Greeks, clocks and rockets

If you are a regular reader of this blog (hi Nan!) you'll no doubt have noticed that my sporadic efforts here have been, well, less sporadic. Ok, so maybe neglect is a better way to look at it. You might also know that I thrash the Easy Rider references but like Captain America, I'm hip about time. Being someone whose worth is often based on being at a place for a time or performing a thing for a time, has a certain pull on the resource we are all running short of, time. I balance that as much as I can and where I fall short, I take from here and other fruitless indulgences like sleep, socialising and day to day human activities, because, hmmm... Moving on.

You might know I'm a horology fan but the truth is, I actually get quite emotional thinking about this stuff. Few things more human than waiting for that someone to call or hoping they'll leave, or waiting until you can, or waiting on that holiday, or drink, or getting that tooth out, or in fact, remembering that time... This, added with the definition of the word horology and the absolute zen like nature of the study and labours is pure breath to a head swimmer like me. Just as I see physics as a search for guidance, not control, horology is the academic and physical manifestation of our human need for comfort and connection. With this segue and in the spirit of my earthly fight for the heavenly resource of time I offer you Clickspring.

From Chris' youtube about section - "I'm Chris from Clickspring, and I create home machine shop project videos with a focus on clock-making technology. Join me as I make an authentic replica of The Antikythera Mechanism from raw metal stock, as well as a wide selection of tools for use in the home machine shop. You can also help make these project videos, and access additional content - visit the https://www.patreon.com/clickspring page for more information."

To sum things up as quickly as I can for you, Clickspring is building an accurate Antikythera Mechanism. If you support him over at patreon, you might just get to keep it. You're very welcome. This is the first video in the series -

Torn, Release

Torn, Release, 2018
Clay
204mm high

Torn, Release, 2018
Clay
204mm high

Torn, Release, 2018
Clay
204mm high

HUNTING GROUND by Wretch Grizzly

Ok comic, horror, cryptid fans, here's a heads up. Pop over to Moco de Perro Comix on FB, Insta, or Web (currently under construction) and stay tuned to find out more about Wretch Grizzly's upcoming release graphic Hunting Ground.

I've been a huge fan of Grizzly's fine art and graphic style since the day I first saw it. Part 60's risque, part 70's slasher, all David Lynch meets the twilight zone with dollopings of twists, turns and introspection. I have a couple originals from Mr Grizzly I've been meaning to post up here for ages. I can't wait to share them with you guys but for the moment, this is something you will soon be able to pull the trigger on. You don't wanna miss it. More from Wretch Grizzly here

Goddess of Liberty - Christopher Shy

Goddess of Liberty - Christopher Shy

I'm sorry but I can't tell you much about this. I'm not even sure of the medium although I suspect it is an oil but it is timely and poignant. More from Christopher Shy here.

Potus My Penis

Potus My Penis. 120mm x 42mm x 55mm

Potus My Penis are an edition of 10, orange resin penis art toys in blister pack on card. Currently available. Please contact me for details.

Friend or Foe

I’ve been concerned about something lately. There is an old saying that you shouldn’t talk politics, religion or money in polite company. I’m sure most of you would agree that social media doesn’t exactly qualify as polite company (I jest) but it doesn’t have to be so. 

Those of you watching may have noticed my posts, for the most part coincide with sculpture releases. You may have also noticed my anti current US administration posts. Hopefully sometime this week I’ll have an arttoy out and yes, it is very anti but there is a point and no, it’s not just about Trump bashing. If you wish to have a think about it, the title and what it symbolizes you might arrive at some ideas I’ve been interested in for a while. If not, then feel free to have a laugh or get all upset and pissy, up to you. 

Please know, I feel deeply concerned at the state of political discussion. If you ever disagree or agree with something I say or post, you have two options, we’ll call these the grown up options. 1, scroll on 2, respectfully speak your mind. Either of those suits me fine and I am always happy to engage in a conversation or promote discussion on any subject. However, there are also other options you have at your disposal. We’ll call these the snowflake options. 1, Tie up those lacey knickers in a tight little knot, hit that delete button and go off on some ranting personal attack on your favorite extremist FB page. 2, Post passive aggressive emojis and cower in your dark corner. 3, Throw your toys and post a personal attack, most probably starting with “The problem with you post-modernist Marxists…”. I’m not bothered which of or if you choose any of these or the previous options but please realise, these options speak more about you than they do about me.

