour of the 'Beach Boys' on CD while I wished for Coleman Hawkins, I merely attended to the many visitors coming in to see the art exhibition. In fact many folks are travelling many miles to view these pictures. It made me wonder why? What is it about painting/sketches and the like that makes people seek them out? I like pictures, I am happy to view galleries if what is on show is worth browsing but I doubt I would travel miles for that reason. Art brings in the punters big time, why? Do these folks dabble in art or is it just that they dabble in the art world and all that goes along with it? Is this a middle class seeking a role model or possibly hoping to seek art that justifies their views on life? These folks may have prints of the pictures at home and wish to see more, maybe they lived in the village or area where the artists worked, possibly some are relatives of people shown. However whatever the reason art brings people from miles around just to spend a long time checking out each sketch, painting or book cover design. I still wonder why. Interestingly a question on 'Brain of Britain last week asked about an incident at a famous art gallery. None knew the answer which was that the famous artists famous picture had been hung upside down. Nobody noticed for forty seven days! That speaks volumes for the art world.
On Saturday I popped into the museum for the opening of the exhibition. I was late and missed that, missed the boring speeches, missed the cheap red wine, missed the cakes, so I went home again before I didn't miss the washing up. Today the first thing I did was wash up the left over cups! The thing about art exhibitions is the people that this attracts. Tuesday mornings, especially dreich damp ones, are usually quiet however by not long after ten thirty I had dealt with ten people already! So it continued, art lovers, both local and distant arrived and will continue to arrive in their droves as long as the exhibition lasts. When doing the war memorial it was clear most of the men in the village were agricultural labourers, horsemen or stockmen. It is no wonder that after three or four thousand years of such work the men took the chance to move to Canada or Australia for a better life! What future would there be unless you found an exceptional talent and the opportunity to use it? No doubt that also enabled many to enlist in 1914. Several volunteered and occasionally one or two were already in the army,the temptation of regular pay and the opportunity to see the world too strong for some. In those days the army was a rough place to be but at least there was the chance to be rough in India or China, Africa or some other hot exciting spot. The fact that you might get shot didn't loom high at that moment. In the late twenties when Bawden and Rivellious arrived the village would have been a quiet retreat from the big market town. The small village surrounded by fields would, in the Spring, offer a delightful opportunity for painters to wallow in country living and express this on their canvasses. Quite what the farm labourers really thought as they slugged away at twenty tons of potatoes or turnip while some chap drew sketches of them i cannot say. I know what might have crossed my mind however. We have this exhibition on until April 15th so I expect to be an expert on these men and those who followed them by then. Just listening to the folks this morning was interesting, though few of them bought much from the books and cards we have on offer however! Bah!
To get out of my freezing flat, Esmeralda costs too much when she bothers to ignite, I accepted the offer of filling in for a couple of hours this afternoon at the museum. I wandered down there in temperatures just below freezing with rumours of snow in places irritating me passing frozen noses and many an ungloved hand thrust into not very warm pockets. The time was well spent, I cleaned hundreds of cups left over from the day before and spent some time proof reading labels soon to be attacked to exhibits. The amount of work to ensure an exhibition is put on properly is astounding, mostly I avoid it. There were few changes to be made and when we closed I wandered around gazing at the pictures already in place. Edward Bawden and the many other artists who gathered in the wee villages of Great Bardfield to the north of town in the twenties and thirties onwards are the subject of the exhibition. Based on a book, 'Life in an English Village' we show many of the works and expect a large number of adoring art lovers to visit in the coming weeks.
HMS Glorious, Ravilious
On Saturday we have the official opening and already over fifty people have decided to be there, so will I, probably washing glasses again! The works themselves do look to me as very 40's and 50's as many were done by the artists following on from the originators Bawden and Eric Ravilious. Bawden continued working for some years but Ravilious unfortunately obtained work as a war artist and was sent to Iceland which at that time was an RAF base. Not long after he arrived an air sea rescue mission was launched for a missing plane and he went along on one of the four aircraft searching. Only three of those planes returned, Ravilious and his aircraft were never seen again. The pictures are a bit iffy to me some of them. I saw several very good ones and too many of the type often called 'naive,' I think people who pay large sums of cash for them are naive myself. I must look out my crayons...
A dreich day indeed, wind blowing rain appearing and nothing happening but routine housework - much of which is still undone. However the day was enlightened by the news that a judge has ruled the 'Bedroom Tax' imposed on the poorest as unlawful! How good of him! This pernicious tax, a tax paid by council tenants on each bedroom that is no longer occupied by a family member. It goes without saying the poorest, often aged parents, were the ones hardest hit. Now this disgraceful tax has been dealt a blow and I wonder if those who have paid will get a full refund and those who have been forced into other, often less suitable accommodation will receive compensation. Certainly there is a lawyer somewhere sharpening his pen looking for a client.
