http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 Creative inclusions Tue, 14 Feb 2012 18:48:18 +0000 a-n rss generator a-n The Artists Information Company and contributors edit@a-n.co.uk technical@a-n.co.uk http://www.a-n.co.uk/img/logo.gif http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376   The aim of this funding is to facilitate a successful realisation of a research period, building partnerships, and the development of new productions. It will cover my time – one day per week for a year - to focus on my practice, it will enable the flourishing achievement of new potential projects and will give me the opportunity to network to further develop and make new contacts for future exhibitions and the development of my career as an artist in the UK and abroad.  I received the grant before Christmas and the first few weeks of the start of this project have been very exciting. As part of this grant I have allocated mentoring funding and I have been researching into potential mentors. I organised meetings with the Director and the Curator at the Towner Gallery and had discussions with the Director at ArtSway, and with they help I have contacted and arranged meetings with potential mentors. Last Monday I had my initial meeting with the mentor just to see if it would work and test the grounds. The meeting went brilliantly and now I am working on some thoughts and ideas to bring forward for the next meeting.  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 There have been few very busy weeks.   I was shortlisted and attended an interview in Bristol for permanent commission at St Bede’s Catholic College. Last Tuesday I had my first meeting and a site visit with the arts consultant shown around by the main architect. We also attended the design meeting and met members of the team that I will be working with. I also met some of the teachers and employs from the college and we booked my next days of research visits.   On Thursday evening I attended the Spitalfields Sculpture Prize announcement. I was one of the eight shortlisted artists to be commission for the prize to create permanent piece for Bishops Square. It was an interesting process where the public was also allowed to vote and they vote would counted as one am not sure how much this made the difference in the decision making! I kind of hoped that commissioning ways could perhaps change and that slightly more challenging and exciting works could take place. But I was wrong the traditional way won again….. The prize was given to Kenny Hunter, and the sculpture is a Goat on top of a stacking crates. Congratulations.   This turned into a long night and next morning I had to catch an early flight to Thessalonica, where I was met by my family and after spending nice day around this great city we drove back home to Macedonia.   On Friday the 19th of February there will be a closing down party at the Swiss Embassy in Skopje and I have to de-install my exhibition.  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376   I will write this retrospectively of time:   I initiated a meeting with the University of Brighton and met with Matthew Cornford and Peter Seddon some time in February. We discussed my R&D project talked about how I could get involved with the University and how the University could help with some aspects of the project. We agreed to hold an open discussion event at the Univeristy where Matthew Cornford and myself could have an open dialogue led by Peter Seddon on the 17th of March – St Patrick’s Day. Unfortunately the event is still to be rescheduled and I have been told this will happen after Easter? I should send a second email reminder to see how/when we would do this event!  Sarah Collicott from InSite Arts (http://www.insitearts.com/) approached me regarding a commission for Southgate Project in Bath. InSite Arts Ltd is an independent specialist visual art consultancy with specialism in public art commissioning, based in London and the Midlands. I was entered strait into a shortlist of four and have been given the opportunity to develop a proposal. You can see Virtual Tour of the shopping here: http://www.southgatebath.com/about-us/virtual-tour...  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 The commission at St Bede’s College in Bristol started with a four-day workshop with the students and discussion with the staff at the College. At the same time in the four days I looked around Laurence Weston, visited the Blaise Castle House Museum and grounds and the local Library. I had a meeting with the architect and a second visit of the new school site where the work will be placed. The architect introduced me to a friend of his who use to go to the same school and through a lunch all together talked about Terries memory of what the school use to be like and how much is changed…. It was a very pleasant afternoon. On my way back from Bristol I when to the New Forest where we had a meeting at Longdown Estate Office regarding a project called ArtChitecture. ‘Artchitecture’ is a project initiated by the Solent Centre for Architecture and Design in partnership with ArtSway (contemporary visual arts organization in the New Forest) to bring together architects, artists and engineers to collaborate on exploring new models for rural architecture, through a series of temporary buildings in the New Forest National Park. The buildings will be a resource for interaction and debate on issues of sustainability, recycling, energy conservation and rural development. Artists’ use of the buildings will be the catalyst for this debate. The artist will work as part of the team in developing the design and will subsequently use the space as a ‘studio’ to produce new work. The artist will effectively be testing the building as work space but will be expected to produce art work that responds in some way to the nature of the building and the unique environment of the New Forest. During the period the artist is in residence there will be a range of events that will involve audiences in debate and discussion around not only the work being undertaken but the building itself and the sustainable development issues raised by it.” 12 people (including Phil from Solent and Mark from Artsway) were invited to an initial workshop meeting to brainstorm ideas and ways forward. Very quickly we where separated into three groups, artists, architects and engineers. My group consist of Myself, Paul Bulkeley, architect from Snag Projects and Trevor Thickett an engineer from We are now on our Stage 2 to taking the project to RIBA stage D (Planning Application) which is to be done by June 2010. Stage 3 will be the construction, from September 2010 and occupation of the buildings and programming from Summer 2011. The meeting in the Forest was to show and discuss initial concepts of design to all other groups, members from the Forestry commission, planners and other stakeholders.  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376   As part of Brighton Festival we are having an open studio at Apec over two weekends, 15-16th and 22-23rd of May from 12.00-5.00 pm. I am hoping that there will be interested visitors who will come and discuss the development of this R&D project and have the opportunity to engage with my work.  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 6-7 April 2010 Some time in March I was given a beautiful Kingfisher by Lucy Strachan. She found the little fellow on the grounds walking through the forest.   Because of its beauty and being so small I was very worried to preserve the Kingfisher. So, through the internet, I contacted David Leggett at Wild Art to ask if he would train me how to taxidermy this beautiful bird. So we had two intense days of working together. David very patiently and methodically explained everything that I need to know of how to operate a bird. And I can say I succeeded I learned how to taxidermy and now I have a beautiful in-flight Kingfisher in my studio.  