tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90586013074114811982024-02-06T22:10:52.037-08:00VirtualFactoryVictorFoxtrotmusings from the light side, art, life, culture both sides of a very deep pond, lost in alliteration, making art not war.Virtual Factoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14414018483919645063noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058601307411481198.post-7632425611521644402011-03-05T04:34:00.000-08:002011-03-05T04:34:39.745-08:00Adam and Epstein shakin' it all about....<a href="http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibitions/modernbritishsculpture/about-the-exhibition/">Modern British Sculpture at the Royal Academy</a>, definitely worth a look-see, however do not under pain of death or torture or four more years of Nick Clegg read the nonsensical art speak on the exhibition's walls. <br />
Drivel. Some jumped up art student intern trying to impress...someone else. And failing spectacularly.<br />
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Describing Epstein's monumental <i>Adam</i>, of the flaying cock and awe-some girth with the self-consciously silly words "still has the power to embarrass," the only thing embarrassing was the whiny, wheezy text, typical "lest thou be shocked" worth of an Old Testament morality tale. No, actually even Jehovah did modesty better.<br />
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Bask bask in the monolithic glory of Adam as the original man with the power-tool and be moved by the way Epstein captures nature and monumental force out of a hulk of alabaster. It's an encounter with our own essence, not a moment for "shame" or an act of withdrawal. I asked my friend, a nearly fifty year old artist if he felt "embarrassed" by the sculpture and he confirmed he didn't. Its power draws you in, there's something vastly majestic, earthly embracing and sexual about it, something you want to move towards, anti-repulsive. Unlike Damien Hirst's fly-traps of rotten barbecue and whatever else. <br />
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Very impressive, in spite of the usual tat from Damien Hirst and even with the fateful omission of Kapoor and Gormley. Who cares, the greats ( and some dubious others) are included.<br />
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Till April 7 2011.Virtual Factoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14414018483919645063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058601307411481198.post-4026621024580627372011-03-01T14:41:00.000-08:002011-03-01T15:18:34.900-08:00Tatty as in Tattinger darlingestby <a href="http://amritasdailybiscuit.wordpress.com/">DorkistMedia </a><br />
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Spectacular runway shows set the bar for next seasons trends, luxe high end designs and artistic pieces carefully mastered with expert skill- but who'd have thought that the upper echelons of the fashion industry cared about being ethical?<br />
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Ethical fashion is often pigeon holed as being vintage or recycled scraps of material that have been amalgamated to create something new, and although this is still a trend, the designers have proved that ethical fashion doesn't have to be tatty.<br />
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London Fashion Week hosted a huge exhibition, showcasing innovative designs by an array of ethical designers. From futuristic one off garments to breath-taking hand made jewellery, ethical fashion is leading the way...and even carrying high end price tags!<br />
I've shortlisted my favourite ethical artists from this fashion week, prepare to be stunned...<br />
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Michelle Lowe-Holder <br />
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Michelle Lowe-Holder's AW11 'Flock & Fold' collection is an accessories only one- both ethically produced and sampled in the UK. The bases are hand cut or crocheted and interlaced with off-cuts of previous collections, end of line ribbons and cuttings from local factories. This season's collection boasts a vibrant, colourful mix of textures including velvet, metallics and ribbons hand folded into geometric shapes.<br />
The pieces are neat, structured and include that striking one you know you'll wear with EVERYTHING! Prices start at around £25!<br />
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Noki Noir<br />
This season <a href="http://www.novamatic.com/noki.htm" target="_blank">Dr Noki</a> launched his very first menswear collection titled NOKI-NOIR-POUR DANDY. The collection has a very different feel to his womenswear, the bold graphic prints, manipulated branding and cartoon characters have been replaced with a mature focused colour palette of grey, navy and black, with a punch of colour and famous pen work only on braces. This collection is all about silhouette. High waisted trousers and knee length shorts paired with bike courier bondage leggings, sharp shirts buttoned to the top with huge hip-hop sleeves covering the elbow and redesigned <a href="http://www.neweracap.co.uk/" target="_blank">New Era</a> caps. Often regenerating vintage pieces or dated clothing, Noki Noir is the epitome of ethical-art-fashion.<br />
<a href="http://amritasdailybiscuit.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/noki_mens_150110-98-final1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="300" src="http://amritasdailybiscuit.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/noki_mens_150110-98-final1.jpg?w=200" style="border-width: 0px; float: left;" title="Noki_Mens_150110--98-final" width="200" /></a><a href="http://amritasdailybiscuit.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/img_0060-11.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="300" src="http://amritasdailybiscuit.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/img_0060-11.jpg?w=225" style="border-width: 0px; float: right;" title="IMG_0060-1" width="225" /></a><br />
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PARTIMI is a luxurious ethical fashion line founded by Central St Martins graduate, Eleanor Dorrien-Smith. The first full PARTIMI collection was exhibited in Estethica at London Fashion Week last season and the Spring/Summer 2011 collection, ‘Dieu Bleu’ attracted the attention of Young British Designers, who have a new online store and are supporters of up-and-coming talent. The collection will also be stocked in the new Broadway Market boutique, ‘69b’, which launched during London Fashion Week. Two specially commissioned pieces inspired by the collection will also be stocked with the U.S. retailer, Anthropologie in April 2011.<br />
<a href="http://amritasdailybiscuit.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/f1e68ec1b5164904dc924047297f7239_partimi-aw11-14.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="400" src="http://amritasdailybiscuit.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/f1e68ec1b5164904dc924047297f7239_partimi-aw11-14.jpg?w=200" style="border-width: 0px; float: left;" title="f1e68ec1b5164904dc924047297f7239_PARTIMI AW11 14" width="266" /></a><a href="http://amritasdailybiscuit.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/eaafa663212246e53c528c5c35a6df17_partimi-aw11-18.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="400" src="http://amritasdailybiscuit.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/eaafa663212246e53c528c5c35a6df17_partimi-aw11-18.jpg?w=200" style="border-width: 0px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="eaafa663212246e53c528c5c35a6df17_PARTIMI AW11 18" width="266" /></a><br />
PARTIMI began when Eleanor’s work was spotted at the Central Saint Martins degree show and she was subsequently commissioned to create a capsule collection for Anthropologie. The six piece collection named ‘Newspapers & Plastic Bags’ was then launched in stores across America and online under the brand name PARTIMI which stems from the architectural term, ‘parti’ - being the conceptual starting point of a design project.<br />
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Her pieces are beautiful, wearable, sustainable and ones you'll keep until they're vintage and wear them all over again. Now THATS ethical.<br />
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Fiona Paxton<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://amritasdailybiscuit.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/viewer-1.png" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="212" src="http://amritasdailybiscuit.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/viewer-1.png?w=300" style="border-width: 0px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="viewer-1" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Also exhibition at Esthetica this fashion week was Fiona Paxton who is a London-based designer that creates striking hand-beaded necklaces, earrings and cuffs in geometric patterns. Her pieces have a high end, boho- ethnic feel which are wearable on any occasion, with pretty much any outfit at any time of day. The AW11 collection is absolutely fabulous and makes an understated statement with bags of appeal.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Henrietta Ludgate</div>Scottish luxury womenswear label, Henrietta Ludgate, has already garnered an impressive number of awards and built a formidable reputation amongst high end retailers.<br />
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In her first appearance at London Fashion Week Henrietta was awarded the (EFF) Ethical Fashion Forum’s ‘Fashion Innovation Award’, for London Fashion Week Spring / Summer 2010.<br />
Following in the footsteps of fellow Central St. Martins graduates Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, Matthew Williamson and Christopher Kane- Henrietta’s flair for structural design, the minimalistic form and her uncanny ability to design with a real sense of her Scottish Heritage make her one of the most unique and inspirational designers of her time.<br />
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An ethos of supporting Scottish craftsmanship is central to her work, with fabrics sourced from within the British Isles and all pieces produced locally.<br />
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A champion of slow fashion, Henrietta’s minimalist silhouette remains hauntingly elegant and distinctive while at the same time retaining an undeniable modernity. She draws inspiration from Elsa Schiaparelli, and her vision of fashion as architecture; that clothing should be ‘closely connected to the contours of the body’.<br />
Her futuristic and edgy signature styles remain this AW11 however, with a punkier edge, with some heavy square pyramid silver studs- keep your eyes peeled later this year.Virtual Factoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14414018483919645063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058601307411481198.post-78645231573501138812011-01-30T04:36:00.000-08:002011-01-30T04:42:47.936-08:00Black Swan, masturbation, transgressing female stereotypes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_S0d4xLsK5LQi3SwUU7LXRaye7ZdXMCfcnuh9bKvjDDT3iVu-6rPasFAnF1B0wtuFRHUJ_4rl9lY-wTZ2k9j3PA7JQ6gZFhtx_BHlXe7UdVuoShjEp1Iy2_kl73tLNw87P_3uvkKP0_8/s1600/blackswan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_S0d4xLsK5LQi3SwUU7LXRaye7ZdXMCfcnuh9bKvjDDT3iVu-6rPasFAnF1B0wtuFRHUJ_4rl9lY-wTZ2k9j3PA7JQ6gZFhtx_BHlXe7UdVuoShjEp1Iy2_kl73tLNw87P_3uvkKP0_8/s400/blackswan.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Dr. M.-L. von Franz (an associate of Dr. Jung) states,</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>"But if she realizes who and what her animus is and what he does to her, and if she faces these realities instead of allowing herself to be possessed, her animus can turn into an invaluable inner companion who endows her with the masculine qualities of initiative, courage, objectivity, and spiritual wisdom."</b></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Lilly as Lilith, Leroy as The King. Aronofsky untangling Jung's female archetypes and a call for individuation. Brava Natalie!</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>For an interesting read <a href="http://hubpages.com/hub/Jungian-Elements-In-The-Black-Swan">more here.</a></b></span></span>Virtual Factoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14414018483919645063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058601307411481198.post-57188431951720344282011-01-19T13:28:00.000-08:002011-01-19T13:28:50.369-08:00Catwalk couture and choo-choo trainsGorgeous Lucy Tammam of eponymous ethical goddess lifestyle label <a href="http://www.tammam.co.uk/index.html">House of Tammam i</a>s hosting a rush hour catwalk show through <a href="http://www.stpancras.com/going-to-stpancras/">St Pancras Station</a> on Friday January 21st 2011. Just think of all those frazzled Eurostar commuters trying to get home, mingling with willowy models in Lucy's ethical silk bridal-wear, it's all just too gorgeous, as if <a href="http://www.glamoursplash.com/2009/06/dream-world-of-sarah-moon.html">Sarah Moon</a> had started making dreamy-fil-ums. The clothes are dressy but evoke an old romantic spirit, in their classical tailoring and impeccable cut. Think Meryl Streep in <i>Out of Africa</i> goes haute couture and meets Audrey Hepburn for a spot of <i>Breakfast at Tiffany's</i>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoOGJk0jbiw7aYOS_Voz5nbZcTFsMJYECp5EedYd_sqHcrd8S_Su0gCqCYblsqQMGvgYqJqSS6pHgKQaXkGBdFdumwR7C2VLF7IdFlUqsxEa_286Cx1Dn6vhM8crdnFNwJQO8HqPvjxBQ/s1600/sarah+moon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoOGJk0jbiw7aYOS_Voz5nbZcTFsMJYECp5EedYd_sqHcrd8S_Su0gCqCYblsqQMGvgYqJqSS6pHgKQaXkGBdFdumwR7C2VLF7IdFlUqsxEa_286Cx1Dn6vhM8crdnFNwJQO8HqPvjxBQ/s640/sarah+moon.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Sarah Moon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>All the pieces are made by not harming the silk moth which is allowed to fly free before the silk is harvested. Commercial silk cocoons are generally boiled to keep the silk white and poor little pupa dies an unholy death. Stella McCartney are you taking notes, sweety? This is the real deal. Handmade in Bangalore by women. <a href="http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/73843,people,news,twitter-turns-on-liz-jones-of-the-daily-mail-over-jo-yeates">Liz Jones</a> likes it but don't let that put you off.<br />
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</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27pgZqxRuA4wg20LU1ckEvjReJpw0vNJ43UoJaT3veGT0ye0FS3Yu629F5rYfxrBmXPhgT9dd73B0VuoS6d1NYqWlpg7zP7uRiHxQ6ukyuwNAuyFIKw1VGp_o9G4JoY3K2ZK7Al4aA5w/s1600/15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b>And look out for her too-cute-for-school baby Tammam dresses. </b></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b>Dressing up starts really early,</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b>so don't miss it, 09 00 - 12 00 this Friday </b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b>St Pancras Station.</b></span>Virtual Factoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14414018483919645063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058601307411481198.post-44983661064177568982010-12-26T03:05:00.000-08:002010-12-26T03:05:58.331-08:00Buy the ticket, take the ride.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwcOyzwvB0tdrWAFU7HjN3PIyElHHVsZjLPbEGD4dF4zOFskJln2TO527RpzjwiBRgvPO4Iumuz81rjTHfUali8pbCpUSTEFVGcan9n9lL7uzLgXkq9-nm9IlO6W51HTpaKqxYIhhWao/s1600/thompsonCor460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwcOyzwvB0tdrWAFU7HjN3PIyElHHVsZjLPbEGD4dF4zOFskJln2TO527RpzjwiBRgvPO4Iumuz81rjTHfUali8pbCpUSTEFVGcan9n9lL7uzLgXkq9-nm9IlO6W51HTpaKqxYIhhWao/s640/thompsonCor460.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="background-color: red; color: black; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
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</div><div style="background-color: red; color: black; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="body">I wouldn't recommend sex, drugs or insanity for everyone, but they've always worked for me.</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2007/oct/19/loathinghuntersthompson"><span class="bodybold"> Hunter S. Thompson</span></a></span></b></div><div style="background-color: red; color: black; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="bodybold"> </span></span></b> </div>Virtual Factoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14414018483919645063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058601307411481198.post-40499224047633525342010-12-21T03:52:00.000-08:002010-12-21T03:56:21.410-08:00Pas de deux, or trois, ou quatre...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKn-KMycSfSW4ZSRdAGnsVFDiJYcfOhtlaJh69W6KsLU__Tr_c6X4cmgxiezLXZUHxzShaGvrvrlLkXWK-fkpZowilOs-xaABiXa6_1Btt4O1oa0atbAzMAwBStxfJGqvnhpa_q9TGfTk/s1600/69223-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKn-KMycSfSW4ZSRdAGnsVFDiJYcfOhtlaJh69W6KsLU__Tr_c6X4cmgxiezLXZUHxzShaGvrvrlLkXWK-fkpZowilOs-xaABiXa6_1Btt4O1oa0atbAzMAwBStxfJGqvnhpa_q9TGfTk/s400/69223-large.jpg" width="237" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Serge Diaghilev, c 1924</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;">Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballet Russes 1909 - 1929 at the Victoria and Albert Museum is one of those block-buster exhibitions that gets so much bad press where quantity and volume, rather than the quality of the items on display, appear to be the prevailing factors used in judging the merit the exhibition. The V+A have scored some rare treats that offer a glimpse into a life which has been the centre of much controversy and arguably, one of the changing forces of art in the last century. Diaghilev's influence across the all aspects of the contemporary art of his time and his reach across art today can still be felt. Some absolute gems include the earrings worn by Nijinsky, who became his lover and principle dancer.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqnKDXOyAFizONVd0XOd6s2cB6EQ4J8-ApcEMcXRC5MaHwRdLycSBFIVIF4LLP08z_7WCQvM4hvoQrfZ6axwUafplT212DsJEW1NCmsUV4UVhvpDChNeS-4p_rvhYufHMUOEyHvk5jPPs/s1600/69245-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqnKDXOyAFizONVd0XOd6s2cB6EQ4J8-ApcEMcXRC5MaHwRdLycSBFIVIF4LLP08z_7WCQvM4hvoQrfZ6axwUafplT212DsJEW1NCmsUV4UVhvpDChNeS-4p_rvhYufHMUOEyHvk5jPPs/s320/69245-large.jpg" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Earrings worn by Vaslav Nijinsky as the Golden Slave in Schéhérazade<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Designed by Léon Bakst 1910</span> </b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlD3dExQyU0G-4MfbpWKUlsKV_-ebO_1qUPY17VqlNAZNrtE0aqaMkUztyJDTJ6TU_gMyULcdzzyaSZkrvFG_wm5jnyj-oqz4lG1HgOfC6cSK1ocbY9lyscsymKokd3yhKq1UEFdX1HGc/s1600/69123-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlD3dExQyU0G-4MfbpWKUlsKV_-ebO_1qUPY17VqlNAZNrtE0aqaMkUztyJDTJ6TU_gMyULcdzzyaSZkrvFG_wm5jnyj-oqz4lG1HgOfC6cSK1ocbY9lyscsymKokd3yhKq1UEFdX1HGc/s320/69123-large.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chanel designed costumes for le Train Bleu</td></tr>
