Majestic March – 6 weeks in Scotland!

Hey hey! It’s cooking up to be a busy March!

I’ll be back in Scotland for 6 weeks from next Monday for a few events I’m drawing/participating/co-organising. If you fancy something drawing based, alternative and involving, cast your eye over these.

First up - 3rd March, Sound Thought Festival, The Arches, Glasgow/7th March, Videolab, Edinburgh

Three Lines: Improvised Drawing/Music/Dance

Jenny Soep, Jer Reid, Monica de Ioanni

Two improvised drawing/music/dance performances I’m part of with experimental musician Jer Reid and the beautiful dancer Monica de Ioanni as part of Sound Thought in Glasgow, and Videolab in Edinburgh.  I’ll be creating projected drawings inspired by Monica de Ioanni’s dancing which will then inspire Jer Reid’s music which will then inspire my drawing.  A chain of influential actions.  Get tickets for the Arches performance here.

Second Up - 4th March, The Old Hairdressers, Renfield Lane, Glasgow 6pm until Midnight

Exhibition Launch - 28 Drawings Later

Glasgow based artist Victoria Evans is the brainchild behind this fantastic project to get anyone and everyone drawing. As it says on the poster, ‘What happens if 200 people draw everyday for a month?’

It’s been such a great project to be part of – confidence boosting, inspiring, enlightening, educational, frustrating, fun, and above all gratifying.

The exhibition of originals will be upstairs for one night only, with the copies downstairs being exhibited until the 7th.  The copies will become part of a recycled drawing workshop at the International Women’s Day event. (Info below!)

Third up - Thursday 8th March, The Old Hairdressers, Renfield Lane, Glasgow 12pm until Midnight

The Garterstitch all day event for International Women’s Day, which you might be interested in (it’s going to be pretty awesome by the way!!)  Following on from last year’s gloriously colourful celebration of the centenary of International Women’s Day, Loop|Garterstitch100 has organised a day of events in the Old Hairdressers to be enjoyed by the women, men and children of Glasgow. Browse the pop-up Glasgow Women’s Library, participate in a drawing workshop, watch and dance, try out some alternative crafting with the Garnethill Women’s Institute, eat some cake, listen to music, reflect on talks and information, participate in a sound project, browse and bid for the art works of illustrator Jenny Soep…

Check out more info on what exciting artists/musicians will be performing and what workshops you can participate in here.

Myself and Emma Hagen have a workshop in particular between 1-3pm. Details as follows -

WORKSHOP – DRAWING LIVING THEATRE with Emma Hagen and Jenny Soep

Think of a woman in your life. She could be you.

What’s your least favourite thing about her? What’s your favourite?

Drawing Living Theatre is an interactive workshop using drawing, drama and creative action methods to explore a chosen topic.  At this particular event, the 101st year of International Women’s Day, we look at one negative aspect of a woman in your life, the possibility to accept this, and celebrate the positive. There are always at least two sides, and it can be good to take a fresh look at the flip side.

Thursday 8th March, 1-3pm, upstairs at The Old Hairdressers (opposite Stereo) Renfield Lane.

Fourth up – 19th-25th March - 360 Narrative Residency with playwright Lynda Radley

I’m going to be part of a pretty cool residency in Stirling with the pretty fantastic playwright Lynda Radley. It’s going to be about a couple of sisters called Snow White and Rose Red who are midwives in a strange and alternative possibly post apocalyptic Earth.  Having been a fan of Lynda’s previous work (Birds and Other Things I Am Afraid Of, The Art of Swimming, Futureproof) it’s been a boon to get involved.  The project is part of the 360 Narrative initiative to find other platforms for theatre/playwrighting and there are 5 other groups/partnerships involved.  Have already looked at the itinerary for this intensive creative blowout week, and as much as I feel super privileged to be a part of it all, I’m super excited to get stuck in.  There’s also going to be a darts tournament!!!  Need I say more…

I’m also – completely separately from all of the above – going to be walking the Great Glen Way with my boyfriend. First every looooooong walk. Looking forward to it. Might be cold, but there shouldn’t be any midgies at this time of year.

