I want an arm to gnaw on
I want a hand to bite
I want to pretend I'm asleep
when I'm looking for a fight
I want to eat what you are eating
I don't want chicken
I want to go through every door
I don't know what I'm missing
I want to sit on your shoulder
while you are trying to read
I want to crawl up your legs
while you are brushing your teeth
I want to clean myself
like i've got OCD
I want to relieve myself
while you are in the vicinity
I want to go crazy
at least 15 times a day
and I want to be lazy
while you lot are earning your pay
Tuesday, 24 November 2009
Sunday, 22 November 2009
Frosted Leaf, Crumpled Leaf (left to disintegrate)
I fell down here
waiting for
the slightest breeze
How will you find me
buried so far
underneath
We bloomed so briefly
when we first kissed
last spring
But our colours faded
as soon as the sun
had gone in
And I watched each fall
one by one
until the end
waiting for
the slightest breeze
How will you find me
buried so far
underneath
We bloomed so briefly
when we first kissed
last spring
But our colours faded
as soon as the sun
had gone in
And I watched each fall
one by one
until the end
Friday, 20 November 2009
Jumper Poem
I like jumpers
All types of jumpers
People jumpers
People in jumpers
People jumping in jumpers
Jumpers
Woolly jumping jumpers
Woolly jumping fully-jumpered jumping smiling jumpers
Just jumpers
Plain and simple jumpers
Complicated, pretty and sickly jumpers
Jumpers that are cheap and nasty
Smashing jumpers
Green jumpers
You wish you were a jumper
Don't laugh
You wish you were and that's a fact!
I like to pretend i'm a jumper
A jumping jumper
Watch me jump i'm a jumper!
Who'd rather be sat when they can be a jumper?
I'm joking now
The jumpers i really like
Are the type you can wear to keep you warm
They are 'functional jumpers'
They are worn for a purpose
But they can still be beautiful jumpers
You usually see old men in them
Because they know how to wear a jumper
And when you buy them second hand
They still smell of the last old man
But in that smell there is 'jumper knowledge'
The experience of jumpers which can't be bought
It can be obtained only through years of 'jumper dedication'
Now I wish this was something i had
But as much as i love jumpers
I still like hats quite a bit too
And if i had to choose between them
As silly as this may sound
I would probably choose to be a hat
Because a hat can still be useful when sat
And a jumper is only any good when he's off the ground
All types of jumpers
People jumpers
People in jumpers
People jumping in jumpers
Jumpers
Woolly jumping jumpers
Woolly jumping fully-jumpered jumping smiling jumpers
Just jumpers
Plain and simple jumpers
Complicated, pretty and sickly jumpers
Jumpers that are cheap and nasty
Smashing jumpers
Green jumpers
You wish you were a jumper
Don't laugh
You wish you were and that's a fact!
I like to pretend i'm a jumper
A jumping jumper
Watch me jump i'm a jumper!
Who'd rather be sat when they can be a jumper?
I'm joking now
The jumpers i really like
Are the type you can wear to keep you warm
They are 'functional jumpers'
They are worn for a purpose
But they can still be beautiful jumpers
You usually see old men in them
Because they know how to wear a jumper
And when you buy them second hand
They still smell of the last old man
But in that smell there is 'jumper knowledge'
The experience of jumpers which can't be bought
It can be obtained only through years of 'jumper dedication'
Now I wish this was something i had
But as much as i love jumpers
I still like hats quite a bit too
And if i had to choose between them
As silly as this may sound
I would probably choose to be a hat
Because a hat can still be useful when sat
And a jumper is only any good when he's off the ground
Thursday, 19 November 2009
Sketch
Tomorrow shall I chance
to sit amongst the dirt & pigeon droppings?
Shall I draw some old, grey statue
while above me they are planning my downfall?
And when I look up to watch them fly
I'll find they've gone and sullied
another one of my sketches
to sit amongst the dirt & pigeon droppings?
Shall I draw some old, grey statue
while above me they are planning my downfall?