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 21 April Day of presentation of my initial proposal to St Bede’s College staff, Skanska staff, Batterham Matthews architect and Art and Sacred Places. Everyone loved the proposal and my design and I was given the go ahead to proceed to the next stage. The next stage is the design of the 3D model of the staircase and the artwork.  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 6 May I had my interview for the Southgate commission in Bath. I worked very hard to achieve the design I had imagined for this project. I gave them a concept that could be done in different materials. I worked with two different companies to be able to achieve the costing and the different production of the work. After two weeks of intense waiting and not knowing which way this will go, I was told that the board of members really like my design and they would like to see me again. They have some questions in regards to maintenance and slight concerns of pigeons nesting within the work.  I am now one of the two artists who’s been asked to give a second presentation. The next meeting is to be held on the 1st of July.  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 11 May I met with Verity Slater to discuss and follow up on how my R&D is going. Verity was so helpful as always and gave me the support. We discussed what I have done so far and the next stage of my project. Verity advised me on possibility artist and other professionals that I should contact to engage and help with my project.  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 14 May I have been searching and looking to create contacts with different Roma communities on the South East Coast. Through recommendation by Daniel Baker I contacted Camilla Palestra at the London College of Fashion and Prof. Thomas A. Acton at the University of Greenwich. Camilla worked on a very interesting project called ‘Mapping the Invisible EU Roma Gypsies’. http://blackdogonline.com/all-books/mapping-the-invisible.html Myself and Camilla had a very productive meeting at her office in London where she explain the history of the Mapping the Invisible project, that she worked on together with Lucy Orta, how the project was established and all the different groups involved in the project. She gave me a copy of the book, which is amazing. I then explained what I am planning to do through my R&D project, the research work that myself and Dr Fiona Dean started in Macedonia last year (http://www.rhiz.eu/artefact-36839-en.html) and how I am now looking for Roma communities to work with in this Country. She recommended contacts that I am following up at the moment.  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 14 May On the same day I met another artist, recommended by Prof. Thomas Acton, Eva Sajovic originally from Slovenia but living and working in the UK for many years now. Eva is a photographer and curator and has worked on many projects with Roma communities. At present she has various exhibitions as part of the Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month. She has also curated an exhibition, that opened yesterday at The Arts Pavilion in Mile End, as part of The Holocaust Against The Roma and Sinti and Present Day Racism in Europe. http://www.grthm.co.uk/index.php  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 17th of May Creative Conditions: Mapping Artist Resources in the South East. Towner Gallery, Eastbourne. I was invited as AIR representative to take part in a conference at the Towner Art Gallery in Eastbourne. ‘Creative Conditions’ was initiated by Turning Point South East (TPSE), a consortium of organizations and individuals in South East England which is developing and implementing, in partnership with Arts Council England, a regional plan for the visual arts. The event aims was to foster an informal space for consultation and discussion, exploring the current landscape of artists' support and resources in the region. It was to encourage a wide range of perspectives and contributions from visual artists, arts organisations and support agencies to fully explore where we are now and how we influence future initiatives.  There were 3 panels of invited speakers: Panel 1: Chaired by: Stephen Foster, John Hansard Gallery Gilane Tawadros, DACS Jonathan Parsons, ARC and Medway In Sights programme Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva, AiR representative   Panel 2: Chaired by: Matthew Rowe Mark Segal, ArtSway Associates Emilia Telese, working with Fabrica / ArtSway and NAN Kevin Wilson, Artpoint   Panel 3: Chaired by: Tim Eastop CCI Donna Lynas, Wysing Arts and Escalator programme Julie Freeman, Method Artist , CLP programme Stephen Beddoe, ArtQuest   These was a very productive day with an interesting mix of 50 invited professionals, including artist, curators, directors of publicly funded organisation, Arts Officers from Council Authorities from the South East region.  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 19th of May ArtSway Associates meeting with DACS The majority of the meeting was centred around a discussion on the potential of a partnership between ArtSway, the ArtSway Associates and DACS, and the potential for a digital platform for the distribution of artworks by artists directly to the public.   ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 24th of May Organised by friends of le Monde Diplomatique, At The Gallery, in Farringdon, London I went to a film event ‘Mundi Romani: the World of the Roma’ As a people and as a culture, the Roma have been and continue to be misrepresented, mythologized, stereotyped, and scapegoated. There are at least 12 million Roma scattered throughout the world, yet despite being Europe's largest minority, the Roma have been voiceless for centuries. This evening's two films, Lashi Vita (the good life) and Paradise Lost: the Roma Pavilion at the 52nd Venice Biennale, explain the nature of contemporary anti-Gypsy attitudes, and illustrate the resilience of the Roma people in the face of persecution. Film maker and director Katalin Barsony the co-producer of this documentary series by Duna Television Hungary and the  Romedia Foundation , and the International Editor of  Mundi Romani , Marion Kurucz will join us for the Q&A, together with Dr Nidhi Trehan whose new book  Romani Politics in Contemporary Europe  (edited with Nando Sigona) was published by Palgrave Macmillan last year.  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 25th of May I got onto the Eurostar and when to Paris for 5 days. I have been invited for a long time now to visit a school friend Vane, who is a diplomat at the Embassy of Macedonia in Paris. I when with the intention to visit Galleries and create possible contacts, also myself and Vane have been discussing the possibility of using the Embassy space, which is a very old and beautiful building, as an exhibition space. In spite of the weather I had an amazing time, I love Paris anyway is such an amazing city with so much to see and do, you never get bored! I visited many interesting galleries, especially I liked the area of Marais in the 3e Arrondissement. I was very impressed by Palace de Tokyo http://www.palaisdetokyo.com/fo3/low/programme/ and the Le Plateau, Frac ile-de-France http://www.fracidf-leplateau.com/en/index.html The last night in Paris I met an artist Lena Andonova, friend of Vane’s. Lena is a very nice young artist who is living and working in Paris, originally comes form Macedonia from Negotino which is 10km from my birth town Kavadarci. She is also working part time at the Palaise de Tokyo. All three of us when to an opening at L’equipe de la Galerie, which is only few kilometers outside Paris, a very interesting publicly funded gallery that works closely with Palace de Tokyo. Here we met another artist that Lena collaborates with Stephani Hab.    ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 30-31 May It has been a year exactly and I when back to Gloucester to visit the Cathedral and the plantation in the Garth. I was pleasantly surprised to see how much the project has grown, all the trees and plants are doing so well. I am planning, now that I will be working in Bristol for the next few weeks, to visit again and tide up the plants, they could really do with a little trim.  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 1st of June   I attended the launch of Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month 2010 at the Arts Pavilion Gallery, Mile End Arts Park, London and so the exhibition “The Holocaust against the Roma Sinti and Present Day Racism in Europe,” which has been brought to London specially for GRTHM this year. Here is a short introduction to the exhibition and to the Roma and Sinti “Roma and Sinti have been living in Europe for centuries. They form old-established and historically deep-rooted ethnic minorities in the individual countries. The way of life of the Roma and Sinti in their native countries is totally different from the popular ideas and clichés about "gypsies". The Holocaust against the Roma and Sinti represents a fundamental break with history, as the ethnic minority had been integrated into the society of the majority for centuries. On the basis of the National Socialist racial ideology, Roma and Sinti were gradually deprived of their rights, their basis for the provision of their families and finally deported to the death camps. The objective of the policy of mass murder organised by the National Socialist state was the extermination of the ethnic minority from its youngest to its oldest members. Hundreds of thousands of Roma and Sinti fell victim to the Holocaust in Nazi-occupied Europe - a crime which is unique in history and which is still unimaginable in its extent. The experience of the Holocaust has etched itself deeply into the collective remembrance of the Roma and Sinti minorities. The majority of the populations in their respective homelands, however, has no awareness of the dimension of this crime. To this day it has been banished from the public remembrance of the European nations. Failure to initiate an extensive historical assessment have, therefore, enabled the Nazi's propaganda's preconceptions about the minority to linger on, virtually unaltered, in its virulence. The prejudicial structures, which still define the image of the Roma and Sinti today, have been significantly influenced by the inhuman racial ideology of the National Socialists and their fascist allies. The exhibition strives to make the historical roots of present day racism against the Roma and Sinti visible.” … from the press release.  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 2nd of June I had a meeting with Liz Whitehead from Fabrica Gallery in Brighton to discuss my R&D project and to see if there are any particular contacts that Liz could recommend for me to contact in the South East. We talked in great lengths of how the project is going what I should do next and the different approaches that I could take. Liz was very helpful, she knows my work and me very well and she was able to see and identify particular areas for me to consider, she was also able to place the work in a specific way that I didn’t think about. She advised me to contact few individuals that may be able to help with advice or get involved in the project.    ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 I attended a seminar at the University of Greenwich. Persecution and Genocide: The triggers of Romani History? Was organised by The Greenwich Traveller Education Service in conjunction with the University of Greenwich for Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month. Speakers Romani Rose, Chairman of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma “Telling the German Public about the Holocaust against the Sinti and Roma” Janna Eliot,  translator of Settala , and the author of Settela's Last Road, based on it, “The face of the victims” Dr Brian Belton, YMCA George Williams College: “Earlier persecutions of Gypsies/Travellers in England and their legacy today.” Valdemar Kalinin, Camden, Hammersmith and Fulham Education services:  “The Soviet Romani contribution to the defeat of Nazi Germany”. Dr Ethel Brooks, Rutgers University:  “The uses and meaning of testimony on genocide, reflecting on material from the Shoah visual Archive” Gabor Boros of the Boros Ensemble: “The links between the nineteenth century Magyar appropriation of Romani music and Hungarian anti-Gypsyism today” Damien LeBas jr. of Travellers Times:  “Did it all change?  Reflections on the new Romani historiography.”   And to wrap the day there was an opening at the Stephen Lawrence Gallery in the University of Greenwich The Otto Pankok Sinti Exhibition, Curated by Moritz Pankok The Context of the Seminar “The new Gypsy/Roma/Sinte/Traveller politics of the second half of the 20th century is often attributed to the realization that the Nazi Holocaust showed that old survival strategies no longer worked. This took a while to seep through. At first people just wanted to forget, then the terrible necessity of remembering became evident.  As with the Jews, the testimony of survivors began to be recorded, provoked partly by the beginnings of holocaust denial and historical revisionism, some of it from unlikely quarters. But while some Jewish scholars sought competitively to minimise Romani suffering, others, such as Miriam Novitch and Donald Kenrick were pioneers in documenting the Porraimos.   Putting the Romani holocaust into historical context, however, required a much more general critique of the accepted story of the Roma. For the Nazi holocaust was hardly the first genocide of Gypsies. Attention turned to the genocidal persecution of Gypsies/Roma/Travellers in the 16th century, as Europe’s nation states were being born, and the historical aftermath of marginalisation and slavery, which equally had to be acknowledged with pain. Mateo Maximoff, himself interned in a Vichy concentration camp, was the first Rom to write about the Nazi holocaust after 1945. During his life as a writer he moved from early denial of his family’s slave past to making it the subject of one of his most important novels Le Prix de la Liberté. The qualitative difference between genocide, and mere persecution and marginalisation began to emerge. A different set of questions were posed about origins were posed in our 2008 seminar.  A revised general narrative of the last 500 years of Romani history saw existing Gypsy/Romani/Traveller group identities as beginning to take their modern form  through the survival strategies in different countries after the 16th century genocides, and then being thrown into the melting-pot by the 20th century genocides – which are not yet concluded,  as we hear of the UN’s ongoing complicity in the slow poisoning of Roma in the concentration camps at Mitrovica, and listen to the ranting of Italian fascists in government again. And yet we balk at a Romani history which will define Gypsies/Roma/Sinte/Travellers just by their victimisation.   