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<br />
Perhaps best known for the performance of Blue Train, for which Coco Chanel designed the costumes and Picasso the sets, Diaghilev's legacy still prevails, from fashion collections to porcelain and interior design. There's an exuberance of orientalism. He lived a lot of his life in hotels but had a few very beautiful possessions, including precious items by Faberge and a carved table from the Winter Palace. His letters and correspondence are revealing, perhaps this is as close as we can ever come to knowing someone so elusive, whose life is revealed through his collaborations and his art as much as through what he left behind.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-ccwEf_R4pbPPo-DufHqRl5iU4qTfM6l3Q7W1trAF1NBN1trj99iHE-62DtQLQ09K8wGbTIMQ9SWJ8D1aqlKKjhhcTXT1kPkWJYuiEpF1q0BG8qecyvMvWa1dvz-EGkQbC3JdiL_dVQ/s1600/69225-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-ccwEf_R4pbPPo-DufHqRl5iU4qTfM6l3Q7W1trAF1NBN1trj99iHE-62DtQLQ09K8wGbTIMQ9SWJ8D1aqlKKjhhcTXT1kPkWJYuiEpF1q0BG8qecyvMvWa1dvz-EGkQbC3JdiL_dVQ/s640/69225-large.jpg" width="490" /></a></div><br />
See this till January 9th 2011 at the <a href="http://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/theatre_performance/diaghilev-ballet-russes/exhibition/index.html">Victoria and Albert Museum.</a>Virtual Factoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14414018483919645063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058601307411481198.post-20498701814536666862010-12-18T07:06:00.000-08:002010-12-18T10:16:24.179-08:00Incendiary exposures, Will and another Kate, Ken Clarke and his secret lingerie revolution and Sam Leith's Legendary cock.<div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: red; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>A</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: red; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>fter a brief period of coitus itinerary interruptus, more of</b></span></span><br />
</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: red; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>Darling MA's anodyne perceptions on Charles and Di 2 (Camilla), students rioting,why Uncle Ken always knows knickers best and Sam Leith's Legendary cock.</b></span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><br />
</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">VF: Students. They've been a riotous lot recently and poor Camilla, Pseudo Princess of Wales (don't you dare diss my <a href="http://twitter.com/dianainheaven">Diana in Heaven</a>) looked frightfully shocked when those rowdy rabble rousing students who expect a higher education but don't want to pay for it later smashed up the princemobile and poured paint (how common) on it. What should we do about the current taste for anarchy that prevails on these hallowed isles?<br />
<br />
</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b>MA: Camilla had every reason to look shocked - she was poked in the ribs! I assume a huge priceless ruby near her breast deflected the improvised (and cheap) stiletto away from her heart. I have read about these kinds of miracle in battlefields of valour, a sure sign that God wants to keep her and Diana well apart for as long as possible.</b></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b>I was most impressed that Charles and Camilla continued to give royal waves even as the yobs pelting their Rolls screamed “Off with their heads!” Should the Duracell Bunny ever seek a retirement warren, we’ll know where first to look for replacement models of robotic endurance.</b></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b>As for the current state of anarchy (sooo late 80s) in England, the lawful public executions of Nick Clegg and Vince Cable on TV’s University Challenge - after the failed lie detector tests - would probably pacify anyone under the age of 21.</b></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8f4kViOQeODQg-ElyufE_v4QCrIzKV2Y1tX8GIWwv7UKDI8KbUYHUY8u7omdkxqnE_fC8I7IhskVb-vUlw3_4btVTGZSbCW3c_vo9ibqpp2A3Z3pQofSwXFQyGNhVRaTgqvMedP_N_2Q/s1600/protests+-+Charles+%2526+Camilla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8f4kViOQeODQg-ElyufE_v4QCrIzKV2Y1tX8GIWwv7UKDI8KbUYHUY8u7omdkxqnE_fC8I7IhskVb-vUlw3_4btVTGZSbCW3c_vo9ibqpp2A3Z3pQofSwXFQyGNhVRaTgqvMedP_N_2Q/s640/protests+-+Charles+%2526+Camilla.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quick! Jump!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b> </b>VF Justice Minister Ken Clarke has taken a lot of flak for retracting 18 years of Tory policy and announcing "prison doesn't work". Do you think poppet has lost his mind or is soft soaping the liberal back benchers who appeared to have taken over the bodies of normally sane Hang 'em and flog 'em Tory boys.</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial;"><span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222;">MA: Madame</span> <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222;">Arcati</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"> is privy to Ken’s actual plan - his new complete slogan is:</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><b> "</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><b>Prison doesn’t work. But prisoners will!”</b></span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"> And I can exclusively reveal Ken’s secret weapon of penal correction. Lingerie.</span></b></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b>Major retail outlets such as Primark, Bhs and C&A will be invited to sponsor selected prisons and subsidise jailbirds’ keep in return for their lingerie labour - bringing to an end foreign sweatshops and child slaves into the bargain. Ken thinks that exposure to lingerie manufacture all day will either feminise prisoners and soften away their criminal tendencies or cause them to become so averse to prison life that they opt for the straight and narrow as preferred domicile.</b></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b>How stitching lingerie will affect female and transsexual prisoners I’m not sure. Over to you, Ken.</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyrS-wIP6Fg2SFstiIHg99be5BfXBbCZck1mptEYpavA4fS3xsD7TAQfZj5k2xs1k9pdLh0YEfuZPnjOL_dW4O5xNybtiXmlVpgCqzysQbLSziVsH8YXtKyVd7FHB0CSmoJEbGQj-QBt0/s1600/yhst-19931730927510_2134_283733393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyrS-wIP6Fg2SFstiIHg99be5BfXBbCZck1mptEYpavA4fS3xsD7TAQfZj5k2xs1k9pdLh0YEfuZPnjOL_dW4O5xNybtiXmlVpgCqzysQbLSziVsH8YXtKyVd7FHB0CSmoJEbGQj-QBt0/s400/yhst-19931730927510_2134_283733393.jpg" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How prison lingerie might possibly look</td></tr>
</tbody></table>VF: What of this rift between Cleggover and President Macaroon? What do the stars say about the star-crossed lovers' future?</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MA : Alas, there is no rift. Like Antony and Cleo they are embarked on a doomed journey with their own battle of Actium in Parliament Square. If only Clegg had a bosom and a love of the asp.</span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BwmqhfGJi5o-M3C7FCiBdDsMAZ8qMiaSLvQUHtVamYQFRfL4A6Gw1iwVNUOn1BqyGtOGgi-7Y0d_rvAOcbVusFykcXzwojCseeg6oc-76JzaLyPvIj_-uw9v5Z3Y7JllwFRP5F-x6LA/s1600/David%252BCameron%252BNick%252BClegg%252BHold%252BTheir%252BFirst%252BcMgDamyzXDql.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BwmqhfGJi5o-M3C7FCiBdDsMAZ8qMiaSLvQUHtVamYQFRfL4A6Gw1iwVNUOn1BqyGtOGgi-7Y0d_rvAOcbVusFykcXzwojCseeg6oc-76JzaLyPvIj_-uw9v5Z3Y7JllwFRP5F-x6LA/s400/David%252BCameron%252BNick%252BClegg%252BHold%252BTheir%252BFirst%252BcMgDamyzXDql.jpg" width="266" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Hand in hand like lovers are supposed to</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"> <b>VF</b> Will and Kate. Seven years and a midsummer wedding? Hope she gets a pre-nup. Is this real love or another royal marriage of inconvenience. And what about that tawdry dress she wore on the day the engagement was announced? Really darling, if you're gonna do wrap, it's DVF.</div></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">MA: I’m afraid to say that a Gemini/Capricorn alliance is most unwise - it can only end in sullen silence, separate bathrooms and celibacy. </span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I happen to know a close friend of Kate’s who told me sometime ago, after the couple’s last break-up, that there was relief in her camp that she was free of him.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> </span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Apparently he treated her abysmally. He is, after all, his father’s son and Charles for years was</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"></span><a href="http://www.private-eye.co.uk/sections.php?section_link=street_of_shame&issue=1276" style="font-family: Arial;">Private Eye’s</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"> “shit of the year” for his treatment of his tarts. Wills may not be as bad, certainly not as promiscuous, but his Uranus Opposition in his early 40s could prompt a longing for soulless extra-marital whoring without condoms in Arundel. Let’s hope I’m wrong.</span></b></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;"><b>Kate is uber-trad and will end up more royal than the royal family put together. Doors to manual, darling. The Queen will live to 103.</b><br />
<div style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_S8K0E4Tuca-oOhA6X5xd_3UtfzWkhLDWVfmD0zHA3clL25FW1dgM4Y7lcmHYT50OyTmG5nli1jtvvvY5TGkb8NBLGLvHFbm51mIImK__9Yb6EUX1vShO92MP6kSfkirbtnsIrayNxYs/s1600/katie_nicholl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_S8K0E4Tuca-oOhA6X5xd_3UtfzWkhLDWVfmD0zHA3clL25FW1dgM4Y7lcmHYT50OyTmG5nli1jtvvvY5TGkb8NBLGLvHFbm51mIImK__9Yb6EUX1vShO92MP6kSfkirbtnsIrayNxYs/s400/katie_nicholl.jpg" width="369" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prince Williams and Another Katie</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-size: small;">VF: We live in a surveillance society yet so much goes unnoticed. Police gangsters can kill G20 protesters on camera but no action is taken. Women are dragged out of police station custody cells and beaten to a pulp, on CCTV, and officers are reprimanded, get a slap on the wrist and are completely acquitted by Appeal Court Judges. Can this last. Or do plod have to become more accountable?</div><div style="font-size: small;"><br />
</div></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"> <b>MA: Ken’s got the answer - cut police numbers and close cop shops. He already wants to remove CCTV and speed cameras - the man’s a Hush Puppy anarchist. Thank God for the Tories! Who’d have thunk it. Have you noticed the more police there are the more trouble? In my area, you can walk 10 miles and not see a cop - and there’s scarcely any crime, except <a href="http://www.pets.ca/dogs/articles/dog-poops-in-the-house/">dog defecation</a>. I’m sure that if the police suddenly became visible I’d be mugged in a trice: bad energy attracts bad energy, see.</b></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b>The recent riots have to a great extent been made worse by the police - provocative kettling, cameramen, batons, mounted charges, barking Alsations, helmets, grouchy facial expressions, etc. Your average cop is a heterosexual thug with a tattoo on his soul: at school he will have been trouble; and it was a matter of chance whether he ended up in a uniform or a prison pen. I’m afraid Hollywood movies and tabloid editors have encouraged this idea that a cop can break the rules and get away with it in the best interests of society.</b></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b>Without Ken, things will get much worse.</b><br />
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VF: London or New York?</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"> <b>MA: Little Poynings in West Sussex<br />
<br />
</b></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">VF: What of dead tree media? <a href="http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/culture/author/samleith/">Sam Leith</a> has been heralding it's imminent demise for some time now but newspapers ( the ones that aren't hiding behind massive paywalls) appear to be thriving. What do you think the state of current newspapers / mags are? How long before the digital revolution makes all paper-stuff redundant?</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"> <b>MA: Alas, Sam is correct, print newspapers are not thriving. Just this month most newspaper circulations fell another 4-16%, and the story is downward. For years The Sunday Times sold 1.3m copies a week, now it’s close to 1m and heading south. The pay wall won’t save it. I’m certain iPads (or a better variant) and other portable devices will offer papers and mags an afterlife - and <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222;">Madame </span><span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222;">Arcati</span> knows all about the afterlife.</b></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></div><div><div style="border-collapse: collapse;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: red; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">S</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;">am Leith is such a dear and he has told </span><span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Madame</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"> </span><span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Arcati</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"> of his large cock.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> </span></b></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial;">I’ve lost count of the number of columns he writes - such is the diversity of opinion in newspaper-land!</span></b></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></b></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Darling MA, thank you for the honour of peering into your proverbial bottom drawer, putting a periscope inside your psychic back channel and allowing your fans to ruminate over your molecules of atomized wisdom. </span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Happy Winterval poppet. XXX</span></span></span></b></div>Virtual Factoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14414018483919645063noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058601307411481198.post-1382057029172787722010-12-15T17:01:00.000-08:002010-12-15T17:21:58.285-08:00Tony B-liar's marital bugs, Andy Coulson's nemesis and more by Darling Madame Arcati<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><div style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;">Back by popular demand and because she's been let out on day release from her private and exclusive spa on the Dead Sea in Israel, where she undergoes daily <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9ykQbt7Nn8">Abhyanga</a> treatment to open her third eye and clear her cluttered karma, Darling MA offers up some wisdom and musings on what has been, let's face it, an altogether trying year.In order to extend the pleasure of being on the company of greatness, the multiple installments of this essay on contemporary Britain will be Wikileaked upon a somnambulist public. Like <a href="http://twitter.com/arusbridger">the Guardian</a>. </span></div><div><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CfXrt1W9obJDEWb5Q53s0LTIigi93g2rzHjsvgwVOE_YYm-PQMFCdFql5pqm7vZgAtupd_C9CwvNdnZpodWJDz3Az4bDfH7cDua9nDepmSWYsy3zS59CaBYODiqRrJzpoPaSiUjVBbw/s1600/Andy-Coulson-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CfXrt1W9obJDEWb5Q53s0LTIigi93g2rzHjsvgwVOE_YYm-PQMFCdFql5pqm7vZgAtupd_C9CwvNdnZpodWJDz3Az4bDfH7cDua9nDepmSWYsy3zS59CaBYODiqRrJzpoPaSiUjVBbw/s400/Andy-Coulson-001.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #cccccc;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pinocchio</span></td></tr>
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</div><div></div><div style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="color: #cccccc;">Now that </span></span><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/dec/15/phone-hacking-sienna-miller-evidence" style="color: purple; font-family: inherit;">Andy Coulson</a><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;"> has been cleared of any wrongdoing and is no longer needed in<span style="color: purple;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/dec/10/andy-coulson-tommy-sheridan-trial" style="color: purple; font-family: inherit;">Scottish Tommygate trial</a><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: purple;">,</span> what do you make of his vindication by the feds? Who's zooming who, is Yates of the Yard </span><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/dec/12/phone-hacking-inquiry-news-of-the-world" style="background-color: purple; color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;">gone soft</a><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;"> like Tony B-liar's willy? </span></span></span></div><div></div><div style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Darling, I’m afraid Bliar’s willy is not soft at all - I am reliably informed that he gets it up at least twice a week for Cherie (without the help of Viagra), when either of them is not away on separate, lucrative pilgrimages. I have my bugs in the <a href="http://skinnymoose.com/wildlifepro/?p=1953">marital bed</a>. </b></span></div><div style="background-color: black; color: white;"></div><div><b><span style="background-color: black; color: red; font-size: x-large;">As for Andy Pinocchio, no one but the Prime Minister believes that as editor he did not know about illegal phone hacking at the News of the World.</span> </b></div><div style="background-color: black; color: white;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">I can’t improve on the Tory propagandist and blogger <a href="http://guidoforks.blogspot.com/">Guido Fawkes</a> words on the matter - ‘Coulson is as guilty as sin of condoning the News of the World culture…’ Nonetheless, Guido is happy to peg his nose to the stink in No 10 and just truffle after soft targets like William Hague and his preference for goooorgeous male hotel room-mates. I fear for Guido’s credibility as the Coalition starts to sink under police water cannon. I really do. </span></b></div><div style="background-color: black;"></div><div style="background-color: black; color: white;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/dec/12/phone-hacking-scandal-information-move">Scotland Yard </a>- which has very close links to the <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1315429/John-Yates-used-Scotland-Yards-air-miles-fund-flights-family.html">News of the World </a>- did its best for austerity Britain and save on public legal bills by threatening to place witnesses against Coulson under caution during questioning. Ken Clarke must be delighted. A prosecution of Coulson would have cost taxpayers about £2m. Coulson has already cost Murdoch about £4m in settlements and legal costs to shut up phone hacked litigants (£1m to Max Clifford alone!) - think of the money Murdoch is saving the British taxpayer. </span></b></div><div style="background-color: black; color: white;"></div><div style="background-color: black; color: red; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>However, I fear that someone from Kajagoogoo, or some other branch of entertainment, will undo Scotland Yard’s sterling fiscal work and go public on tabloid phone hacking one day.</b></span></div><div style="background-color: black;"></div><div></div><div style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You have leaked news and important stories for years. How did you escape the gallows and the entrance only court room of District Judge Howard Riddle? What do you make of the recent remand of Julian Assange? Do you think the </span><a href="http://frontlineclub.com/events/statement-by-vaughan-smith-re-julian-assange.html" style="font-family: inherit;">Frontline club</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> was right to allow him to stay there, the proprietor, Capt Vaughn Smith, an ex-army-man, reformed hack, claims Julian always paid his room bills but then remarked rather remarkably that he never used a credit card. One wonders how poppet carried all those used £1 coins.</span></span><br />
