Thursday 19th
Today i went to Brixton, South London. Hadn't been there for 25 years, not since i lived near when i was at Kings College in 1980.(geology) Hadn't changed a lot just seemed busier and full of 'mobile phone' shops. Train up from Portsmouth again to Victoria, was disappointingly uneventful, gave me time to again write down some ideas and work on them. Spoke with the 'conductor/ guard' for a while about AP.
Visited a long standing disability artist about a future commission that may well turn out to be quite involved. Had a very good time and it was important for me as i learnt about some of the roots of disability arts in the UK. Its all very well to 'read' about but comes to life when you hear experiences first hand. A chronology of disability arts can be found on the 'Disability Arts Online' website. Rarely get to engage like this with other disability artist, esp as i'm a 'newcomer' to the scene.
Again the journey back was uneventfull, still cannot get the picture of the 'woman as bagel' out of my mind. Quite disturbing, as PW aspergers tend to be very literal in a sometimes pedantic way but always pictorial!. A spade is a spade, a digging instrument for the garden……..
Wednesday 18th
Spend a few hours first thing updating this blog: Then head to London via 'Hove' to meet with Stevie Director of DaDa South (DS), Sign Dance Collective (SDC), an Artist (whose project it is) and the National Arts Development Manager of Mencap about a prospective 'sound' collaboration for an 'intervention'. Project sounds very interesting and respect and enjoy working with SDC and DS so throw my lot in with them. As an access enablement for David B from SDC a small 'acid yellow' figure was used. Whoever held the figure was entitled to speak so he could follow who was speaking one at a time by lip reading.
Aaaarhg yellow! Don't touch yellow (Aspergers thang!)
Devil drives a yellow car: I bullied myself into painting this (with covered and prepared books) last year at a solo ahow about 'abuse' (violently ill while painting it), revisited it this year at 1st Disability arts open at Holton Lee, along with 'my school pen'and won the Judges prize.
Compelled to 'keep quiet' till could hold it in no longer and asked for the 'figure' to be put on my paper pad, one finished it was 'flicked' it to next person to speak. Ended up being quite amusing diffusing the unease i felt at the 'yellowness' (Aspergers goes hand in hand with synaesthesia, and mine certain colours i 'feel' and 'taste' yellow creating a foul fungus taste and fear. Complicated my work as an illustrator for a long time, maybe thats why i prefer B/W. Can get very complicated. Read 'curious tale of dog in the night time' and you will understand)
Headed to London Bridge but had difficulty reading the train info to get back and had never been through there before and it was very busy so headed to Victoria which i Know well and like. Trip back on train interesting and quite surreal. A very young child a few seats away spent most of the journey pointing and shouting at a woman in the seat behind calling her a 'bagel'. Luckily she was asleep and i still cannot see the connection? Very DADA. Gave me time to note down the locations and ideas i had seen for artwork at Victoria and other stations on the way.
In late, tired and i have to be in London again tomorrow.
Tuesday 17th
Went into University early to have a quick discussion about artwork/ publicity for a 'Disability Arts event' in December to mark the 'International day of the Disabled person'. To-wards the end i received a call from a 'rail company' whose accessibility manager is in Portsmouth 'would i like to be introduced to his replacement?' Head off to the station to present project (again…) and show examples of locations around the main station where the work would fit in. This all goes well and spend some time shadowing them on a few journeys. Unfortunately i get off at Fareham to return to Portsmouth and it takes me just under 2hrs to get back as i can only travel on 'selective' trains at present. Will be so much easier when i have passes to travel on the other networks trains. Still gives me chance to chat with staff about AP and gather some 'stories'. Work some more on the bursary application and outlining AP and what i have just heard, when i get in.
Monday 16th
Got up knowing i would have to write till lunchtime, after yesterday this looked even more gloomy. Did it though and actually achieved a fair bit. Was working on a bursary application, 'what would i like to develop with the money?' Judging by the state of the weather here i fancy creating lines in a hot 'Dessert', Nazca Style. Doubt if i will get away with it so act a bit more conventionally. All i desire to do is develop, create and show. Applications at present feel the biggest barrier ti fulfilling this.
Head off to Aspex Gallery in early afternoon, they are hosting a 'Social enterprise' event. Meet up with UnLtd, based in London. They gave me an award last year to look in to setting up a network based in Portsmouth for Dyslexic artists of any description. (anyone interested in hearing more? [email protected]) They are quite unique as they are one of the only organizations who give grants to individuals. They very pleased with the progress so will drop in to their London office over next few weeks to tie things up. Meet with both familiar and non people and leave to head home. Had a look at main gallery exhibition too, very 'blue'. No rain?
Sunday 15th
Tried to do nothing all day as very tired, as always you get 'ideas' and have to record them one way or another. Artists don't switch off. Real pain as have to write some of the day. Just wanted to switch off.
