Category: Uncategorized (Page 10 of 20)

Being told I had macular degeneration in both eyes, on top of the developing cataract in the right one, had an effect on me. Coming after the health issues of the last few years it made me a little glum, I’m not one to dwell on the negative aspects of life, you have to get on with what life throws at you, but none the less it did knock me back a little bit more than I realised.

I felt a bit better on meting an old friend, he complained that I had not updated the web-site with my latest work. I said my eyes were getting tired and told him about the macular degeneration diagnosis, at which point he pulled out his dark glasses and said “same here”. Now strangely that made me feel better. I wasn’t glad that he had that diagnosis, far from it, I think it made me feel less alone, a bit less got at, that life was not just picking on me. It also made me realise I had not updated my website as I had promised myself. Which is a bit urgent as my only visitor has macular degeneration.

The last things I exhibited were a large mobile, 4m in diameter, called “boldly going, travels with my pale blue dot” and a lino-cut, “feed the cars”. These were in the “Science” exhibition at Pictorem. “Feed the cars” commemorates that we now grow more to turn into diesel than to feed people, and “boldly going” reflects on the quest that humans have always made to explore new lands, taking with them their culture. “As Lenin said…” was exhibited at the Mill, a celebration of electricity and its liberating effects for the show “Transform”.

The mobile will reappear in Mile End during February it its final form. You can also see several of my mobiles hanging from the ceiling of Inky-Cuttlefish, in Gnome House, Blackhorse Lane, E17 6DS, where you can also buy some of my prints.

Of late I have been thinking about insects, large insects, butterflies, flies, spiders and praying mantis, but more of that later.

one end of boldly going

the other end of boldly going

feed the cars

as lenin said

Well this has taken a while. I thought the recovery from my cancer was going well until;

…after a few random symptoms they called me in for a brain scan. This didn’t make me feel to good. But none the less we are still here, and the the result was OK. It turned out my thyroid way not performing well, I was over medicated with pain killers and the cancer triggered macular degeneration, more of which later as there is no cure.

So anyway after a false start I’m back to work. Which for me meant doing some work then worrying about the website later, so now its time to worry about the website. From now on the blog will be kept up to date on a weekly basis and the so will the other content, allowing for the backlog to be got through first.

I had a very illuminating Art Trail this year. Fearing for the future I put up a mini “Grappling with Gropius” exhibition, mainly to get feed back, but also worrying that it is taking me far too long to get the show together. I enjoyed it, but I was a bit flabbergasted how many people had not heard of the Bauhaus, what on earth do they teach at art school nowadays! Still the feed back was useful.

I’ve also been working at Inky Cuttlefish at least one day a week. This has helped me get on with some work that I stopped mid-cut in late 2011. Age shall not weary him but it dose rather harden the lino and the use of Annas’ hot plate softened the lino enabling me to cut the bloody stuff, and use up some ancient stocks of it. That all said I really don’t have the stamina I used to have so my work output is reduced, hopefully the quality will improve, ha ha ha.

Well I’m glad thats off my chest. init.