Light - My New favourite toy! Also, a few other things...

As I write this, I'm sat miserably in a car on the way home from what until now has been a brilliant day in Liverpool. What makes it no longer brilliant; indeed the cause of my misery; is the fact we have travelled 30 miles in almost 3 hours. Apparently the world and his wife are leading a mass migration out of Manchester, and reluctantly we've been dragged along kicking and screaming.

The only things keeping me sane are writing this blog and listening to Robbie Williams (I don't care if you don't like him, because I do).

Let me tell you about my brilliant day then! Well, after lunch in the Tate's Cafe, my stepdad and I enjoyed a nice lengthy look around the galleries upstairs. Interestingly, I had a completely different experience this time around than when I went for the Turner, Monet, Twombly exhibition a month ago.

You can read my critical(ish) review of it if you find the appropriate post on Gallery 42's Facebook wall, late Septemberish I think. There's a Gallery 42 button to the right on this page, it'll take you over to our Facebook page. You'd have to be dead or otherwise perpetually devoid of further existence not to be able to find us.

That said, as great as it was, If you're thinking of visiting the exhibition then don't bother, because it is no more. Its shut. You have successfully missed a bloody great exhibition. Feel bad, I permit you.

I noticed new things I hadn't seen the first time I had looked at the artworks on display. I was excited by this, and my sense of discovery was further excited by a visit to the nearby Maritime Museum, where there is a great exhibition on that runs until next April to do with RMS Titanic and it's relationship with Liverpool.

Were I to digress; because I'm obsessed with anything and everything Titanic; I'd need another blog post. Ideally another week. In fact, just give me a month. My knowledge still wouldn't be exhausted.

Anyway, brilliant day aside... This post is about what I'm doing now. What is that exactly? Why, I'm playing with light. I enjoy light. I'd lick it if I could, just to find out what it tastes like; a taste, if it were to have one, which I imagine would fit the description of 'hot and burny'.

Light is so much fun. You can do lots with it, including blind yourself; which is why you shouldn't stare at the sun. Halogens merely burn inconvenient shapes into your vision.

Personally I like to wave my iPhone around while taking photos. I don't have a camera with slow shutter, so this is the next best thing, and you can get some truly magnificent results!

Have a go; go on, treat yourself. You might enjoy it.

Clearly this works best at night, because not only is it counter-productive to go searching for artificial light during the day, but it's also momentously stupid. Wait until night, or in my case, until the Traffic God smites you and thousands of other motorists down on the M62 for hours.

I've included a small sample of the products of my almost effortless toils.

I haven't got much else to say really; just give it a go I suppose, see what happens. Just find some lights and move your camera in varying directions at varying speeds unless you have slow shutter capability. In that case you can google further details, because I'm jealous enough not to help you.

I want variable shutter speeds is all; nothing personal.

You can look forward to a less lengthy post about our new Artist of the Month of November, Chris Luker, as well as our wonderful new team member; the wall mounted microwave.

Do you have a suggestion as to what we should name the microwave? Good.

Please keep it to yourself, it's a microwave- it doesn't need a name. Especially if it begins with M, and even more especially so if your suggestion is Mike. You have no imagination.

I promise I'm not this cold really. I merely advocate sarcasm, and I believe it should be a criminal offence to create alliterative names along the lines of Larry the Lizard or other similarly disgraceful brainchildren. Cheerio!

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Can't Get No Satisfaction - The Rolling Stones and the Trend of Overpriced Gigs

Its safe to say I have a colossal problem... ...And that problem is overpriced gigs.

I mean, think about it. How many times have you thought, 'Hey, I'd love to see that band!' Or even, 'Hey how's about we go see this show while we're in town?' Of all those times, how often has the price put you off booking what could be a great live entertainment experience? If you're not crying out something along the lines of, 'Too many bloody times, Steve!' Then you're living in the same century as I am.

What it is, really, is bollocks. I have chosen to use The Rolling Stones as an example because recently I heard they were charging 400 quid a ticket for their upcoming string (or rather, moth-eaten thread) of shows. Having done some research, not only can I confirm this is not a rumour; moreover this is only half the price of some of the tickets! I'm all for comebacks, even more than that I'm all for seeing legendary bands; I've seen Status Quo, John Paul Jones and AC/DC twice, Aerosmith, Kiss, Saxon, Motorhead, the list goes on; but not at a price that exceeds the combined ages of the band members almost twofold... And these guys are like 60!

Yet, its the same with some more contemporary artists. I love Muse, their new album is great and I've seen them twice (including the Origins of Symmetry 10 year anniversary at Leeds 2011), but tickets to their current shows are around 7o odd quid. Furthermore, if this summer you wanted to see an artist like Nicki Minaj (not that you would want to), or go see Kanye and Jay-Z, you're looking at a few hundred quid for two tickets. What the hell is the point of making your fans fork out that much money for a 2 hour (if that) show?

I paid 215 quid for my Leeds 2012 Early Bird Weekend Ticket and 200 quid for my Leeds 2011 Weekend Ticket. Add about 70 quid to each for food, drink etc and you have 2 years worth of 6 great headline sets amidst loads of other bands! Plus 5 days worth of fun and music and a great festival experience with friends. For the same money (300 quid-ish) you could literally go for a healthy-budgeted long weekend to Amsterdam, where you could be perpetually merry for 4 days. I'm not saying I advocate their coffee shops; because that in your cup, isn't coffee; but I imagine you'd have a lot more fun for your money.

