Along the Light - Cologne

You go down the steps into the underpass that is Ebertplatz a German 'No go area', as far as I can tell this is because there are homeless people, some drug use (which I didn't see).

In fact this area is under threat of demolition and to get a clear idea of the kind of propaganda 'the media machine' create (I'm talking about the same kind of media propaganda I saw when the British government were trying to make squatting illegal, and by the way succeed) in this picture below you can see a camera crew arriving to film this 'danger zone' and the threat it causes to the local community. When they arrived they were faced with something very different. They saw the homeless people who in actual fact have a home here in Ebertplatz but they also saw around 20 artists working and learning together to produce an art festival working alongside the people that live there. As you can see by their cameras they chose not to film and creative and inspiring environment it wasn't the images they wanted to take home. They chose to come back another day when they could get images that supported the story they wanted to tell.

Below you can see my neighbours next door to my installation, in fact they made me feel safe and happy that I wasn't the only one awake when I was working at night. They were part of my experience in Ebertplatz in a completely positive way.

And here you can see the special nature of this 'no go area' and the warmth and enjoyment our hosts Ray Vibration gave us! The plan for the week was to bring together 15 artists to spend the week working and inspiring each other to create work for a festival of  analogue media at the end of the week. What a bunch of people, record makers, light movers, robot makers and lots of noise I was frickin' blessed to be around this lot!!! For more information about who these people are go to ... http://rayvibration.org/along-the-light-line-up . So meeted and greeted and ate good food and then we began the work and learning which at the end of each day was rounded up with a dinner in our very own Ebertplatz restaurant (pictured below) and artists talks which were always mind-blowing and inspiring.

And the work began, despite my face in this shot which I swear was concentration I was having the time of my life. Mixed in with complete fear as to what an amazing group I was with and how I fitted in and how my work was even analogue. I didn't have a clear idea of what I wanted to produce for my piece and I thought about my practice, what inspired it early media such as zoetropes and stereoscopes are what really inspires my work however I often use digital media combined with analogue media to explore what effects are possible by combination. And look at the effects and changes between early media as a source of entertainment compared with modern media as a source of control.

One of my pet hate is the massive over use of screens in the modern ages especially people who watch gigs through 'smart' phones or look at the Mona Lisa through their tablet. So I wanted to use ANALOGUE MEDIA TO DESTROY THIS KIND OF DIGITAL MEDIA I wanted to do this by using analogue media to create moving static on the digital screens! So I made lots of screens (in true mashup style using digital media shhhh). These would form the backdrop for my piece.

And then came the fun and mind bending bit! Ray Vibrations are a very inspiring crew and Christian had told me about the possibilities of changing a bulb of an overhead projector to a powerful LED light that you can then put an oscillator into the circuit to turn the light on and off in quick succession. This got me thinking about all sorts of exciting things including zoetropes!!!!! However I had my plan and little time for this week so I wanted to stick to it and use this circuit for a zoetrope at a later date! I built the circuit for the light and then an oscillator then Christian gave me another oscillator to plug the motor into to create movement for the static!! Electronics sorted now I had to make the static!!!!!!!

This is only one desk in our crazy crazy work space that in under two days time would be our exhibition space! Despite the amazing mess it was a very calm, productive and helpful place to work!!!

And here is the motor and flashing projector in action creating the static effect on the phones.

https://vimeo.com/107150056

You can see from the image above how the projector creates static on the screens.


And below from outside.  

You can see it in working in all its glory here https://vimeo.com/107145464

All in all a complete success for me I managed to destroy digital media by using analogue, create an analogue piece of art and make a point which is always the most important part of my work all in 4 days!! PLUS I LEARN'T SO SO MUCH!!!!! cant wait to get that circuit back and build more now!! 

No idea what to take to Germany so I went with a bit of this...

On saturday I will be going to Germany to spend a week creating an installation using analogue media for the Along The Light Festival in Koln.

Work will be on display for 2 weeks after the festival on the 19th-20th in Ebertplatz Station in Koln, this is just down the road from where I used to live ten years ago!

here is a link to the event page get over there if your close!!

http://alongthelight-festival.tumblr.com

15th November wack it in your diary and get down to St Helens!!

Delighted to say that I just got the role of Lead Artist on one of the dates running an artworkshop in my home town St Helens!

Saturday the 15th November that will be me so get down there and bring the family and of course all the other dates are going to be great and free so get down for them too!!

and here's what ill be doing...

for more information on the project please visit....

http://www.heartofglass.org.uk