20 - 10 - 11.

A long time since my last update - primarily because I have been working on one project for the entire time that has only just reached it's final realisation. Firstly back in June I was privaleged enough to take part in ARTSIDE 2011 - a series of commissioned public artworks in Southend-on-Sea. For the festival I produced The Southend Is Nigh - a series of altered seaside postcards showing Southend in a series of cosmic, religious and geologically apocalyptic situations.

My time in Southend was brief but incredible - I received a tour of the TAP studios, a look at an awesome show at CoExist Gallery and took part in the excellent Future Park series of discussions at Metal in Westcliff. I may be sounding sarcastic but trust me, Southend has a series art-buzz at the moment and it was inspiring to witness and be a part of it for a few days.

After the show I was left with the postcards and I have been working towards presenting them in an artist's book - handmade, handbound with the title hand-burnt onto the front cover. These books are now finished and had their first exposure to the world at Parallax AF - an art fair in ludicrously-central London that took place last week. I also showed a text work and a photogram.

Parallax continues this week with the very fine work of Rob Reed and Richard Humby - I recommend seeking it out whilst it's still up - it's at La Galleria, Royal Opera Arcade, Pall Mall.

On the imminent horizon (next week) I will be showing When I Masturbate I Think of Outer Space - (retitled When I Vomit I Think of Outer Space for any younger participants) and one sixth of Cosmic Crazy Golf as part of Compartment's contribution to Brighton and Amiens' all-night art festival White Night:Nuit Blanche. The work will be open 6pm to 6am and it promises to be a truly incredible time with various Hallowe'ened peoples trawling the streets in the wee hours looking for various late night musical, artistic, dance-based and theatrical actions. I was a mere punter last year and it involved a late night invasion of the Sealife Centre, some medieval music in the phenomenal St Bartholemew's Church (built to the exact proportions of Noah's Ark), video works, installations and various other pleasure that have fallen in the gaps of my mind.

The Southend Is Nigh will be available to buy off of this site soon - I'll keep you posted.

Much love,
Carl x

07 - 06 - 11.

Just spent two days invigilating and giving guided tours to Heart of Darkness, part of Fringe Arts Bath and I have to say I was truly blown away by the quality, diversity and impact of work on display across the entire FAB network. The Heart of Darkness show itself is a really powerful collection of pieces that provoke strong dialogue with the underground, isolated and contemplative nature of the space it is displayed within (although my work has reacted badly to the damp conditions). Furthermore, the range of work and exhibitions housed at the Old Officer's Club, Stall Street (smack in the middle of the city) is really quite something. If you live remotely in the West of England or simply have nowt to do with funds and time to spare I emplore you to visit before the festival closes next weekend.

Anyway, that's enough gushing from me.

30 - 05 - 11.

Just got back from Meadowlands Festival and a slight over-sleeping-van-hire catastrophe that was gloriously rectified by my two assistants this weekend - Carlie Dragone and Susan Dunford. The whole festival was thrashed by the extreme winds that have gripped the South over the past few weeks and we seemed to have picked the most exposed spot to install ourselves. Nonetheless, Cosmic Crazy Golf's second exhibition went down a treat with minimal major technical difficulties and some very high and very low scores were had by people of all ages. One particular highlight was when a planet got lodged right on the event horizon of Flamm's Paraboloid (Hole Six) only to be ricocheted into the central maw of the black hole by another player's blue ice giant-type planet. I doubt we'll be seeing that again anytime soon.

Also, gigantic thanks to the Crowborough Division of St John's Ambulance without whom the entire experience would've been much much harder (they had a kettle). Other highlights included the apocalyptic-charity-casino-tent Apokerlypse Now, some incredible poetry in the Meadowlands 2011 Slam hosted by Bang! Said the Gun, Turin Brake's performance of their beguiling debut The Optimist LP, sets by Tall Ships, Mirrors, 6 Day Riot and Penguin Café and last but not least, a creperie that was serving salted caramel crepes. Phenomenal.

This week also saw the opening of Fringe Arts Bath - last year's shows were all of exceptional quality. I am showing as part of Heart of Darkness in the North Vaults. Go and see all the visual art shows - with artists of the calibre of Claire Barrett and Fiona Cassidy I can promise they will not dissapoint.

New work in the pipelines and, as you may have noticed, the continuing battle that is me trying to make this website more visually acceptable continues. - check out the finally updated Links, Press, Works and Editions pages.

Till next time,
Carl x

22 - 04 - 11.

A month since my last update and not too much to report in truth.

Initially spent recovering from the hard work of getting Cosmic Crazy Golf up and running (which went incredibly well - eternal thanks to Dave Adcock, Grace Baker, Adam Boon, Lee Broughall, Susan Dunford, Abby Martin, Nicholas Lott, Kelly Marie-Roberts, Christopher Pike, Fahimah Syed-Nahar and all at Portsmouth and Southsea's Arts Division. See photos and info here- COSMIC CRAZY GOLF) and since then been preparing for new work, both thinking about and making.

Hopefully the first slice of this new work will debut at a show taking part of Fringe Arts Bath. Entitled "Heart of Darkness" the show is taking place in, from what I can tell, an underground bunker and visitors will be guided around the show in small groups.

Finally, my drive to twin Stoke-on-Trent with an astronomical body is still underway - sign the online petition here - SIGN PETITION!!!!!!!!!!

That's all for now.
Speak soon.

Ooh - and here's my new favourite animal - GREENLAND SHARK.

Carl x