New Series required

Quite an eventful last couple of weeks. Had some interesting trips to studios, most notably Deborah House in the east end, and confirmation following the visit by the gallery owner to our studios, that I now need to get on with a series of six large paintings for the group show we've been awaiting confirmation of  in the new year. This approximates to a painting a month for the next six months, notwithstanding the appalling supply problems for materials etc. Managed to go and see the Goldsmiths MFA last thursday, some interesting work, though the private view was packed and this necessitated a trip back on monday, when it became apparent that we had missed the basement and a few other interesting bits and pieces. I was told that some full time students are paying the equivalent of £14 k per annum to do this course ! back to work..

Back rom New York City

Hanz Hancock,the other half of the two man art collective, has received  work back following  the successful 'Grid List' sheow curated by Patrick Morrissey and Mark Sengbusch. 'Dans an Sarf' is now re-installed in London.

A whizz around up west..

Spent the day yesterday traipsing up to John Jones for a new 4 footer . Got back to the studio in Greenwich and met David Leapman, my old Goldsmiths College colleague who had hot footed it from visiting Daniel Sturgis, another of his colleagues, in Nunhead. We sat in the studio talking a lot about work, and he was very positive about what we were currently doing. Hanz arrived after a while and we all three went to 'do' the west end galleries. Couldn't get to all but will redress that on monday. Saw some very interesting work at Vigo, David has shown with a number of the artists participating in that event which was called the 'Grid' ironically. Saw some interesting work at Hawser and Wirth,and also Stephen Friedmann gallery with Iran do Spirito Santo, Jim Hodges being some of my favourites.  Didn't quite make it to see Art first and others in Eastcastle St, so again I'll sort that on monday.

Decided I will now have to review my working methods in terms of materials,financialy the cost of things is becoming prohibitive, but there is no point using shoddy/ second rate material. I'm also thinking of the parallel or off shoot from my panting- installation , which I'm quite excited about.  I'm considering a radical alternative- aircraft panelling, but again this is down to cost. Concluded yesterdays whistle-stop afternoon, in Green Park, talking, until we were all seperated by the burgeoning ,freezing, unseasonally cold winds...Don't worry reader, this is me flexing my new blog muscles, it won't in future be ' dear diary'..

This blog thing is ok... I had neglected it because there seemed to be too many other things going on, but in some ways I can see it being as useful, if not more, than Facebook. The latter tends to bog you down with other peoples stuff which you endlessly have to process/get rid of, whereas here the focus can be maintained more. I've seen some artists who use this as a form of website. Why not. They come in so many shapes and formats that this seems to do the trick just as well. I won't say hold your breath for new blogs exactly, but I think its probably going to feature a little more from now on..

New York trip and ALISN images in London

Here are a few images of the trip in march to NYC and the show in London which followed at the Mile End Art Pavillion in which I was selected to participate with my installation .

The New York trip was amazing. Firmed up a lot of contacts there and we intend to return soon. Stayed in a good hotel too in Times Square. On return , I found that I had been selected for the ALISN show at Mile End Pavillion in London, and had to get things sorted out within a week. I finally sorted out my film based on one of my paintings and installed it as part of the 'Scale and Space' show curated by Iavor Lubomirov and Bella Easton who now head up Enclave at Deptford in south east london. I've had various studio visits by established international artists, and am looking to showcase the work of people like Jessica Snow, Daniel Sturgis and others in a proposal for the new Enclave space fairly soon. Looks like more work is required asap!

Following through

Looking back at this interview at Core Gallery , just after we left, its quite interesting to see just how amazingly things worked out. Our planning and negotiation has finally paid off. We did make Europe, or made Europe and the world come to us in London with the 'Saturation Point' show, which was highly successful for us both. In addition, we managed to secure the show in Detroit,a nd next week , we have our private view at Allegra La Viola Gallery, Lower east side Manhattan New York! coinciding with the Armory events that are taking place. Further negotiations are leading to shows in major galleries in London and there are now plans for Los Angeles later in the year.

Core Gallery Interviews: Interview with Patrick Morrissey & Hanz

Core Gallery Interviews: Interview with Patrick Morrissey & Hanz