Showing posts with label #exhibition. Show all posts

Tuesday, 10 November 2015

quiet little voices

regular readers will need no introduction to My Dog Sighs. Based in Southsea, Portsmouth, UK with a world spanning reputation - and pieces on several continents. MDS is at home painting big on the side of a house or painting angels on a pinhead. Here's a house:

the house is in Gosport near St John's School

the owner is (a) happy and @ OhkayPaints

this is a great colab between My Dog Sighs and a whole bunch of kids, part of a project called Democracy Street. you can see the collaborators reflected in the eyes.

On Friday My Dog Sighs latest exhibition opens at the Play Dead studio in Southsea.

Things are gonna get a bit smaller.

Things are gonna get a bit darker.

More tomorrow.

Friday, 14 November 2014

Midge and My Dog Sighs - Together in Solitude exhibition

Lucky dip, reasons to be cheerful, artwork by Midge and My Dog Sighs

This evening Together in Solitude, an exhibition of collaborative art by Southsea artists Midge and My Dog Sighs, opened at the Coastguard gallery, Clarendon Road, Portsmouth. Each piece is painted in acrylics on old, weathered sheet music paper and features a figure in Midge's distinctive style with a face by My Dog Sighs.

Alice, Midge & My Dog Sighs, 2014

In the run up to this exhibition most of this week's Corn Poppy posts have featured My Dog Sighs. However Together in Solitude is not a My Dog Sighs exhibition; it is very much a joint venture. These pieces depend on both My Dog and Midge equally. Most visual artists work alone (unlike musicians who like to play with each other). To collaborate there needs to be a high level of trust - you really don't want someone mucking up your masterpiece. But here we have two artists complementing each other's work, creating synergy, something that is more than the sum of its parts.

Love's Young Dream, Midge & My Dog Sighs, 2014

A Soldier and a Man, Midge & My Dog Sighs, 2014

Birds' Awakening, Midge & My Dog Sighs, 2014

The third element, after Midge and My Dog, is the paper. It is both a backdrop to each painting but also the inspiration for each painting. On another medium the paintings would be missing something. Like this they are complete.

Remembrance, Midge & My Dog Sighs, 2014

Akice, Midge & My Dog Sighs, 2014

Cradle Song, Midge & My Dog Sighs, 2014

Spot the artist. Some of the best street artists around were present including a big showing from SSOVA who are going to be remembering Ben Naz this weekend (more on that later).

With such a selection on view how could you choose one, just one? Well, sometimes something just stops you in your tracks. It's like falling in love. Hard to explain but you know it when it hits you.

Angels, ever Bright and Fair, Midge & My Dog Sighs, 2014

It's this one.

The Exhibition is at Coastguard Studio, Clarendon Road http://bit.ly/11eaSPZ PO4 0BY until November 19th, open Saturday to Tuesday 10:00 until 6:00 and Wednesday 10:00 until 2:00.

And finally, thanks to The Agent . . .

Free Art Friday, My Dog Sighs, 2014

Wednesday, 12 March 2014

Bill Drummond - gang warily

It's springtime.

Forty bunches of daffodils, Bill Drummond

There are few artists who continue to produce work which is surprising, witty, interesting and challenging throughout their career. Bill Drummond's work is not designed to shock; not designed to say "I'm cleverer than you". It does make you think. There are things we take for granted that Bill Drummond doesn't.

Cindy and the Barbi Dolls, Big in Japan

Bill Drummond on guitar, grooving with Dave Balfe on bass

Jayne Cassey on squeaky vocals with Ian Broudie on vocals and guitar

Budgie bashing the drums

The first time I saw Big Bill Drummond was in the Eagle pub in Lime Street Liverpool in 1976. He may have been with Roger Eagle (music promoter and legend) talking to Roger Chapman (once of Family, then of Streetwalkers, another legend) who was playing at the Empire that evening.

The first time I saw a piece of performance art by Big Bill Drummond was when he was with the band Big in Japan. I thought I was watching someone playing guitar in a band; I didn't realise I was watching someone who was playing the part of someone playing in a band. He was that good.

At the time I sometimes played the part of someone watching a band.

Bill Drummond launches a raft and an exhibition tomorrow, March 13th 2014, at noon under Spaghetti Junction. It is the start of a touring exhibition that will last until 2025. Spend some time looking around Penkiln Burn to find out more about the world and work of Big Bill Drummond. If you can, make your way to Birmingham before the 20th June 2014.

Bill Drummond

WORLD TOUR: 2014 -2025

Drummond is still concerned there may not be enough time to get everything done before he dies

Saturday, 25 January 2014

beautiful creatures

What is the opposite of two? a lonely me and a lonely you

Lena, thenewcornpoppy, 2013

Lena's hair was sticking out in about fifteen directions, and her eyes were all small and puffy from crying. So this was what girls looked like in the morning. I had never seen one, not up close

Zanzibar and the Star of Wales on the fishing boat bobbing sea, thenewcornpoppy, 2013

Darkness, real darkness, was more than just a lack of light

Im not lonely I'm just lonesome

What is the opposite of two? A lonely me and a lonely you.

Every day was like a day out of someone else's life

I Heart Bunny 4 Life

I never loved you any more than I do, right this second.

And I'll never love you any less than I do, right this second.

Giles Annual 1969, cover

We all make our choices, and those choices have consequences

Spinelli's Masterpiece, Recess

The right thing and the easy thing are never the same

quotes from Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia

Saturday, 18 January 2014

calming seas and desert skies

You know when people come knocking on your door trying to sell you their brand of religion? There's a reason they do that - it's because they believe. They genuinely think that the thing that they know is so important that your life will be better if you hear about it.

Now, I can't say that it works for me. Being told/sold what's "good for me", whether it is double glazing, religion or insurance, is pretty much guranteed to make me close the door or put the phone down. But I want to share something with you. Because I believe.

Beachwood Sparks debut album, Desert Skies, recorded way back in the 20th century, was released at the tail end of last year. You should hear it. You can come round and listen or get a copy of your own. Either way, get some Beachwood Sparks into your life. You'll feel all the better for it!