<br />
</div><div></div><div style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Well, one is impressed. Personally, I can’t book into a decent hotel without proof of solvent existence, such as my Boots saver card. I assume Julian did a Gillian McKeith and carried his essentials, such as cash, in pockets in his Y-fronts. This is why I don’t think he raped anyone. Can you imagine? He drops his pants and out pops an avalanche of pound coins clattering against the skirting. That would put off most aspiring rapists, don’t you agree? And intended victims would probably have time to make a getaway as Julian crawled around collecting his coins, with his exposed testicles swaying about below his hairy crack. He may therefore be guilty of indecent exposure; that’s possible.</b></span></div><div style="background-color: black; color: white;"></div><div style="background-color: black; color: red; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>The Frontline club should be commended for its dedication to free market economics. An example to George Osborne and that funny little urchin, Toby Young.</b></span></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7uqL9fMaR2CSM6-DPGiRt7o081H0wDuTgsd-WdwbcmSR-5-KTG1xmYhzmkDzS1porfrE7MHEkdpbaM9Vruk2_qwn5Pe0l3kqSmWO9A_CXWmnNFCluh3J-UxDC5nViCTN9K6YdoI5P-8U/s1600/osborne.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7uqL9fMaR2CSM6-DPGiRt7o081H0wDuTgsd-WdwbcmSR-5-KTG1xmYhzmkDzS1porfrE7MHEkdpbaM9Vruk2_qwn5Pe0l3kqSmWO9A_CXWmnNFCluh3J-UxDC5nViCTN9K6YdoI5P-8U/s200/osborne.gif" width="130" /></a></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSl5T056r_AsS-nsP-cQ-p8-PY_GJxYqnMIQpnYHV4kAwOm5gb63ZiMjkylMdZTc4lXO0kTqntmMgdLC7s2kXQYYnuj41CGDNaoodYQieKreFXwcUAsHBDIrHAAqV7dUXdDAkf9iVi314/s1600/6a00d8341c565553ef01156e57184f970c-200wi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSl5T056r_AsS-nsP-cQ-p8-PY_GJxYqnMIQpnYHV4kAwOm5gb63ZiMjkylMdZTc4lXO0kTqntmMgdLC7s2kXQYYnuj41CGDNaoodYQieKreFXwcUAsHBDIrHAAqV7dUXdDAkf9iVi314/s200/6a00d8341c565553ef01156e57184f970c-200wi.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="color: #cccccc; text-align: center;">Separated at birth. But how many chins? </td><td class="tr-caption" style="color: #cccccc; text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div> <span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">A lot of columnistas have made a lot of noise about the misogyny of Assange's *alleged* sexual crimes on women in Sweden, given that one of them write a book on seven ways to legally avenge your lover and that one of these ways was to tell the police he raped you, do you think Julian Assange might be released soon, as there are no charges to answer or do you think the naughty poppet deserves a spell in the pokey? </span><br />
<br />
</div><div style="background-color: black;"></div><div style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The problem is that the moment Julian lands in Sweden, Obama’s loyal drones will apply for his extradition to face a 500-year spell in a Texan penitentiary for upsetting <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/30/julian-assange-hillary-cl_n_790102.html">Hillary Clinton</a> over her illegal UN spying directives. So I think we should follow daytime TV Jeremy Kyle’s example and subject Julian to a lie detector test on these rape allegations - perhaps on the show itself, surrounded by hair-gelled oafs and their screaming chav tarts with their hoop earrings. <span style="background-color: black; color: red; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> </span></b></span></div><div><b><span style="background-color: black; color: red; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: x-large;">If he passes, Sweden can fuck off and Jeremy can shake Julian’s hand. Sorted.</span></b></div><div></div><div style="background-color: black; color: white;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Rape is of course a very serious matter and should never be used to further the interests of Hillary Clinton. </span></b></div><div style="background-color: black; color: white;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkl-bEMP38Gx7H-VBH5-zHkV_MJD8XMUvcoTJGb4t0zw1J2BWXuSCFDgOEuyzu1QSh9hMEuzC-VpYY1ABGtR584G3sshRauTcKB7Z6tEXDtdP_ur3LW17Trl3k26fRO68YAxAuCiaHFQ/s1600/assangeTRIP_1785381c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkl-bEMP38Gx7H-VBH5-zHkV_MJD8XMUvcoTJGb4t0zw1J2BWXuSCFDgOEuyzu1QSh9hMEuzC-VpYY1ABGtR584G3sshRauTcKB7Z6tEXDtdP_ur3LW17Trl3k26fRO68YAxAuCiaHFQ/s640/assangeTRIP_1785381c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: small;">Not a good hair day</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="background-color: black; color: white;"></div></span>Virtual Factoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14414018483919645063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058601307411481198.post-21902658991898071022010-12-13T15:54:00.000-08:002010-12-19T14:05:15.284-08:00Miles Ahead - the art of Robert Miles-Kingston<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #060606;"><span style="background-color: black; color: red;">Bob Miles-Kingston describes himself thus</span>:</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>Deliver me from composition<br />
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Robert Miles-Kingston has no money, no time, lives and works in London.</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><br />
Much of his work is produced with materials that are immediately available to him - such is the wealth available to people who are skint in London- reflecting elements or aspects of his confused, conflicted and inverted urban psyche that wants to destroy as much as create. As much immersed sponge-like as defying it's influence the city psychology, mentality and it's cultured apathy and foolishly facile mastery over convenience as an objective simply appalls and amuses him. His love of London and it's inconsistencies inevitably promotes cynicism and self deprecation, a quality that he looks for in most of his allusions. </b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><br />
His latest creations therefore are impossible to behold, either merging with their surroundings, unseen, to be neglected or ignored in the city's necessary myopia, or sinking into the folklore that makes London's future trajectory so intensely fascinating and confounding. He likes confounding and doesn't care if you miss it. It's natural after all.<br />
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His paintings are anti compositional, have no apparent design or content, take months to create and are, he says, better appreciated through a magnifying glass.</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><br />
They emulate the random patterns of nature's gradual and inevitable re-encroachment into man-made, intellectually contrived constructs and environments.</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><br />
He enjoys the process of reclamation of millennia over the immediate and finite.</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><br />
He aims to move this further into London's civic environment by reproducing it on much of the blank concrete that London threw up in the 1970s and 80s , He is interested to see if a more colorful decay of damp and crumbling material could involve the human sense without the need to stamp authority or identity on it.</b></div><input autocomplete="off" id="post_form_id" name="post_form_id" type="hidden" value="946ba0e92a93f2120904aee59dae23e4" /><br />
<div id="globalContainer"><div class="fb_content clearfix" id="content" style="min-height: 100px; visibility: visible;"><div id="mainContainer"><div class="clearfix hasRightCol" id="contentCol"><div id="contentArea" style="min-height: 100px;"><div id="pagelet_activities_and_interests"><div id="c4d067658bff8e1601243032"><div class="profileInfoSection" id="activities"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybAaKzHSJ_rx6YEtYEA4ilqLx99trQrft9cYpXFc7vcilM9gyLJrhdzoL-1s-OAAjwp-bX893vUxOuju0VR1bn4CiCNJ5kNJceCkrWaRghbw3o-5m_WLI-3jA6L9pQ_ZBhThMKjkZevs/s1600/39928_1530206185294_1538930712_1302776_8282865_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybAaKzHSJ_rx6YEtYEA4ilqLx99trQrft9cYpXFc7vcilM9gyLJrhdzoL-1s-OAAjwp-bX893vUxOuju0VR1bn4CiCNJ5kNJceCkrWaRghbw3o-5m_WLI-3jA6L9pQ_ZBhThMKjkZevs/s400/39928_1530206185294_1538930712_1302776_8282865_n.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><div class="phs"><table class="uiInfoTable mtm profileInfoTable mtm"><tbody>
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</tbody></table></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Me.</b></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">If my work is personal and immersive, it's probably because I allow external or incoming information to reveal aspects of myself to myself. I think that there is enough theory of thought around positing that we comprehend through our reactions and readings and not directly to what information may or may not be 'out there'. and I enjoy working with the sub or unconscious aspects of this. - both of which I understand very little about- but which kind of enable me to surprise myself sometimes.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">I wouldn't take too much stock on the anti or uncommercial- I'm sure there's plenty of important thought around that will never be 'commercial. saleable, liked or recognised by distributors- however I do like the conflict involved in the making of a product (the term 'product' in a very contemporary essence may be described as a commercial concept now) which will never sell. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">But the Anti-Commercial work really came about with the <a href="http://www.embryomix.com/index.html?_ret_=return">Embryomix-</a>Left Field Glastonbury films project which was made with a specific purpose in mind- and that's another story which has kind of been disposed of or is at least in the recycle bin.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm not sure about this term 'inspire'. Maybe 'drive' or 'urge' would be more apt. Either that or I am constantly 'inspired', which either makes me almost divine or very tired. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">'Creation' gives me the shivers ( unless firmly sistered with 'destruction' ) -for me it's maybe unfolding or uncovering. 'Creation' has a lot of baggage I don't have a lot of time for right now unless I happen upon it, or it surprises me en route somewhere.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">Art without boundaries? Really? I'm not sure that's possible. It's an attractive phrase, but I imagine a kind of genetic level of communication that has both it's success and it's failure already programmed in. If I transcend any boundaries it's probably only because I'm not good at holding or tapping information intellectually. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2Q8K-RVM5B36irNRJlmBWMfiiML5bqF9SdAWDpodJ9hrmQTZ-EjQiol0X4XoH8l0HJ8B_zymAsBfGezEUbYEMkGcfSgJ6fVuHL9M0Xz4DxI2dfox8v1Qgy2XNIUBGxmkoe9UoB5N6Ms/s1600/2652_72679075549_51607450549_2255309_4515573_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2Q8K-RVM5B36irNRJlmBWMfiiML5bqF9SdAWDpodJ9hrmQTZ-EjQiol0X4XoH8l0HJ8B_zymAsBfGezEUbYEMkGcfSgJ6fVuHL9M0Xz4DxI2dfox8v1Qgy2XNIUBGxmkoe9UoB5N6Ms/s400/2652_72679075549_51607450549_2255309_4515573_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>How did you start making art? Who inspired you? Who inspires you now?</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
I started conciously age 5 when the school called my parents in to show them a painting I made- Then I just drew and painted and wrote, ignoring everything else unless it related to my own view. l I studied life drawing with a brilliant man called Arthur Ruff ( Rough ) at East Ham Technical College probably age 12-13. I saw my elder sister <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/aug/08/gender.arts">June's</a> work on her foundation course there and knew where I wanted to go from that point. Events conspired against me when I was 15 and we left London for two years but by 18 I was running around the world in a Punk band, not giving a fuck and spouting anti-art rhetoric- artists and dealers were pompous, ineffectual, self indulgent, pretentious and up their own arses- a view I refuse to shake off completely even though I have prophetically become the object of my derision- a common fate for most rebels I think.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">Influences past and present? It's difficult to narrow down influences when you enjoy maintaining an ontological outlook. I believe that I am influenced by the conflict between ancient and contemporary. I love and hate the wealth of information available (if you are looking) and accept the trade off. I suspect you can be focused or balanced but not both. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>A lot of your work is very isolated, made on your own, in the streets of London, using iconic images and the naturally layered old/ modern faces of the city, how did you start that process?</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">I don't have a lot of time currently to dedicate to collaborating with anybody. I tried to work with my sister but it hasn't worked out yet, even though we have very consistent outlooks on alot of things - so I work alone right now. I haven't thought about it as isolated. I suppose too that if I lived in Glasgow that would be where the main body of work would be situated too- so it's where I am. But London for me is unique. It;s a magnet and a repellent. It has every kind of complementarity and conflict. The further I look into it or myself the more I see an inseparability. So really, the process started before I was born. It pushes forward, dragging antiquity with it. It's links are so ancient that the uncertainty of past and future occupy the same space in some unmapped potential. I think that history is as unreliable as prediction.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jgZnDb5bIhnlTubESZ4r2fA1IFmRREEsQl8ACUcm2SrSqLStWQim-fSXqi9VvCy_hH9YYzSMPiCPB9kDFZdL5b6fI0tQC12xJO59w8r4sto9jyuq366ShFvw2YsP_xF0c6xxy8eVuxU/s1600/IMG_5988aa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jgZnDb5bIhnlTubESZ4r2fA1IFmRREEsQl8ACUcm2SrSqLStWQim-fSXqi9VvCy_hH9YYzSMPiCPB9kDFZdL5b6fI0tQC12xJO59w8r4sto9jyuq366ShFvw2YsP_xF0c6xxy8eVuxU/s1600/IMG_5988aa.jpg" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt;"><br />
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<br style="color: #cccccc;" /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Your work has been described as "outsider", what do you make of the art world's desire to label everything?</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">Labeling is for convenience and will always (foreseeably) be a search tool. The hardest thing is to label accurately. I forgive anyone who doesn't quite succeed. I'd be flattered if anyone wanted to categorise me. although I'd probably fail to agree with them. I don't worry too much about what the 'Art world' does or thinks. I know plenty of people that work in the Art industry and it is very much like other industries once it comes down to shifting units. If you place me inside this sphere I probably seem an outsider, mainly because it seems to be filled with post graduates ( or aspirants )- which I am not- and commercially successful (to whatever level ) individuals or companies- which I am not. And since I work cheap and currently finance myself I am in the enviable position of being uncompromised and broke.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1RlpnS6wPynkMpLmcQBAUHxM8Z7q2cPlBezgVB-4VjT94E2CPxzp2VHP-eg0e2o9D54gDxc5eyR_HTStT99h_WWGi0a3tb6mgWkXPN2_v2GPhGnF5I6Ec5p-vSHIpKBw7g8zRu5jWHU/s1600/4043475575_99389c9a4a_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1RlpnS6wPynkMpLmcQBAUHxM8Z7q2cPlBezgVB-4VjT94E2CPxzp2VHP-eg0e2o9D54gDxc5eyR_HTStT99h_WWGi0a3tb6mgWkXPN2_v2GPhGnF5I6Ec5p-vSHIpKBw7g8zRu5jWHU/s400/4043475575_99389c9a4a_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt;"><br />