And when I look up to watch them fly
I'll find they've gone and sullied
another one of my sketches
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
Trees & Flowers - A film about Strawberry Switchblade & Glasgow
The Islington Mill Art Academy were invited to take part in the 'Moot Points' exhibition at Transmission Gallery in Glasgow in November 2008. The exhibition was over one month and explored 'self-organisation, discourse and collaboration' in a number of different ways.
Background on Trees & Flowers
The idea behind the project evolved as I began to gather more information about the band's history. From old interviews I discovered that Jill & Rose used to go to a punk venue called the Silver Thread Hotel in Paisley (a town just outside Glasgow) in the late seventies, as punk bands had been banned from playing in Glasgow at the time and there were very few places that even played punk records. After deciding to make a trip to Paisley to search for the hotel I happened across the slightly darker history of Paisley, concerning the famous witch trials of 1696 (the last recorded witch trials in Scotland). I liked this connection (given the band's gothic image & having described themselves as 'scabby witches of Glasgow') and decided to persue it further.
After gathering some information from Paisley Library's expansive collection of literature on these trials I attemped to search out places of interest using an 18th century map of Paisley on which they were marked. These included the burial ground (now major road intersection), the building where the accused had been imprisoned (now a high street chemist's) and the execution site (an unmarked park opposite high-rise council flats and suprisingly difficult to find despite still being named Gallows Green). According to records the burial site was marked with a horseshoe, which was stolen in the 1970's and supposedly brought bad luck to the town following its removal, until the council replaced it with a replica in the 1990's after complaints from local people. I was informed by one Paisley resident that it was impossible to see the horseshoe unless you were on a bus, and I later discovered this to be true (after several vain attempts to see it).
What turned out to be most elusive of all was the Silver Thread Hotel. After several hours of searching/ questioning I established that it had been turned into a nursing home, but disappointingly I was not able to get any information on the building's previous use when I eventually located it. However, out of desperation I questioned some people working in the hotel nearby and by chance they had been to the Silver Thread many years earlier, although its previous life as a punk venue was unknown to them.
Due to time constraints the version of 'Trees & Flowers' which was shown at Transmission Gallery was very rough and did not include much of the footage which I took during the week. However I do intend to finish the film properly at some point, and also to write up a more complete diary of the whole project. This version of the film can be seen below. It has been split into 3 parts and the quality is slightly less than the original because of the upload size.
Trees & Flowers (Part 1)
Trees & Flowers (Part 2)
We organised various events during our one week residency from 3-8 November (see the Art Academy blog for more details). I made a film about the 80's pop band Strawberry Switchblade entitled 'Trees & Flowers' and this was screened on the Saturday as part of a Strawberry Switchblade Fan Convention which I organised (or attempted to).
Background on Trees & Flowers
The idea behind the project evolved as I began to gather more information about the band's history. From old interviews I discovered that Jill & Rose used to go to a punk venue called the Silver Thread Hotel in Paisley (a town just outside Glasgow) in the late seventies, as punk bands had been banned from playing in Glasgow at the time and there were very few places that even played punk records. After deciding to make a trip to Paisley to search for the hotel I happened across the slightly darker history of Paisley, concerning the famous witch trials of 1696 (the last recorded witch trials in Scotland). I liked this connection (given the band's gothic image & having described themselves as 'scabby witches of Glasgow') and decided to persue it further.
After gathering some information from Paisley Library's expansive collection of literature on these trials I attemped to search out places of interest using an 18th century map of Paisley on which they were marked. These included the burial ground (now major road intersection), the building where the accused had been imprisoned (now a high street chemist's) and the execution site (an unmarked park opposite high-rise council flats and suprisingly difficult to find despite still being named Gallows Green). According to records the burial site was marked with a horseshoe, which was stolen in the 1970's and supposedly brought bad luck to the town following its removal, until the council replaced it with a replica in the 1990's after complaints from local people. I was informed by one Paisley resident that it was impossible to see the horseshoe unless you were on a bus, and I later discovered this to be true (after several vain attempts to see it).
