Merry Xmas - Nadolig Llawen - Feliz Navidad

It’s nearing the end of 2021 and - as ever - I’ve not followed through on my inner-commitment to post on this blog more. I don’t know why that is - there’s always interesting stuff going on and things happening, or things I’ve found to share. Maybe next year I need to be less precious about what constitutes as being worthy of posting (because, of course, the content I put on here in general is of such a HIGH standard and relevance…) Anyway, here’s just a bunch of stuff to round out the year, as I definitely won’t post again until 2021…

‘Around 3.35pm’ (my Middlesbrough meteorite) is officially coming down next week. It’s actually already down, courtesy of Storm Barra, so if you didn’t see it, you’ve missed it. Thankfully I got the great pictures here on my website, so please check them out. Thanks again to Middlesbrough Council, Navigator North and Neon Workshops for everything they did. It’s a work I was really pleased with and it’s had a great reaction from the public. So cheers all.

In other news, I’m talking to Common Wealth Theatre here in Cardiff about a project. The conversations are in the earliest of stages, but it looks like we’re committed to doing some RnD together, which is very exciting, as the project could be huge. If you don’t know Common Wealth, check them out, they’re really great. I’ve had the pleasure of attending a couple of their events recently (Rent Party and a poetry open-mic/book-launch with Patrick Jones - lyricist for James Dean Bradfield’s ‘Even in Exile’) and both were excellent and really filled me with love and warmth for the tangible value of creativity and an arts organisation genuinely embedded in their community. If you’re in the Cardiff area, make a new year’s resolution to go to one of their shows/projects in 2022.

As ever, there are a few other things in development - possibly a couple of books (about other people), a new zine, a shop on my website, lots of stuff - but I’ll let you know about them as and when the time is right in the new year.

I’d like to finish up with a few links to a selection of things I’ve found myself inspired by, or making notes of, as I’m bimbling about on the internet. So…

Ceri Hand is currently offering an advent calendar of free advice via her instagram (and probably other places too). Incredibly helpful, simple and insightful, daily bits of advice on developing, maintaining, and sustaining a career as an artist. Check it out…

An article about hackers sending anti-capitalist manifestos to till-receipt printers…

A writing exercise by @TereseMarieM one that I’m definitely going to be using with my students to help them develop new artwork.

A free download of a book by François Matarasso called ‘A Restless Art’ about participatory art.

A google doc by Melissa Arkley listing hundreds of feminist extreme metal bands (yes, they do exist!)

A great thread about education and our limits of understanding around the right/best/actual way to deliver it by David Bowles.

An incredible list of radical online collections and archives from New Historical Express (formerly Hatful of History)

(I should flag up that I’ve not asked permission to share this stuff, but it’s all been publicly shared on websites and social media platforms. I’ve tried to give full credit, and if any of the creators want me to amend/remove the links/info for any reason, just send me an email. Everything is shared with love and respect.)

Hope you enjoy the links, hope you have a good break if you’re having one, and all the best for the year ahead.

Artists Production Resources

I’ve been meaning to do this for a while - to create an ongoing list of resources for the production of artwork; printers, fabricators etc. As much as anything it’s so I don’t forget myself.

So, this is me starting it.

If I’ve used you and you’re not on it, it doesn't mean I didn't like your service, it means that I’m racking my brains to remember all the good people/companies I’ve used and will update this list as I remember/find new people.

Most importantly, all the people/companies I’ll list on here I’ll have used personally. I’ll try and list them under headings to make it easier to navigate, but we’ll see how that works out. I might just list some people/companies under multiple headings.

Printers

https://www.netprinter.co.uk - Used them for some A0 plan-printer copies (essentially, large photocopies). Very cheap, very fast. Good quality.

https://www.awesomemerchandise.com - I’ve used this lot for quite a few different things. They’re very good and always competitive on price. T-shirts, stickers, billboard posters, business cards - they do the lot.

https://hipposcreenprinters.co.uk - I used this bunch for a screen printed edition a number fo years ago and they were great.

Fabricators

https://setworks.co.uk - I’ve use setWorks for all of my public commissions in recent years. They’re a one-stop shop from concept development through to management of installation.

http://www.mdmprops.co.uk - I used MDM Props for my first few public commissions and they’re great. I only switched to setWorks as the people I worked with at MDM left and set up setWorks, so it made sense for me to go with them.

Chris Gadd (Airbrush Artist) - https://www.instagram.com/gadskey/?hl=en - Chris is an extraordinary talent. If you want anything painting on a large scale, he’s your guy.

Trev Clarke (Stone carving) - https://www.letteringartstrust.org.uk/artists/browse/trev-clarke - Trev is another very talented person. His carving skills go way beyond lettering.

https://www.neonworkshops.com - For all your neon needs…

Multiples

https://www.awesomemerchandise.com - I’ve used this lot for quite a few different things. They’re very good and always competitive on price. T-shirts, stickers, billboard posters, business cards - they do the lot.