But although it may be the experience of racism, anti-Black, anti-Jewish, anti-Gypsy, which brings those groups together politically, racism, cannot be allowed to define them. Like Black History Month, Gypsy/Roma/Traveller Month seeks to bring together the diverse experience and cultural achievements of different groups. Through real, critical history we can dispel the “mystery” of the past, and by looking at its historical roots deconstruct contemporary racism, and put another narrative of community relations in its place. “ Thomas Acton  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 10 June   I met again with Verity S. to follow up and discuss the next steps of my project and also to discuss the possibility of longer term working together. I contacted Jane Fordham and arranged to visit Chesworth Arts Farm, in Horsham, which is an artist run not for Profit Company.  http://www.artsagri.com Chesworth Arts Farm is an amazing space set within a beautiful countryside although it is in Horsham feels like you are in the middle of nowhere. I met with Jane to discuss the possibility of me using the space as a studio for two to three days per week for the year starting in September. Jane was very accommodating and offered the space at particular rate so I could still afford to keep my studio in Brighton. The reason for looking at additional space is that I have been asked to participate in a group exhibition called Compulsive, Obsessive Repetition at the Towner Gallery in Eastbourne. The exhibition is curated by Sanna Moore and is planed to open in July 2011, with the idea of touring to four different venues around the country. My proposal for this exhibition is to create multiple tile-like pieces made out of fish skins that will cover the entire wall of the gallery - it will create an anusual pattern. My exciting studio is not suitable to do this kind of work, is not big enough and I don’t have a sink and I am sure it wont be long before someone complains about the smell in the space and corridors! I have decided to look for an alternative space where I can do the processes of cleaning and preserving of the skins and have large enough space to test and create the work.  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 11 June   I had a meeting with Paul Bulkeley, architect from Snug Projects we are working together on the ArtChitecture project in the New Forest. Paul came to visit my studio for a first time to see and get an idea of how I am working and to have a better understanding of what my requirements are for a studio space. We discussed how we can approach the exhibition that opens on the 26th of June at ArtSway and made plan of action of how to best exhibit the work in progress.   Saturday 26 June - Sunday 27 June 2010 Presentation and Discussion: Saturday 26 June 2010 at 2pm Three teams comprising an artist, architect and engineer have been collaborating to develop proposals for temporary live/work studio spaces at three sites in the New Forest. The project will offer opportunities for debate on sustainable development and contemporary art in the rural environment. The exhibition offers an opportunity to see the work to date, hear the teams talk about their proposals and join in a discussion around the issues raised. Project Teams: The artists involved all have experience and understanding of working in sensitive environments, the architects and engineers are all locally based practices with a commitment to sustainable design.   •Artist: Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva *Artist: Hywel Davies  •Artist: Stephen Turner •Architect: Paul Bulkeley  *Engineer: Nick Gradidge •Engineer: Michael Dorgan •Engineer: Trevor Thickett *Architect: Carl Leroy-Smith •Architect: Graham Perring   For more information please contact Phil Smith at Solent Centre for Architecture + Design Ltd: telephone: +44 (0)23 8028 3053 or email: phil@solentcentre.org.uk   ArtSway Station Road, Sway, Hampshire, SO41 6BA T: +44 (0)1590 682260  E: mail@artsway.org.uk  W: www.artsway.org.uk ArtSway is open: Tuesday - Sunday 11am - 5pm  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 12-13th of June   I love the kung fu camp, happens once a year and it is very hard work but there is so much going on and so much to take in and learn that the days go very fast. In the evening we stay until early hours and play games and have fun, an incredible weekend of White Crane Martial Arts in Shoreham.  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 14th of June   It was my first day on site and the beginning of my commission in the new building at St Bede’s Catholic college in Bristol. I met with the depute head Patrick McDermott and the ABC Scaffolding at the reception of the old school. The staircase of the new building was handed over to the school this morning, which meant that I could start with my work. We walk over to the staircase with the scaffolder Colin to finalise the scaffolding which was installed the following day.  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 15th of June   9am I met the scaffolders in the induction room of the Skanska office and after a brief induction we were able to start on site. The scaffolding was up in 3 hours and I was able to start with my work. Firstly I covered and protected all the hand railings incase of damage and collected an overhead projector from the school.   I began with setting up the tree proportions and drawing onto the wall and ceilings. This wasn’t an easy task as the light in the staircase was to bright and you could hardly see the projected image, also the staircase space was not wide enough to achieve the required angle and the positioning of the projector. I decide it to wait until it got darker and tried to black out the windows using black sheeting found on site, which I believe is used for roofing protection… after hours of playing around with the perspective of positioning the image on the walls and ceiling I decide it to scrap the projector and continue by hand. I left site at 10.30pm that evening.    ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 16th of June   Second day of drawing on site and again very long hours but with success I finished the drawing and now the walls are ready for the relief stucco modeling on Monday. It was very tricky to get the drawing on the windows done as this had to be very accurate. The drawings and the glass are being send to an etching company so if there is any mistakes this will show and it will be very costly.  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 18th   I got the window drawings back to my studio and worked on the detail and the final design.   I contacted the V&A museum, the costume and textile department to discuss the donation of my Gunna dress (the chicken skin dress) for they collection. The dress was created at the Gloucester Cathedral last year and performed by Mitra Memarzia as part of my final exhibition Motectum.  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 20 th June Meeting with Adam Chodzko in Whitstable.   21th of July Meeting with Simon Evans in West Peckham, Kent, to discuss a possibility of collaboration on the Romany project. The afternoon when very well and there was a mutual interest of working together. We are meeting again beginning of September and we are going to visit some potential groups to work together.    ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 3rd of August   Back at St Bede’s. Matthew O’Donovan and myself finished the stuccowork in July and this was left to dry for few weeks. Now I am back and together with Teresa Llewellyn working on the painting and finally gilding the work with 23.5ct gold leaf. The work is really starting to take its shape and looks amazing.   The windows are being etched and delivered back on site and hopefully installed on Wednesday or Thursday morning. We have one more week to finish the work. The scaffolding is being taken down on Friday the 27th in the afternoon.  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 6th of August   I had my second interview for the Southgate Project in Bath and I am so happy to say that I have won the project.   