The feeling of disappointment the day after the gig hits you like a brick in the face; just what  the hell were you thinking spending that much money on one gig. I'm fully aware its the main source of income in the music industry as piracy is still so rife, but come on world; this is daylight robbery! It may well have been a great gig; but was it worth that much?

...Now I'm beginning to rant. But you see my point, and I'm sure you agree. If you're willing to pay over 400 quid per ticket to see a band that apparently 'will only play Glastonbury if the weather's nice', then you're either willing to lick Keith Richards clean (good luck) or your brain is little more than a pink turd... Or you just really want to see that band. Which is okay if you're willing to advocate nonsense.

I'm going to go and dip my head in a bucket of ice so I calm down.

 

Which bands have you come across who play overpriced gigs? I'll attach a form to this post - highlights next week! [contact-form subject='Overpriced Gigs Feedback'][contact-field label='Name' type='name' required='1'/][contact-field label='Email' type='email' required='1'/][contact-field label='Comment' type='textarea' required='1'/][/contact-form]

'Yes, but is it art?'

Recently I was prompted to remember all the times I have asked myself, asked someone else or even been asked by someone else this question. When you actually think about it, how many times has this question cropped up within your life? No, that isn’t rhetorical. Let’s have some interaction on Twitter or over Facebook when you’ve read this blog and see what you all have to say! I had a chat with Clive Perry about a month ago regarding the Hepworth Gallery in Wakefield (which, by the way, is fantastic, I’ll write a bit on that in a week or two’s time) and postmodern/installation art. We discussed indeed ‘if it was art’, and generally concluded the description of art varies greatly but what is chiefly important is how justified is someone in presenting their work as art. He had a story or two about his life to tell me as well, which was great. A lovely man is our Clive; and a great artist, we have a thing or two of his for sale, including brilliant Jubilee prints.

So what is it that defines ‘art’? Well, I don’t actually know, nor do I believe anyone knows. What is art? Its film, its music, its thousands of canvases owned by Charles Saatchi, it’s a shark in a tank by Damien Hirst and its even a cous-cous sandcastle according to French artist Kader Attia (you can see that piece at Tate Liverpool alongside work by Jeff Koons and Arman to name but two). Truth be told, art is a great myriad of things and with that state of existence comes a great myriad of different ‘excuses’ for art.

If I was to cut a carrot in half, put it on a chopping board and name it Sally then a man in a very expensive jacket somewhere in the country side might see its ‘conceptualist value’ and purchase it immediately for lots and lots of money…

Or he may not. Now, whilst that all sounds very silly, it’s an extreme example of how whatever someone creates, however much time and effort they may put in to visualising their ideas, however minimalist they may be, it is all artistically valuable. I say that because art is to love, create and share. And if I wanted to love, create and share Sally the split carrot then what would stop me (biodegradation aside)?

If someone puts themselves into something then art is about us drawing them out and asking, “Why?

Obviously we can rarely ask this to the artist themselves, so we must ask ourselves a lot of the time, but the thought is still there to be provoked. I suppose what I’m trying to say is that next time the question, ‘Yes, but is it art?’ Crops up in your life, ponder away! Indeed what is on the surface may not appear art, but sometimes the conceptual value can be considered art… But for conceptualist art I suppose really you have to be into modern and postmodern art (generally speaking)…

To me, a great piece of art is one I remember and share with others; it lasts, I remember it and I preach about it so that others share it also. This is why over the next few weeks I’ll be spotlighting some of the weird and wonderful findings I make in the ethers of Gallery 42 and asking, ‘is it art?’

With that in mind, watch this space, everyone. Don’t forget to check out our Artist of the Month wall when you next come in to the Gallery; with most of the month gone already, time is running out!

Hello, and welcome to Steve's Guide!

My name is Steve R Lawson. Some of you may have read my past three blogs for Tadcaster's very own art gallery and bespoke picture framer, Gallery 42. I write blogs and do other bits and pieces for the Gallery. This is my new internet home; please wipe your feet and make yourself at home. In an entirely metaphorical sense, here you can hang your hat and have a cup of tea by the hearth-side. Just imagine it... Ahhh! Now that you're settled in, I'd like to talk about the sorts of things I'll be writing about;

If you have indeed read my other blogs on Gallery 42 you'll note that as of yet I have written 3 blogs. Actually, this isn't entirely true; I have in fact written four, and that fourth blog will follow soon after this one.

I love art. In fact I love it so much I intend to begin further study of  it, specifically History of Art, at University next year. It is my dream to eventually become an art historian, critic and curator and in the last few months I have begun to 'crawl', as it were.

Now its time for me to start walking.

I also love history, film, culture, music, good food (and wine) and tea amongst other things. If you are interested in these things - though mind you, mostly art - then I'm sure we will get on like nonsense and Yellowism would if they were people.

If you like what you read; share it! I'd love for this blog to reach all sorts of you wonderful people and for my cynical view of this planet to inspire, inform and entertain you.

I'd also like you to visit Gallery 42 on Facebook. You can find them dwelling on the right hand side of the screen, where a click (or a 'tap' if you're a touchscreen user) will whisk you away to their Facebook page. From there you can click on a link which will take you straight to their website, which is self explanitory in name enough for you to find yourselves. I shan't spoon feed you, even if you are still a toddler. Why, might you ask?

Well, because that would be very much a controversial course of action.

Enjoy my cynicism, folks; there's a red x in the corner that beckons those of you who do not. He also has a friend on the other side of the page that looks like a backwards arrow.

Please use neither of those buttons; they are evil.

 

S R L