Monday 15 September 2014

Take A Chance On Me (Yourself)

First week back and lordy was it crazy. But amidst the grey haze of forgotten-to-do summer work and the shock of returning to the early morning people's world COOL THINGS have been happening! To start off with one of my art pieces was chosen to be part of an exhibition.
(my adoring fans)
It was a fabulous if somewhat surreal evening; seeing my own work on a white wall in a gallery surrounded by amazing young artists' work was truly humbling. Plus with free wine on offer who can really complain?

Next up was an evening spent listening to some incredible slam poetry. This is my second year attending a slam and it certainly didn't disappoint. The energy of a slam just can't be beat. The buzz of nervous yet excited energy courses through the air as another poet bravely takes to the microphone, a silence of held breaths blankets the audience. Thank god they make you holler and stamp your feet to support your favourite poets otherwise I'm pretty sure the audience would implode. And it was on this night where I met one of the strangest men I have ever met. He goes by the name Tekla, a poet, and whose thoughts tend to process at twice the speed of an average human. We ended up having a lengthy chat with him during the interval, ranging from how he made his own clothes to the youth of today to what poem he was going to do next. Unfortunately, as with every poetry slam, the best poet didn't win-Tekla had not made it to the final round. But as we turned the corner into the foyer we were greeted with his vivid blue ensemble once more and after assuring him that he was truly robbed, he asked if we wanted to hear his would have been last poem. We of course said yes. So after that and some talk of a Tekla book we hugged him goodbye. We walked out in a dazed state wondering if that evening had really just happened. When it finally dawned on us that it had we ran screaming down the harbourside and into the night.

So, what have these self indulgent stories of my life been building up to? If you guessed ABBA then well congratulations.

But WAIT! This isn't just any ABBA this is invaluable life advice ABBA! What these events have taught me is to take a chance. Imagine that the dulcet tones of ABBA is actually your soul singing to you. Take a chance on yourself! Take a chance on life! Put yourself up for things you don't think you'll get! Drink the free wine! Talk to the Teklas of the world! I watched an excellent documentary on Yayoi Kusama (who is a total babe if you didn't know). What really struck me was watching her work; straight onto canvas with acrylic paint, no sketches no nothing. I realised what a fearless way of working that was and how I don't do that enough in my art or in general life. I'm by nature a very cautious person and while this has probably saved me from dying a few times it simultaneously holds me back from gaining new experiences and having more stories to tell. 


To conclude, in the words of almighty Niké- JUST DO IT.


Monday 1 September 2014

Lonely Love




               
I made this playlist a while ago, let it be the soundtrack to your own tale of unrequited love.

                     Lonely Love by internet-thug on Grooveshark