Another 'major' story is the one where a headteacher has banned parents from bringing children to school while wearing night attire. It appears this is what 'slummy mummies' do today. Somehow I cannot help feeling that something is wrong when mothers care so little about how they dress that they regularly fail to be dressed when taking kids to school - if indeed the wee brats need a mummy to accompany them by that age. My mother would not have held in high esteem any women so thoughtlessly dressed, indeed she would have considered them in need of care. Naturally in today's world some have arisen offering support claiming a mum has the right to do what she wishes. True, but it is better if she wishes to use her brain and bring her child up properly and not like a lazy slapper, innit?
Andros Townsend has left Tottenham Hotspur to play for Newcastle United. Newcastle have agreed to pay some £12 million for his services and one paper claims the player now increases his salary from £20,000 week to £55,000 a week. Is this a sign of desperation from Newcastle or just realism as whoever they buy will wish for similar amounts?
Claude money spent over ten years painting this mural, an image of his garden and it is a colossal work. It is being put on show at the Royal Academy of Art in London and in my view it is a con. Art is of course a con, almost all art is about making a name for yourself and lining your pockets, you know the type of 'artist' I refer to. Another is putting on show stuff like this while people pander to the 'in crowd' by speaking in hushed tones of the 'light' the 'handicraft' or the quality of the art. Total cobblers! Someone somewhere wishes to pay several billion for this and store it in his house and boast to his friends that he owns it, Putin probably, and jealous friends will gather round to view the painting in secret and be part of the 'in crowd.' Me, I think it boring and a dull background in a large hall but nothing special. People however will queue for hours to spend vast sums staring at this. Bah!
During the past couple of weeks I have begun to relieve around 20-30 spam a day from clearly one crook. He uses several names as addresses and changes them almost daily. Among the names are @cisco.com, @excellentcalls.net, @life.net, @claims.co.uk, @SYNTAX_ERROR and around thirty others. Some contain my first name, others offer the usual trash. This sort of thing happens now and again and I suspect it is the same people responsible from times past. No idea what they are after, I doubt anything they sell is genuine, and I have not clicked on them to see what they offer. However it is annoying to get so many constantly from the same crowd of crooks. Sending millions of these worldwide is fine if people respond but how many actually do respond? I suppose someone somewhere does or they would not bother. Surely folks would realise they are chancers? I came upon this piece by a spammer telling folks how to grab the unwary's attention. Sugar This may be someone selling legitimate items unlike my visitors but non the less I could do without so many at one time. These are easily deleted by the system but it does annoy having to link each name.
As you may be aware my opinion on 'art' and much of what is offered as 'art' is far from what can be called appreciative. Similarly the enormous time squandered on 'wimmen' when it is not required can cause some a reaction however the Edinburgh Evening News, a rag that died many years ago has informed those still bothering to read it about an exhibition of wimmin artists at the National Galleries of Scotland. Now I do like portraits and this one caught my eye. It is by one Dorothy Johnstone and this, and indeed many of her other pictures, are well worth a look. One or two of the other girls mentioned look quite interesting also but some are clearly mental, like so many other 'artists!' So much did I appreciate this that if I lived in the capital city I would pop along and see this for myself, even paying at the door if required. Some of these girls did have a fair bit of talent and this must be worth seeing.
Gregorian chant is a delightful sound in the background. So many choices, often of professionally made albums not by monks, spoil the selection but this one is genuine enough. Played in the background it can ease the pressures of the day - or drive you up the wall!
Jeremy Hunt
One reason to play light relaxing sounds comes from the election propaganda shoved down our throats by the media. Lies, promises, bribes continually fill the press and some are fooled into believing what these self seeking liars say. I am not! Today we read in the Sunday Telegraph the minister responsible for the NHS claiming he is bringing in reforms to end the deaths caused in the NHS by mistakes, poor care and incompetence, deaths he numbered at around 12,00 a year.
Twelve thousand! !2, 000 deaths and not one prosecution? 'Something must be done' is his cry, while blaming the previous Labour government (who have been out of office for Five years!) and not acknowledging his governments failed 'top down' changes which are responsible for so much of the mess in the NHS. He also forgot the privatisation (and he has shares in US private companies he wishes to use in the NHS) which his party's ideology favours.
Let's go back to this, 12,000 deaths caused by mistakes and incompetence and nothing is done as it is all hushed up by the powers that be? I worked in the NHS some time back and am aware mistakes occur daily, overwork causes this, and nobody can be perfect. I am also aware things are hushed up, sometimes to save a doctors reputation, mostly to save the NHS paying out any compensation. Cover ups come not from staff so much as office dwellers who care nothing for anyone bar themselves! Why have no charges been brought by police to those responsible? Why no investigations? If so many are dying why are the police not bringing charges?
No charges will be brought, this is merely another PR stunt by the caring Conservative Party who promise so much, easy promises are their main PR, and nothing will happen except a few cosmetic changes while the girls (and it's mostly girls) running the NHS line their pockets, pass the buck and patients suffer.
This bright but badly drawn painting by Paul Gaugin has been sold to a museum in Qatar for £197 million ($300). It is believed they also bought a Cezanne for £158 recently. If this shows anything it reveals the depth of stupidity and corruption in the art world. It reveals how arrogance and pride dent the thinking abilities of the human mind. Now 'art' has its place. It can be useful, decorative and decent art is worth a reward. However much of what passes for 'art' is not art, it is just selling to stupid people with too much money and a sponge where their brain should be.
