The joys of internet shopping include the postage part, getting a present to yourself. A little pathetic, but I'll own up to that. I ordered two books last week in order to continue my research of superstitions - one is a dictionary, and the above is more of a reference book. Emily Bronte, Thomas Hardy, Robert Burns and the Romantics all referenced the supernatural and the superstitions embedded within the countryside. The wild moors and untouched grounds. Even when I visit the countryside, I can almost feel that throb of something ancient and old. 

Anyways - interestingly enough I read about the folklorist Edward Lovett and the carrying of mascots and abiding by certain rituals were practiced by soldiers in the First World War. It is almost as if in times of vunerability, people turn to things which may seem pagan.

I have completed my work on the superstition of rats and mice today - I'm not too sure how it will fair in an exhibition of fine artists, but I will find out at the meeting tomorrow. Continuing to work on the heroes book (not zine. well slight zine tendencies).

rats

I have been continuing to make work surrounding the dark depths of superstitions - namely the sea. This boat, along with an embroidered 'doomed' and seven felt/knitted rats will be completed this weekend to illustrate the superstition of when rats run off a ship, the voyage is doomed. The actual piece will have lots of extra bits as well referring to the downfall, as possibly I will have 13 sugar mice alongside this for people to take home to commemorate the rodents who did not make it.

This work will be exhibited in a show coming up in the next month or so. I am going to a meeting on Monday evening. Show details and final piece will be posted here.

Frieze

I have been working at Frieze as an performer as part of the work of Sharon Hayes, a New York based artist, whose work deals with public and private addresses and the link of the language of love and politics. This has involved, with 37 others, flyering a different love address each day for 30 minutes. 

Wednesday was probably the day of snobs, faces so tight with botox that you could barely make out a single expression. I encountered a woman who cornered me with suspicion, asked me questions and then handed the speech back. The days since have been much more successful in terms of the reception to the project, although I had another bitch yesterday who proceeded to read the speech in front of me, sarcastically say 'Thanks for that' and some other crap about 'reuseable' art when she handed it back to me. I hope the buyer she was showing around wrote her a faulty cheque. 

Apart from that - it has been fun, especially the reactions of people reading them (although it has meant I have been getting some funny looks). I like the concept of the work, the idea of political and personal merging, as both aspects of speech are usually lined with passion. My favourite line out of all five was from yesterday 'You told me that the ears are the only orifice that can't be closed.' 

The fair was good - work that stood out was some work I saw by Erwin Wurm (massive canvases and a square dressed as a suit with feet and shoes) and a huge sphere that contained a vortex of spiralling water. 

I have agreed to do about three different exhibitions, so I better start making some work tomorrow - tomorrow is when it all starts. I have also been working on zine with Millie Easton...shown above. 

found photos

Siouxie