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<br style="background-color: black;" /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>How does the east influence your creative process? There's a zen-like simplicity, something Japanese in the aesthetic. Did you spend time in Japan?</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">I could probably go on forever about the influence of the east. It's influence is underestimated, but so is the influence flowing the other way.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>How do you view the contemporary art scene and the massive hype bubble that surrounds a few superstar artists and their dealers?</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: red; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I shit it.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<br style="color: #cccccc;" /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Do you think an artist has to stay poor to stay pure?</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">It's not possible to stay pure. the dirtier the better anyway.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPHqJl8FcbuWwWNGP7nDfy5_7j2N3Do6CFVJoZe50cexHsD0e9s_V4YBbayrMwyr4fXzZu-9Aqgfq7I5GpvRgBEoxs3UWN3QsvOW35z35H0Md3Ny_Y54if7BeJlm5xVulbfONXqmBmPI/s1600/11251_225284530549_51607450549_4273869_5184898_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPHqJl8FcbuWwWNGP7nDfy5_7j2N3Do6CFVJoZe50cexHsD0e9s_V4YBbayrMwyr4fXzZu-9Aqgfq7I5GpvRgBEoxs3UWN3QsvOW35z35H0Md3Ny_Y54if7BeJlm5xVulbfONXqmBmPI/s320/11251_225284530549_51607450549_4273869_5184898_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt;"><br />
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<br style="color: #cccccc;" /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What do you mean by your paintings are "anti-compositional?"</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">This came about when I came across a whole batch of prints on vinyl 'canvas'' in a London Ad agency. There were about 35 in all in various sizes. They were printed with designs and photographs which were evidently used for displays in corporate events and conventions and were related to a client's product. They were specifically designed and geared toward commercial aim.It's no secret that regardless of your political views, commerciality relies on some form of 'exploitation' . Advertising has enough documentation that enables me to not bore you with particulars about fear and desire and insecurity. I do believe, though, that basically and intrinsically, it belongs to business and not the other way round. I got these items and set out to destroy and disfigure them. but not actively or by design. You can read about the process in my file <a href="http://elemental./">EleMental.</a> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPnJ_ljT5VfrDRqqH_ELm09Q5y34P49OF9flbjJrJ2aHRCiDHp_m5iSk-NxFomzm8XGYL9sCNSxUXAmkFt_qP3yUhm-72DbTCAIrZ9CuABRQ0AgZQUDicLjeWTzMVvU69O3oUu_LmLzU/s1600/10433_131977572506_33645312506_2614792_6131084_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPnJ_ljT5VfrDRqqH_ELm09Q5y34P49OF9flbjJrJ2aHRCiDHp_m5iSk-NxFomzm8XGYL9sCNSxUXAmkFt_qP3yUhm-72DbTCAIrZ9CuABRQ0AgZQUDicLjeWTzMVvU69O3oUu_LmLzU/s400/10433_131977572506_33645312506_2614792_6131084_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b><b>He is currently planning and developing work for an independent solo exhibition at Albert Embankment opposite Tate Britain. What is that?</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: red; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">I'll tell you about it in the new year.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What's your advice to aspiring art students?</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="background-color: black; color: red; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Don't stray from the path- Run as fast as you can from it deep into the woods.</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="background-color: black; color: red; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">For more photos and art work </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/robertmiles-kingston/" style="color: white;">click here </a></span></span></b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JzbpG1UpW3ghjXuBuq9biuQkcw2-m2cfbR9mwcDseOHs_hPBQWKnvPJCZJJfWH5ZVcmNdxB2u3PSxAjKzDCQYJmYBlmDJDf2mY-1eur6vvvFwtLlZd1RZCfCvxf4hb0nItnS8Ry4e0w/s1600/18543_1298447191464_1538930712_768950_1393630_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JzbpG1UpW3ghjXuBuq9biuQkcw2-m2cfbR9mwcDseOHs_hPBQWKnvPJCZJJfWH5ZVcmNdxB2u3PSxAjKzDCQYJmYBlmDJDf2mY-1eur6vvvFwtLlZd1RZCfCvxf4hb0nItnS8Ry4e0w/s400/18543_1298447191464_1538930712_768950_1393630_n.jpg" width="330" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="background-color: black; color: red; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></b></span></div>Virtual Factoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14414018483919645063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058601307411481198.post-41254888884954695632010-12-11T14:34:00.000-08:002011-01-07T15:40:34.480-08:00Turkish Delight<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HGkggAtIFEYUM59QCrcMmE30mfJjmcM1OSVb-6HSlOc-AiqBZbPzfHBnYWSJGFd_tWUBvPTB3-AFWkjWgsHqboWRAicc4_F8kcwhNitCYaMUyzXZNy6NiopTkFbajEw0TuvdbNs1DH8/s1600/artist-made-love-with-a-partner-in-performance-2010-12-05_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HGkggAtIFEYUM59QCrcMmE30mfJjmcM1OSVb-6HSlOc-AiqBZbPzfHBnYWSJGFd_tWUBvPTB3-AFWkjWgsHqboWRAicc4_F8kcwhNitCYaMUyzXZNy6NiopTkFbajEw0TuvdbNs1DH8/s400/artist-made-love-with-a-partner-in-performance-2010-12-05_l.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px 0px 1.4em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;">Turkish contemporary artist <a href="http://www.turkishculture.org/whoiswho/visual-arts/sukran-moral-1745.htm">Şükran Moral</a>, who is Turkey's answer to Tracey Emin and Marina Abramovic, largely due to her provocative works about female power, circumcision in Muslim countries and the European slave trade, made love with a female partner during her latest performance <i>Amemus</i> (Lovemaking) on Thursday December 2 at the <a href="http://www.casadellartegallery.com/">Casa Dell Arte Gallery</a> in Istanbul.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX38qLd4Kcfqdzeakleq8GzfJAfYT1yyjJL4eWG5kf-Bbfi5HTew9-WV6onhILsjbWN-syIyptMi1KoiGYY_MQLAuvpPoiAWHdEiRV3xewWuX0ivjxlfZKS0JTQ_OBTk9LqocLkKl3Xlw/s1600/image-33911-galleryV9-rtyg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX38qLd4Kcfqdzeakleq8GzfJAfYT1yyjJL4eWG5kf-Bbfi5HTew9-WV6onhILsjbWN-syIyptMi1KoiGYY_MQLAuvpPoiAWHdEiRV3xewWuX0ivjxlfZKS0JTQ_OBTk9LqocLkKl3Xlw/s640/image-33911-galleryV9-rtyg.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,geneva,sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">You have these angelic girls dancing around the table, they don't know this is what they'll end up like."</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px 0px 1.4em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px 0px 1.4em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;">Guests at the event, who hadn't been warned about the content of the show were shocked when a young woman, wearing only a g-string and bra, went onto a bed on the stage and started to have sex with the artist Moral, who was wearing the same.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px 0px 1.4em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;">“Excuse me, but they had real sex in front of people; I mean it was not a fiction or anything,” said one of the viewers. Most of the audience left the venue in the first 10 minutes. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px 0px 1.4em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;">“I was really embarrassed. Everyone was in shock,” said another guest. Twenty minutes later, in an almost empty gallery space, Moral was still having sex with her partner, one feels compelled to commend her enthusiasm.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px 0px 1.4em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;">Speaking about the event, Moral said her performance had no particular purpose.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px 0px 1.4em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: red; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: large;"><b>“Generally speaking, the purpose was to bring a new expression to the language of performance art and of course to break taboos. My goal was to annoy the viewers of the performance. I don’t want to make a performance that does not annoy people and make them excited and confused.”</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px 0px 1.4em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;">She said: “I have always had a problem with taboos in all my performances. Sexuality is one of the fields banned by governments. Making love in this performance is an artistic event. It is not a ‘sexual show’ but discussing a moral problem.”</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px 0px 1.4em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;">Because of the outrage and for security reasons, Moral has canceled her exhibition of the same name, which was to feature photos of the performance and was scheduled to open Dec. 9.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdhugFkTjhB_8ucaSKQtJ3DQonzuTzm0XKZNiSFEhdBH7ePbi1AGoDWTzNv-QChbMAR4yn2lSrIeV6Jsv3ielkhzflmsTCQxpTer8toUUjumUkzAgxBudLyVE7_WRIiPNMlBolRW0R-c/s1600/image-33861-galleryV9-byyp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdhugFkTjhB_8ucaSKQtJ3DQonzuTzm0XKZNiSFEhdBH7ePbi1AGoDWTzNv-QChbMAR4yn2lSrIeV6Jsv3ielkhzflmsTCQxpTer8toUUjumUkzAgxBudLyVE7_WRIiPNMlBolRW0R-c/s640/image-33861-galleryV9-byyp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">I</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,geneva,sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">n a 2007 performance piece entitled <i>Peace...Fucking Fairytale</i>, Moral shatters a glass on which lipstick prints have been used to spell out the Italian word for "peace."</span></span><br />
<div style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 34px;">Her acclaimed </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 34px;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0hFCUgegJI&NR=1">film </a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 34px;"><i>Bordello</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 34px;"> about female empowerment and the permeable membrane that separates art and prostitution was shown over 2 days at the Lab Gallery in midtown Manhattan. The reactions of passers-by are revealing. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px 0px 1.4em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px 0px 1.4em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;">Shame. </span></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 1.4em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: red; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 1.8em;">But you can watch </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 34px;"><i>Mediation</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 1.8em;"><i> / Meditation</i>, the ongoing conceptual artwork conceived by Daniel Rothbart </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-VVkk0U39M&feature=related" style="line-height: 1.8em;">here</a></b></span></div>Virtual Factoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14414018483919645063noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058601307411481198.post-78396927362945384262010-12-11T03:26:00.000-08:002010-12-11T03:26:32.334-08:00Miriam Makeba with Hugh Masekela- Every day is Freedom Day<iframe frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/oJiqvPMQXAc?fs=1" width="425"></iframe>Virtual Factoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14414018483919645063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058601307411481198.post-27295637642192457042010-12-10T02:38:00.000-08:002010-12-10T15:36:45.966-08:00Freedom, mince pies and John Hegley<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><a href="http://www.amnesty.org.uk/index.asp">Amnesty</a> are opening their doors in the festive spirit for a night of entertainment, music, mulled wine, mince pies, card making workshops, amnesty books, and ethical shopping stalls. Entertainment by Hackney Songworks, Anima and others with headliner popular London musician <a href="http://www.johnhegley.co.uk/">John Hegley</a> who will be doing a set of his own poems and songs. </span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3GWEOzLOonbjOUAWlMBwbEH-Z4FbNR-PN8dKaLTdVmZXw1aX9mM0V6mY46rPF3oNGRmxta1Uhh1KG86Kn6X98gimNL1V9bLqlwb2kC4PAk-hFMjbj2Ya-Il29MP8v8YOCMjxt7Y4GqBg/s1600/1382_detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3GWEOzLOonbjOUAWlMBwbEH-Z4FbNR-PN8dKaLTdVmZXw1aX9mM0V6mY46rPF3oNGRmxta1Uhh1KG86Kn6X98gimNL1V9bLqlwb2kC4PAk-hFMjbj2Ya-Il29MP8v8YOCMjxt7Y4GqBg/s400/1382_detail.jpg" width="325" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">Here's a stanza from his poem</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><i> Love Cuts</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">, which seems strangely a propos.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Love cuts<br />
love shuts up shop</span></b></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;">and shuts it on your finger<br />
love cuts<br />
what isn't very nice is<br />
love leaves you in slices...</span></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">tonight , Friday December 10th at Amnesty HQ , 6pm - 9pm</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Amnesty International UK<br />
The Human Rights Action Centre<br />
17-25 New Inn Yard<br />
London EC2A 3EA </span></strong></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Listen to John reading <i>In the Beginning</i> <a href="http://www.johnhegley.co.uk/networds/index.htm">here</a></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4B7szlTBYtfKgKiY517wrtqc1eOl_BGrPiG_dl5hwnO2K4-5hlVOHeUM6u5nGL31eEge1JUlXMuDqamVy_TPln0sRqXKon5srDffxHQKaIL7WfIyH25piw-BT5KeWgA5DTEeXb8K7Uew/s1600/Slide13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4B7szlTBYtfKgKiY517wrtqc1eOl_BGrPiG_dl5hwnO2K4-5hlVOHeUM6u5nGL31eEge1JUlXMuDqamVy_TPln0sRqXKon5srDffxHQKaIL7WfIyH25piw-BT5KeWgA5DTEeXb8K7Uew/s640/Slide13.jpg" width="484" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drawings by audience members from a JH recitals</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">So, don't just wear your favorite slippers and never wear them out... </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">PS</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Poems full of vim and vinegar, John was ably assisted by his acting buddy, Allan Bailey, who donned a black latex love glove on his head and played a host of kitchen utensils to accompany John Hegley's innovative poetry / song combinations. This might have been the first time in living memory a man played a salad grater with a plaster spoon, or something like that. Great night, lot of cakes, great books on sale and great a cappella singing by local bands including Anima and the Balham Buskers. </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5egkQkhwTO78S_ZCsjQikQRY3cdaj3NKr6q6N98TEaXn1a2-c6GcXbRsNLYqtMNxbQtIWo8Y0sR8TiOTHsigOfxkKqLhuz1Y4Mt__6h5BMerOSTMEobD3ZMECrcf179eVDqQKFLojT9k/s1600/IMG01214-20101210-2022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5egkQkhwTO78S_ZCsjQikQRY3cdaj3NKr6q6N98TEaXn1a2-c6GcXbRsNLYqtMNxbQtIWo8Y0sR8TiOTHsigOfxkKqLhuz1Y4Mt__6h5BMerOSTMEobD3ZMECrcf179eVDqQKFLojT9k/s320/IMG01214-20101210-2022.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPfcRmana_s-hGaORL0sYLTz-AlFcjIM90PN8tEG8Za5EDmqf-15x6JjJjy2nHAkmC1Y0vTSpibD1eHlOnOxHJMiFSh1YutcHL75UhPStvajo0gw4nLQX6YTQ45uX77OAjmeeChbBR8kc/s1600/IMG01215-20101210-2043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPfcRmana_s-hGaORL0sYLTz-AlFcjIM90PN8tEG8Za5EDmqf-15x6JjJjy2nHAkmC1Y0vTSpibD1eHlOnOxHJMiFSh1YutcHL75UhPStvajo0gw4nLQX6YTQ45uX77OAjmeeChbBR8kc/s320/IMG01215-20101210-2043.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></span></span>Virtual Factoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14414018483919645063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058601307411481198.post-57167005903107016212010-12-08T18:49:00.000-08:002010-12-09T00:57:47.153-08:00White Boys can Dance.<iframe frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TAHHW9YYpBo?fs=1" width="425"></iframe><br />
<br />
Guest post by <a href="http://hurryupharry.org/">David (Hurry-up-Harry) Toube</a><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Oh <a href="http://liambaileymusic.com/">Liam Bailey</a> very well done!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Single out January 24th 2011</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Sometimes you just have to dance it out. Innit.</span></span></span>Virtual Factoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14414018483919645063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058601307411481198.post-61686019879481789982010-12-06T16:34:00.000-08:002011-01-07T15:41:40.986-08:00Sex, Italian Style<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a guest post by <a href="http://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/reviewer/jeffrey-felner">Jeffrey Felner</a>, style maven</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYoNAfFRwssM-inAASoPw71G0Y8QXZ7_TB4KYaMTAoHywJlZEExOVvEmKjjNYq9RSRPvxRji3CTM9N8gdU2pJ0_BL5k12rgXUYA1Xjmko_xEVfLCbgqSUgaqlGb8Uu9VIF8zZo4FDvXsE/s1600/Monica-Bellucci-59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYoNAfFRwssM-inAASoPw71G0Y8QXZ7_TB4KYaMTAoHywJlZEExOVvEmKjjNYq9RSRPvxRji3CTM9N8gdU2pJ0_BL5k12rgXUYA1Xjmko_xEVfLCbgqSUgaqlGb8Uu9VIF8zZo4FDvXsE/s400/Monica-Bellucci-59.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="background-color: transparent; margin: 0px;"><span id="internal-source-marker_0.37716382392682135" style="background-color: transparent; color: #494949; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2776e9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Monica Bellucci</span><br />
<ul><li style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If one utters the name Monica in the U.S.A., there are only two possibilities that come to mind: Monica Lewinsky—we know what she is infamous for—and Monica from the television show </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Friends</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. In more rarefied circles, the name conjures up a sultrier European image of what seems to be an ideal woman: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000899/#Actress">Monica Bellucci.</a></span></li>