What turned out to be most elusive of all was the Silver Thread Hotel. After several hours of searching/ questioning I established that it had been turned into a nursing home, but disappointingly I was not able to get any information on the building's previous use when I eventually located it. However, out of desperation I questioned some people working in the hotel nearby and by chance they had been to the Silver Thread many years earlier, although its previous life as a punk venue was unknown to them.
Due to time constraints the version of 'Trees & Flowers' which was shown at Transmission Gallery was very rough and did not include much of the footage which I took during the week. However I do intend to finish the film properly at some point, and also to write up a more complete diary of the whole project. This version of the film can be seen below. It has been split into 3 parts and the quality is slightly less than the original because of the upload size.
Trees & Flowers (Part 1)
Trees & Flowers (Part 2)
Trees & Flowers (Part 3)
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
Balloon
Even if you weren't wonderful
and your shoes weren't cool
even if your hair was grey
I'd still love you
But because you're as wonderful
as a lovely blue balloon
by the time I found you
you were halfway to the moon
and your shoes weren't cool
even if your hair was grey
I'd still love you
But because you're as wonderful
as a lovely blue balloon
by the time I found you
you were halfway to the moon
Friday, 13 November 2009
Drawings
Some drawings I did, mostly from a sketchbook I was using during Art Academy, summer 2006 onwards.
Sun on Mertz Bahn
Louie approaches, running
Peel Park in the afternoon
Night & Day with wet feet
Night & Day with wet feet
Helmut & Kerry's dog
View from bus
The sound of a beer can with rain
Sun on Mertz Bahn
Salford in rushhour
Shadows
Dockyards
Fliers
Some fliers I did (mostly), for events I have organised/co-organised or played at in the past!
Unfortunately this one got cancelled as the venue closed down and they forgot to tell us!
Fiier by April Preston. Bands played in the kitchen and we built a roof in the garden out of bin bags held down by bags of rocks. There were a few minor injuries but nothing serious.
This was one of my the first fliers and the second gig Amida played in Manchester a long long time ago....
Another early Amida gig. The drawing is based on the film 'The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari', which I absolutely love!
I can't remember who did this flier but it is for a night I used to co-run called 'Fight This' and it may be the first/last time I ever try to run a club night!
The first gig that Amida played with our current line-up and the drawing is of Wawel Castle in Krakow.
Another Amida gig! This one was a disaster as far as I remember. Perhaps the upside-down duck was a bad omen.
The first Jamboree & I really stretched the limits of how illegible a flier can be. A memorable evening, particularly for the balloons & box-headed spoons.
Second Jamboree. Flier by Kyle. Nathaniel played instead of Cooties Attack and felt tip pens took the place of balloons.
I really enjoyed this gig, particularly for the playdoh animal sculptures and giant dog costume.
Unfortunately this one got cancelled as the venue closed down and they forgot to tell us!
More venue problems, eventually moved to Saki Bar and narrowly avoided cancellation.
Another potential disaster was saved due to some microphone sharing/shouting from Hotpants Romance!
Slightly odd afternoon show but lots of fun as I remember, despite the lack of people.
Noise + pop = two of my favourite things.
Mrs Cakehead cancelled, despite having the flier dedicated to them. The first time I'd seen Shrieking Violets/ Jam On Bread though and thankfully not the last. Ended with us all making lots of noise!
Slightly disappointed at the lack of beards but will go down as one of my favourite Jamboree's anyway.
Another classic Jamboree line-up! Flier by Kyle.
A one day event called Strawberry Shortcake which was pretty close to my dream line-up at the time.
In collaboration with Cherryade Records. Not many people but I think it was St Patrick's Day which might explain why.
Fiier by April Preston. Bands played in the kitchen and we built a roof in the garden out of bin bags held down by bags of rocks. There were a few minor injuries but nothing serious.
Thursday, 12 November 2009
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