This is a video I made a couple of weeks ago during a video performance workshop in the Changing Room gallery, Stirling. We were put into pairs and I worked with Jon Piccolo, a young man from Essex who has recently moved to Scotland.
Ann Shaw - "I am a writer/artist based in Scotland. After working as a Feature Writer on the Glasgow Herald I went to Glasgow School of Art as a mature student. Check out my web-site: annshaw.co.uk " Contact- annshaw
Friday, July 15, 2011
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Interview with Andrew Bryant of A-N magazine
Ann Shaw talks to Andrew Bryant about working in the virtual realm, her career development from journalist to artist, and current concerns.
'"Forgotten"', digital. Centre for Older Adults, Chicago.
Andrew Bryant: You had a previous career as a journalist. What made you
switch to art and how difficult was the transition?
Ann Shaw: I come from Wales and in those days it was unheard of for anyone
to go to art college – you either went to university or teacher training college.
When I moved to Scotland I found myself for the first time in a country with a
strong visual culture. This allowed me to renew my interest in art by going to
evening classes, weekend courses, holiday courses and even a masterclass
with Eduardo Paolozzi. I switched to job-sharing so that it would give me more
time to practise my art and I had a WASP studio, though I was aware that I
needed art school training.
Leaving the security of a very well paid job, which I thoroughly enjoyed, for the
insecurity of life as an artist took me several years to resolve. In the end my
desire to make art won through. I had by this time already started exhibiting
work, but it was very much a hit and miss affair. I knew that in order to progress
I needed both the training and the official stamp of approval of an art degree. So
I took voluntary redundancy from The Glasgow Herald (as it was known then)
and started a four-year, full-time course at Glasgow School of Art. Once inside
art school it became obvious that there were many different strands to art. A
year in Chicago on exchange to The School of the Art Institute opened even
more doors (especially digital video and performance).
'"The Waiting Game"', Digital. Ann Shaw says:" This was taken in Mexico after visiting some Mayan ruins. The juxtaposition of the iguana and the couple caught my eye."
AB: Francis Alys trained as an architect and Susan Hiller had a previous life as
a sociologist. Both are high profile artists with major retrospectives at Tate. Has
your background as a journalist shaped the kind of artist you are?
AS: I am curious to see your reference to Francis Alys and Susan Hiller, whose
work I greatly admire. In my own case I found that I was not taken seriously as
an artist because I was already known as a journalist (in art school I reckon I
got an extra tough time because of it). I think it’s only now, very late in life, that I
have the confidence to combine the two, to let the one feed off the other.
For a long time I tried to banish my background in journalism but now I realise
that it feeds into my current practice more and more. For example I am working
on a project ‘The Time of Our Lives’ which challenges our stereotyped image of
our ageing population. Because of my journalistic background and contacts I find
it very easy working with people. In fact I seem to be moving more and more
towards ‘social sculpture’ where the interaction between people and their
contribution becomes greater than the finished film. Having said that I have
recently gone back to a life drawing class in order to get back in touch with the
special kind of magic of putting marks on paper – something lost in computers.
Ann Shaw, '"Strong"', digital.Inspired by Moodscope.com the free online testing kit which analyses your daily emotional state.
AB: Your blog is currently concerned with preparations for the Forth Valley Open
Studios. Open studios raise the hoary old question of putting a price on art.
AS: There are many different threads to art and one of the things that organising Open Studios has taught us is that there is a role for all. Studios are not vetted. We let the public decide."
'"Forgotten"', digital. Centre for Older Adults, Chicago.
Andrew Bryant: You had a previous career as a journalist. What made you
switch to art and how difficult was the transition?
Ann Shaw: I come from Wales and in those days it was unheard of for anyone
to go to art college – you either went to university or teacher training college.
When I moved to Scotland I found myself for the first time in a country with a
strong visual culture. This allowed me to renew my interest in art by going to
evening classes, weekend courses, holiday courses and even a masterclass
with Eduardo Paolozzi. I switched to job-sharing so that it would give me more
time to practise my art and I had a WASP studio, though I was aware that I
needed art school training.
