Thursday 26 March 2009

cultural heroes







I was at my first Pecha kucha yesterday, truly inspiring. The format is short presentations based on 20 pictures shown 20 seconds each. This night 14 people shared all kinds of creative projects. Pecha Kucha happens all over the world, maybe you've all been there and I'm the last to experience this. It's a lovely mix of high and low, serious stuff like how to save world mixed with passages that are just for fun. I've missed a lot!
(Local: och nu vet jag vem som kurbitsmålade Röda Sten häromdan...)

Pecha Kucha Göteborg
Pecha Kucha global
Pecha Kucha videos in Wired
From yesterday's program, a highlight: Skambyrån a Swedish section of the Mortified phenomenon.

Just a few metres from the office where I work, Kaustik gallery where Alexandra shows her heroines and super heroes. More photos here. I saw everyday super heroes from a new point of view.

Monday 23 March 2009

from one viewpoint...





We've had a great spring weekend, long walks in the sun.

Ami, if you read this, I hope you don't mind me using your overhead projector. It was perfect for enlarging the Lidköping wall sketches to the right size.

Before next Monday you can give a vote to Thomas C. Chung. He put his installation from Konstepidemin last December up for a competition at Saatchi Gallery, here...

Li Wei photographs via Wooster Collective

Saturday 21 March 2009

to all the girls





Nina Zetterquist Noli me tangere/Don't touch me touches everyone. The textile- and sound installation in Pannrummet, Konstepidemin, is all about the frailty and beauty of life of girls and women and how easily it's ruined by violence and humiliation.

More artists engaged for girls in the world:
Maria Ängkvist Klyvare's project China girl, photos here
The exhibition opens today at Nya Stadsgalleriet, Halmstad
Buy the Holly dvd here and support film makers, devoted to stop human trafficking.

I'm off for a sunny walk, hope you have a nice weekend too!

Tuesday 17 March 2009

studio time





Finally some studio time. Finished grouting the fourth and final mosaic panel. It will not be mounted until April but I need to clean some mental space before I start the new commission.

Spring is here, budding leaves are proof.

Simon Fell Karparc
Andrew Lord

Friday 13 March 2009

spring backlash









This really didn't feel necessary.

On Saturday Pecka Söderberg, sculptor, and Johan Wingborg, photographer, will tell about a trip to Burning Man, Konstepidemin House 8, at 7 pm.

Cynthia Atwood
Enjoy your weekend!

Wednesday 11 March 2009

visit a painter







Last Saturday was the show opening day of the month at Konstepidemin. I thought I would just do a quick visit but spent all day. Among other happenings Lena Rydén had Open studio. She uses traditional Chinese techniques for her paintings, see more from her studio here.

I'm still struggling with finding new focus for the sketch work. So many escape doors, like doing laundry, sorting papers, making phone calls...

Rimma Gerlovina and Valery Gerlovin

Tuesday 10 March 2009

brick city












I live in a brick city, nice place if you like clay.

This week I'm doing additional sketches for the ceramic wall in Lidköping hospital. It's been out of my mind for a while, now it takes some effort to get into the right mood again. And there is a deadline...

Beverly Penn

Sunday 8 March 2009

reconnections









Over the last time I've been reconnected with people from different periods in life. For sure, you never know what you will mean to someone until afterwards, or they to you.

Rick Hards

Photos above from Råda Säteri

Saturday 7 March 2009

openings







Soon I'm off for todays show openings:
Eva Zethreus at Sintra, sneak peek above
article here (Swedish)
and all the openings at Konstepidemin, this time a real mix of socially interactive video work, textile installation, jewellery and the one day show-only by the 16 young people who took part of art workshops this winter, full program here

PS. Book swap report: I'm content. We were just a few early people. A little shy at first but soon all talked about their books, nice mix of people who would otherwise not have met at all. Some brought full bags, I brought just two, couldn't carry around more all day. I choose two books I liked to read a lot myself and feel ready with, one about the football star Zlatan Ibrahimovic and a comic science fiction novel "Svålhålet" and got two crime novels in return.
Happy weekend!

Wednesday 4 March 2009

swap books Thursday!





I haven't yet decided which ones to bring tomorrow. Thursday 5th is the Big Book Swap Day.
Here in Göteborg people can meet up at Järntorget between 12-13 or 17-18 (I'll go there after work myself). All you need to do is bring a book and look like you want to swap.

Ida and Joakim behind this superclever idea states in their blog "Books. And getting rid of old books you've read. And get new ones. Without getting ruined. We don't like birds". I agree totally except about the birds.

Poster can be downloaded here (Scribd seems to be a clever way to share big documents).
There is a blog in Swedish Stora Bokbytardagen where places to swap are listed. If you don't find your place in the list you can arrange a time and place yourself. You only need to be two.

Monday 2 March 2009

the sound of spring









Melting ice makes a very springy sound, wish I could bring it to you.

Today I'm happy because it's season start of E.R. tonight. And sad because it's the last season. Final days of hectic office work, hope to see my own studio soon.

Happy Clay, thank you Carole
Hoch die tassen