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.