29/12/11

23/12/11

Roots
Torn
(scared)

HUNT
I hunt

(oh god)

23/12/11 (2)

Studio update 12/12/11 (belated)

Continuing to discuss place. Remembering past places and considering and predicting future places. Present places. Where am I?

14/12/11

I took my ladies to the sea
We had just pressed the shells into our bones
And we saw the queen in the sky
Gently revealing the treasures of her crowns
We took off all of our armour
Every last single drop of gold
And we banished the land
Lifted our bodies right up into the cold
Wilderness, in the darkest light
I called out to my brothers
‘Come join me in flight’
And the tears they did roll
From the salty sea, the rainy sky,
And the wide eyes the wide eyes
My heart it did swell
As the grandest of stars burst out names in the skies
I could see but a thousand
Of families and friends I had thought been long gone
And the thunder claps hands as I embrace them
And we howled out to every single last one

-Bat For Lashes; Wilderness

The Big Walk

10/12/11

From: Jess Young
Sent: 10 December 2011 07:56:01
To: didge


Good morning!

I imagine you will already be on your way to me as I write this, but I am awake, and excited, so I am emailing!
I think I have everything packed- there seems to be quite a lot, and I did try only to pack the essentials!
As far as art stuff goes I only have three kinds of paper, pens and pencils and masking tape. Again, I thought those were the basics. I also have two cameras- the beast if the weather's nice, the waterproof camera if it's not!
Still undecided on my coat/jacket as it's v dark out there, but I'll bring both, because my fleecey one is so warm and cosy + will do for camping/the next day as well. I've also packed a pair of soft jeans and my ugly jumper to get changed into, as well as cooling leg gel and foot cream!

Gosh, I hope I've remembered everything!

I only have two pairs of spare walking socks.. I think the rest must be in the wash because I've been wearing my doc martens all week... but I'm sure that'll be fine anyway. And then a nice cosy pair for after the walk I'm so looking forward to camping! The last tiem I went camping was when I was 12 with Jen, and it was that week that we became really good friends. We had an awful time though! This will be supremely better. Still don't have tissues, mustn't forget tissues.
I'm also trying hard to think of myself, ourselves, going out into the depths of Cornwall not just as prepared walkers, but as working artists.
What I need to take from this walk. What I want to document, but also feel and experience. I'm so terrified of missing anything!

I've just checked the weather again, and it's a little windier and cloudier, but still no rain, and about 10 degrees, so we can't complain at that. I have faith that we'll still be able to enjoy the moon- the wind will blow all of those clouds away. And we will be pagans and travellers dancing under the sky and exploring our excellent country.

Right. You will be here in half an hour or so, so I will use my last few minutes to make sure all is well and I'm ready to gogogo.

See you soon for our magnificent adventure!

Jessxxxxx


> From: didge
> Subject: packing oh gawd packing
> Date: Fri, 9 Dec 2011 23:47:07 +0000
> To: Jess Young
>
> Hey there
> I am still gathering stuff and I want to go to bed.
> I got a lighter, pencil sharpener, plastic bags lots, art gear,
>
> Going to get changed at Kensa's for the walk. Pj's pillow. Tattys, organic squash, tinfoil waterproofs, two pairs of boots, Alcohol, 20 socks, coconut body cream, dove soap, soft warm hanging out clothes, hula reminder (have to dance for the full moon).etc etc
>
> Right going to finish tomorrow
> Night, night.
> xx

Studio update 09/12/11

Printing today.
Celesteal and soft against the earthbound, dusty, green, solid.
The spirit and the sky.
A shared sky.
Images more delicate than I had expected. Newsprint.
Paste into dioramas?
Layers. Layers and layers of so many things and thoughts and memories.
It can often be anti-climatic, printing. But not today.
Images, ambiguous, palimpsest. Place over place over place.
YES!
Bringing all of these places together in a safe and sad and comforting way, and making imagery.
And I am happy, because I can do this, and it makes it all a little easier to understand- one shred at a time.

Studio update 07/12/11

Bring all of these places of significance together to create something that can be held and explored, and that isn't so fragmented.
Horizon/sky/journey
Shared space
Collective landscape

Studio update 05/12/11

It's strange, but it feels as though now BAS7 has gone, I've finally got myself back. No other obligations or distractions. It's time to be an artist again.