</ul><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">s. Bellucci has been the subject of many of the greatest photographers of the 20th century and does not seem to be at any risk of fading away anytime soon. </span></span></div><div style="background-color: transparent; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KARuXjVMuuZA_gSvxikwg-yu5Z6WDptgh6LX_tgFeuXiWdaVYlw8KlzvjE9nZio4G4vNaSOQ3PKHFS1oq-3c3aMS3bAKvAuNbjSpVCrE4B8dEOKGSCEJGfTNtDh7taz8wZ6RpGc6Bok/s1600/Monica-Bellucci-029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KARuXjVMuuZA_gSvxikwg-yu5Z6WDptgh6LX_tgFeuXiWdaVYlw8KlzvjE9nZio4G4vNaSOQ3PKHFS1oq-3c3aMS3bAKvAuNbjSpVCrE4B8dEOKGSCEJGfTNtDh7taz8wZ6RpGc6Bok/s640/Monica-Bellucci-029.jpg" width="494" /></a></div><div style="background-color: transparent; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Spanning her 20-year career, which includes editorial work as a model and movies as an actress, this homage to herself includes 165 pages of exquisite photography from the likes of Richard Avedon to Bruce Weber. She is captured as a 50s fashion model a la Dovima, a Pedro Almodovar heroine a la Rosy de Palma, a 50s movie queen a la Anna Magnani as well as the images of temptress, motherhood, sex kitten, dominatrix, and all-around sex symbol. Some of the most arresting images are courtesy of Mr. Avedon and from Fabrizio Ferri not to mention Steven Meisel and Helmut Newton.</span><br style="color: black;" /> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Were it not for the fact that the proceeds of this flawlessly produced volume, are being donated to a women’s rights organization , <a href="http://www.parolesdefemmes.org/index.php?option=com_petitions&view=petition&id=46" style="color: black;">Paroles de Femmes </a><span style="color: black;">nd to a pediatric oncology charity, one would have labeled this as a purely egotistically motivated project. </span></span><br style="color: black;" /> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ms. Bellucci was quoted in </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Italian</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Vanity Fair</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (April 2010), </span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Being photographed is a way to know oneself.”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></b></span></span></div><div style="background-color: transparent; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;">It can be extrapolated from this that she is exquisitely tuned in to her inner self as evidenced here with this publication. She has now given the world the opportunity to know her as well as she knows herself. </span></div><div style="background-color: transparent; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">The star says: </span></div><div style="background-color: transparent; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;">Behind some of those photos there are some very sad moments in my life. I appear to be satisfied but I was really in pieces. </span></span></span></b></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><br />
</span></span></span></b></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">She recently posed nude with five-month-old Leonie for the cover of Italian <i>Vanity Fair</i></span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZcF7-EBA1eW3kcBfnZtFXG5EiZKBd6HviSbtfnggPtfZw_iwqdSaoPwex3Pp8VUACBzsfaN3HQsQcxQgDCDcI8gb0kbbvu-BjAIqheXfb-4-BTlhfj6cWsX5xuCeFZDapdE9VSxl_RM/s1600/monica-bellucci-1288256016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZcF7-EBA1eW3kcBfnZtFXG5EiZKBd6HviSbtfnggPtfZw_iwqdSaoPwex3Pp8VUACBzsfaN3HQsQcxQgDCDcI8gb0kbbvu-BjAIqheXfb-4-BTlhfj6cWsX5xuCeFZDapdE9VSxl_RM/s640/monica-bellucci-1288256016.jpg" width="472" /></a></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Monica's book is published by Rizzoli and available </span><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Monica-Bellucci/dp/3829604998/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1291681230&sr=8-3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">here</span></a></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsCSv9qPyT5qcDdpeUtrKIVgzekm4jPc_EnEjbc-6cQ3MlX60Dq_s6pu9LvBflokLRFEqiFUa2U6WnX1AF7to8h4PMKuYAicwTZmqnz8u-ckAXZO0NgWx1KO7UPIIM6r7xeMId_Te8pQE/s1600/2010-book-Monica-Bellucci.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsCSv9qPyT5qcDdpeUtrKIVgzekm4jPc_EnEjbc-6cQ3MlX60Dq_s6pu9LvBflokLRFEqiFUa2U6WnX1AF7to8h4PMKuYAicwTZmqnz8u-ckAXZO0NgWx1KO7UPIIM6r7xeMId_Te8pQE/s640/2010-book-Monica-Bellucci.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0hPfXXaf1e9K7Bq-3MJvBHaZCWZ4Msvn6PR7LcpseOQNPgt2K920VdIIYG2_B4MmPawnrWSShaVx-ezLfIYGRGqFqBBI3FE2OtPeTQ7MsBYuPI_R-Xpl6T2B0Yvj8B5g3gChjp3NFUcA/s1600/monica-bellucci-picture-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0hPfXXaf1e9K7Bq-3MJvBHaZCWZ4Msvn6PR7LcpseOQNPgt2K920VdIIYG2_B4MmPawnrWSShaVx-ezLfIYGRGqFqBBI3FE2OtPeTQ7MsBYuPI_R-Xpl6T2B0Yvj8B5g3gChjp3NFUcA/s1600/monica-bellucci-picture-2.jpg" /></a></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div>Virtual Factoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14414018483919645063noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058601307411481198.post-29492935595342885292010-12-05T13:03:00.000-08:002010-12-05T13:15:44.716-08:00The Art of War, Walid RaadCurrently on view at the <a href="http://www.whitechapelgallery.org/exhibitions/walid-raad-miraculous-beginnings">Whitechapel Gallery</a> is Lebanese multimedia artist Walid Raad's retrospective of his work from the last 20 years, including an installation for the fictional art collective, <a href="http://www.theatlasgroup.org/">Atlas Group</a> which was created in 1999 - 2004 to document the history of Lebanon. The Whitechapel which <a href="http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/lifestyle/article-23890321-iwona-blazwick-the-high-priestess-of-whitechapel.do">prides itself </a>on offering internationally renowned artists a non-commercial space to exhibit works, across narratives, finds itself in challenging times. It is often criticised for not interacting with its local community which is largely Bangladeshi and that the art it exhibits is "irrelevant" to Londoners at large.<br />
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This is a difficult exhibition but it is an important one, it rips off the veil of acceptability and naturalness of conflict. It defies the sanitised view of war and suffering presented to the world by those with vested interests.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZtwa5fIA1QMqLL0KVkufzrBTZJCuZjii53S3rbuZuNZjHPtc2rKrmh50YDWosKfu51fmhB7ab7e3r4MV1_sWoP18TRYIcqJjEJIc9nRlkTGmNzk_njgdL92-Y4cBJBDri17IOKpZX-io/s1600/WallidRaad415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZtwa5fIA1QMqLL0KVkufzrBTZJCuZjii53S3rbuZuNZjHPtc2rKrmh50YDWosKfu51fmhB7ab7e3r4MV1_sWoP18TRYIcqJjEJIc9nRlkTGmNzk_njgdL92-Y4cBJBDri17IOKpZX-io/s640/WallidRaad415.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
It's the day-to-day detritus, the discarded bullet shells, the bombed out cars, the scraps of lives torn to shreds which he reclaims and redefines as art that force the eye and the mind to stay focused when every natural instinct is repelled and upset by the cold, almost lyrical applications that Raad articulates. This is high art and pure, distilled emotion yet it remains detached.<br />
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In a poignant group of black and white photographs depicting shot out buildings, Raad has positioned stickers in different colours and sizes. This looks random, child-like but the child who wanted to be a war correspondent didn't have to travel far to find his context. In Lebanon, he states,<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Like many around me in Beirut in the late 1970s, I collected bullets and shrapnel, I would run out to the streets after a night or day of shelling to remove them from walls, cars and trees. I kept detailed notes of where I found every bullet and photographed the sites of my findings, covering the holes with dots that corresponded with the bullets' diameter and the mesmerising hues I found at the bullets' tips. It took me ten years to realise that ammunition manufacturers follow distinct colour codes to mark and identify their catrtidges and shells. It took me another ten years to realise that my norebooks in part catalogue seventeen countries and organisations that continue to supply the various militias and armies fighting in Lebanon : Belgium, China, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Greece, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Libya, NATO, Roumania, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, USA, UK and Venezuela."</span></span></b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezPxgfd-0Qn4SLGXxbQkm9aDH_2joge2Uj9LU0McXkkFUATaCTtBROeiUAAo1dQp9aSsTkBDT-x3RZaBNC5hcLWtL-dxdFfTDhci7eIKrzLP6cZ5j5Tzs6C_HE5kYAmOdCcJv9PfqYAk/s1600/raad_letsbehonesttheweatherhelped_lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezPxgfd-0Qn4SLGXxbQkm9aDH_2joge2Uj9LU0McXkkFUATaCTtBROeiUAAo1dQp9aSsTkBDT-x3RZaBNC5hcLWtL-dxdFfTDhci7eIKrzLP6cZ5j5Tzs6C_HE5kYAmOdCcJv9PfqYAk/s400/raad_letsbehonesttheweatherhelped_lg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The video installation is spine-chilling and irresistable. Souhail Bachar, a low-level employee of the Kuwaiti Embassy was held hostage in Lebanon from 1983 - 1993 in Lebanon. He spent three months in a basement cellar of a suburban house, along with <a href="http://middleeast.about.com/od/lebanon/a/me081206f.htm">Terry Anderson and five other Americans.</a> In 2000 he collaborated with The Atlas Group to produce 53 videos about his captivity. Only tapes #17 and #31 are allowed to be shown outside Lebanon. Bachar gives very explicit instructions on how he wants the tapes made and presented; the subtitles should be on a black or blue ground, his voice should be dubbed on a neutral-sounding female's voice, native to the country in which the film is being shown. He explains how the men went to great lengths initially not to allow their bodies to touch for the first few weeks of captivity. He explains how although his own body disgusted them, they wanted to touch him, they touched him all the time and how one night, another of the male hostage's ass pressed into his groin and he became aroused. The person pushed him away. All five Americans released books about their captivity, upon release, Bachar did not get a lucrative book deal but this grainy footage is infinitely more memorable than the memoirs of unfortunate preachers.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zlXTQbmL5rWcmOSgYiCHvdUWiXcDzeOkKwdGjkgCMKRrryIflI1ZZho8kw-WH4fymz-8AJMdDoRUdhbgTvni27VfRZqqMXy-KVS6HudAG0JRUWXA-lL-dfrbItNkplc8NSRMGH9IS7o/s1600/information-09-img.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zlXTQbmL5rWcmOSgYiCHvdUWiXcDzeOkKwdGjkgCMKRrryIflI1ZZho8kw-WH4fymz-8AJMdDoRUdhbgTvni27VfRZqqMXy-KVS6HudAG0JRUWXA-lL-dfrbItNkplc8NSRMGH9IS7o/s320/information-09-img.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Souheil Bachar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The exhibition is mesmerising in its details: a catalogue of photographs, consisting of 145 cut outs of cars used in the conflict as a car bomb between 1973 and 1994. Alongside the photograph is the description such as the make, model, colour and what was used to make this vehicle into a car bomb, as well as the Arabic text that describes the place, time and date of the explosion, the number of casualties, the perimeter of destruction, the exploded car's engine and chassis numbers and the weight and type of the explosives used. By making this information a piece of art, Raad removes us from the horror of the atrocity this car was used to deploy but the text and annotations force us our gaze deeper, and we confront what we don't want to see.<br />
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This is a microcosm of "witnessing" and leaking information, maybe a mini-<a href="http://wlcentral.org/">WikiLeaks</a> before its time, this catalogue of weaponry so carefully compiled, with the obsessiveness for detail and facts. By presenting them in this photo-montage fashion he becomes the whistle-blower for the truth behind the clinical image of war presented to us by our governments. WikiLeaks just took it further.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhe9pOJvr8mphHSEmGfG_tqbokKUeOcaLSMq6ks9T6Ao0qfJgSouZJQE96VmE8kwNXBPo4YoxJzopjhau6zlBycgQxikIV1dQI3B3sHcEr0CJyGBtAfVqTnFp7GARCx-3QAY-Hcla8v4Y/s1600/walid_raad_2006-078a-j.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhe9pOJvr8mphHSEmGfG_tqbokKUeOcaLSMq6ks9T6Ao0qfJgSouZJQE96VmE8kwNXBPo4YoxJzopjhau6zlBycgQxikIV1dQI3B3sHcEr0CJyGBtAfVqTnFp7GARCx-3QAY-Hcla8v4Y/s1600/walid_raad_2006-078a-j.jpg" /></a></div>The Corniche was the boulevard along which lovers would amble, spooks would make drops, and runners jogged along the coast. The Lebanese government posted cameras inside mini food vans to spy on these activities. One such camera operator changed the angle of his camera every day just for the duration of the sunset and these have been compiled into a film. Even in the worst of times, when the war was raging, there was some beauty and comfort the camera operator found by shifting his prescribed task to gaze at the beauty of the sunset. There's just something so human about that. He was fired after this went on for over a year but he was allowed to keep his contraband footage which he donated to The Atlas Group.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QtL_VzlHIkOUReoqHGzoM_vMs3a3X3oehc4kx389IpViMo9DrRqVpZ4sblcyPI5wwO23JaeHrAG2F_rfthEiz8P2GMPfJ170l2YCpLipp0L6FjZ8Gbd0mFYD_PEebZyP3D0aevzkV4A/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QtL_VzlHIkOUReoqHGzoM_vMs3a3X3oehc4kx389IpViMo9DrRqVpZ4sblcyPI5wwO23JaeHrAG2F_rfthEiz8P2GMPfJ170l2YCpLipp0L6FjZ8Gbd0mFYD_PEebZyP3D0aevzkV4A/s640/8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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Walid Raad, just round the corner from Brick Lane, in this important and provocative exhibition raises important questions about how exclusion breeds hatred and isolation. Raad's work is a concise historical document of what it was like to grow up in Lebanon as a teenager during the war years. There is no agreed upon history of those troubled times so history cannot be taught in school.<br />
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This is art making history, serving a purpose being that of being emotive and decorative.<br />
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The exhibition runs through January 2nd 2011.<br />
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Perhaps the Whitechapel Gallery is more on-message than it pretends to be.Virtual Factoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14414018483919645063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058601307411481198.post-39952224489452457462010-12-03T17:24:00.000-08:002010-12-05T02:41:22.323-08:00Xanadu my Hero, Buying Bewilderment<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;">First there was the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7m1UWSD-FaA">cult song</a> and now the high-priestess of underground art emerges from the afterglow of self-annihilation with <i>The Sparky Show</i>.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> <b style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 21px;"> </b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;">Xanadu Xero! Welcome to London! </span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;">What do you make of our version of the city that never sleeps, that goes to bed at 10 pm?</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;">My dreams of "Swinging London" are dashed, but that might be the reason artists are so much more accomplished and interesting here.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1e7FPJk1-fkZrfLVD1Di94skemkcBpx_tUGRS3si-Rt1gMDIl2MROuWIV96yqjOBNklV9dX-bDc5o-ykNjZy32Vm15kie2RCc54LTgmPhLHIudd1A0kzOdP818nLznSSJeV1nwF1e11I/s1600/me+moon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1e7FPJk1-fkZrfLVD1Di94skemkcBpx_tUGRS3si-Rt1gMDIl2MROuWIV96yqjOBNklV9dX-bDc5o-ykNjZy32Vm15kie2RCc54LTgmPhLHIudd1A0kzOdP818nLznSSJeV1nwF1e11I/s640/me+moon.jpg" width="482" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;">Tell me a bit about the book, what inspired it. Is Sparky a real person, how did you meet?</span></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;">The book is 110% true. I met Sparky while roasting in the embers of my crashed/burned dignity, which is it’s own saga. I was attempting to force dawn on a Dark Night Of The Soul by grabbing at experience in the Los Angeles 'underground scene' - which itself crashed and burned thanks to that Combo From Hell - pretense and drugs (RIP.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4SF1qnjNdD-9MoOsbpg-KRq-5l059hppUC2k-xXwFgSP2f0SldRzQL7F4FIbVk_i9l1oSS35nz8ZRDPfgznYA_2iwUpiaIIipHDMAuFp2PE4CMJa4SA-Hl4I01OJGnl7YUOPli_TiEs/s1600/3150840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4SF1qnjNdD-9MoOsbpg-KRq-5l059hppUC2k-xXwFgSP2f0SldRzQL7F4FIbVk_i9l1oSS35nz8ZRDPfgznYA_2iwUpiaIIipHDMAuFp2PE4CMJa4SA-Hl4I01OJGnl7YUOPli_TiEs/s640/3150840.jpg" width="518" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"> Tell us a little about your life pre-Sparky Show and what inspired you to write it?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_G4i5C6L0HOXk9RWPYQmW7oEJK2TE8_gX45M6l86d7VMm8bXddX3XuBw81666rpNTS1xKS-2cIwuPEDnOsNXhPxXg6pSuVNAhmc31PEjpqJWMOeTfpubrpIrRU-ZhCrSVNg0koFPQ5xE/s1600/3150901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_G4i5C6L0HOXk9RWPYQmW7oEJK2TE8_gX45M6l86d7VMm8bXddX3XuBw81666rpNTS1xKS-2cIwuPEDnOsNXhPxXg6pSuVNAhmc31PEjpqJWMOeTfpubrpIrRU-ZhCrSVNg0koFPQ5xE/s640/3150901.jpg" width="516" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;">Sparky</span></td></tr>
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;">I wrote The Sparky Show to exorcise him from my DNA. I was in mourning - to be un-flatteringly honest, in bad shape. My daughter was three thousand miles away, menopause had slammed me on its bed of nails. I had no career, no husband, no acclaim. I was down so people kicked me for sport, de rigueur in L.A. </span> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br />
You've had such an exciting glamorous life. What keeps you grounded? Why do you make art?</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;">I'm grateful for my 'privileged' Beverly Hills upbringing because I have no illusions about what our culturally perceived 'glamour' is: not much. If I'm grounded, it's a step up from spiritually interred, where I was stuck. My age, views, output are ugly by Los Angeles standards, where norm deviations must be in <u>Vogue</u> first.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73eTLPDudfJU0sasSdVtnWQ1HSufhGmxPpGRgGcCwnlxBHRSvckRnlU7ulihsE2fWmLn1iaSSuzpex6IfSMPeIT-0dPx9ojIXiISHqPD0aN4W01B14KWiPqR1tznbtu7DHOpnhvbVF6Y/s1600/148840_1601249144672_1039350265_1633866_5878179_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73eTLPDudfJU0sasSdVtnWQ1HSufhGmxPpGRgGcCwnlxBHRSvckRnlU7ulihsE2fWmLn1iaSSuzpex6IfSMPeIT-0dPx9ojIXiISHqPD0aN4W01B14KWiPqR1tznbtu7DHOpnhvbVF6Y/s400/148840_1601249144672_1039350265_1633866_5878179_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As Nurse in Ward 12 , Secret Cinema, London November 2010</td></tr>
