New Book : Papillon

I have a new book published. I have spent the last three years photographing the stand-up comedy, cabaret, poetry and music scene in South Wales as a project for my Photography Masters degree. I have produced a book of black and white photographs which you can order by emailing me at rhysjones@ntlworld.com. My current intention is to undertake research building on work I have already completed but linking photography and art to the world of neuroscience and in particular to the world of conditions on the autism spectrum. Art and science are interlinked. Autism spectrum conditions have, as typical symptoms, some sort of communication problem or disorder. Photography, as a mysterious art form, can help generate a picture to a clinician of what a subject is trying to say without necessarily any words passing from the subject under review. Art can often be used to analyse what we are thinking and mean to put across and I am researching the use of art and photography as a tool alongside scientific analysis obtained by continuing studies in the field of neuroscience.

Encore une fois - Paris

I'm working in Paris over the week-end until next Monday. Another opportunity to take in the architectural delights of Montparnasse, the quartier where I am staying. On the first Sunday of each month entry to all museums and galleries is completely free so I hope to take advantage of that offer, work permitting! I'm lucky to have this opportunity to travel in a time of economic recession so I'm going to make the most of it!

Le Grand Départ

Always useful to have a signpost, direction board or map when starting out on something new. Sometimes though the end of the journey is unfamiliar but we should still start.

What we say is what we mean ?

.......well mostly but frequently communication differences often arise unintentionally and this is where the use of photography may have a part to play in teasing out what someone is feeling. Photography can also be used to exaggerate the distances that people put between themselves. I came across an interesting project by artist Alicia Eggert called Red Collar Incorporated which she explored some issues of miscommunication and set up a number of experiments with collaborators involving music and dance. A common example in management courses is for each person to take turns communicating a concept to the next person in a circle and see how this is is communicated to each person in turn and what the original concept ends up as when the last person re-communicates to the originator.

Photoshooting

Just completed a photoshoot with a South-Wales based burlesque troupe called The Dollie Mixtures. They put a lot of hard work into their dance routines and really stay authentic to the origins of burlesque with a retro feel and I've tried to interpret that retro feel in the photos I've done for them. They have a web site. All their shows raise a lot of money for different charities. The photoshoot I've just done is for a series of images to go into their 2011 Charity Calendar which will be on sale from their web site. Keep checking back. We had a lot of fun with the photos and I'm sure this will come out in the final product. The photo here was taken on Penarth Beach on an especially sunny day.

Making a list

Had an early night last night, which I needed and managed to get in 12 hours sleep...so I really must have needed it! It was like the sleep of Lethe, named after the Greek god of sleep...the word literally translates to oblivion and forgetfulness. I awoke to the Radio 4 Today programme and he first words I could make out where those of Thought for the Day where the speaker was talking about a list that was made by Kate Greene, a mother of two young boys, who sadly died from cancer. It was a list of 100 items she made for her partner with thoughts she had for him to do with the boys after she was gone. I found it very poignant but a great way to make something positive when everything around must have felt like falling apart. I'm doing a photoshoot this week-end and I've made my own list to try and make everything run as fault free as possible. Kate's list is one that anyone with kids could use to make family life as fulfilled as possible...so I'm glad I heard that thought for the day!

Work Selected!

Just had some work selected for an NHS project in Swansea to put work in the ward of a local hospital. Part of a group which has been working with the staff and management over the summer. The work was chosen by a panel of users. My images will be printed A2 size on canvas. Nice to think that they will be part of someone's life for the next few years! Being on a beach or drifting in a boat is a great sensation and a hopeful and positive experience.

Final Show

Images from my final MA show entitled 'Sans Frontieres - Without Boundaries' - an analysis of the philosophical thoughts and teachings of Gilles Deleuze and his collaborators applied to the world of cabaret and burlesque. The postcards I have made show a number of images from cabaret and burlesque shows in South Wales and in particular feature a burlesque group called The Dollie Mixtures. The catalogue for the Swansea Met Art and Design MA Group Final show '13 Contemporary Dialogues' can be found here.

Future Arts Funding

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to ring-fence funding for the arts and reverse the decision to siphon off funding from them to help pay for the olympics.

Submitted by Nick Reed – Deadline to sign up by: 06 June 2010 – Signatures: 1,673

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/artsVolympics/

Government response

The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport has been clear that putting the economy back on its feet and restoring the nation’s finances is this Government‘s top priority. Therefore all budgets, whether large or small, are going to have to be re-examined. The arts budget will not, therefore, be ring-fenced in the coming Spending Review.

The Olympic transfers began in February 2009 and run in 15 instalments until August 2012. The arts Lottery good cause is contributing a total of £161 million to this transfer.
It was always clear that money raised by the National Lottery would be a key part of the funding package for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and that some of any increase in cost would have to be met from the Lottery. However, even after the Olympic transfers, the arts good cause can still expect to receive, on current projections and at current shares, over £1 billion of new Lottery funding over the five year period of the Olympic transfers (2008/09 to 2012/13).

After 2012, all of the Lottery good causes income will revert to non-Olympic causes, including the arts. On current projections and at the current share of 16.66%, the arts can expect to receive an extra £46 million in 2013/14, compared with 2007/08. The Lottery good causes will also benefit from development value realised from the Olympic site after the Games.

The arts good cause has received over £3.5 billion of Lottery funding since the Lottery began in 1994 and the Government is committed to increasing this further by restoring the National Lottery to its original purpose. We have recently announced a consultation to change the National Lottery shares to 20% for each of the good causes of sport, heritage and the arts. Under these proposals the arts good cause can expect to receive £50 million a year extra in Lottery funding.

Graduation - what next ?

Our final show has been and gone. I created an exhibit based around the philosophy of Gilles Deleuze and the world of burlesque and cabaret performance. The exhibit comprised seven images for display, a book I created of words and images (available to buy), postcards, a 'what the butler saw' presentation of burlesque themed performance, and a podcast comprising of interviews conducted with performers. Thinking about what to do next.

Just a few days left........

6 may 2010 is when the UK gets a chance to vote for the men and women who will represent us in Parliament. For the first time in 100 years there is a real chance that a third party the Liberal Democrats could gain enough seats to provide an alternative to either the Conservative or Labour parties. Some form of urgent change and new thinking is urgently needed in my opinion. It's easy to be cynical and say it is all a flash in the pan which no doubt the Murdoch-owned press will try and do. It has been so in the past that support has polarised around one party at the last minute but I'm not so sure about that this time. My prediction is for a balanced Parliament and a government formed on that basis - co-operation rather than adversarial confrontation. Whether I'm right or wrong we will see next week....

Mab Jones - Guardian Guest blogger

Check out the very talented Cardiff performance poet and writer Mab Jones who has written a guest blog in the Guardian with details of local literary events in South Wales. Mab also has her own blog and website where you can find out details of her work and her forthcoming book 'Welsh Wool'.

Mab also co-curates with another poet and writer the monthly poetry and literary event 'Poetry on Tap' and also runs the highly successful comedy and variety club Jam Bones Events.

She's planning to be at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this summer - so look out for her!

Mab has also been featured in my 18 month photographic project on performers and performances - a book forthcoming on that hopefully later this year!

The Big Residency - Postcards

Wales Millennium Centre from 19.00 - come and see our postcards and write your own!