Leaving the security of a very well paid job, which I thoroughly enjoyed, for the
insecurity of life as an artist took me several years to resolve. In the end my
desire to make art won through. I had by this time already started exhibiting
work, but it was very much a hit and miss affair. I knew that in order to progress
I needed both the training and the official stamp of approval of an art degree. So
I took voluntary redundancy from The Glasgow Herald (as it was known then)
and started a four-year, full-time course at Glasgow School of Art. Once inside
art school it became obvious that there were many different strands to art. A
year in Chicago on exchange to The School of the Art Institute opened even
more doors (especially digital video and performance).
'"The Waiting Game"', Digital. Ann Shaw says:" This was taken in Mexico after visiting some Mayan ruins. The juxtaposition of the iguana and the couple caught my eye."
AB: Francis Alys trained as an architect and Susan Hiller had a previous life as
a sociologist. Both are high profile artists with major retrospectives at Tate. Has
your background as a journalist shaped the kind of artist you are?
AS: I am curious to see your reference to Francis Alys and Susan Hiller, whose
work I greatly admire. In my own case I found that I was not taken seriously as
an artist because I was already known as a journalist (in art school I reckon I
got an extra tough time because of it). I think it’s only now, very late in life, that I
have the confidence to combine the two, to let the one feed off the other.
For a long time I tried to banish my background in journalism but now I realise
that it feeds into my current practice more and more. For example I am working
on a project ‘The Time of Our Lives’ which challenges our stereotyped image of
our ageing population. Because of my journalistic background and contacts I find
it very easy working with people. In fact I seem to be moving more and more
towards ‘social sculpture’ where the interaction between people and their
contribution becomes greater than the finished film. Having said that I have
recently gone back to a life drawing class in order to get back in touch with the
special kind of magic of putting marks on paper – something lost in computers.
Ann Shaw, '"Strong"', digital.Inspired by Moodscope.com the free online testing kit which analyses your daily emotional state.
AB: Your blog is currently concerned with preparations for the Forth Valley Open
Studios. Open studios raise the hoary old question of putting a price on art.
AS: There are many different threads to art and one of the things that organising Open Studios has taught us is that there is a role for all. Studios are not vetted. We let the public decide."
Friday, July 08, 2011
Ann Shaw talks to online editor Andrew Bryant
The other day I did an online interview with Andrew Bryant of AN Magazine.
It was a novel experience to be interviewed, to find myself at the other end of the questions, for I used to be a journalist.
Knowing how easy it is to misinterpret a persons story, to give added weight to something in order to make it more readable, a common newspaper practice ( think of current newspaper scandals) it was with some trepidation that I read Andrew's interview.
I was both surprised and delighted at his well-balanced article which summed up my work. Moreover it caused me to look more deeply and critically at my practice and what I wanted to achieve.
It was a novel experience to be interviewed, to find myself at the other end of the questions, for I used to be a journalist.
Knowing how easy it is to misinterpret a persons story, to give added weight to something in order to make it more readable, a common newspaper practice ( think of current newspaper scandals) it was with some trepidation that I read Andrew's interview.
I was both surprised and delighted at his well-balanced article which summed up my work. Moreover it caused me to look more deeply and critically at my practice and what I wanted to achieve.
Thursday, July 07, 2011
Blurb.com
Have created my first mini book using Blurb.com It is a very simple venture, a small gift for Kit Gow of Opening More Doors , the charity that organised an exhibition of work made by day patients at Strathcarron hospice for our recent Forth Valley Open Studios.
Once books involved an enormous and costly process. Now its possible to have one-off glossy books for less than a bunch of flowers!
Once books involved an enormous and costly process. Now its possible to have one-off glossy books for less than a bunch of flowers!
Sunday, July 03, 2011
Getting on a bit.....: 84 and still dancing...