Apart from all that, I’ll be creating my ‘documentary’ style drawings at various artsome and quality musicsome events as usual.  Keep updated on my Facebook page - Drawing The Experience.  Perhaps I’ll see you somewhere with your own sketchbook!

First Aid Kit, while Johanna saves her voice

Lovely concert tonight, though it isn’t the First Aid Kit I had expected and hoped for. The sisters really create something magical when they harmonise together, hugely complementing each other. I do hope Johanna’s throat feels better soon.  Klara is valiant however, and holds the show together admirably, with some vocals by affable drummer Mattias Bergqvist. Favourite part is when Klara unplugs her guitar, on the stage by herself for a solitary version of Ghost Town, and the audience hushes immediately to join in with the ending of the song. My goodness you Swedes have some fine voices!!  Some of you filling in with the harmonies too. Beautiful moment.

Debaser Medis remains to be one of my favourite venues. Excellent acoustics, and since the stage is slightly curved in a room that is wider than it’s depth, all the audience get a great view and sonic experience.  Brilliant room to draw in anyway, I’ve so far drawn Florence + The Machine, Mogwai and RM Hubbert, who’s album was incidentally just launched last Friday. I really must get those drawings up.

Johanna is tricky to capture at the best of times as she really likes to hide behind those lovely blonde tresses of hers, and when she gets to head banging there’s just no chance.  Haven’t quite caught her lovely face yet. Next time. Happy with the image as a whole though.

BONNIE Prince Billy, Unravel, and 28 Drawings Later

First off, after drawing Bonnie Prince Billy, and emailing back and forward between his label, it has only very recently come to my attention that I’ve been spelling his name wrong. Ie Bonny, instead of Bonnie. I wonder if it has actually affected anything. (Strokes bearded chin, anyone’s bearded chin will do.)

Secondly I’m behind. I’ve been trying to get just a couple of drawings from my Nokia mobile phone into my computer, and can I do it? Not on your Nelly. I seem to have managed everything else but, including photos, videos, photos & videos from my pc computer which somehow my phone digested and regurgitated into my Mac, and I’ve also managed to do something very very odd, but hugely disruptive to said Mac, involving every single image that has ever been put on it EVER. Hence out of a few hundred GB, I only have 7 left. With over 10 000 images, I have a lot of sorting out to do tomorrow. How on earth I managed to extract some images from folders, and not others, I do not know. But it means I can’t simply delete the screed – I have to wade through and see what I’ve got/not got – on a computer that is now working as fast as a slug with a salad choice.

I am however, having fun with a lovely little drawing project called 28 days later, started by the marvellous Victoria Evans (it’s not too late, you can still join in with a squiggly thing x how many days you’ve missed.)  And yes, this year it’s 29 drawings, with a little expo at the end for those that have been particularly diligent.  Check it out, it’s an inspirer, from whatever background you have, and nice to be part of a creative community all having a deadline every day  This is my submission for the 2nd of Feb, underneath it is for the 1st.

Day 2, 28 Drawings Later – It’s been a rough day, topped by having my bag searched at Lidl – a new low. So I had a whisky and contemplated a radish.  On a high note, it’s been snowing lots. Loads of lovely sparkly snow, a heart warmer for sure.

Day 1, 28 Drawings Later – Was frickin’ tired and not in the mood for drawing, but the Saturn lamp was calling me with it’s rings and shadow rings caused by the variety of candles below it, also catching the coffee plant at the window, and the corner of our room.   Also glad I corrected myself after calling it the Jupiter lamp. What a doofus. Seriously, I need to go back to Primary School. Or Playgroup (kindergarten) for that matter.