This will be an amazing opportunity and really looking forward to working with all the different professionals involved with the Southgate project and Sarah Collicott, the Arts consultant from Insite Arts.  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 9th of August   Artsway Associates meeting with Paul Hobson from CAS at Artsway in the New forest.   Paul Hobson covered  (a) Strategies related to developing public collections of contemporary art - challenges facing public collections, approaches to acquisitions, the work of CAS in this area   (b) Things artists need to know about the commercial market, things to think about in developing a relationship with the commercial market and how to develop relationships with private collectors.   (c) How endorsement is formed in relation to the commercial market, promotional and selling strategies for artists/organisations like ArtSway   This was a very, very productive and interesting afternoon.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 11 October I had my final meeting and sign of day for the project in Bristol at St Bede’s School. The commission was finished on the 27th of August but there were final snaggings of the staircase to be done by the contractor. Although the contractor is still working on the outside, they are finishing the amphitheatre and the landscaping, they have moved long way and should be completed by the end of this year. It felt good going back to the school and seeing the students, the staff and the finished artwork.   From there I when to our quarterly AIR meeting that was held at the Architecture Centre in Bristol.  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 21st of October Being an artist you have to juggle so much work at the same time and sometimes is so difficult to draw a line of priorities! I had a very productive meeting on my first visit to Queenborough in Kent where I met Nicole Mollett and Simon Evans at the new Arts Centre. The three of us discussed the project and ways forward to develop ideas and how to engage with the local Romany community. We talked about our interests and first steps of the project. So Simon took the responsibility of making contact with people that he know and has worked with in the area, so we can arrange our first visit to add list two different communities. Our first site visit has been arranged for the 26th of November. I also had my first meeting on site at the Southgate project in Bath with the commissioners, arts consultants, personnel from Bath City Council and the fabricators. We looked at the site and the first samples produced by the fabricators that were made out of different woven metal materials and various samples of different methods of joining together. Everyone was so pleased with the samples and there was a join decision that everybody liked the most intricate and delicate sections that used the Placid mesh and the smallest bends with the thinner joint strip that will be gilded. After the meeting, I met with my friend Teresa who is also based in Bath and will be helping me with the gilding on this project.  We run some test and gilded one section in order to work out the cost and hours that will take to do the full job. I when to see Robert Mapplethorpe’s ARTIST ROOMS at Towner in Eastbourne and met with Sanna Moore for a short catch up and to give her an update of the development of my commission with the salmon skins. ARTIST ROOMS is an outstanding collection of Mapplethorpe's photographs alongside a selection of his sculptural works never before seen in a UK public gallery.   ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 31th of October Last week I had to attend Brighton Magistrates Court and for a first time give evidence. The defendant broke into my studio and not only caused damage to the premises but also to my artwork. I had to attend court because he pleaded guilty only to damaging the premises and braking into my studio but not to destroying and damaging my artworks. The damaged to my art works was in the value of £5000. Although I was not being accused I was very nervous in attending this court case. I arrived at Court and sat there and waited patiently for to be called in. After about an hour I was told that the defendant, when was told that I have arrived to give evidence, changed his plea into GUILTY. This meant that I was not longer required to give any evidence. I was thanked for attending and left the court. Next day I found out by the police that the Court case was rescheduled for the 27th October because the defendant lost his plot and when mad….. On the 27th this was finalised and I was told that he was prosecuted and had to do 6months community work at a mental hospital and that I will be paid £350.00 for all the damages. Unfortunately at this time when my studio was broke into I didn’t had any insurance for the value of my artwork so I can’t claim for any of the damages. Since the damage in March 2010 I’ve moved to a new studio and at present looking into insuring my work. At the end of this week I had a very productive meeting with Mark Segal and Jo Sanna at ArtSway. We discussed all the projects that I am involved with and the next stages of my Creative Inclusion project. We also discussed the new Artsway shop at Culture Label and what other works they can put for sale. http://artsway.culturelabel.com/    ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 1st of November I had a 3 hour session with my mentor where we discussed the next steps of my Creative Inclusions project and looked at my timetable which I have been doing daily to see how productive my time is. When you take notes its amazing and very scary to see where and how I have been spending my time…. No wonder why I never have time and I have to work in the night to catch up on things… Is frightening to find out that I am doing on average 4-5 hours daily on admin that includes conversations, arranging meetings, replying and sending emails etc. I was invited to attend both the dinner at De La Warr Pavilion on Tuesday 2nd November and the event at Towner Art Gallery on Wednesday 3rd November, organized by Turning Point South East. Tuesday 2nd November, all delegates arrived for buffet dinner at the De La Warr Pavilion and had the opportunity to enjoy De La Warr Pavilion’s Myth, Manners and Memory: Photographers of the American South exhibition - http://www.dlwp.com/WhatsOn/ExhibitionDetail.aspx?EventId=1299 With a working title of “Economies and Ecologies”, the Turning Point National Event and Dinner was an opportunity for members of the regional Turning Point Steering Groups to gather together to explore and discuss ways of strengthening the national network by using the Turning Point structure as an agent of positive change and support for the visual arts. The day event started at 10:30am on Wednesday 3rd November, and finish with drinks at 6:00pm. The programme of the day was very interesting. The morning opened with a workshop by John Holden, an associate of the think tank Demos and visiting professor in cultural policy at City University London. This workshop looked at new business models through the prisms of networks and ecology. Then we had to make a choice of on of the Workshop bellow for the morning session 1. How can we maximise and share resources? - drawing on her TPN research and examples from other sectors, Susan Royce, will lead a practical workshop. 2. Digital Creativity - what are the funding, production and artistic opportunities being made available through digital innovation funds and collaborations with public service networks (led by Honor Harger, Director Lighthouse) or Market Development (East and North East CAS) 3.Sharing best practice - marketplace for inter-regional collaboration And the afternoon choice of workshops was: 1. What are the lessons from the TPN evaluation process? The future of the TP network (led by Annabel Jackson) 2. Investing in artists - how can we continue to ensure that artists are supported? 