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What is your most important role? Artist, writer, creator, mother, etc?</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;">I respect your question, but I feel post 'role'. The word implies logical order and I feel none. I want to give and receive love, encourage others, throw food for thought with FoolishPeople, hopefully improve something and have fun with my all-guns-blazing time left on earth which, in the sunniest of circumstances, ain't much.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br />
What is the role of an artist and</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;">I'll be happy if I can reconnect wires in people's brains that have been culturally, or traumatically, cut. That's a pretentious statement, but I feel I have something to share now, thanks to two generations of triumphs and defeats - which are now blurred in my mind.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPbcb9UH96uL3W5pWS_aGypru8ZT0My3ThuiizEb1xk6DkUpOlZeRwkwRiiElgZ2QZ1-EMzo0Ox_iHcsRJq_lewh1Osxe8TwZGB3agNHgnYHL7R_ehRk9WryuPi-x2Km9sjjOFHq6WOw/s1600/anas-aremeyaw-anas-wide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPbcb9UH96uL3W5pWS_aGypru8ZT0My3ThuiizEb1xk6DkUpOlZeRwkwRiiElgZ2QZ1-EMzo0Ox_iHcsRJq_lewh1Osxe8TwZGB3agNHgnYHL7R_ehRk9WryuPi-x2Km9sjjOFHq6WOw/s640/anas-aremeyaw-anas-wide.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AAA</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;"> Who inspires you?<br />
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</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;">John Harrigan inspires me. He is my favorite living artist, a man with immaculate honor - perpetually brave. <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/11/smuggler-forger-writer-spy/8267/">Anas Aremeyaw Anas</a> - the courageous Ghanian journalist. My daughter, who teaches low income kids in New Orleans. </span> <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> </span><b style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 21px;"><br />
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<b style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 21px;">Gin / vodka?</b><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;">Tequila!!!!</span><br />
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La Perla / Victoria's Secret?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;">Depends who's buying! It's kind of depressing to buy La Perla for one's self - I'm not that into me.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;"> If you could challenge all the preconceptions others have about you in five words what would you say?</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;">“Sell your cleverness and buy bewilderment.” -Rumi (That's six.)</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;"> I have three wishes to grant you. What are they?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;">Excluding the ‘Ascension Of Man’ stuff, I’d have to say (1.) My collagen fibers at 25… (2.) A hot male with moral courage who knows how to love… (3.) Proper funding for <a href="http://www.foolishpeople.com/">Foolish People</a>.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi68taMlH_glFVWku_bXNO6txktVdlRaSTzkW3bMNF8lJGz7RSJSCvg-MgayfRM3uwxOlgmPfRN0rCKtweHenMwvFy_5Ob93mU5oXO4wW7UiE7f7dtkRBz5fCGvx2bY1CdcoSUUfn8jmho/s1600/3150870.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi68taMlH_glFVWku_bXNO6txktVdlRaSTzkW3bMNF8lJGz7RSJSCvg-MgayfRM3uwxOlgmPfRN0rCKtweHenMwvFy_5Ob93mU5oXO4wW7UiE7f7dtkRBz5fCGvx2bY1CdcoSUUfn8jmho/s640/3150870.jpg" width="518" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br />
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<b> You told me yesterday it is very hard to grow old gracefully as a woman in Hollywood because of the pressure to stay looking good. Does this matter when you are such a talented and creative soul like you? How do you deal with it?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;">Far as I can tell, “growing old gracefully” means decomposing with a smile and no opinions. Fuck that. I appreciate your kind words but <i>talent</i> and <i>creativity</i> pretty much spell ‘hell’ for women in The First World unless lavishly remunerative and unoriginal.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 21px;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> What's your 'scope?</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;">Horoscope? I’m a double Scorpio with a Libra Moon, a <i>Pushmepullyou. </i>If you mean <i>extent and range of view… </i> I don’t know. I can’t even say ‘Out Of The Box,’ because there is no box<i> </i>– that’s a collective hallucination. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;">You said you would never love again in the same way that you loved Sparky, do you think he stole away that part of you?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;">He stole nothing, I offered it all – even threw it at him. The last shards of my naivete, however, were pulverized in the process. Not only is LOVE not enough, it’s rarely defined the same way by those involved. </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-JyTn6INJ9UYDTLBI-79Aid1saVNuutXBcJnjUBi0qzRxcWcr6Y4kxVTUgdi_gtlMEzBhajFEP59NDkmC8wwJVhcmYtQVKfzeBnDGNpeuSS-eEaZ8aIWq70ZWRkkSbE6v0cGtBAeE4o/s1600/uffizio+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-JyTn6INJ9UYDTLBI-79Aid1saVNuutXBcJnjUBi0qzRxcWcr6Y4kxVTUgdi_gtlMEzBhajFEP59NDkmC8wwJVhcmYtQVKfzeBnDGNpeuSS-eEaZ8aIWq70ZWRkkSbE6v0cGtBAeE4o/s400/uffizio+copy.jpg" width="323" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Xanadu Xero</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;">What's your favorite magic spell?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;">Perseverance, focus, truth and intensity. John Harrigan demystified MAGIC for me when he explained that it’s basically a commitment to common sense.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;"> You've spent a lot of time around celebrities, writers and other creative types. Who was the man / woman who most turned you on and made you think, OMG. This is special.<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvp4LvMIijblQ4qX-cMTXE-8aIEnJyd5vusWNVuuLd-54sTgppwEORgnR6buWAjwoLb4ORxC0Crq9zcmtRRlgU4ZnJ4ZS2YA_iif80LZc-ZSnmmhQwSqV3us0AcYhyphenhyphenKpbJekEz0_VCnxc/s1600/IMG01059-20101114-2220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvp4LvMIijblQ4qX-cMTXE-8aIEnJyd5vusWNVuuLd-54sTgppwEORgnR6buWAjwoLb4ORxC0Crq9zcmtRRlgU4ZnJ4ZS2YA_iif80LZc-ZSnmmhQwSqV3us0AcYhyphenhyphenKpbJekEz0_VCnxc/s400/IMG01059-20101114-2220.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;">No one in thirty years has sizzled ‘special’ to me until I found Foolish People online. When I read their motto: ART ON THE INSIDE, BLOOD ON THE OUTSIDE, I gasped.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiblqPEkdkqIDgyE-yUHlVTotyNEa5At9PFeYoJVAXUHP3rIhe5hs4DVT1v1kSMfdx6MFFtE3_Fo_KPZmHl9YWnUonehOkmam2nqB7rICBnjPml6MwPf7HtlBYSmYKQTNxBjvOM5ULwxks/s1600/155758_1609513111266_1039350265_1652572_4772809_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiblqPEkdkqIDgyE-yUHlVTotyNEa5At9PFeYoJVAXUHP3rIhe5hs4DVT1v1kSMfdx6MFFtE3_Fo_KPZmHl9YWnUonehOkmam2nqB7rICBnjPml6MwPf7HtlBYSmYKQTNxBjvOM5ULwxks/s320/155758_1609513111266_1039350265_1652572_4772809_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ridiculously charismatic John Harrigan</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;"> So after the Sparky Show which is a visual and sensual burst of colour like starbusts on your senses, what's next?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;">I’m co-writing a film script with John that we plan to shoot next year with FP in Los Angeles and Prague.</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />
<br />
How is LA different from London? Could you like it here? Do you notice the different nuances in the culture and classes?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;">London is more obviously depressed than Los Angeles, though I see the whole First Word sinking fast. I love London but for the APPALLING tube system, enslaving all but the very rich - dictating their lives!<b> </b>There are only two classes now anywhere – Looters and Scramblers. It disgusts me.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45DhpjPEefsiUNqrG4WqW4SitABDPeZDS1hm48J1MEd_HdLTgc3BNP4v-Ymf9Jz193we4XjQhSUVici3T7clHXAAlTLYhkfXVaVLUL0VgY8B8cD9NgfcGEV7QvlKO7QTwmDUryG2sKww/s1600/3132405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="632" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45DhpjPEefsiUNqrG4WqW4SitABDPeZDS1hm48J1MEd_HdLTgc3BNP4v-Ymf9Jz193we4XjQhSUVici3T7clHXAAlTLYhkfXVaVLUL0VgY8B8cD9NgfcGEV7QvlKO7QTwmDUryG2sKww/s640/3132405.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 16pt;">Buy <i>The Sparky Show</i>, a sumptuous, multi-media, techni-colour romp and raging rave of a love story <a href="http://www.weaponized.net/books#ecwid:category=338507&mode=product&product=1345239">here</a> . And Xanadu Xero, may your neon lights shine forever, on you Xanadu. </span></div>Virtual Factoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14414018483919645063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058601307411481198.post-30728881932804588672010-12-01T08:42:00.001-08:002010-12-02T04:33:57.303-08:00Magic Box<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;">TOP SECRET </span> <br />
<br />
Some secrets are worth returning, by our <a href="http://frontlineclub.com/">secret correspondent</a> inside the Kingdom<br />
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<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" valign="top"><blockquote style="border-left-color: rgb(16, 16, 255); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; margin-left: 5px; padding-left: 5px;"><div><blockquote type="cite"><div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_tTgtIDOE6ZXOkAXHiCfIEK9Lt4xo1fgIfSh0N6APsb1vn7A3fdHWIXdPfegbRDMrELRe8MP9R96EPZXWkFNlx81Jj8b8epigw-pzK8o-ejOdM8W5dM9WsjP9ORCHPQoGdChNsQLm5ws/s1600/Tibetanprayerbox4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_tTgtIDOE6ZXOkAXHiCfIEK9Lt4xo1fgIfSh0N6APsb1vn7A3fdHWIXdPfegbRDMrELRe8MP9R96EPZXWkFNlx81Jj8b8epigw-pzK8o-ejOdM8W5dM9WsjP9ORCHPQoGdChNsQLm5ws/s640/Tibetanprayerbox4.jpg" width="425" /></a></div></div></div></div></blockquote></div></blockquote></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" valign="top"><blockquote style="border-left-color: rgb(16, 16, 255); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; margin-left: 5px; padding-left: 5px;"><div><blockquote type="cite"><div><div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">This Tibetan Prayer box or <i>ghau</i>, was hung around the neck of the largest Buddha statue in Tibet and was taken from the monastry by a monk. Up to today, the place around the neck of the remains empty as this box is irreplaceable. They are worn as personal pieces of religious jewelry. It might have contained a scroll, inscribed with a special mantra, a prayer or blessing and often carries special herbs or talismans to offer protection. It is worn close to the heart, on a string. </div></div></div></blockquote></div></blockquote></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" valign="top"><blockquote style="border-left-color: rgb(16, 16, 255); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; margin-left: 5px; padding-left: 5px;"><div><blockquote type="cite"><div><div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">This piece dates back to the 2nd century and is made of gold, coral, turquoise and other magic stones. This box has been blessed with special secrets and has been known to give protection and good fortune to the holder of the box.</div></div></div></blockquote></div></blockquote></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" valign="top"><blockquote style="border-left-color: rgb(16, 16, 255); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; margin-left: 5px; padding-left: 5px;"><div><blockquote type="cite"><div><div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">You will never see another piece like this in the world.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvUO3VpjdXKrU8LotzHpkLRgY7qMQBi3i7nUq0zJ0_UCxb2-FErkcH0yBk_XpFlz9UfvRti8vGAr_z5Pie38Wvsza3LCKChHNWcy9ByMkXgLHoYJElhOuDdtDTSnBV_vLo29F3ulGcZD8/s1600/tibetanprayerbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvUO3VpjdXKrU8LotzHpkLRgY7qMQBi3i7nUq0zJ0_UCxb2-FErkcH0yBk_XpFlz9UfvRti8vGAr_z5Pie38Wvsza3LCKChHNWcy9ByMkXgLHoYJElhOuDdtDTSnBV_vLo29F3ulGcZD8/s640/tibetanprayerbox.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2h3pFbfoR5ayibPR5c1pSBEfIcYMkNG7i1og9knhh0wmKYr8Z7wl-iQ7hDx7c6uze4W5zZ0yoIHonHjCv5LuE1bkg_twE0DcG5cUg4XAxsyFzFdCNB4l9Tk9JDa5i5V9OX0oI1T_yOw/s1600/Tibetanprayerbox3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2h3pFbfoR5ayibPR5c1pSBEfIcYMkNG7i1og9knhh0wmKYr8Z7wl-iQ7hDx7c6uze4W5zZ0yoIHonHjCv5LuE1bkg_twE0DcG5cUg4XAxsyFzFdCNB4l9Tk9JDa5i5V9OX0oI1T_yOw/s640/Tibetanprayerbox3.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;"> Top secret negotiations are under way to return this incredible piece of sacred art to the Tibetans.</span></span></span></div></div></div></blockquote></div></blockquote></td></tr>
</tbody></table></blockquote>Virtual Factoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14414018483919645063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058601307411481198.post-19657951576925238052010-11-28T15:48:00.000-08:002011-01-07T15:26:35.572-08:00Madame Arcati Uncut<div class="MsoNormal"><div style="color: black;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Just to warm the cockles of your frozen heart this </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">chilly Sunday night, here's a previously unpublished </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">i/v with media blogger and celebrity scourge <a href="http://madamearcati.blogspot.com/">Madame Arcati,</a> she currently channels through <a href="http://twitter.com/VictorOlliver">Victor Olliver</a>, film critic and newspaper journalist. Just last week, Darling MA exposed an X Factor contestant's <a href="http://madamearcati.blogspot.com/2010/11/sheila-vogel-coupe-oh-my-god-her-sex.html">raunchy granny's porn</a> / escort past in true tabloidese, and the blog which was established in 2006, peaked at over 40 000 hits in a week. Be warned, you are no longer in Kansas, Dorothy. </span></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFpRBpzRbgm9lE87FX1YmaebTxpNioNMRTVau3QzOZ65OIr83ze34J-6CvWBqtl8Wh6zLE5OVyyPa68YVvHR2Qx5sFX7666hr9U_kLFiZU83cdyrfN-DoEIuhWeVVHS4RTYAtvT9Du4UE/s1600/bfi-00m-mds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><img border="0" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFpRBpzRbgm9lE87FX1YmaebTxpNioNMRTVau3QzOZ65OIr83ze34J-6CvWBqtl8Wh6zLE5OVyyPa68YVvHR2Qx5sFX7666hr9U_kLFiZU83cdyrfN-DoEIuhWeVVHS4RTYAtvT9Du4UE/s640/bfi-00m-mds.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span">F</span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span">or For over six years <a href="http://madamearcati.blogspot.com/">Darling MA </a>has brought us exclusive scoops and news that hacks and haquettes drool over and couldn't find with a 500 watt bulb, a farm tractor and an Associated Newspapers expense account. Think of her as the media's answer to <i> The Equalizer </i>and <a href="http://wikileaks.org/">WikiLeaks. </a></span></span></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfHtSWClHBBH_mThRGd49Jp-dNZ5WZAlfIB3zaTDOUJs3ZZHmv097keXNZiebsGR_WmGDCdWbv4jIoxXkHfaLYOAvcckTckPGaI30B-WFozbXi3t6Xs6ltIwxhMeytHY5S9Vs-IiN9Qs/s1600/article-1162464-00C7855700000190-555_233x295.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfHtSWClHBBH_mThRGd49Jp-dNZ5WZAlfIB3zaTDOUJs3ZZHmv097keXNZiebsGR_WmGDCdWbv4jIoxXkHfaLYOAvcckTckPGaI30B-WFozbXi3t6Xs6ltIwxhMeytHY5S9Vs-IiN9Qs/s1600/article-1162464-00C7855700000190-555_233x295.jpg" /></span></a></div><div style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="apple-style-span"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">What made you start writing up the trivia and torpedoes of the media / showbiz world's gossip? Was there a shortage of good gossipistes? Did you fill the *ahem* gap? Who is your favorite gossipiste du jour ( I know this is subject to change hourly, double Gemini just take a tabloid and stick a drawing pin on a page. Ouch)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">My dear, Madame does not gossip. Gossiping is what you do when you don’t know anything: I’m sure <a href="http://tabloid-watch.blogspot.com/">Peter McHackey</a> of the <i>Daily Mail</i> will concur. A more accomplished bottom feeder of others’ droppings I have yet to encounter. Madame shares what she knows with her discerning public (and a few loafers indentured on newspapers seeking a free lunch) and in turn a few of them tell me what they know. </span></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">This exchange is less complicated than sex and no one ends up stalked</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The best supplier of actual information is probably Nicky Haslam - he has the stamina and memory for all the parties. The best gossip (in the sense of not knowing anything) is the above mentioned Peter McKay (aka McHackey) who daily fills his Mail Ephraim Hardcastle ‘column’ with the bruised peel of yesterday’s fruit nibblings</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">What was your biggest scoop?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Where do I start, poppet? Certainly my best recent scoop was breaking the news of <a href="http://www.sebastianhorsley.typepad.com/">Sebastian Horsley’s</a> untimely death - his body was still warm when the news went up, and for half the day a great many arts hacks thought I’d made it up. People say I’m tasteless but a least I didn’t put up the photo of Seb fucking that quadruple amputee woman.</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_SKx1D6xHvZHeKJ4ExAbT2E3fkWbenpL4NeqzhR8oEea_jp4iCGFbOUThCRJGo2kUGh2wEshTmpfxJLWmLGE2NJgyI4eE8s8Q-31XE8AKAoLfyMLCHMeBFp9YH42Hek5yXJlQYij9TRs/s1600/sebastianhorsley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_SKx1D6xHvZHeKJ4ExAbT2E3fkWbenpL4NeqzhR8oEea_jp4iCGFbOUThCRJGo2kUGh2wEshTmpfxJLWmLGE2NJgyI4eE8s8Q-31XE8AKAoLfyMLCHMeBFp9YH42Hek5yXJlQYij9TRs/s320/sebastianhorsley.