An artist worth exploring...

Gabriel Orozco-- I possible artist I might use in my dissertation!

I'm Back

Hey there everyone! Long time, no talk.

I am currently in the Tate Britian Library waiting for my books to arrive so I thought I might just write a little entry on my blog while I am waiting.


I know I have griped about my library experience here, but I think it bears further repeating. As I have mentioned before, the library at school is far from extensive, in my opinion, and also is horribly organized. Why they didn’t use the dewey decimal system, like every other library, is beyond me. Needless to say- I rarely find the books I need there, so I go to other libraries- namely the Tate Britian, which has an extensive exhibition catalog collection—even catalogs from art shows at Duke University! (impressive, eh?) I also go to the V& A occasionally, but it is a bit stuffy and cold for me, although the windows are nice (as opposed to being stuck in the basement of the Tate, like I am now).
But here is the issue I have with both the V&A and all other libraries I know of here: You can’t just go to the shelf and get the book. You have to request it online or by card, then the requests are processed at quarter past and quarter to the hour. Which means once you find the book you need- it can be up to an hour before they actually bring it to you. Then you can’t check books out and copies are roughly 20 pence per page—RIDICULOUS!!!

Needless to say- I try to avoid going to the libraries if Ican- searching for most of my sources through online journal databases like J-Stor or Third Text but you still need books every now and then.

Ok, enough with the griping. Let me fill you in. My last entry was March (mea culpa!)
I guess I felt as if nothing exciting really happened, and if it did, I was out of rage of a computer. April was our research month- so I spent about two weeks of it in the library or at school writing papers and a business proposal for my art business course. I also spent the first week touring galleries because we were assigned to write an exhibition review. I chose to write on the Mythlogies show at the new haunch of venison gallery (quite a good show!).

After the first week and a half of April, I went on a week long escape to Italy, where I met up with friends and toured around. Florence for Easter Sunday and then Milan for the other part of the vacation. It was nice to be in a familiar place and in warm and sunny weather!!! And the food--- delicious. I like London, but I can’t say their food is anything to write home about.

Upon returning, I spent another week enjoying the warm weather—London somehow had warm, actual spring-like weather for about a week which I took full advantage of, spending a great deal of time in the park, running of just laying on a blanket and procrastinating finishing my work!!!

School resumed on the 27th of April and on came the end of the year stress. I guess it bears mentioning I am finishing my last week of classes—can you believe it!? I am almost finished with semester II and semester three begins in June. My last lecture will be next Tuesday—and somehow it is a bittersweet realization; the time just flew by so quickly. I won’t have much time to reminisce, however, as the end of May is filled with work: another essay due on the 11th, a dreaded slide test, and then preparations for a written and oral dissertation proposal (complete with annotated bibliography, etc.) Let’s just say I will be spending a great deal of time in the Library narrowing my topic and researching my artists for the next few weeks!!

It has warmed up here, but there are still the occasional showers and such- typical spring weather. I must say that the spring here is quite beautiful, and if I were to recommend a time to visit, this would be it. The tulips and iris are in bloom and the cherry trees are as well. For the past two weeks, you can walk through literal blankets of fallen cherry blossoms—quite gorgeous!! We have a white flowering cherry outside of our flat which is a treat living in London! I am lucky there is so much green space surrounding my flat!

Not much else has happened--turned 23 on the 1st of May, which was exciting, I guess. I dunno, birthdays seem to lose their luster after you turn 21. I bought myself some flowers and we had a get together at my house on Saturday as a kind of birthday/early cinco de mayo celebration which was fun.

Now what is on my plate for the month of May? Well researching is the obvious answer, but I also might join the YMCA gym near my school; I need a release from the sedentary ‘researcher lifestyle.’ I am also on the lookout for jobs back in the states. I have been going back and forth on whether I want to stay here or go back, but I think I have come to the decision to head back to the states—Washington D.C. being an area of interest for me. There are a ton of museums there and is has the feel of a big city, but also retains a bit of southern charm—something London doesn’t quite offer.

Well I am off for now—hopefully the books I see on the library counter are for me!

And Onwards Into April

Annette Messager, Détail d’une composition intitulée “articulés-désarticulés”,2002.

Well a new week and new adventures:

Last week was the final week of lectures before "Spring Break" which lasts from April 3rd until the 27th. Although considered 'break' it will be filled with research. I have an IWI (interchange of word and image) paper due, a business proposal of 3,500 words, and an exhibition review due the week classes resume, as well as presenting my IWI topic to the class. So, needless to say, a majority of the 'break' will be spent reading, writing and in the library.