Getting on a bit.....: 84 and still dancing...: "(Ipad image - Ann Shaw) One of my favourite contributions on growing older is this one: ' I am 84 years of age and still dancing!....' ..."
Saturday, July 02, 2011
Transmission gallery -opening
Tonight sees the opening of the annual members exhibition in the Transmission gallery, Glasgow. I did not go to the launch party preferring to go mid week when it's possible to get a good look at the work.
I submitted some of my iPhone a d iPad images so I will be curious to see how they have hung them.
I submitted some of my iPhone a d iPad images so I will be curious to see how they have hung them.
Friday, July 01, 2011
Diary of an artist writer online | Project blogs | Artists talking | a-n
Charmian Pollok - mirrored box of Scottish midges caught by Charmian at her home on the west coast of Scotland.
Only those of us who have suffered an evening of Scottish midges will really appreciate the significance of this box.
Diary of an artist writer online | Project blogs | Artists talking | a-n
A video of midges I made in Glencoe one evening...
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
Forth Valley Open Studios
Praise continues to pour in for our Forth Valley Open Studios brochure from unexpected quarters .
They all praise us for the high professional standard we have set. Others point out that this is the nearest to a complete directory of all artists working in the Forth Valley.
They all praise us for the high professional standard we have set. Others point out that this is the nearest to a complete directory of all artists working in the Forth Valley.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Members exhibition - Transmission gallery
Work came back yesterday from the Forth Valley Open Studios exhibition at Delta Studios, Larbert and went straight into Glasgow this morning for the annual members exhibition in the Transmission gallery in the Trongate.
It consists of 100 images created on both my iphone and ipad and I have called it:"From the other side".
Here's a sample.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Transmission gallery
It is that time of year again - annual exhibition of members work at the Transmission gallery in Glasgow. Well, as soon as my "stuff" is back from the Forth Valley Open Studios exhibition in the Delta Studios, Larbert I will take it in tomorrow to Glasgow.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Are you a proper artist?.....
It happened again yesterday.
An aquaintance I have known for years said :
"Are you a proper artist?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, do you sell stuff?"
I took him into my studio and showed him my drawings on iphone and ipad.
He didn't know what to say.
He wrote in my Visitors Book:
"Amazing!"
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Getting on a bit.....: Chinese .....approach to ageing
Getting on a bit.....: Chinese .....approach to ageing: "Image: 'Contentment' drawn on ipad - Ann Shaw During Forth Valley Open Studios I launched my inter-active ' Time of our Lives...getting..."
Monday, June 20, 2011
Diary of an artist writer online | Project blogs | Artists talking | a-n
Ipad drawing made by sixteen year old Sarah Holliday - her first drawing on an ipad.
Impressive.
Diary of an artist writer online | Project blogs | Artists talking | a-n
I had intended to keep a running blog on the Open Studios only it turned out to be too hectic. As soon as the studio closed there were special events and private viewings to go to plus Glasgow School of Art Degree show.
Well, the dust has now settled and it’s Monday. All the feedback is very good apart from a few hitches like council officials taking down our notices (seems it is illegal to put up notices on the road). This was a real pain for one artist because they had decided to close the main road leading to her studio for repairs and the only way she direct people to her studio – was to put up new directions.
I had a fraught couple of hours trying to sort that lot out.
Oh yes another complaint was over opening times. This is a real problem in rural areas where people might have driven a great distance to view work only to find that some of the studios in the area have decided to close that day. We did attempt to persuade artists to co-ordinate with their neighbours on this buy it didn’t work so I guess we have got to be a bit firmer next year.
On a personal level I am more than pleased with this years Open Studios because I made a conscious decision not to sell “stuff” and concentrate instead on giving people an experience and something to think about. It worked better than I expected but the downside was that at the end of each day I was totally shattered. Everyone stayed between 1-2 hours and some even came back with their families!
