Blank Space.

Had a little meeting with Blank Space today, as we hope to hold our little (or not so little) group exhibition here. Its a little building standing alone, and it seems perfect for our group needs: white, clean spaces, little rooms suitable for projections or minimal lighting, not too far from hotspur...

The meeting went well, and the guys who run the building were really interested in our ideas, and really loved our interpretation of 'old school, new school' and how we seemed to be using textiles in a different way...

Its been well recieved that we have initiated this possible takeover of Blank Space, however we have incurred a few technical problems such as funding, being the biggie! More negotiations need to be had so hopefully we can get something sorted, as It would be excellent to have our own mini exhibition. If not good old Hotspur will be there for us!

Good experience for future organising...

T.E things at MOSI.

I went of in search of telephone exchange equipment (the old stuff) at mosi, right in the last building 'Connected Earth' and found an array of very strange looking things, when photographed looked quite scary and alive...

They are all unacceptably bright photos with an odd video-arcade-ish purple glare on a few, BUT it's quite nice to see the detail of some of the older hand operated machines...

Remind me of the botanical collection drawers...

I think this is slightly newer than all the others...

The wires look alive! Could be quite nice to think about more detail,
or maybe its good to have a direct contrast with generic simple more- modern inspired things...

Numero 3: Hanne Darboven

I think I was very lucky to discover (thanks to google) that an exhibition of Hanne Darbovens work was being show at the Camden Arts Centre in London. I have only recently come across her work, but she is someone I find very intriguing as she combines her practices as a pianist and mathematician to record time and her everyday, importantly trying not to create art.

The aesthetic value of her work was what initially drew me in; organised, notes, grids, minimal, thoughful, framed! And I really became interested about her ideas in time and systems and obsessiveness with what she was doing.

Sketchbook things...

A few pages from my exhibition/gallery/ (whatever/wherever) sketchbook featuring things from 'Alice' and the John Rylands library...

John Rylands Library...

A few weeks ago, I went to the John Rylands library... and then I went back! Armed with a sketchbook and phone-ready to take some sneaky pictures.

There was the Annual Book-binding competition in one of the rooms, with lots of lovely book covers made by artists, students and whoever wanted to

These are a few of my favourites, by 'Paul Heany'.

Also lots of old books- bibles, science books, ones illustrating book design...

There was also an installation, 'Kindle' by Nicola Dale, in the map room -Groups of unwanted paper candles, bundled together, placed on the surfaces of the cabinets. It also carried on in another room, little made pieces placed in the old bookcases!

Alice!

Thursday- the day for Alice!

Me and H went to the Alice in Wonderland exhibition at the Tate Liverpool, it was amazing.

I really didn't think it was going to be as good as it was, I don't know what I was expecting- maybe just the original copies of the books, illustrations etc.- but it really was excellent.

The first part was about 'Charles Dodgson', who changed for the pseudonym Lewis Carrol, which I did't even know (and I claimed to love Alice..). I found out he based the story on Alice Liddel. As Dodgson was a keen photographer, there are loads of his photographs of all the Liddel and Hughes sisters which are fascinating; they have a very strange picture quality, and also strange because there are lots of photos of young girls...(apparently, some people believed he had too much interest in Alice especially, but I'm not really sure about that whole issue).

There was also a section with the original Alice in Wonderland manuscript, Dodgson's original illustrations and John Tenniels illustrations, translated copies of the book and all the related merchandise.

Then...all the modern art that has been influenced, in some shape or form, from the story of its ideas; time, age, language etc. Lots of fantastic artists.

Favourites : Dalis 12 illustrations for each chapter, Samantha Sweeting, Kiki Smith.

Mitat Bezalel

Science and Industry Museum (mosi!)

After our tutorials, me and Hannah decided to nip to mosi!

We had a little look at the textile part, where all the old textile machines are...we also found a little display by Jennifer Collier in the corner...

Upstairs we also had a little (well quite a big and rather informative) science lesson, as there was a sciency-history exhibition about scientist that had come from/ been in Manchester for some part of their life, i.e John Dalton and Ernest Rutherford.

Rather Intersting!

Also went to the Whitworth, back to see Dark Matters, and also Airpressures; very good. Go see.

Glass...

Snippets from the glass collection at the Museum. Lots of lovely glassware, such as 'Custard Glasses', 'End of the day glass' and 'Manchester Glass'.

My favourite pieces are the medicine jars, bottles and glasses ,which do remind me of the quirky little specs in the Wellcome Collection...