Film Pitch: A remake of ‘The Warriors’ but each gang is from a different independent coffee shop

Just a quick one to say that I’ve been listening to a few of the ‘Talk Art’ podcasts, with Russell Tovey and Robert Diament, and really enjoying them. They’re a good mix of chatty and well-informed. Two I’d recommend are…

Roni Horn and Glenn Ligon

There are loads of other interesting guests on there too. Enjoy.

I want to go back to a time when my brain was, at least, 40% full of wonder as to whether Paul Rudd and Zooey Deschanel would ever make the perfect romcom together

I don’t use social media anymore (for more info see a previous post, from October 2020, about how I think it will lead to the end of civilisation as we know it - maybe it already has…) I’ve decided to title my blog posts with the kind of pithy rubbish that I would have probably posted on Facebook or twitter had I still been feeding those vast containers of ego and hate. That said, I’ll probably do it this once and then realise it’s a terrible idea, but that’s all part of the creative process isn’t it kids…

I had an interesting week last week. On Monday I passed my PhD viva with minor corrections (examined by Professor Ross Sinclair and Professor Andrew Hewitt). I think it’s perfectly acceptable for me to be momentarily proud of myself for that one. It’s taken me about 5 years, part-time, and I’ve done it via the ‘by-publication’ route. If any of you are reading this and considering doing the same thing or just wondering what on-earth I’m talking about, I’m very happy to have a chat about it. Just send me an email. Anyway, I digress…

The week started with that, then by Wednesday I was having one of the worst days I’ve ever had whilst teaching in H.E. I’ll spare you the details, but those 72 hours were an almost perfect window on to H.E. life - the highs and lows of the profession, particularly for someone so firmly partly-in-and-partly-out (my contract is 0.4). Then I opened my emails today to find a thread from concerned colleagues across the West Midlands, as the government has just announced (and is consulting on) their intention to halve funding to arts courses (including the likes of art and design, music, media studies) as they don’t fall within their ‘strategic priorities’. Here’s a Musicians Union article with a link to the consultation.

In honesty, it’s no great surprise, is it. The fundamental lack of appreciation and understanding of/for the arts from this UK government is plain for all to see (even their seeming total lack of understanding as to the arts key role in the UK economy. Not that it’s all about money, but all the same…) It’s also the pace at which this halving of funding is potentially coming in to effect - 2021-2022 - so, essentially, immediately. Take a look at that consultation document and formulate a response if you get the chance. You’ve got until May 6th… (GO!)

Then, changing direction completely, I’ve had the pleasure of watching the documentary ‘Sound of Scars’ a couple of times this week. It's everything a good documentary should be - interesting, compelling, moving, educational, exhilarating, fun. I’ve a personal interest in it as it’s about the band Life of Agony, who I’ve liked for a very long time, and whose guitarist, Joey Z, kindly worked with me on a small project that formed part of my PhD submission (see how all this fits together?…) It’s really a great film - partly about the history of the band, but also focussing heavily on the incredible journey of their singer, Mina Caputo, who came out as transgender in 2011 and has been transitioning since. They’re a great band and she’s an extraordinary individual, so I’d highly recommend it if you get the chance to see it.

Finally, towards the end of the film, up popped a Life of Agony mega fan (as often happens in these docs) by the name of Phil Able. This was totally unexpected to me, as I’ve known Phil for the best part of 30 years from when we were all part of an amazing North Kent music scene together, but it’s one of those friendships where for the last 20 of those 30 years we’ve just kind of known where each other are and that each other are ok. (Is that a friendship? Personally, I think so, as I’d still class Phil as a friend. Is there an amount of time you need to spend with someone on a regular basis for them to still qualify as a friend? Does anyone care?) Anyway, I had/have a phone number for Phil, but no idea if it was current, so texted him to say how nice it was to see his face appear on my TV and, today, we had the first phone call we’ve had in more than a decade. Phil’s still a musician and you can hear one of his bands, Silverkord, here.

And I’ll leave it there for now.

ROAD TRIP!

If you’ve read the recent blogs you’ll know that I’m currently working on a project with my occasional collaborator, Gordon Dalton, for Eden Arts. In brief, the commission is to make a new video work based on the A66, that runs all the way East-to-West-to-East-to-West across the North of England. We’re seeing it as a kind-of follow up to our 2007 work ‘Everyone Knows This is Nowhere’; ever since we made that trip (from L.A. to Twin Falls in Idaho) we’ve wondered if it might be possible to make a similar trip in the UK.

So, now we know.

Last week, with lockdown being eased just enough, we set out from the North East - where Gordon is based - to drive the full length of the A66 and back again over four days. The road itself is only about 200 miles across, so it’s perfectly feasible you can drive there and back in a day, but where’s the fun in that.

We’ve been reaching out to various folk along the route for a few months now, in part just to chat and get a perspective on living along the route, but also in an attempt to gather footage/images/text/audio that we can incorporate in the final film too. It’s not too late to offer a response to us, so if you live along or nearby the route and are interested, scroll down to the bottom and there will be the information there for you to consider (after all the photos I’m going to post). Your involvement would be much appreciated.