The painting shown is one of many the artist offered while sunbathing in the Pacific, each one rather naive and usually of half naked women. He could at least have drawn them properly! However there exists those who consider art worth having, some because they like it, some because they must have what is important as this gives value to their empty lives and some because they have too much money and too little taste.
Art is merely what you like. Sure some is better than others, talented artists abound, but in the end it either 'speaks to you' or it doesn't. Most of what is art today reflects a dead culture but many admire it as it is where they are sadly to be found, but they do not realise this yet. The Damien Hurts of this world are not artists as such even if talented, these are people who have realsied that getting a famous name makes you rich, the art that follows can be meaningless but they know it will sell.
Francis Bacon was clearly mental yet people pay millions for the results of his damaged brain, Edward Munch could not draw yet the 'Scream' was sold for £74 million and Jackson Pollock did not even bother pretending to draw, just squiggles on the floor made his name.
Why pride should require an outlet in overpriced art fails me, if only it would spend its money on something worth looking at, there is plenty around.
Some are quite pleased that this exhibition is one put on by the lassies of E.A.S.T. These girls offer high quality arty embroidery, if that is the right word. This show concerns the Great War and features their reactions to what they have investigated regarding the war.
It is I must say a very high standard, these are not amateur operators. This exhibition has been shown in several places and is touring the world, quite rightly too. Pictures, items such as the one shown, books and larger artworks complete the display.
One of the poppies that were planted in the moat around the Tower of London forms part of the show.
Some copy the style of the period and these represent the type of souvenirs sent home by soldiers based in France and Flanders. These are somewhat bigger than the postcards sent by the troops however and several find a place on the walls.
Of course I don't always know what exactly the works represent, like this one for instance!
On sale we have items made by the artists, several little boxes such as this one, postcards, gift cards of various sorts and these will sell very well, in spite of the prices!
Close inspection reveals the words on these items. Some make for very interesting reading.
I particularly like the medicine box complete with bandages, medical equipment and rats!
Appreciation of art is a wonderful thing, if you can find art worth appreciating of course. This lot clearly didn't and possibly will produce an essay lacking in the finer understanding of Dutch art. Not that this matters unless you are going to get involved therein I suppose, and this lot would probably not get beyond one of those Australian soap operas that dominate the telly in soft minded households. They might find it ironic that a double decker bus on 'rail replacement service' decided to crash into a railway bridge. Good job the bus was still empty and the rail line not in use as folks were going to use a bus instead. Sadly drivers unused to a route sometimes forget they were in double deckers, possibly they are more often driving that route in single deck buses, but occasionally this kind of accident happens. More often lorry drivers hit the bridge ignoring height restrictions and just run off rather than stopping! That too happened the other day. Also quite interesting was the 'Immigration Judge' who demanded a woman named Patel was brought to court so he could finish the case (an abusive boyfriend) that afternoon. As her whereabouts were unknown it was said it would be difficult, indeed she might not get time off work. The judge commented “It won’t be a problem. She won’t be working anywhere important where she can’t get the time off. She’ll only be working in a shop or an off-licence.”
Oops, a small slip which has cost him his £150,000 a year job. Oh yes and being grumpy is good for you! 'Grumpy Cat,' or at least the owner, is supposed to have made around £64 million out of the miserable creature. If being grumpy does this how come I'm still poor....?
The museum is holding an art exhibition, paintings, drawings, and 'dolls,' run by the council as part of a community art thingy. Personally art may be OK in its right place but a museum is for history, not art I say. There again it is all part of being a 'community,' that meaningless word. Why can't they say 'town?' However I notice the opinion of the esteemed viewer appears to be an exhibition of a very high standard, several visitors have remarked so. Many have already been sold and gratified artists will be collecting their cash at the end of the display. One individual, I did not catch the name, has created these dolls, which have attracted notice. There are several on display but not being a doll collector I am not sure what you may think of them. I cannot recall if any have sold as I forgot to look, they are however interesting and remind me of one of my nieces in that she looks like them! I have just found a name, 'Fantasia Textiles.' This may be the work of more than one individual, although they do have a similarity don't they? Difficult to photograph through the glass case however.
No doubt the artist would not refer to her 'work' as 'dolls,' but I am a simple individual and like to keep life that way. None of the many visitors today mentioned these as they left, and I always seek their opinion if possible. One was delighted to see her excellent drawings of flowers had been sold (£15 was cheap for two examples of her talent I thought) and one not so happy as she collected her 'failed effort.' Her entry was rejected by the judges which was a shame.
It was a delightful warm day again and this I think brought people out of doors and straight into the museum. Some even bought things, quite a lot of money came from a very happy couple from Brisbane, wherever that is! One nice lady gave me info on her Great War relations and another fellow may well provide more in the days to come if his gran can remember the details. While I scribble this I ought to be writing these folks up so I am off to do that now while you talk among yourselves.