Yesterday I had tutorials, the one-on-one sessions Sotheby's offers for each student and their tutor. It is a time to get back graded work, discuss areas of improvement and brainstorm future assignments and work on improving the student's final dissertation topic. This past tutorial was very fulfilling for me. While my tutor, Maxa, did offer criticisms on my paper, the overall meeting was very nice. Basically she said I am a good writer, very intelligent and I include everything I should; I have historical background, I am knowledgeable about the theory, etc. And that I don't need to worry about writing style or basic writing structure. Her main criticism was that I was being to safe in my writing-- that I should be more critical and not be afraid to state my opinion more boldly. I shall try for my next assignment, although word limits are always a problem. Anyway- I was flattered by her description of my strong points.

We also discussed what I saw in my future career. Once she found out I was in the Art Business course, she was a bit suprised but I told her I was not interested in being a gallery owner just that I thought it would be nice to have a background in the business side of the art world. I told her my main interest lie in the work of a museum curator or in the research department for a museum. Something she said I would be good at!! Yay-- it is nice to hear that what you want to do is actually something someone thinks you are well qualified for.

She then told me that she expected a GREAT dissertation from me at the end of the course. Again i was flattered but it is always nice to know what you are doing is of substance and it encourages you to continue, what at times seems like no one else really appreciates (I am speaking of Art History in general).

Anyway...after tutorials, I went to the library and checked out a few theory books to look over for my IWI research. Jean Baudrillard, Simulations; and Susan Sontag, Regarding the Pain of Others. I recommend the Sontag for those interested on how we view pain- particularly in the context of war photography and other forms of media and how these are in danger of anesthetizing us against images of pain and violence by sheer over saturation of images. It is a quick read and I have already finished it. Sontag is a great writer, well worth the read.

After the library search, I went to Piccadilly and met up with Amy and went to a few galleries, but forgetting it was Monday, we didn't realise most of them were closed. The Hayward, however was still open, so we were able to finally see the Annette Messager and Mark Wallinger shows. While the Wallinger show was interesting, it was a bit to broad in scope for my personal taste. The Messager show, however, was wonderful. Prior to the show, I had only seen her work at the Liverpool Biennial so it was nice to see a larger body of work in one show. I will be looking into her work a bit more as the show sparked a particular interest for me since I am considering looking at the notion of fracture, fragmentation and the absence and longing for the body in contemporary art as a dissertation topic.

Today wasn't very exciting. I stayed around m house most of the day, slept in, did a bit of reading and pilates then went for a run around the park. This week is shaping up to be a it warmer so I am taking advantage of it while I can. Next in line is a shower and a run down to the local grocery to pick up a few things for dinner and lunch tomorrow. Since I am going to Italy for Easter beginning mid-week next week, I am avoiding going to the real supermarket until after I return from holiday.

Well off to shower.

Ciao

Please Enjoy

I realise this is not related to my stay in London, but I have had this song in my head for awhile and I think it is worthy of a listen. Enjoy!

Just Wanted To Say Thanks for the Comments! Helps me to know who is reading!! Leave more!

March Madness

Marlene Dumas, IvoryBlack,1997.

And another week draws to a close.....
It seems the days have flown by since term began in January! I can hardly believe that I only have about two and a half months left of formal classes.

This weekend was eventful and filled with good art and great sports games.
On Thursday night, Carrie and I headed down to Sports Cafe in piccadilly circus to watch the UNC basketball team for the first round of march madness. Sadly, they weren't playgn the game, but we were able to watch the UCONN and Perdue games. Enjoyed the wings special as well-- 20 wings for 4 pounds. It made for a great (cheap) dinner!

Friday I woke up early and headed to the Tate Modern to meet my friend Amy. Last week we were assigned specific works of art in the Tate Modern that we have to present to the class this coming week. We will visit the Tate in small groups and present tot eh group for a period of 20 minutes. I was assigned IvoryBlack by Marene Dumas, a South African painter who lives and works in Amsterdam. Amy and I decided to go on Friday and go over each of our works together as well as visit the new temporary exhibit Roni Horn a.k.a. Roni Horn.

After my time at the Tate, we walked down the riverside (the Tate is located on the bank on the south side of the rive Thames). We passed Shakespeare's reconstructed globe theater and headed to Burrough Market, a great market located near London Bridge.

The idea of the open air market is perhaps the one thing that I love about Europe and that I wish we had in the states. Sure, there are times when I miss the convenience of Wal-Mart or target. But you cannot beat the freshness of the food from the market stalls.

When I studied abroad in Florence, spring semester of my junior year, I lived about four blocks away from the Central Market (Mercato Centrale), which had just aout every type of foodstuff you could imagine. After getting over the grossness of the pig heads and trippa ( tripe, a.k.a. cows stomach lining) I realized it was a great place. Anyway-- it was nice to finally see Burrough market in full swing with all the wonderful foodstuffs on show.