Most popular were the inter-activity sessions where people were given my ipad to draw on and I sent it on email to them so it was waiting when they got home. The teenagers who visited went straight to the electronics – no surprise there. As for my box, which became known as the “old age” box, this proved surprisingly popular too and led to many animated discussions. I asked people to write down on a small piece of paper what growing old meant to them. The only person who refused was a doctor!
Monday, May 30, 2011
Challenging ideas of older people - rock group
This is a clip from Steamer Lane, a soft rock group of retired professional men who performed recently in Stirling. They are my first participants in my project Time of our Lives which challenges how we view older people and the expectations people have of us.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Ann Shaw | Image | Artists talking | a-n
"Strong" image inspired by online emotional testing kit Moodscope.com
Ann Shaw | Image | Artists talking | a-n
Waiting for the winds of 70mph ripping through Scotland to drop off before I go over to Delta Studios with work for the Forth Valley Open Studios exhibition.
I am submitting an installation, “Mobile Art”, of 100 images created either on on my iphone or ipad .
Last year I sold my iphone images for £5 each.
They proved to be very popular but they were certainly not cost effective considering the work that went into them for they were individually printed and mounted on foam board.
Also I was very uneasy with this arrangement then for I seemed to be trying to stay with one foot in the traditional print world and the other in the digital.
And succeeding in neither.
So this year I have freed myself from the tyranny of trying to produce conventional art for sale and I am giving the images away for free – in digital form sent either to peoples mobiles or computers.
I feel a lot happier with this arrangement since the images were designed on an electronic device and should be viewed on one.
David Hockney recent exhibition in Paris abandoned canvas altogether and he showed work created and shown entirely on electronic devices. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11666162
No sign of winds dropping so will video the storm instead and go to Delta Studios tomorrow.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Tracey Emin - on radio
Heard Tracey Emin talking about her work on radio this morning. Whatever you think of the quality of her work you have got to admit she is sincere about it and she connects with the public.
She's a strong woman and I have got a lot of time for her. And she is usisng her art to make serious social comments.
Her high public profile owes a lot to her communication skills - yet another example of how important it is for artists to be able to talk about their work. Gone are the days when you could sit back and say " I am an artist. The work speaks for itself."
Today art is about a lot more than selling decorative work to hang on walls.
If you want that then go to Ikea.
She's a strong woman and I have got a lot of time for her. And she is usisng her art to make serious social comments.
Her high public profile owes a lot to her communication skills - yet another example of how important it is for artists to be able to talk about their work. Gone are the days when you could sit back and say " I am an artist. The work speaks for itself."
Today art is about a lot more than selling decorative work to hang on walls.
If you want that then go to Ikea.
A-N interview on email
I mentioned to some friends that I was doing an email interview ( for A-N magazine) only for them to be very dismissal. They do them all the time. Seems these are common journalistic practise these days.
Interviews conducted over long boozy lunches have long been consigned to the history books but I had not appreciated how virtual interviews have become the norm.
Interviews conducted over long boozy lunches have long been consigned to the history books but I had not appreciated how virtual interviews have become the norm.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Diary of an artist writer online | Project blogs | Artists talking | a-n
Steamer Lane ( from left to right) David Martin, Alex MacCambley and Alan Forrester
Diary of an artist writer online | Project blogs | Artists talking | a-n
Time of our Lives…challenging perceptions of older people
We were just about to start filming the soft rock group Steamer Lane on Saturday in the middle of Stirling when they started: the South American pan pipers with all their amplifiers going full blast.
Try competing against that!
I had this tremendous sense of deja- vu. Ten years ago in my Degree show at Glasgow School of Art I had installed a sound installation “Duet” of birds singing and a cat purring. It was a lyrical piece and it was set up in the Loggia, top of the Macintosh building.
Suddenly from the “Hen Run” adjoining I hear shots. The student next to me had installed a Western style shooting gallery as his degree piece…. I had to find a new space sharpish.
Well, we did get the filming done, once the South American players stopped for an early afternoon siesta but this is one of the problems when you are working with sound and in a public space.
You have got to be prepared to think fast and find solutions.
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