November seems to be a slow month, I have been pushing the challenges, but submissions have been minimal, so please do email one. I knew that the project would have peeks and troughs, and am really hoping that December will be climatic, being the final opportunity for people to submit challenges.
In terms of the most recent challenge, it is turning into an instigator rather than a literal interpretation. I am struggling to determine what is law, what is an act of parliament, when things appear to be worthy of a law they are not, and agendas that seem pointless are law. It does however highlight the issues of a transparent government. Although information is available about present laws and acts of parliament there is so much information and so much waffle to go with the statements that it all becomes jargon and a mess.
I have taken the decision to follow my instinct and create a piece of work around what I determine to be an illegal hair trade. I do however feel that the trade is ethically wrong opposed to illegal. My rational for then taking the challenge in this direction would be to highlight a situation and potentially extend legislation to this. I have investigated fur trade, import and export, human rights which are all issues surrounding the forced hair trade for western hair extensions, but there seems to be nothing that applies. It is illegal to import or export cat and dog fur but that as far as I can see is the only ruling on fur, which seems very minimal.
Here is a taster of the issues I am attempting to address;
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/jun/25/india.theobserver
If you do have any legal facts or more information please let me know. Please also email challenges to the following email [email protected]
The research into bad laws is not going quite to plan. The book I ordered arrived in the post but instead of outlining several bad laws, it seems to be a Tory manifesto. There is lots of Labour bashing with a few nuggets about peculiar laws which is disappointing, and contrary to my own opinions. I have however learnt that it is illegal to own a horse, donkey or shetland pony in the UK without having an ID card for it! I’m not sure how important that is
Whilst realising this book may be of little help I realised there was one issue that I have wanted explore for some time. A few years ago I saw a documentary on the illegal hair trade that effects the UK and I’m am sure a lot of the Western world. A certain portion of the hair that goes into making hair extensions and wigs is obtained unethically and illegally. The documentary showed how girls in Russian were sometimes persuaded to or forced to give their hair to purchasers, if they were paid it was minimal. I plan to find the documentary and begin a new investigation into this illegal trade which will hopefully inform the latest challenge. Perhaps I will have to brake the law to highlight a bad situation, rather than braking a bad law it’s self.
I have had news this month that one of the people I challenged for the April Challenge will be undertaking his challenge very shortly. I have delayed releasing any of this information to participants involved in the challenge, until I was sure what the overall outcome would be. Despite my better judgment I intend to follow up those people who I have yet to hear from to conclude the challenge.
Only two changes left to challenge me, November and December, so send an email to [email protected]
www.ameliabeavisharrison.com
I made a decision on the challenge for October it is:
‘Break a bad law that creates space for a better world.’
Challenged by James aka The Vacuum Cleaner
Although I have many views and opinions on politics and morals, I in truth am not familiar with law. Other than the obvious ‘don’t murder’, ‘don’t steal’ etc, which are there for a reason, I’m not that hot on what our governments have decided to legalise or legitimise, or not as the case may be.
It is evident there are many useless laws, there are often stories in newspapers commenting on such. There are often stories on historical laws that should have been irradiated. One of my favourites is that it is high treason to put a stamp on a letter with the monarch being upside down. The amount of times I am guilty of treason is unreal, being anti-monarchy I should do this more often.
It’s all very well knowing about laws that seem silly or trivial, but when it comes to laws that are enforced and create negativity in some way then I have much to learn. I also wander what law I could possibly brake to make the world a better place. I believe in the actions of one person being significant, but I need to find something relevant. Luckily I have ordered a book on bad laws to give me some inspiration. I began looking on the governments website about existing laws but it is such a minefield I don’t know where to begin. Interestingly some of the most occurring types of laws they are introducing are to do with road works, that doesn’t seem law worthy!
I have also just released a confirmation letter that says I will be appearing in a TV show! Part one of the June Challenge is complete! Now all I need to do is win the thing! It can take a year to appear on the programme though, so no exciting news yet.
On a final note, I am really lacking in time and wish I could borrow a little, this challenge project could go on for years, not just the one! Here is some info on time related sharing http://www.e-flux.com/timebank/
More information on my project http://www.ameliabeavisharrison.com/2010challenge.html
Its almost crunch time, by midnight I need to have a decision on the October challenge. I have one in particular that I think could be really exciting. The challenge is to learn how to become a professional wrestler. The only problem with this challenge is that Tether (an artist led group based in Nottingham) have already commissioned a very similar work.
http://tether.org.uk/tv/archives/61
Although female wrestling is somewhat different to male wrestling I feel the challenge is a little too similar. Although every new piece of work is made under new context’s despite the outcome, I am lacking conviction that it would be the right decision to choose this one.
My other options are to brake a bad law to make room for a better world, to show myself at my most venerable through my art and finally to say hello to the oldest person I know.
Initially I had thought that the vulnerability challenge was clearly the most challenging, however I have slightly shifted the emphasis of the project. I changed the emphasis to be aware of what challenge may make a sophisticated piece of work, because part way through the process my art work began to lack conviction. I have also slowed down the pace of the work I am creating, to allow time to develop the work rather than rush into creating a new piece. This means that currently any challenge could be a contender.
The August challenge is in development. I have done some background research into the song lyrics the challenge comes from, and the material, cambric. The research has led me into the 1500’s with the French monarchy. I am currently planning to make a shirt for one of the Kings during this period. I have a particular interest in Henry the 3rd of France, who had a brief reign in Poland. One quote really sparked my interest;
‘The young king and his followers were astonished by several Polish practices and disappointed by the rural poverty and harsh climate of the country. The Polish, on the other hand, wondered if all Frenchmen were as concerned with their appearance as their new King appeared to be.’
I have also selected the September challenge. I chose it on the basis that I really felt I could get my teeth into it, and could produce an interesting and hopefully sophisticated work on the basis of this. There is both a freedom to it and a structure which I find compelling, opposed to other challenges that have been more sophisticated.
‘Please could you celebrate Hélène Dutrieu’s achievements as an aviator.
Her appearances at air shows earned her the nickname the “Girl Hawk”. There was a minor scandal early in her aviation career when it was revealed to the press that she did not wear a corset while flying. In September 1910 Dutrieu flew non-stop from… Ostend to Bruges, Belgium. From 26 September to 1 October she flew, frequently carrying passengers, at the aviation week in Burton-upon-Trent, England. She was the first woman pilot to stay airborne for more than an hour and on 21 December 1910 she became the first winner of the Coupe Femina (Femina Cup) for a non-stop flight of 167km in 2 hours 35 minutes.’
Challenged by Julian Hughes
If you want to look at any of the other challenges visit;
http://ameliabeavisharrison.com/2010challenge.html
