SouthBank Bristol Arts Trail

Another mention for the busy and brilliant Steven Dawson. His Ink-dot project is taking part in the SouthBank Bristol Arts Trail over this weekend. This is a little Back Cat thing, but a fresh show is upcoming in the Gallery space at the (Bristol) Howies Shop soon. Good luck Stevie!

Holloway Road

I have been lucky enough to drive up and down the Holoway Road a few times recently. Lucky? Holloway Road in rush hour? Yes! Daniel Libeskind's London Metropolitan University building still delivers, interests and excites. Its relationship with Terra Firma is the key, its very unusual, even disorientating, like the structure is the result of tectonic movement. And there is more, D & A Binder (No.101) sells amazing old shop fittings and cabinets further down the road, and in between the two is Ooh La La (No.143), which is always worth a nose. You could also try and get a glimpse of the weird, (but actually quite successful) redevelopment of Highbury Stadium.

Decision Time

Not my field of expertise, and i am not telling you how to Vote. But, from what i have read and heard, Art, design and creativity are not things that David Cameron is interested in, (in any way, shape, or form.)

Kiki van Eijk

Yet more Dutch Goodness, this time in the shape of Kiki van Eijk. Since the start of the blog i have mentioned designers from the Netherlands far, far more than any other Country. The free thinking aspect of a lot of the work appeals to me, but i also see a high level craftsmanship throughout, with a heavy nod toward traditional ideals, techniques and values. Kiki van Eijk continues these trends with these hybrid creatures/objects. No set agenda with her 'cut and paste' series; many are useful, others ethereal and some banal, they look like they are made up of bits of various found objects, as an assemblage. But, from what i can gather, it's all made (or at least conceived) by van Eijk.

DMVA

Some Bank Holiday Monday fun with DMVA's Blob. Originally conceived as a guest room/garden studio/general escape pod for a client, subsequently rejected by planning, the blob now sits in the very interesting looking, Verbeke Foundation. I like the way the way this was painstakingly sculpted, (it took 18 months), rather than the form being controlled by a computer. I am a firm believer that the physical interaction and energy imbued into an object via the making process, alters the final emotion and feel. Although the blob looks perfect to a certain extent, it also looks slightly awkward; the front door opening vertically, the size of the opening nose, pushing the hinges to the limits, to the over elaborate shower door. DMVA did not make it easy for themselves; and I fully understand and appreciate their approach. Good little video on their site too.

Eco?

This one is quite close to my heart as i spent a fair amount of time in the area as a child. Edward Iliffe has been granted permission to build on Green Island. Nothing against the decision, or the building particularly, just the fact is being pre-fabed in Canada. What? No chance of using one of the hundreds of brilliant Green builders in the West Country? Using local materials? Totally in tune with the immediate environment? Very stupid indeed.

Last Minute

Meant to do this ages ago but it slipped my mind. Rob Vialle, whom i shared a workshop with for years started making a Bass Marimba for a friend of his, Max, some 18 months ago (if not more). Rob is an amazing cabinet maker, but the Marimba took him well out of his comfort zone. For one, they are huge, and secondly, they are very complicated and finely balanced machines. Anyway, after months of tinkering, tuning, retuning, construction, head straching.....and more head stratching, its done! And Max is playing it TONIGHT. Not sure if there are any tickets left, but try, its sounds brilliant.
(Hope it all goes super, good and well)