3. Sharing best practice - marketplace for inter-regional collaboration I chose to attend the Digital Creativity by Honor Harger and the afternoon session the Investing in Artists by Gillian Nicol and Stephen Beddoe.  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 On the 4th in the morning I had to catch the National Express at 5.45am to Heathrow airport where Sally Sheiman and myself flow to Zagreb to the ECA (European Council of Artist) yearly conference called Art Funding – Artistic freedom. The event started at 19.30 on the 5th with an opening reception at the Museum of Contemporary Arts, which is an incredible new building. The conference opened on the 6th with an address by Silvije Petranovic the president of the Croatian Freelance Artist Association. First speaker Zarko Paic, a philosopher from Croatia, spoke about ‘The Post Liberal Conditions - mapping the arts as freedom in unfinished European cultural space’. Second speaker was Louise Walsh, a sculptor from Ireland, she spoke about her experiences in public art, ‘Expectation| Imagination’. Third speaker, Sibila Petlevski an author and president of PEN. Her topic was ‘Free-Expression Policies’ with the subtitle: Cultural Policies, Cultural Branding & Cultural Jamming. Fourth speaker was Marta Smolikova, director of Pro Culture from the Czech Republic. Marta spoke about ‘What is the Role of the Sponsor?’ and the relationship of partnerships and funding in an open society. The fifth speaker was Christian Brandt, an author from Finland, great sense of humour, needed to break the atmosphere at the time…. His topic was ‘Funding Principles & Criteria and their affects on art’. The sixth speaker was Patricia Fernandez-Mazarabbroz, working at the Ministry of Culture in Spain. She spoke regarding ‘Intellectual Property Rights’, about the arts protection at an international level – Europe’s legal framework. We had a pleasant surprise and the final speaker was the President of the Republic of Croatia Mr Ivo Josipovic. He is a composer recently elected President. He spoke eloquently about the importance of Art, Culture and Society. The morning of the 8th Sally and me when to the Airport in Zagreb and Sally when back to London and I continued my trip to Skopje, where I had to create new work for an exhibition that opened on the 18th of November 2010. I was collected and met by my sister and we drove back to my parents. The same afternoon with the help of my family we started to plan the next few days, which were long and hard work.  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 In September I when to Macedonia to start the project, I placed the skins into chemicals which was then, for the next 10 weeks, cared by my mother and father. We also found a local company that cut and prepared the tiles for the work and this was delivered and ready for my return. After arrival to Macedonia the following 5 days I worked in my studio, which is an amazing space on the third floor of my parents house that was created for me 19 years a go before I left, but now most of the time sits empty and is hardly being used…. We organised ourselves and worked as a team. My mother and me made the tiles, by carefully stretching the wet skins onto the black tiles; this was then carried by my father and placed on the covered floor to dry. My sister cooked our dinners and looked after all of us. It was a great team and without they help I wouldn’t have been able to finish the work. We made approximately 100-150 tiles per day, in total we made 600 tiles of 20cm x 20cm.  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 On Monday morning, the 15th my father and me delivered the work to Public Room Gallery in Skopje where the space was ready for install. We started by placing and organising the tiles on the floor and after long and careful measuring of the walls and working out the spacing, we started to install the work, which took 2 ½ days. Everything was ready except the catalogues. The company that was printing the catalogues in Macedonia did them incorrect and made a full mess of the print. They delivered the catalogues very last minute on Thursday morning and we didn’t had the time to reprint or find someone else to do the job… On the opening, which was very embarrassing for me, we had to make an announcement that the catalogues have been badly/wrongly printed and that we are going to reprint them back in the UK! But I have to say that the opening was a great success, there was so many visitors came to the opening that the gallery was to small to accommodate everyone that arrived, so many people where queuing outside to come in! Ana Frangovska, curator at the National Gallery of Macedonia and the Mayor of Kavadarci (my city) Mr Aleksandar Panov opened the exhibition. The amazing thing was that the Mayor of my city organised a bus from Kavadarci to Skopje to help and bring all the interested people. For me this was an incredible evening, it was my first solo exhibition in my country and many friends and family came to see it. Also I had brilliant coverage in the papers and interviews with two different TV stations. After the opening I had a little rest and enjoyed the time spend with my family before returning back to the UK on the 22nd of November.  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 I was shortlisted and attended an interview on the 24th November at Pier a Terre restaurant. Last week I was notified that the Interview panel were very impressed by my presentation and have selected me as the first Artist in Restaurant. This was a unanimous decision, backed by Shane Osborn, the head chef, who very much welcomed me to his kitchen. This is such an exciting news and an amazing opportunity to be the artist-in-residency at a 2michellin star restaurant, to work with the chefs, see, experience and contribute to the life of a kitchen and together develop ideas for new works. The announcement was made nationally on the 3rd of December and various writings have been published in the Independent http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/features/the-diary-english-national-ballet-jasper-joffe-mark-wahlberg-stephen-hawking-2149537.html The Evening Standard, ArtReview http://www.artreview.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=elpida+hadzi-vasileva  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 On Tuesday the 30 November I participated in the VAUK Media Training organized by Thinking Practice. I was invited on behalf of AIR and was the only practicing artist in the group. Because of the weather there was only 8 of us who managed to get there plus the three media, Charles, Claire and Dominic. It was a small group but nice. This was a very tough, intense but very interesting day. We started at 9.30, with introductions and each one of us explaining what we would like to gain from the day, and finished at 5.30. They teached us and explain how we should handle the press, what we should say and how we say it, things that we should be considerate about; how to prepare for the interview; how to dress…. This included giving direct interviews to someone holding a microphone in your face, interviews on the telephone, Direct Television and Radio interviews. Finally we managed to arrange the meeting with the Romany community in Kent on the 2nd of December but due to the weather had to be cancelled again; we are trying to reschedule the meeting for this Friday the 10th or following week Friday the 17th, fingers crossed don’t snow again. Due to the weather I have been having problems getting the fish skins delivered from Northumberland, the factory is hardly working and staffs are still snowed down. I really hope I get the skins delivered before Christmas…. I did days teaching at City college Brighton yesterday and it was very enjoyable. I gave lecture about my work first and then did three one to one tutorials with third year students. I am driving to Bristol tomorrow afternoon for a Thursday morning meeting at Ashton park and going back to St Bede’s Catholic college to photograph my work.    ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 My Arts Councils years grant is officially coming to an end. The funding enabled me to concentrate on areas of my practice; to focus on identifying key people who would help, support and advise me on developing my work, eg Tommaso Corvi-Mora and James Lingwood. The open-ended research is been very valuable and enabled me to initiate collaborations that resulted in unforeseen exciting spin offs and developmental opportunities.   Instead of finishing with this blog and starting a new one I have decide it to continue with my Creative Inclusions Blog because the following projects have been initiated and realised through the research.   This week I started my Artist-in-Restaurant residency at Pied a Terre. This is an 8-month residency followed with a solo exhibition at the restaurant planned to coincide with the Frieze Art Fair, 2011. http://artist-in-restaurant.co.uk/press.html   I spend couple of days at the restaurant observing, talking to and getting to know some of the staff and chefs in the kitchen.   On Tuesday I had my first lunch at Pied a Terre with a freelance Stephanie Theobald who’s writing a piece for BMI Voyager (inflight magazine, high readership figures) about Artist in Restaurant and setting up a feature with a national newspapers. Our lunch/meeting lasted 3 ½ hours; we were given to choose what ever we want it from the menu; there were three types of menu: Lunch menu: 2 courses menu; A la carte: starter and main course with a choice of dessert or fine cheese; and Tasting menu: 10 courses tasting menu; Stephanie and myself chose a starter each and a main course but the food just kept coming; we starting with a canopy, which was followed by a starter and choice of beautiful bread, main course, then choice of cheeses, followed by pre desert, then desert and at the end to top it all arrived the three layered tower with amazingly presented sweets. It was a great experience to dine here and try these exceptional gourmet food carefully presented by Michelin star chef Shane Osborn.   The following day I arrived at 9.30 and after changing when strait down to the kitchen. I found all the staff busy preparing the food for the day, I said hello and observed what they were doing, from time to time moving to keep out of they way. There are 10 people at one time plus the main chef, the kitchen is so small but amazingly comfortable, they all have they own designated areas to prepare different parts of the food and so well coordinated and work together. I slowly started to get to know some of the staff and figuring out what they jobs are, fascinated with they skills and ability to work so fast and precise. The morning when very fast and at 12.00pm the first orders started to come in; these is when I moved to one corner, with a great view to observe the presentation and dishing of the orders. I was impressed with how fast but still with perfection to detail they worked and every dish was carefully examined and inspected before being send to the customer. From time to time Shane showed me and give me to taste small unique bits of food that they use in they presentation, with explaining what they are and where they come from, eg. Red blossom flowers from apple trees in Holland, green leaves which were hand picked in woodlands in Wales, that had very fresh and lemony taste….   By the time I new it was almost 4.00pm, with the last orders done, and the staff began cleaning the kitchen and immediately to prepare the food for the evening. Although I didn’t do much, just stood there watching, I felt so tired I had to call it a day. I was happy, I when home with few fish skins and bird fit that I asked the staff to put a side as they prepared the food during the day.  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376   This was my fourth week at Pied a Terre. At present I am doing couple of days per week at the restaurant and every day is very different. I am constantly being surprised by the quality and the perfection - starting from preparing, to cooking to presenting the food on the plates. It is beautiful and it is an art of work in itself.   I am slowly gathering a collection of various bits and taking them back to my studio for testing.   My 2000 fish skins from Farne Salmon & Trout in Duns where delivered last week at my studio. They arrived in one huge lorry; the driver had a problem even turning the lorry around in our car park, which is pretty big. I had a bit of a surprise to how large the 10 boxes wore and soon realised that one large freezer (that I had) was not going be sufficient, and quickly had to go out and search for one more freezer.   It took me few days to defrost the boxes in order to separate the skins into smaller bags and freeze them again. Now I take a bag at the time out to defrost and clean, which are then washed and freezed again. My target, that I haven’t reached yet, is 200 skins per week.   I am off to an Artsway Associates visit to Mottisfont Abbey tomorrow.   ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 the perfect dish... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 14 March 2011 It’s been 5 busy weeks and I haven’t updated my blog…. Not sure if anyone is reading this and if you find it of any interest??? Mottisfont Abbey was amazing, such a beautiful place. It was a great sunny day and if it were raining maybe I would of had a different experience. Anyhow, we spend couple of hours with Louise looking at the site, including a tour of the house, finished by a nice cup of tea. There are fantastic opportunities and the approach Mottisfont is taking towards developing contemporary art is complex. We have been asked to propose two or three ideas for Mottisfont and I am expecting this to be a long process but hopefully will flourish into something amazing. The Rt Revd Declan Lang, Bishop of Clifton, officially blessed my work ‘Transpire’ at St Bede’s in Bristol at a launch ceremony for the new facilities at the College on the 10th February 2011. Couple of weeks a go myself, Simon and Nicole had our first meeting with Joe, a key person for the Romany community in Sittingbourne, Kent. The meeting when brilliantly and it was decide it for us to organise a one-day event in July, in order to research and develop ideas for the project. I when to visit the gardens and Ham House in London where I have been invited to make a proposal for temporary commission.  I meet Tim Etchells, who’s also been shortlisted, and together with Penny Schwier and Tessa Fitzjohn’s we visited all the suggested sites. The National Trust owns the house; it has a long history and it is the best-kept example of its time, very beautiful building! The same evening I when to the celebration of the 20th of Anniversary of Artangel held at Ivor and Sarah’s Braka house in Chelsea, this was a truly amazing evening and what a house!!!  