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The scoop I’m most proud of was my revelations about a London newspaper editor who left his wife and family for the London mayor’s comely PR person - a potentially tricky matter given that the mayor had a say in where the editor’s paper could be sold on London Transport property. Happily there was no conflict of interest; but it’s best to know of these things than not know. The newspapers ignored the story, natch. Editors like to cover each other’s back. </span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">What was your biggest disappointment? <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">So many, my sweet. So many. I am by nature a trusting person. The writer Precious Williams deeply wounded me. She assured me over and over again (in emails I still possess) that she did indeed have a relationship with the Channel 4 news anchor Jon Snow - which he denied. He even denied knowing her. Precious promised me proof. I am still waiting. My thumbs have been twiddled to limpness. My finger nails have been drummed into the bone. I find it astonishing that Mr Snow then married Precious - another Precious, that is. Such a common name.</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9AR5AV4DTZwGwITkQ4Z5MAqjApQtq-tYkdxAz721XNmp3MF9P-npoPpNcoMZxG3Va6vw-bE77VdWt7IBn57CgL3nI_FE74H2W7_1gnY-h-n7ukfZgsDjCSlLG88i7DLdG8azOngwKKY/s1600/John-Snow-and-Prec_1071276a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><img border="0" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9AR5AV4DTZwGwITkQ4Z5MAqjApQtq-tYkdxAz721XNmp3MF9P-npoPpNcoMZxG3Va6vw-bE77VdWt7IBn57CgL3nI_FE74H2W7_1gnY-h-n7ukfZgsDjCSlLG88i7DLdG8azOngwKKY/s640/John-Snow-and-Prec_1071276a.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Jon Snow and the real Precious</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">What do you wear while you blawg? Do you blawg naked? Do you have an aperitif to get you in the mood?</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">It depends on the time of day and who’s in the room. Mornings I have been known to face the blog in my lace and poly silk negligee designed by <a href="http://www.jane-woolrich.co.uk/gallery2.asp#">Jane Woolrich</a> while a stranger’s hands search my person fervently for signs of (re-)arousal. Writing about the likes of Kevin Spacey in such a situation adds a frisson to one’s online breakfast. Of an evening I have been known to sip a certain anise-flavoured beverage as I deliberate on the fate of some unfortunate TV host favourite - a few words and it’s all over for them. Power must be exercised responsibly. Top up!</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><img border="0" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kjk_lcrHa00JDD8agXY_aeoFk3kaINr7aFmk5a7hIkWHppm-ztlhbXVV9Zv_1x1tSkrsIPMULE_yn5JMAjzSgdJhw8iZWbWolkKPc9WAmOTdySnnF5JlX41cu3d3ZW94dkc_XZP2YTg/s640/kevin-spacey-2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Kevin Spacey's Third Eye.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kjk_lcrHa00JDD8agXY_aeoFk3kaINr7aFmk5a7hIkWHppm-ztlhbXVV9Zv_1x1tSkrsIPMULE_yn5JMAjzSgdJhw8iZWbWolkKPc9WAmOTdySnnF5JlX41cu3d3ZW94dkc_XZP2YTg/s1600/kevin-spacey-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">What's the view from your desk? Keep it clean dearie.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Well, I’m most concerned about the Union Jack that used to flap about in my peripheral vision in a neighbour’s garden. It has disappeared. I think a storm the other night brought down the pole, most distressing for the Dame Vera Lynn fans who erected it. You just can’t get the wood nowadays. Otherwise a copy of Lady Colin Campbell’s novel <i>Empress Bianca</i> sits on my desk as a paperweight. Any attempt to read it would lead to much documentary chaos.</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Tell me your most perverse fetish. Don't keep it clean.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Cling film aside, I curiously delight in Royal Doulton’s Bunnykins collectables based in the mythical village of Little Twitching. I have only to run a finger along the cool English Translucent China of Reggie Bunnykins’ floppy-stiffy ears and my thigh muscles relax somewhat. God help you if you're in the same room as I should I be caressing a Reggie figurine and his floppy-stiffies. My cleaner gives me a wide berth at such times.</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Which Jean Genet character are / were you in your last / next life?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">It would have to be the straw in <i><a href="http://dai.ly/cMarG0">Un Chant d'Amour</a></i> through which smoke is exhaled in what must be the smallest prison glory hole in 20th Century movie history.</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5GwuVp8lY1UO-NxBJ2tfKjn7nm98pv8T_sftINYsWw-KkJ_Xo-q6_l4BqjcGBxj3QOHDCz-J0Mf28MJShFVqd88o5_Zjtb_idjSku9LCVJ5GJQG3jtrgjxxF2t39026hS1NStbRDKVs/s1600/_46899516_-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5GwuVp8lY1UO-NxBJ2tfKjn7nm98pv8T_sftINYsWw-KkJ_Xo-q6_l4BqjcGBxj3QOHDCz-J0Mf28MJShFVqd88o5_Zjtb_idjSku9LCVJ5GJQG3jtrgjxxF2t39026hS1NStbRDKVs/s320/_46899516_-16.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reptilian</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">What do you have to say to those calumnist columnists who steal your copy and lift your exclusives like peeling skin when the SPF 50 has rubbed off?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Fucking heterosexuals. They’re all the same.</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Who are your favorite subjects? Who are the most devoted Arcatistes and why do you think they return for more love / ego-stroking / abuse, for another ride on the carousel of desire in your tunnel of love?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Madame Arcati is the only website conductor in the world who drew in Kevin Spacey’s entire family (almost) and then artfully set them against each other for years. On my blog you will find a textbook-sized amount of info on the clan - it was the blogosphere’s very first reality soap. People come to me to spectate, to observe living slebby drama, to conduct feuds and serve up the Revenge dish. Madame Arcati is indeed a tunnel of love, and one dripping with authentic lubricant.</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie86U8qjcnC9vuo1LGpUr_5HY0xEAqH7CbeB7Vb-uczTHSG66HEVgS9j9unxI5tQXGIvt3DI26q6hMCaM7P4DXQRDyto4cYgQCXEF0dVC4s7apq8zPZB7Ibh2ufXv7zmXuyY6YcFwhtr8/s1600/thumbnail.aspx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie86U8qjcnC9vuo1LGpUr_5HY0xEAqH7CbeB7Vb-uczTHSG66HEVgS9j9unxI5tQXGIvt3DI26q6hMCaM7P4DXQRDyto4cYgQCXEF0dVC4s7apq8zPZB7Ibh2ufXv7zmXuyY6YcFwhtr8/s320/thumbnail.aspx.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steph Mastini</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxYwkKMzzuHA0k0y8Bl838tLNnpaslxEQLYixm6Dym9_0gk8a9OpOk4OavDzEKTnafZRqeqIa9308nxCcUZEnGlW0BWsfA4iF20hSR731anQ0QLlZnnsXGtI4kxsEwqTg_n3i6Sxq280Y/s1600/thumbnail.aspx+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxYwkKMzzuHA0k0y8Bl838tLNnpaslxEQLYixm6Dym9_0gk8a9OpOk4OavDzEKTnafZRqeqIa9308nxCcUZEnGlW0BWsfA4iF20hSR731anQ0QLlZnnsXGtI4kxsEwqTg_n3i6Sxq280Y/s400/thumbnail.aspx+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cock pic by Steph Mastini</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">How do you bring your alleged psychic powers into your work?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Alleged? How dare you. Madame Arcati casts her horoscopes and sees beyond the rational spin and din. But I am responsible. People must go through certain experiences for karmic reasons, such as public and humiliating exposure on Madame Arcati. It’s not my business to editorialise fate’s design.</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Can you tell me (privately of course) who some of your sources are?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">I find that death makes people garrulous.</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">What's your 'scope and how does it effect the vapours and whims of your blogging?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">By ’scope you mean horoscope? It’s a little like illegal phone hacking. The trick is to find a trail that disguises the illicit means of discovery. The PM’s spin master <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2010/nov/18/news-of-the-world-phone-hacking-andy-coulson">Andy Coulson</a> will know what I mean.</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBXuKkUyRmR-iFo555aw_zqMroT-fm8Ujtpk1m9pnxxaYYjYEih2hl01-rOHT5RDrA3a-rn3CUllBbGWFWA4ehLcW2GnNa3_2QX0LGZ40gM5_Jkjlh0VeQPLpZjdE_fK9OcgoZ3Z0hYI/s1600/thumbnail.aspx+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBXuKkUyRmR-iFo555aw_zqMroT-fm8Ujtpk1m9pnxxaYYjYEih2hl01-rOHT5RDrA3a-rn3CUllBbGWFWA4ehLcW2GnNa3_2QX0LGZ40gM5_Jkjlh0VeQPLpZjdE_fK9OcgoZ3Z0hYI/s400/thumbnail.aspx+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quentin Crisp</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">What happened to the most requested author of HMP Holloway, <a href="http://www.spectator.co.uk/susanhill/">Susan Hill</a> and you?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">I don’t know about Susan. One minute she was confiding the most extraordinary things in me (my lips are… coated in a Tom Ford Private Blend). And in the next she had swanned off to the Spectator and now writes a very tiresome right-wing blog there about hedgerows and Wellington boots. I don’t know why I thought she was a socialist. But anyway, I have a soft spot for Sue who I think should be made a Dame for her services to ghosts.</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">What do you think about celebrity bloggers? Tell-all biographies? Boxers or Y Fronts and on the Brighton sea front is it a one piece cozzie or a tankini?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Like gossips (or gossers as I prefer), sleb bloggers know nothing about slebs, except what they’ve read in the weeklies. Perez Hilton now thinks he’s a sleb when in fact he writes his PR sheet from his mum’s house and has to wank a lot cos he can’t find enough living spunk buckets. At this time of year Brighton sea front is scrotally challenging.</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjzYkFbbJ4LPp9hqH9RQ0El60o04F0kQita_LFgKDmuWpRP-Jeb5MNotBwK79zAmlBmFZoNx8dmxklEgvUnrj2-pqrTQCi7QpM7OMg3-6VM9DiMf1W8dxMz46ephdx00Iyc4IUkySAwDg/s1600/perez_hilton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjzYkFbbJ4LPp9hqH9RQ0El60o04F0kQita_LFgKDmuWpRP-Jeb5MNotBwK79zAmlBmFZoNx8dmxklEgvUnrj2-pqrTQCi7QpM7OMg3-6VM9DiMf1W8dxMz46ephdx00Iyc4IUkySAwDg/s640/perez_hilton.jpg" width="427" /></span></a></div><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">What's your philosophy in life? if you could be the gusset in someone's drawers whose would you choose? Just for a day of course. Health and Safety and all that.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Do unto others before they do unto you. I would be most interested to be the scented paper in Kevin Spacey’s chest of drawers. Perhaps I’d find my neighbour’s Union Jack.</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Chanel or Adolfo?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">I have no time for Hitler.</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">You're often heavily criticized for your unflailing support of some of your protegees and your long, actually unending engagement to bad girl Molly Parkin is leg-end-ary. Will you ever tie the knot or will you just continue to tempt and tease your many paramours by putting them always in second place.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Madame Arcati is loyal, poppet. Pure and simple. The joy of an engagement is the delayed gratification itself - so why end it? Why spoil it by gratification? I’d make a splendid agony aunt.</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">That bicycle. Comment please. Do you have the panier for packages and testubes of animal sperm and parcels or did you dump it for aerodynamics and the power of speed?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Animal sperm? Enough about Perez, please. I cycle very fast and as close to pedestrian elbows as possible.</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">If you could be anyone in history who would it be? And no, you can't be the Child Catcher. That is already taken.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Eva Braun. The mountain views from the Berghof were enchanting, and think of the things that usefully could be dropped from a very great height.</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Sometimes the comments on some of the articles look like the mess after a sixth form common room (co-ed) party. How do you decide when to censor and when not to?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">I rarely censor - the very idea! People feel relaxed in my drawing room blog, they let go, along with the syntax etc. But accusations of prime ministerial bestiality cannot be encouraged.</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Is it true about Duncan Fallowell's <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUlrkbfJH6snvJ0erPJTBxHYLMk57FMxpuGWcE1C9YQyzpvbrv81gY4yokQgOE4avoc_bUeCdtpuF7PBF-I0zx3DXlVmt-PdjiBVBMh9HiH4450faQnu_vdAUxF6fRkNuOv1nWVsoqFdRf/s1600-h/DUNCAN(WHITESPOT).jpg">cock?</a> Evidence please.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The picture of his cock is on <a href="http://madamearcati.blogspot.com/">Madame Arcati.</a> I rest my case.</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Do you think people are generally good or generally evil?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">I think people are generally.</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Do you believe in god? Don't give me the Nick Cohen atheist lisp please.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">There is no God but we were invented by something recurringly sentient. Even George W Bush was invented by something recurringly sentient.</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">When you dance naked around the ouija board what is the music piping from your iPod?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Oh Justin Bieber! Isn't he adorable? I wonder if he’s had his first wet dream yet? Plus I love Cliff Richard dance remixes on YouTube.</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Blackberry / iPhone?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">NEiTHER.</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Jordan / Katie Price?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Jordan is a safer place to holiday.</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Christmas / Hanukkah / Eid?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Winterval darling with touches of Dickensian reinvention.</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">and anything else you wanna add......or leave out of course.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Thank you for your wonderful questions, Farah. </span></span></b></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">And to think we’ve unleashed Piers Morgan on a blameless America. </span></span></b></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Love, MA xxx</span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span class="apple-style-span"><br />
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</span></div></div>Virtual Factoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14414018483919645063noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058601307411481198.post-28471153684009170102010-11-26T14:26:00.000-08:002011-01-07T15:39:51.930-08:00Watch Art BubbleThe full length version of <a href="http://www.artpractical.com/feature/the_great_contemporary_art_bubble/">Ben Lewis'</a> unmissable film-<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 15px;"><b style="font-weight: 700;">exposé</b></span> on the con in the contemporary art world, <i>Art Bubble</i>, is showing at the <a href="http://www.aubincinema.com/Movie/108">Aubin Cinema</a> in Shoreditch, on Sunday at 2 pm. Ben followed the contemporary art market for two years till it crashed spectacularly in October 2008. He added more mid-recession update in 2009 and his research resulted in a film that shattered the myth built up and perpetrated by dealers such as Larry <a href="http://www.armeniapedia.org/index.php?title=Larry_Gagosian">"Go-Go"</a> Gagosian and ex-corporate raider turned collector-dealers such as Asher Edelman. Ben describes this faux-market created on hype and hyperbole as "the biggest, longest lasting, bubbliest bubble of them all."<br />
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This is the first time the full 95 minutes of the film has been shown in the UK. Buy the DVD <a href="http://www.benlewis.tv/category/shop/">here</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1VpOb4gO9DSfv6FHOW9sAqYXAkOtaBA3Ijva-iTOwPxFPxcHwOKu-3dwpyrrgGtmJjw2gdQmKj9r0Z8nfBoKZzXa3_P2LJqj3MeLumShts0-LlllrM3dQRORr9l189ozq5_MNz_LKhA/s1600/18-Skull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1VpOb4gO9DSfv6FHOW9sAqYXAkOtaBA3Ijva-iTOwPxFPxcHwOKu-3dwpyrrgGtmJjw2gdQmKj9r0Z8nfBoKZzXa3_P2LJqj3MeLumShts0-LlllrM3dQRORr9l189ozq5_MNz_LKhA/s640/18-Skull.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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Well-respected as an art critic and film-maker but not unfamiliar with controversy himself, Ben Lewis was banned from <a href="http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23555605-why-i-was-banned-from-damien-hirsts-120m-gamble.do">Damien Hirst's £120 million auction</a>, in which <a href="http://www.stuckism.com/Hirst/StoleArt.html">Hirst</a> by-passed his dealers, Jay Jopling in London and Gagosian in New York, and put 300 <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Fq4CerVEgQ">lots of his art</a> for sale through the auction house Sotheby's. Ben Lewis was banned because he had written previously about the art market, so citing that article, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;">Matthew Weigman, the head of sales publicity at Sotheby's, wrote to him: “In the ordinary course of things, your impressive credentials as a journalist, film-maker and commentator would have provided easy entrance through Sotheby's doors. But these are not ordinary circumstances. The frank bias, even contempt, you have expressed in your commentary about the world of contemporary art, which is an important part of our business, is impossible to ignore … Therefore … we have taken the virtually unprecedented decision not to allow you to film during our upcoming exhibition and sale of works from the studio of Damien Hirst, nor to allow access into the press area for the print media.”</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9p_HxHzFcUrTsIDNzDwubnMcw-RWwUt-yWzUk6Lf0aq8U8wv2Kf_n6V_smfU-bd0qp2yUst6uB9VRqM3ZRpLNkK2g4X8nQLOt5eyZEW_gUaTlHnfSbK4P9pwBIXH0Z5Qg4wjU9xlZhU/s1600/350dd04f-e180-44c3-9da7-ac19bd32d44f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9p_HxHzFcUrTsIDNzDwubnMcw-RWwUt-yWzUk6Lf0aq8U8wv2Kf_n6V_smfU-bd0qp2yUst6uB9VRqM3ZRpLNkK2g4X8nQLOt5eyZEW_gUaTlHnfSbK4P9pwBIXH0Z5Qg4wjU9xlZhU/s400/350dd04f-e180-44c3-9da7-ac19bd32d44f.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: black;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ben Lewis,</b> Three Card Monty or art investment?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Ben Lewis objects to the lack of transparency and accountability in a market in which millions of pounds of public money is spent. The dealers and their clients the collectors who basically back the dealers create false markets which ordinary people buy into and lose money on. In the Saatchi -infested YBA generation of artists, artists became the gladiators of ancient Rome and stars on a level with Premier League football players. </span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma,arial,sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia,garamond,serif; line-height: 18px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">I don't think there is a disconnect—there is rather an over-connection. The money splurged on these big-name artists generates headlines—the money and the headlines make the artists into stars. The museums want attention and to increase footfall, so they exhibit the work of these new stars"</span></span></i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma,arial,sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia,garamond,serif; line-height: 18px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"> </span></span></i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma,arial,sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia,garamond,serif; line-height: 18px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"> ~ Ben Lewis</span></span></i></span></span><br />
