The city that distrusts photographers

   I am great admirer of the Magnum photographers so I looked with special interest at last Sunday Observer colour magazine  (17.11.13) which carried a selection of photos they had taken in Marrakech in preparation for the worlds largest photography museum opening there in two years time.

   Two years ago I stayed in a riad in the medina and took photos. Here was a rare opportunity to compare my work with these internatioanl photographers. I would learn from them, see the opportunities I missed.

   But it was not to be. The Magnum photographers had encountered an unfriendly reception from the locals and were unable, with the exception of Susan Meiselas, to access the local community who for cultural reasons are very unhappy to be photographed.

    Well, for some reason I was able to win their trust and here is the result.

It is a city of contrasts, the old way of life mixing alongside the new:

While there I took a day trip to the Atlas Mountains, only regretting it could not have been longer:

Tap-dancing grandmother: 60 is the new 50

Anne Aiken,  founder of The Happy Tappers , gives a public performance in Stirling.

I first met Anne through the Macrobert Arts centre older dance project . She is aformer dance teacher and having moved to Stirling to be near her family decided to start a tap-dancing group here. I joined, then lapsed, then re-joined to-day. 

Watch this space!

Drawing Together

Drawing Together

“What on earth are they doing?” you may well ask.

Well this is the grand finale of a group of artists in the heart of Scotland “drawing together” using every kind of utensil you can think of from sweeping brushes and mops to household paint brushes, sponges and plastic balls using pure graphite and printmaking ink.

For we were all taking part in Perth Visual Arts Forum “Drawing Together” day at the Birnam Institute, Dunkeld.

Those of us who had travelled from neighbouring Stirlingshire were envious of the sheer quality, diversity and organisation of this artist led venture.

We have nothing like it in our area.

A number of international artists (Ilana Halperin, Su Grierson, Liz Kemp and Pat Law) spoke about their residencies in places as diverse and remote as the Arctic, Iceland, Japan and Kenya.

And one workshop run by Kate Downie on using the ipad as a drawing tool using an app called Paper53 will surely see the sale of ipads soar. Even the most cynical were converted at the end – here at last was an app designed for artists.

International photographic collaboration

self-portrait

Art, we are told, is all about collaboration, these days.

And I suddenly realised that is what I have been involved in during the past couple of weeks – on an international scale in the virtual world.

I decided to check out this morning where in the real world all the other 23 photographers live who are taking part in the Blipfoto Filterama Challenge .
 I know them in the virtual world only by their screen name.

bracelet bonanza

I got a surprise.

I expected most of them to be in Scotland after all that is where Blipfoto, the Edinburgh based online photographic diary started.

Instead I found 8 were in Australia, 6 in New Zealand, 6 England, 2 Scotland, 1 America, and 1 South Africa.

For the past three weeks (and it is being extended by popular demand) each Monday we are invited to submit a “before” and “after” photograph of the day using a filter along with the technical info on how we achieved that effect.

Peer group review comes from the hits and comments. Its free and open to all to participate.

 Check it out.

http://www.blipfoto.com/entry/3406429

"Kidnapped"- drawing made from mud in Robert Louis Stevenson cave

The curator is deep in conversation with a local artist as I pass through the museum café to join friends for lunch.

I can imagine the conversation. The artist requesting an exhibition, the curator explaining,  much as she liked the artists work, that finances are tight and her schedule is already booked for two, maybe three years ahead... 

And it got me thinking is this best that artists can hope for in this digital age?

The music industry has been blown apart by the arrival of the internet with the traditional gatekeepers- record producers, music publishers, and music critics ihaving lost their  immense power. 

The floodgates are open. Yes it’s far more difficult for musicians to get their  voices heard and they  have to be good, very good to be heard. But at least it is a level playing field. 

And it got me thinking too about my own practise. I make-work, upload it to several websites and get feedback that day.  For free. Instantly.

What I am doing, and others who use the internet as an integral part  of their  practise, is build our own “tribe” or “followers”, or if you want to be commercially minded our own “client base.”

"Kidnapped" -drawing made with mud from the floor of Robert Louis Stevenson cave, along the Allanwater river, Bridge-of-Allan. RLS spent many childhood holidays in this area and it is believed to have been the inspiration behind both "Kidnapped" and "Treasure Island".