Persephone
November 8, 2009
`playing with a ball of clay this afternoon, cant believe she appeared, a sense of real strength sprung from my fingers, she feels so free, so free its scary, there is a part of me thats down with Persephone ………….
Addendum: I just realised that I went to see Julia Cameron speak (artists way book) the previous day, it was quite challenging and bought up a lot of childhood images, I see now my “form” is my unconscious self that is bursting to get out. There is nothing to be afraid of.
Prayer to Persephone
Be to her, Persephone,
All the things I might not be:
Take her head upon your knee.
She that was so proud and wild,
Flippant, arrogant and free,
She that had no need of me,
Is a little lonely child
Lost in Hell,—Persephone,
Take her head upon your knee:
Say to her, “My dear, my dear,
It is not so dreadful here.” Edna St. Vincent Millay
All the things I might not be:
Take her head upon your knee.
She that was so proud and wild,
Flippant, arrogant and free,
She that had no need of me,
Is a little lonely child
Lost in Hell,—Persephone,
Take her head upon your knee:
Say to her, “My dear, my dear,
It is not so dreadful here.” Edna St. Vincent Millay
Flickr: Your Photostream.
The Artist’s Way – Julia Cameron at Alternatives
November 7, 2009
I am just home from day spent with Julia Cameron at Alternatives, London.
This book inspired me some years back when it was offered for sale when I completed the Hoffman Process. However, it was a year or so later before I actually picked up the book and 6 months after that I decided to make a start on the 12 week programme. I made a start but didnt finish the entire book, however the morning pages part of the programme I kept up for some while, and then then that wained.
Then Alternative in London posted in their newsletter that Julia was coming to London to teach her programmed in the UK for the first time, I jumped at the chance and today my enthusiasm to complete the 12 weeks has been re-ignited.
For those of you who dont know about the morning pages or the artists dates which form the pivotal tools in creative recovery please follow this link http://www.theartistsway.com/pdfs/basictools.pdf
Les Trois Inventeurs – Michel Ocelot
November 5, 2009
A really charming, whimsical and creative piece of paper cut animation by Michel Ocelot
Brilliant animation
November 3, 2009
Live Dulcima peformance combined with a whimsical and beautiful 1926 Animation, a wonderful evening spent at the De la Warr Pavillion last Frida. . The Adventures of Prince Achmed was the first feature length animation film in the history of the cinema. It is a ‘silhouette film’. Lotte Reiniger (1899-1981) was the inventor of this genre. Work on The Adventures of Prince Achmed began in 1923. It was released in 1926. This wonderful animation film is full of adventure, lyrical sensuality, magic and romance, playful humour, strong female characters, exciting bat- tles and sinister evil. The story was inspired by elements taken from the Tale of the 1001 Arabian Nights. The Adventures of Prince Achmed is one of those rare and timeless films that appeal across the complete age range. The beauty and intricate detail of Reiniger’s exquisite filigree artwork is of the highest quality. She was inspired by Chinese and Indonesian shadow plays and adapted this ancient art for the cinema. The distinctive combination of silhouette characters, colour tinted landscapes and backgrounds is unique and profoundly evocative and seductive. Moreover, the use of silhouette characters leaves the imagination free to soar in response to the sensuality and magic of the story. We are treated to a splendid cast: Prince Achmed, Princess Peri Banu, the Witch of the Fiery Mountain, the Evil Sorcerer, The Magic Horse, Aladdin,xPrincess Dinarzade and The Caliph. The fact that all the characters are silhouettes is fundamental to the essence and power of the film. The Adventures of Prince Achmed is a captivat ing and beautiful work of art. It is a magnificent example of stop frame animation and consists of three hundred thousand separate frames. It is undoubtedly one of the shining gems in the history of cinema and is widely acknowledged as a masterpiece. It is the ‘haute couture’ of animation. Lotte Reiniger was a pioneer who dedicated her life to creating silhouettes. She made more than eighty animation films. The original prints of The Adventures of Prince Achmed featured colour-tinted backgrounds. Working from surviving nitrate prints, German and British archivists restored the film and managed to incorporate the original tinted backgrounds, which in their dynamic interaction with the silhouette characters are crucial to the aesthetic of the film. Prints available just prior to the restoration had only been in black and white. Geoff Smith’s new score for The Adventures of Prince Achmed has been inspired and led by Lotte Reiniger’s genius. He has attempted to do justice to her achievement. For the performance of the soundtrack Geoff uses numerous prototype Hammered dulcimers, one being the first ‘Fluid dulcimer’ incorporating his revolutionary ‘microtonal fluid tuning mechanism’ patent, without which it would have been impossible to compose and perform the soundtrack. For further information regarding this invention and some of its historic implications please refer to the Guardian newspa- per article ‘Composer reinvents the piano’.
Geoff Smith’s pioneering score for The Adventures of Prince Achmed is a revelation in the composition and performance of live music for animation. He has dedicated himself to exploring the wider spectrum of musical choices that his invention offers, so that in the composition of the score it has been possible to respond in more intimate, expressive and expanded detail to this unique and uplifting film. His immensely dynamic score illuminates and emphasises Lotte Reiniger’s aesthetic obsession, consummate artistry and passionate commitment to story telling.
Shoe Story
November 1, 2009
These are my prototypes, my practice run, they were only supposed to be a “rehearsal ” so to show up technicalities and find what worked for me. However, each shoe “walked” a path, not the one I expected, but one I that has opened a door to my ancestors. I even made the Guardian on line, and sold some to an advertising agency…………. Why shoes I have been asked? I wanted to do a piece of work about the path I have trodden these long and eventful 60 years but my soul seemed to want to go beyond. My grandmother and my great grandmother are people who have formed who I am today, it was a surprise to find myself scanning and printing images of them for use in shoes, but I knew my grandmother well, she would have loved them,. Not sure where to go from here, but this is my shoe story to date.