Day 1 – Saturn Lamp Coffee Plant Candle Shadows

Finally, the drawings (paper ones) from the highly intriguing and creatively scientific Unravel project, currently being created by the art collective/band Found with Simon Kirby and poet/musician Aidan Moffat, along with a personable chat on the future of books and reading between Chris Meade of (his blog) bookfutures/if:book and the ladies from the Electric Bookshop, all drawn live from the rather lovely Inspace multimedia gallery based within Edinburgh University.  The digital drawings I did on my phone are the ones I mentioned earlier about trying and so far failing to retrieve onto my computer. I will figure it out though, so keep your eyes peeled.

Aidan Moffat reads for #Unravel, Inspace

Words from Aidan Moffat, the Found Collective, and Chris Meade

Also, still to come in the next blog post – RM Hubbert and Friends, with Tattie Toes who were supporting, last Friday 27th January 2012

Bonny Prince Billy, RM Hubbert, Unravel, Sound Thought and International Women’s Day Preparations

Quality quality gig tonight – Bonny Prince Billy. Pictures to come, along with drawings of RM Hubbert’s wonderful album launch gig at Stereo on Friday supported by the right rivetingly off the wall ‘Tattie Toes’, plus some drawings of an alternatively and equally fascinating scientific music, poetry and art night at Inspace with Unravel last Thursday evening in Edinburgh.

Had a lovely rehearsal on Friday with Jer Reid and Monnica Deioanni for our trio piece at Sound Thought, The Arches. Tomorrow having a meeting about the fourth International Women’s Day event I’m involved in, plus meeting with the rather fantabulous digital/animatory whizzkid Dave Sapien too for some projected digital drawing chat. All looking real good, enough to get rather excited about.

It’s been a busy few days my friends. A good few things to upload so look again very very soon for pictures. Soon as I get back to my lovely Stockholm tomorrow night. xx

Sound Thought, Wintercycle and Beyond

Good to see we’re up already on Sound Thought. Quite excited about the improvised collaboration (a trio) between myself, experimental musician Jer Reid and dancer Monica Deioanni. A development/continuation of the beautiful and epic project of separate duets over a one month period last winter by Jer Reid called Wintercyle. Look it up.

Also, our performance at the Sound Thought festival, The Arches, Glasgow, is Saturday 3rd March, 6pm.  See, hear, sense you there.

First Aid Kit, The Lion’s Roar, Bengan’s Music Store, Stockholm

 

The lovely First Aid Kit promoting their new album The Lion’s Roar at the fantastic music store Bengans.  My appreciation for these girls is growing all the time. And to think I had never heard of them when they came on stage at last year’s Polar Music Prize, singing ‘Dancing Barefoot’ for Patti Smith. I was blown away by their version of her song, gorgeous voices and clear passion for it, naturally delightful and entertaining though they seem a little shy.  It’s amusing however, that I appeared to get a bit shy myself when queueing up to get my album signed by them. They live in the same area of Stockholm that we do, so Mattias had some good ‘craic’ with them, getting a high 5 from Klara.

They are playing Debaser Medis (great venue! Drew Florence + The Machine there, as well as Mogwai, RM Hubbert and the Sian Alice Group) on the 4th of February which is sold out already.  I would definitely recommend going to see them, so if you can bag a ticket from anywhere, do it. Maybe see you there.

Art’s Birthday Party, In Timelapse Videos

Well now, I’m gutted that I missed so many others performing this very fine evening – Ida Lundén & Rei Nakamura, Lur, Sork and the Ectoplasm Girls (featuring Nadine Byrne of The Magic State who I drew at last year’s Art’s Birthday Party) for instance.

But I was very glad that I caught a piece of Marina Rosenfeld, sinking into her music and the darkness and for once, not drawing. It felt odd to not draw, but very peaceful.  I felt she should have had some visuals, but then if she expected everyone (it was quite late at this point) to be sitting in the room with their eyes closed, and taking a rest from sensory overload, then she provided a magical and engaging sound scape that created visuals in the mind anyway.

I’ve now uploaded all the timelapse drawings of at least one act per venue at Södra Teatern. You can see them here at my page on Vimeo – look for Ikue Mori, Rolf Enström, Roll The Dice and Family Underground. I also drew Hans Appelqvist, but I prefer it as a still image.  See below.