Like I said, I am deeply concerned at the state of political discussion. If you wish to engage in any way and do so respectfully, I will always ensure you do not have to put up with anything less in return from me or anyone in my connections. I am not a bully and I will not stand for bullying of any kind from anyone and I do not tow any party or ideological lines. In my opinion, doing so is folly. Having said that, if you choose from the snowflake bag please know it is noted. Please know it will hurt. Not because you have offended me but because I would have thought you were better than that. Because you are the issue in our society. Because the hate, bullying, racism, violence and war is a direct result of your manners and approach to life and other humans. Choosing from the snowflake bag is a sign of not only weakness but also emotional underdevelopment and ignorance. It will bother me that you could be better but not to see you go. The choices are yours and you will live with them. I will not. I sincerely hope you are all doing well and happy and our differences are our attractions, not our boundaries. - b

"I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend." - Thomas Jefferson

Mr Pineapple Head

Mr Pineapple Head, Resin Art Toy, 138mm x 80mm x 78mm, Resin, steel

The Mr Pineapple Head are an edition of 6, signed and numbered blister on card, solid resin, non-articulated figures.

Mr Pineapple Head on backing card

Mr Pineapple Head, blister pack on card

Hsu Tung Han

Hsu Tung Han is a Taiwanese artist working in wood. Everything I've been able to find online about Hsu describes his work/style as pixelated. I'm not sure that is completely accurate. Of course pixelation is there but it seems to point to motion, like watching a third generation kung fu VCD from a back street stall.

But just when the image starts to slot back together something else happens. The distortion seems to have life. Just for a second the pixels seem to become force. Is it gravity? Is it the air flowing over these frozen forms? Is it their will? 

As fast as these questions arise they are dissolved into the next. They seem to oscillate or breathe into each other. I'm captivated by this work. I feel like a child at a breast, hungry yet content.

For more from Hsu, please google or follow his Instagram. I've yet to find a better source or website.

Bage like the Canterbury Plains

I think it's safe to say I'm unpacked and settled into the new workshop. I really dislike the term studio. It implies some kind of performance. I met a rather well known artist once who had the same opinion. He called his place of work a "practice" and punctuated it with "Musicians and monkeys perform, I practice". I don't think he meant there was a link between the two and I agree but it was an amusing way to put it. Educating folk to the ins and outs of a rare job title like Artist is, in itself, sometimes a full time job. I stick with Sculptor. It's just less hassle and it comes with a few less connotations. A lot of them are fair enough but like myths and legends, the stories can get outta hand. Like Picasso quotes, there is the statement and then the meaning.

Little me, 1000 years ago

While packing/unpacking, among the bits and bobs I stumbled on a couple of drawings I did when I was a kid. This one is from 1989 when I was 11 or 12 years old and it reminded me of so many things. My Godfather used to do stunning pen and pencil drawings. I wish I owned one. He's nothing if not a polymath. If he wasn't building huge houses or restoring old cars or motorbikes he was drawing houses, painting, cooking or pursuing some other form artistic expression. I can honestly say John not only single handedly lead me into art in the beginning but through his varied skills helped me realize that art is as honest and applicable as any trade under the sun. It was also around this time I was able to spend a fair bit of time on a farm with my Aunt and Uncle. 

Geoff Williams 1942 - 2015

 

We used to travel down from Christchurch for about an hour or so out of town down to their property to shoot rabbits. Rabbits are an introduced species in NZ and are extremely destructive to the natural environment so short of poison (not the done thing back then) a .22 was the only way to try and control the population. Of course at 11yrs old I only learned this and many other aspects of the NZ environment from these trips. We'd spend hours, day or night, walking or on the back of motorbikes or the trusty Hilux, me listening to the conversation and life tips from my uncle Alan and my Dad and once in a while, shyly offering a remark or two. They were truly good times and for a day here and there I managed to be someone helping out or part of a group of friends rather than my usual role of (insert cutting name here) that was my life in the city. The drive from Christchurch was one of my favorite parts of these trips. I'd be in the back looking out the windows at rolling hills and back then plenty of decaying barns and old sheds. At the time Geoff Williams was pretty big in NZ cultural circles and anytime spend watching Sunday afternoon TV magazine shows would eventually feature his work or an upcoming exhibition. 

All these things were a perfect storm for me. With John's inspiration, Geoff Williams' framing and my uncle's inclusiveness, I would gaze out the windows on our way through Canterbury and the world would seem so right. I used to try and use John's pen and pencil style (it seemed so masculine as far as art tools go at the time) and what Williams so cleanly pointed out and try to mash the two together. The drawing above though was never finished. I remember not being able to figure out how to draw dirt and this really pissed me off. I thought, how can someone who wants to be an Artist not be able to draw something as mundane as dirt. I felt like such a fool. I obviously thought I'd come back to it at some stage as it's still kicking round but I'm pretty sure this may have been my last attempt in this style. Funny how things turn you around even with such valuable guidance.

I'm feel very lucky to still be in touch John and my Aunty and Uncle, Jess and Alan. I've often wanted to tell them how well and completely they affected my younger years. Shamefully, it's hard to get enough of the right words out before the feelings of foolishness or embarrassment wash over me. I guess, and in the words of a friend of mine, "That's when ya know it's the truth!"    

More from Geoff Williams here