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 19 March 2011 Things are also moving forward with my Ambush project. In order to establish and see if the site is workable we organized to undertake a test dig. Trevor Thickett, the engineer met in Bristol with the manager, the digger driver and myself. We dug 3 holes down to 2-3m in the area where we propose to build the tunnels, without causing any damage to the trees. The ground did not pose any significant difficulties with regard to construction. There was approximately 1.5 m of made ground with the possibility of a high organic content. The soils at 1.5m below ground appear to be the start of the naturally occurring red clays with an estimated safe bearing capacity of 100kN/m2. with no evidence of water, which was great news. Trevor estimated that the larger trees are probably around 70years old and from the trial holes it would appear the made ground extends across the whole of the area where we propose to develop. The next stage now is for the estate to supply: Arboriculturist Report on the trees with comments on their age and health; their stability if they are undermined and the best way of ensuring they remain stable in the long term; a detailed topographical survey plan of the site and background information on what other material may have been buried on site. My 8th week at Pied a Terre were the discussion in the kitchen became very interesting, we talked about containers – body containers, sack’s… and Shane asked me if I’ve ever used sheep’s testicles sack in my work or have even tried sheep’s testicles? I said no but I would be very interested to see what the skins look like especially the sack!!! So, in week 9, 6 testicles arrived (all different sizes) but they couldn’t get the sacks. Although the testicles look very interested it was bit disappointed that there was not a sack with them, as that was the part I was really interested in. So I contacted my Taxidermy teacher and asked if he could perhaps source some through his suppliers? He said: he will try and that he new a very good butcher near him. My week 10 at Pied a Terre I met with Catherine Mason in the morning at Pied a Terre, who used to be one of the Directors at Calum Sutton PR, but now freelancer will independently work on and help with the PR for my project. We discussed the progress of my artist in residency and look at the press opportunities that we could create. In the evening I met with Marie-Lise and after going to an opening at the Austrian Embassy (Culture Matters UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the South East of Europe) we when for dinner at L'Autre Pied, one star Michelin - the sister restaurant of Pied à Terre, based in Marylebone. The staff really looked after us and the food was amazing. Sarah Collicott and myself had a meeting with BDP lighting regarding my commission in Bath. BDP is one of the largest interdisciplinary practice of architects, designers, engineers and urbanists in Europe, with a track record in many sectors including health, education, workplace, retail, urbanism, heritage, housing, transport and leisure. http://www.bdp.com/en/Services/Lighting/  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 Sarah Collicott and myself had another meeting with MDM props to review design and timetable for Southgate Artwork. MDM could only do prep work until mesh is delivered, which we are hoping to be beginning of May, that means that everything will be pushed back for a month. But things are slowly being planned and other orders are being made no to delay the project to much. At Pied a Terre things are going well and I had a couple of productive weeks with successful test back at my studio. I’ve made small books that where placed on the tables last Wednesday to give dinners brief information about the residency and me and also we set the Ipad in the reception where again visitors can view and enjoy my work. The books are made out of various fish skins that are used in the restaurant and card.  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 I can happily say that I have finished with the cleaning of the salmon skins and now, having damaged a muscle on my shoulder, the fun begins – making the tiles. I’ve been also testing the skins by drying them on various surfaces and slowly getting a result but not the one that I am happy with yet! I am off to Macedonia tomorrow, which will give me two weeks to rest my shoulder. When I return hoping that some of my tests would of worked and that I could make a decision about which tiles to use. I am travelling to Macedonia to install my work ‘Inherent Beauty’ at the Museum – Gallery in Kavadarci. The exhibition is opening on the 6th of May and I am so hoping that everything will go smoothly as there isn’t much time for mistakes….. Last week I collected the first sheep testicle bags….. I was surprised to see how big they are and don’t know why but I imagined them looking very different! Yesterday I braved myself to cleaning them, and all I can say is that, the smell and the gunk it was very disgusting….. I don’t know what my stomach is made of but at the end it was rewarding – I think they are very beautiful!  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 Great opening at the Towner Gallery on Friday night and thank you to all my friends that came to support me. Hurray they finally have they own website http://www.townereastbourne.or g.uk/exhibition/compulsive-obs essive-repetitive/   If anyone in the area do come and visit the show.   Compulsive, Obsessive, Repetitive 2 July – 18 September 2011 (free)   This is a group show of sculptors who obsessively use small scale repetitive processes to create large scale installations. The exhibition comprises five new commissions by: Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva Brendan JamisonSusie MacMurray Jill Townsley Henry Seaton (Rex Henry and Graham Seaton) It also features an earlier work by Claire Morgan. These artists are motivated by the need to compulsively repeat an action – in a labour intensive and painstaking way - to create a large scale installation composed of multiple elements.  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 Its been almost a month since my opening at the Towner Gallery. The show has been very popular. The visitors are very interested and intrigued by the work. Because there has been lots of interest in the work, together with the curator we have decide it to frame samples and give the visitors the choice to purchase the work if they desire. They can chose from three framed samples: one tile, four tiles, or ten tiles, also have the choice of ordering larger sections.   It has been very busy and productive time for me. After the opening at the Towner I when to Ljubljana, in Slovenia to participate at the 14th international Fine Arts colony. There were 8 artist invited to participate four from Slovenia; Joze Marinc, Barbara Jurkovsek, Nikolaj Masukov and Klemen Kavcic; and four international; myself as Macedonian representative, Sally Sheinman as American, Colin Foster as English and Michael Burke as Irish. We worked very hard but also had a great time. The colony is organised by Tomo Vran and is part of the Ljubljana Festival. www.ljubljanafestival.si until 7th of September 2011.   At present I am back at my studio, working with smelly scallops, producing all the works for Pied a Terre, which opening is on the 6th of September.    ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376 'The wish of the Witness' exhibition has opened on Tuesday at Pied à Terre and you can view my unique pieces any day between now and 31 October between 3-6pm. Following an eight-month residency, I was the first Artist in Restaurant at Pied à Terre, and showcasing 10 pieces of works that have been inspired from the day to day running of the restaurant, using materials some would usually perceive as waste to produce art. During the exhibition you will have the exclusive opportunity to purchase one of my outstanding pieces of art. http://ow.ly/6nJcI   more to follow....... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/597376