I’m not going to post a full road-trip report here, just a few images and thoughts about the journey and project in general.

First thing to say is that it’s been a difficult project to get going. That’s not anybodies fault - Eden Arts have been great, really supportive and keen to offer the contacts they can etc. - but the time we’re in right now makes a project where the plan is to drive across the country and talk to/meet people, understandably, a bit tricky. I know from every project I’ve ever done like this that the best stuff often comes from a chance meeting with a stranger in a pub or corner-shop, not necessarily an organised Zoom meeting. That said, I’ve had the pleasure of chatting/meeting some interesting people through Eden Arts introductions.

Personally, I’ve barely left Cardiff for about a year now, so being out in a totally new landscape was refreshing, exciting and slightly disorientating. There’s a sense that the world is trying to wake up, but hasn't yet, and is being rightfully cautious as it goes about it. That’s mostly the case anyway - we did drive through Keswick on Saturday and decided not to stop as the main drag looked a bit like those images of the 2020 Cheltenham Races. Did somebody say super-spreader event?… (I’m being overly dramatic, of course).

We took the approach of driving and stopping in any places that caught our eye. One thing that led us a bit was the excellent website Atlas Obscura. If you don’t know it, it’s a world-wide database of interesting places, with a search facility attached so you can either look up a certain place or just find out what might be near you. So, pretty much our first stop was at the grave of Moses Carpenter in Middlesbrough - a First Nations man who travelled through England with a snake-oil salesman in the late 1800s.

We both love this kind of stuff, in part because it brings a slightly American-road-trip veneer to the whole thing. Something we were mindful of trying to circumnavigate/embrace/acknowledge is how when you travel in your own country/nation it’s harder for things to catch your eye than when you’re in a foreign country/nation. When you’re in an alien land absolutely everything looks interesting - a traffic light, a cafe-diner, a road sign - fairly mundane things that are so exciting when you’re somewhere else, but just become an ambient background visual when you live somewhere for a long time.

That said, the landscape along the A66 is pretty extraordinary, even before you hit the dramatic fells of the Lake District, and we ended our first day in Whitehaven, with a really beautiful sunset.

The next day, we met up with one of those Eden Arts contacts, John Scanlan, in Workington. I’d had a zoom chat with John prior to the trip which culminated in him making the generous offer to walk us up a grassed-over slag heap when we finally got to do the road trip. Who could pass up on a generous offer like that?!…

It was a genuine pleasure to meet John. He’s a very generous individual who has an incredible knowledge of West Cumbria. He also has a real interest and knowledge in rock and heavy metal music, so was pretty much the perfect person for me and Gordon to spend the morning with. And that slag heap, what a treat. The views out to sea and back across Workington were really incredible. If you’re in the area and have never been, I’d highly recommend it.

The next few days followed the same path (literally), driving and stopping and driving and stopping (Warcop and Helbeck both caught our eye, for teenage heavy metal reasons). We ended the trip by burning things on the beach in Saltburn-By-The-Sea; not technically on the A66, but close enough to count.

I’ll not go on any more, otherwise I’ll end up writing the full school report, so I’ll leave you with a bunch of images from the trip. And, as I said at the start, if you live in - or are connected to - the areas along the A66 and fancy offering a response for the project, please take a look down the bottom, past the photos, where there’s some info that’s informing this whole thing there. Cheers…

If you want to help us out/get involved…

Northern Valhalla is a new film and public art project by Gordon Dalton & S Mark Gubb, commissioned by Eden Arts. A road trip, from East coast to West coast following the A66, talking to people about their hopes and fears for the future. We are keen to receive anything you may like to share, in any format from drone to tiktok to archive or visual/sound/text. We will be conducting interviews via Zoom or whatever is easiest for you. Please message us if you would like to take part and have your voice heard. 

Here's a list of some of the questions we are asking people.  If you want to answer some or all of the questions you can send us audio or video, text or we could interview via zoom. Hopefully we can do it in person soon, at a safe distance... all opinions welcome, message us here or tiktok, insta, facebook (search Northern Valhalla)

 Are you bored? 

How are you feeling? 

What does the future look like? 

What does culture look like? 

Do you enjoy social media? 

Are you proud to be British? 

Who is your hero? 

Does music have an emotional effect on you? 

What does success look like? 

What do you believe in? 

Who do you love? 

What's life like in Cumbria? 

What's life like in Teesside? 

Do you remember your childhood? 

What are your hopes and fears for the future? 

More than just a film, the project will include exhibitions, collaborations and two spectacular events (think Kirk Douglas at the end of the Vikings or putting 200 hundred Mentos in a coke bottle). Our first collaborator is the extremely talented Lord of the Logos, Christophe Szpajdel, who has created logos for just about every Black Metal band ever, as well as logos for Rhianna, Metallica and the Foo Fighters. He's created our logo, and we're working with the brilliant Pineapple Black Art Space in Middlesbrough to show his work. If you want to add your voice, have any A66 related footage, get in touch and we'll go from there to Valhalla and beyond...