They had several stalls full of chesses and falafel, etc. Much more variety than the Italian markets, perhaps due to the large influx of immigrants in London. We stopped at a poultry stall and bought fresh chicken wraps with rocket (arugula), mayo, sweet thai chilies and salsa. They were delish!

After lunch on the street I head over the the Royal Academy of the Arts to see the Byzantium exhibit with Mr. Bill. It was nice to see an exhibit dealing with arts and artifacts instead of contemporary art- it was a nice break from school.


Byzantine Mosaics, Florence Baptistry. Dating from the 11th century.



Anyway--Byzantium was a great exhibit, as a menas of background, the Byzantine Empire basically lasted from the founding of Constantinople by the Roman Emperor Constantine in 330 B.C. and lasting to some extent until the take over by the Monguls and Ottomans in the late 1400's. This period in history is often referred to as the "Dark Ages" a.k.a. the period between the height of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance in 1401 (this date is considered the starting point of the Renaissance in Art History as it marks the competition for the Baptistry doors in Florence, although writings by Dante and other advances in science pre-date this. It is also improtant to note that some disregard 1401 as a marker for the beginning of the Renaissance bacuse many Byzantine artistic and literary traditions overlapped and continued into the 1500's)

Anyway, the exhibit was very alrge and included great elements of the Byzantine Empire, including carved ivories, Bronze chandeliers, tapestries, carving, illuminated manuscripts, jewelry and various religious relics, my favorite being the tesserae (small stone sqaures/tiles) mosaics. My main problems with the exhibit were the lack of adequate lighting, crowds and the illegibility of the wall plauqes, which provided little information for the viewer. When I was wondering around the bookshop after the exhibit I realised why-- the information for each work was deatiled in the catalogue for the show, which you could purchase for about 30 pounds-- Marketing Ploy--ugh!

Anyway, afterwards I went for coffee with Mr. Bill and then headed home and took a nap. I was knackerd! I got a drink in Angel with my friend Bethany and called it an early night. Saturday night I was back at Sports Cafe to watch the UNC and Duke games and met quite a few American students studying abroad here from U. of Connecticut--I felt so OLD!!!! After the VICTORY, I headed home on the bus, which took about 45 minutes from Piccadilly Circus.

Today I woke up witha bit of a cough and sore throat; I am guessing allergies might be the culprit as things are blooming here all over the place. Makes for a prettier city but my nose can't quite handle it.

Later on Carrie and I headed down to the local pub for the Sunday Roast. I guess it is the British equivalent to a Sunday brunch at PJ's. Then we headed home for a relaxing day... chores and a bit of cleaning for me. I also was able to finish the book I have been reading, Cold Mountain, which was fabulous and I woudl suggest it to anyone! Now the evening will be filled with blog posting and a bit more reading (this time for school).

The upcoming week will be more classes, more NCAA tournament, and perhaps a few gallery visits and a football match. We shall see what happens!!!

New Week, More Art.

Claude Monet, Regatta At Argenteuil, 1872

Hello everyone!

Happy to say that spring has finally arrived!!!

This weeekend was the first real warm weekend of the spring-- and I was so happy about it! There is a flowering cherry tree outside of my flat and loads of daffodils blooming outside and the children of the neighborhood are out in force playing.

This weekend I had a big night out on Friday-- made the extra effort to get dressed up and wear heels for a night out on the town. The rest of the weekend was occupied by the ACC tournament, which I was able to watch at BoDean's BBQ on Poland Street in central Lodnon.

Sad to say the HEELS lost! But no worries-- only about three more days until the NCAA Tournament begins-- hopefully we will make it a big longer in that one.

One Sunday- which was beautiful and in the mid 60's, I packed my blanket, book, and drawing pencils and headed to the neighborhood park-- which was packed with people strolling and picnicking. I spent the good part of the afternoon on the grass reading and drawing until the sun was taken over by clouds. It was a beautiful day.

Today is Monday-- I am currently in my art business & law lecture (10.00-1.30 every Monday). I enjoy the class, but it is just so long, so occasioanlly I get on here and update my blog or check my email. To make the spring fever worse-- it is even nicer outside today and we have huge windows that look out onto the green square form our lecture room. Needless to say, i am not the only one wishing I wasn't inside right now.

I am beginning to realize I didn't pack for warm weather. For some reason I thought it would be alright to leave all my war weather clothes back in North Carolina-- guess that was a mistake!

Well back to lecture I suppose. St. Patrick's day this week but no plans. I will be going to the Hayward Gallery this week, however, beacuse they have two exhibits going on thsi week. Will be back with my opinions of them soon.

P.S. The Richter show was GREAT!! I want to go back! I even considered buying the catalogue but I always have to keep in mind whatever books I buy I will have to haul back to the states with me.