Imaginary landscapes
-Creating a world that I can inhabit.

Working from my criteria of places of signficance- creating new places.
Simple places- a line, a feeling, a colour. But it means all of these things that I've been trying to grasp.

Exhibition: Bridgette Ashton

A show that I've been extradordinarily excited by is Bridgette Ashton at Plymouth Arts Centre- sadly ending today.
I rolled across it by accident this week and am furious with myself that I didn't go to the PV, and then go and see it every day after!
He work is a nostalgic, sensual, obsessive exploration of place and archiving. Exploring defunct places, creating new narratives within them, collecting and getting excited! Everything that I love.
The current show consists of large and small models, framed prints, found items, and zines. It's a fantastic collection that you are welcome to explore and make connections for yourself. You get a real feel for the places that she's describing, and want to know more!

A very exciting show. I will certainly be running back there today before it closes.

04/12/11

There are two things that I can talk about. Place- Specific place- Geographically. Maps, names, specific memories. I can do that and be very literal and tour-guidey... Which might be easier to understand... easier to present to other people...

Or.

I can talk about place in another way; in THE other way. Discuss the criteria of significance, and talk about dampness and the experience of travelling and trying to find places that resonate in the right way. And I think if that's intangible and woolly... Well it just has to be fine. Because I think that's the right thing to do.

Presence of a sea or otherwise; this is the bare bones of it.


Either one or two lines between where I stand, and the sky.

Nebula; Come to Ours

Fringe event: Come to Ours
By Jess Young

Come to Ours is a series of artist-led fringe events and activities, run by and comprising of Neil Rose, Rachel Dobbs, Hannah Jones, Mark James, Chris Green, Bryony Gillard and Beth Richards. There have been six strands of Come to Ours running alongside British Art Show 7; A Circle (Now finished), The Library of Independent Exchange (Now finished, but returning to Plymouth College of Art Viewpoint Gallery in February 2012), Plymouth Aural Survey, Video Takeaway, Would You Like This Badge?, and The Fireplace Gallery. Having spoken with Neil Rose of Come to Ours, the feeling that you get, despite each of these events being very different in content, is of the overriding desire to welcome ‘outsiders’, visitors to BAS7, into our city, and into perhaps the more intimate, friendly face of Plymouth’s art scene; as he put it, to “assist people who don’t know the city, to navigate the city... assist them in achieving those things that they need.” In many ways, from what I gather, the projects are to be viewed as an absolute beginner’s guide to Plymouth; the artists involved are confirming for you the takeaways that it’s okay to eat from, and the pubs that it’s okay to drink in, inviting you into their homes, and telling you a bit about the People of Plymouth.

My own experience of the Come to Ours program is that it offers a much more inviting, less rigid art experience- most of them giving the viewer the opportunity to also become a participant in these art activities, and actually a wholly different experience to that of the British Art Show, and the expectation of viewing art within the typical gallery space.
The Come to Ours activities have been very varied, and have included Performance art, or more accurately art with performative aspects as in A Circle, an independent arts library; L.I.E, and a tongue-in-cheek take on the classic white gallery space, at the Fireplace Gallery where you can view micro-exhibitions every Sunday.

BAS7 may be drawing to a close, but have no fear, if you’re quick you can still experience a lot of what Come to Ours have to offer;
Plymouth Aural Survey can be experienced online at www.PlymouthAuralSurvey.co.uk;
The Library of Independent Exchange is over for now, but will return to Plymouth at PCA Viewpoint Gallery from the beginning of February 2012;
You can catch the Video Takeaway at Ali Baba’s New York Express Mon-Thurs 7pm-close, and at Jakes Fri-Sat 7pm-close right up until December 3rd;
Would You Like This Badge? Will be running until December 4th at The Fortescue, The Seymour Arms, The Nowhere Inn, Ride Café, and B-Bar, though if you do actually want a badge, you’d better get there quick!
And finally, the Fireplace Gallery will still be putting on microcosmic exhibitions until 4th December- Every Sunday from 3-6pm. Contact the Fireplace at Fireplace-gallery@live.co.uk if you would like to visit.
More information can be found on the Come to Ours website at www.CometoOurs.co.uk