The Art U Need Artists' Seminar

I didn't know what to expect from this but in fact I got a lot out of the day. Particularly when we spoke in groups to the artists. Educationally it widened my perception of public art, personally it was like a brain-storming session.
These are the ideas that sprung from today:-

At the Northlands Park Corner I would like to bring the subject up 'What do people think should be done with the Gloucester Park swimming pool when it becomes de-commissioned.
a) Knocked down and become a hotel
b) Made into an art gallery - there's a huge collection of art to store and a lot of local artists would love a grand place to exhibit.
c) Remain for the use of the sports.


Bob and Roberta Smith was talking about one of his projects called 'Make Your Own Damn Art Fair' where the locals made their own art and put it on display - this coincides with one of my earlier ideas of having art tied to the railings - well it seems more viable in community project that the community are providing their art work - this doesn't mean that artists like myself and others who live around there can't join in too.
I just wonder if we could get permission to use the railings to tie the art too like they do in London.

The Wrap Party is this week!

Guess what good news! Sue from START has said we can have START's A board as she was going to throw it out so that solves that problem.
Sue is also a professional story reader - Cool!!! I'm thinking of the picnic.

Jack is up for the Workshop

Jack Norris runs a local animation group called Loco Motion. He has agreed to do a workshop, and to show that it will be a good workshop look at this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbYamEI6eII

Bunting

I met Kate at Fryerns Library today and was introduced to Alison who was helping too.
Kate had asked me to talk about the activities that I had participated in with Art U Need Needs U. So I went through the diary, Kate and I took turns to speak.
We had 15 children there and they were very well behaved children.
I said things like at Speakers Corner I got up and stood on a box like the people do at Hyde Park Corner and spoke about what I wanted to rant about.
I asked the children if they had heard of Hyde Park Corner and they hadn't and I explained that it is where people go and talk if they have something they want people to hear. It could be talking about religion or politics or anything and some famous people had spoken there before.
I moved on through the diary, Kate asked 'had anybody seen a ghost' and a couple of children said they had. 'Had they ever played don't step on the crack' and it was one of the children's favourite games. When she talked about climbing a tree and reading a book in it one of the children, a little boy chirped up that his sister (who was sitting across the table to him looking at him like daggers) had climbed a tree to kiss a boyfriend!
This all went really well.
Kate explained about the diaries to the children that they should fill in the diaries and pop them in the box at a certain time to win some goody bags. Then she explained that this bunting we were all about to decorate was for the picnic and that we were all invited and to bring something nice to eat.
We got on with making the bunting - plain linen flag shapes using felt tip coloured pens to decorate, this was very creative and a great time to chat. I made a few little flags putting on happy faces or 'flower power' or just patterns. The children were working really well soon becoming a little production line - they all got very creative. Kate and I and Alison started to staple the bunting flags to the linen ribbon and soon they were cascading all around the library.
After Kate took a photo of all the kids and me holding up the bunting outside the library.
I agreed to take the bunting home with me and arrive at 11.30 with Alison to put it up at the park.

Art U Needs Launch

The Art U Need launch went very well, lots of people came up to talk to me, some I had met before, some I had talked to on the phone and people I had never met before.
The photographer was going around snapping away.
There were some good speeches and then we enjoyed some small dishes of mini dinners.

It was announced that I was going to take over after Andrea left, gulp. But yes I really want this to succeed. Although Art U Need Needs U was sampled by some there are still many more to reach and fun to be had.

Sylaks Poster

Sylak is doing his own version of this poster to make our own poster advertising that we are inviting artists to meet at the art cafe every 1st Sunday at noon. Apparently lots of people are interested.
We discussed that it would be good to show each other our art and get talking forming ideas to what sort of things we could do as a 'bohemian art group.' Bless his enthusiasm.

Sylak has lots of ideas for a bohemian society - even if it's one that meets at the cafe once a month. I'm glad I've got an enthusiastic resident. * Sylaks dreams:I envisage the Café as a relaxed atmosphere for spiritual fulfillment / rather than financial gain. (on further conversations about the artists Café).