<br />
Presently prices in contemporary <a href="http://art%20sales%20are%20down%20by%2040%25/">art sales are down by 40%</a>, in what is described as a top-end meltdown and scary stories of art remaining unsold or bought in by artists or their gallerists (remember the Hirst diamond encrusted skull pictured above which sold for over £9 million,which Hirst later admitted he had bought a 1/3 stake in himself, later) are doing the rounds, similar to those which precipitated the crisis in the art market in the early 90s and two years ago.<br />
<br />
But then again, the never risk-averse Gagosian opened a <a href="http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/culture/Geneva_s_all_a_Go-Go_as_Gagosian_opens_gallery.html?cid=28853758&rss=true">new gallery</a> in Calvin, Switzerland this week, perhaps so he can race his money to the banks more quickly. Come and ask Ben difficult questions in the Q + A after the film premiere,what he thinks of the contemporary art market and whether the recession has changed the two-faced art-world forever. Tickets available <a href="http://www.aubincinema.com/about/booking-info#kids_club">here</a><br />
<br />
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<br />
Buy <i>Art Bubble </i>and Ben's other notable art documentaries,<i> Art Safari, </i><a href="http://www.benlewis.tv/category/shop/">here.</a>Virtual Factoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14414018483919645063noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058601307411481198.post-43929987699840647882010-11-25T17:13:00.000-08:002010-11-26T16:21:02.047-08:00The Name of the RoseInto the wild hinterlands of Dalston for <i>Gandhi and the Coconuts</i>, to watch <a href="http://kalitheatre.co.uk/">Kali Theatre's</a> adventurous new production at the <a href="http://www.arcolatheatre.com/index.php4">Arcola</a> theatre. Written by acclaimed playwright Bettina Gracias who is half Australian and half Indian, this piece of theatre starts out as somewhat whimsical and sterotypical of the light farcical fare that is expected of Indobrit theatre thanks to Tamasha, Tara Arts and the Waterman Arts Centre, but is a story told on many levels which drives home an important message.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sophyia Haque as Asha</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rez Kempton as Ajay</td></tr>
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<br />
Asha has come from Goa, to live in England with her husband Ajay. Her initial amazement,<br />
"I'm so lucky to be here,"<br />
soon descends into disenchantment. The milk back home "was the sweetest, the creamiest", and she yearns for that life, when people were interconnected and the milkman brought her the daily gossip. The gorgeous, sexy Sophiya Haque plays the timid, plump housewife, so typical of subcontinental women who live in their husband's shadow, who daren't dance and barely move. It's as if, like an exotic bird which shimmers in the sunshine of warmer climes, she has lost all her colour and her song has become tuneless. Every day Ajay (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0447513/">Rez Kemption</a>, <i>Spooks, Banged up Abroad</i>) goes to work at his boring job and every day she kisses him goodbye and tells him to have a good day. Everyday he responds<br />
<br />
"I won't."<br />
<br />
The monotony of their day-to day life is enervating to the point of distraction and Asha is certainly distracted after being rejected by her racist obnoxious neighbour ("Turn that Paki music down , one phone call and I could have you arrested"). Poor Asha is too frightened to leave her high rise prison to follow her dreams of impossible happiness and adventure, so the gods of her dreams come into her living room. First enters Gandhi-ji, who has chunked up a little and is very hungry after 62 years of not eating. He regrets his life-long ascetism, declaring<br />
<br />
"The pleasures of the flesh are what makes life sweet," which only adds to Asha's confusion.<br />
<br />
"What does it matter of I exist or I don't exist?" He challenges her, when she fears that he is just a projection from her mind. He insists on staying for tea. Then Kali, the Hindu goddess of sex and death appears.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gandhi and Asha, over a cup of tea</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Played by a sibilant, serpent-like <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0361846/#Actress">Nimmi Harasgama</a>, <a href="http://hinduism.about.com/od/hindugoddesses/a/makali.htm">Kali</a> explodes onto the tiny set with a burst of sexual energy and slinky hips. She flicks her tongue like a crazed lizard, intent on performing cunnilingus on the whole universe and her femininity which is channelled through sex , death, power and "releasing the tiger in the core" are life lessons for Asha who is dazed that her second favourite deity has entered her space, her first being the god who removes all obstacles, <a href="http://hinduism.about.com/od/lordganesha/a/ganesha.htm">Ganesh.</a> Not far behind Kali is a repentant Lord Shiva, who has been absent for 100 years, after 100 years of love-making with his wife. She abuses him and accuses him of being with his first wife <a href="http://www.lotussculpture.com/parvati1.htm">Parvati</a>.<br />
<br />
The three deities (Gandhi is a deity in Asha's mind too) take Asha on a mind-jolting frenzy through sexuality, lust and power, Kali urges her to release her power through her feminine life force, like a tiger. Sadly Asha is more like a hippopotamus, a baby elephant and Gandhi has "has released his gay butterfly." When Asha tries these moves on her husband, he is horrified and accuses her of being like a prostitute. The male deities question their existence and the paths they have chosen with some particularly hilarious comments from Gandhi, resenting he gave up all earthly comfort. Shiva proclaims that Gandhi is the higher god, and that he should have been more like him, followed in his footsteps to which Kali retorts<br />
<br />
"His footsteps don't lead to my bedroom."<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lord Shiva</td></tr>
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Kali gets some of the best lines, she is the irresistable feminine force, Shiva cannot resist her, no man can subvert her sexual prowess. She forces Shiva to lie at her feet, accusing him,<br />
<br />
"Are you like every Indian man, thinking sex is wrong? ...You are a fraud. You could not live in our union."<br />
<br />
She screams, as she despairs about ever being able to help Asha to uncover her real self,<br />
<br />
"I have been trying to inject fire into Indian women for hundreds of years!"<br />
<br />
And therein lies the question at the heart of the dilemma of being an Asian woman. In the Hindu pantheon, the female goddesses dominate, even Lord Shiva is subjugated by Kali's energy. Asha delights in the shimmying shapes of Bollywood dances, alone in the privacy of her living room, throwing her ample bust around and shaking her hips hard, but in front of her husband she is docile. When she tries to express her needs and her hungers, when she tells him that she has needs too, he is repulsed. "Like a naughty sneeze in the dark on a Saturday night" they have sex once a week. Surely that is enough, after all he is tired, he works to provide a home for her, to send money home to his family in Mumbai. he is exhausted and he wants "normal" when he comes home.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kali reading <i>Grazia<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>During his trek through the universe, looking for the perfect flower for Kali, Shiva has found a black rose. He presents it to her as a peace offering and gives a blush pink rose to Asha, to represent her sweetness and simplicity. The conflict is in combining both aspects of light and dark and being a woman. Women are meant to be all light and candy-floss, not this dark, sexually possessed, hungry deity who can control men and her own fate by her sheer force of will. The play raises a lot of questions about how Asian women in particular seek out a sexless identity, in order to conform, but at great expense to their own desires and ambitions. This from a culture that gave birth to the Kama Sutra and the erotic statues of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 15px;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1153833033">Khajuraho</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 15px;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1153833033"> </a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"><a href="http://www.kamat.com/database/cd-roms/erotic_arts/3641.htm">Temple</a><b> , Indian women are meant to subsume their natural sexuality and become chaste and unsexual. </b></span><br />
<div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 15px;"><strong style="font-weight: 700;"></strong></span>Another question the play raises which asks, is it more important to be happy or to be sane, is one which doesn't discriminate about gender. <br />
<div><br />
</div><div>This is a fine, thought and issue provoking piece of playwriting, which tours the <a href="http://www.kalitheatre.co.uk/index-home.html">country nationally</a> and boasts some of the finest British Asian talent around. Sophyia Haque performs exquisitely, hamming it up in her Bollywood item number and drawing the audience into her character's private interior world with absolute pathos as Asha becomes undone. As Asha she covers a range of emotions and expressions in three hours that Z-lister Konnie Huq can only dream to achieve in a lifetime. This could be Sophyia's big break, she deserves it, having done the Bollywood bibi rounds and achieved some mainstream fame in productions such as <a href="http://www.purrlions.net/ash/index.htm">The Far Pavilions</a> and <a href="http://www.reallyuseful.com/shows/bombay-dreams">Bombay Dreams</a>. </div><div><br />
</div><div>This is not only clever and entertaining theatre directed by Janet Steele, the themes of this play reach all women, no matter their culture or colour. Watch it at the Arcola till December 18th and then on tour in Plymouth, West Bromwich and Leicester.<br />
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</div></div>Virtual Factoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14414018483919645063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058601307411481198.post-70429735941947702152010-11-24T05:24:00.000-08:002010-11-27T16:22:35.184-08:00Cherchez la muse'Tis a complicated business, this whole muse - artist relationship-business.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yasmin and Nick Byfield Ward</td></tr>
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Generally the muse is at her happiest when left to fly free, like fairy dust, bringing creative magic, flitting through her day, spreading light and joy. So whatever happened to renowned sculptor, Jonathan Wylder, which caused his self-confessed "fall from grace" doesn't matter. What matters is the chance meeting with Yasmin le Bon, fashion and style icon, yummy mummy exemplar of west London and <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1191072/Yasmin-Le-Bons-modesty-gone-wind-suffers-embarrassing-fashion-faux-pas.html">west Hollywood</a> which freed them both up from any self-imposed restraints and inspired Jonathan to return to his work as a serious contemporary artist.<br />
<br />
The muse hasn't seen the final bronze sculpture yet, it is to be unveiled at a private viewing tonight and she is rather nervous. But Jonathan cites gracefully, <br />
"This statue of Yasmin is the most inspirational work I have ever done."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgDDm7uKl8-NdeOGY2aeHE3tYdewaW7NBXL6i3O8z44F4_MW0bpqecmaPwxQIy1IzM5mFxGCrK4jFM8CkFqiJCaHTVeqtrYNy1_DbYeTCiSed7qZHsLvNjkqTanaEEV8xzRyIKAnjDz0/s1600/image001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgDDm7uKl8-NdeOGY2aeHE3tYdewaW7NBXL6i3O8z44F4_MW0bpqecmaPwxQIy1IzM5mFxGCrK4jFM8CkFqiJCaHTVeqtrYNy1_DbYeTCiSed7qZHsLvNjkqTanaEEV8xzRyIKAnjDz0/s320/image001.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beauty reflected</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgsnqHJoXEmzMF4XRepY9UdgzsCl0JrcfQz0Ha9xQ6bN4VBtkBG38me1eXTYhLXfuajBNYqGnC0AsXM8MkZcAyKPlm4HxtQLCl8t9UTuxeGdR2PUrvEnY5aP_EpVQ8YCOa4c7wxjJ6yo/s1600/Yasmin-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgsnqHJoXEmzMF4XRepY9UdgzsCl0JrcfQz0Ha9xQ6bN4VBtkBG38me1eXTYhLXfuajBNYqGnC0AsXM8MkZcAyKPlm4HxtQLCl8t9UTuxeGdR2PUrvEnY5aP_EpVQ8YCOa4c7wxjJ6yo/s640/Yasmin-1.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yasmin (c) Chris Bissel</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwsbyzyhViNKy3wCTIVxlXBfiIbsiPCnAy9vJfrttujVVn3VgE89DcaCtNj-n36EqLv04hkttMwcyQgj-iBk5URYi26Cyfa0zNooeix-QmSPVSlN3QbvGF4UOKw_lJj9_MNZ8Qi7gCCy8/s1600/P1020638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwsbyzyhViNKy3wCTIVxlXBfiIbsiPCnAy9vJfrttujVVn3VgE89DcaCtNj-n36EqLv04hkttMwcyQgj-iBk5URYi26Cyfa0zNooeix-QmSPVSlN3QbvGF4UOKw_lJj9_MNZ8Qi7gCCy8/s640/P1020638.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Yasmin</i>, Bronze by Jonathan Wydler</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIQUdBiyZ1lNK3TqSMYY0KNBCLX1zzQ_1t66u_tcg2qAMITjGeQRZnH1PSkhZcb7OiFtyiEcaaQvm_H7ALsEkKmZxAKSD_OnycY7cpx90Bqfby4A1sliuDvhJv_p62pVIcHXVcaX_NVLY/s1600/P1020636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIQUdBiyZ1lNK3TqSMYY0KNBCLX1zzQ_1t66u_tcg2qAMITjGeQRZnH1PSkhZcb7OiFtyiEcaaQvm_H7ALsEkKmZxAKSD_OnycY7cpx90Bqfby4A1sliuDvhJv_p62pVIcHXVcaX_NVLY/s1600/P1020636.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">J<b>onathan Wylder</b>, definitively restored to grace and <b>Nick Byfield Ward</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmYyE9VUvptbJRdi61bxPEXkcWyE9voFkJ-Cd_1naQicW4hRflWOEjbjZ1BoNCHJvSa3Xj5NpnjrNLY3FNSs6bz0rSajLYO1ROEdymGeX-0OMF_Vc_aSkNEAw8b-9_MdlLQbabMIniMC4/s1600/Anton-B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmYyE9VUvptbJRdi61bxPEXkcWyE9voFkJ-Cd_1naQicW4hRflWOEjbjZ1BoNCHJvSa3Xj5NpnjrNLY3FNSs6bz0rSajLYO1ROEdymGeX-0OMF_Vc_aSkNEAw8b-9_MdlLQbabMIniMC4/s400/Anton-B.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Anton</i> (c) Chris Bissel</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Also in the exhibition at Jonathan Wylder's, 87 St James' Street, London which runs until December 4th, are works by <a href="http://chrisbissell.co.uk/">Chris Bissel</a>, society and fashion snapper, whose photographs are like intimate essays into the character of his subjects, whether it's a picture for a high luxe fashion campaign or a candid portrait of a modern day robber baron, Bankster. He creates compositions which invite the viewer to enter into the story behind the picture, intertwining both in its poetic narrative. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
The question remains: can the artist enslave the muse, make her earthbound, not ethereal, clip her wings, steal her soul in bronze or a freeze frame photographic moment and make paintbrushes from her eyelashes? Do both die a little and learn a lot from the process?<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Cherchez la muse. </span></span><br />
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<b>Post Script</b><br />
The sculpture is g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s, Jonathan and Chris made charming hosts and the paparazzi feasted like hungry sharks in a fish tank with the glamour Yasmin and crowd exuded. Chris' pictures of Jonathan and Yasmin in his studio are spontaneous and capture her in all her natural beauty and uncover the intimacy between the artist and the muse. Jonathan Wylder will be sculpting and painting live everyday till December 4th in his studio, in the gallery on St James' Street. Don't miss one of the most fascinating, successful multi-media collaborations of modern art to hit London for years.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi74oIf2WP_alOycECbWMUMRJiYJJci52DzhR90TAB4BzfInxDWhxeIjd2YPvmhO-5Ho9qZsFa6jGak_zA5aH1WtMxrOayoSRl9tHkUR7K83n-YViTs1GESSggyQTObAA7yILeS61o1PM/s1600/P1020640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi74oIf2WP_alOycECbWMUMRJiYJJci52DzhR90TAB4BzfInxDWhxeIjd2YPvmhO-5Ho9qZsFa6jGak_zA5aH1WtMxrOayoSRl9tHkUR7K83n-YViTs1GESSggyQTObAA7yILeS61o1PM/s1600/P1020640.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yasmin by Jonathan Wylder, (c) Chris Bissell</td></tr>
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</div>Virtual Factoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14414018483919645063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058601307411481198.post-34371882396090133652010-11-23T06:40:00.000-08:002010-11-23T14:13:26.698-08:00Tell No One<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>"Take the medication," was the chilling instruction I was given by a man in a white coat standing outside Ladbroke Grove underground station. "Follow those people."<br />
<br />
Following me were a horsey super Sloane ("daddy's a partner at Child and Child, I want to be a solicitor. Or something that makes a lot of money") and her chaperone a trainee solicitor. The number of ugly terry cloth bathrobes people inhabit in the privacy of their own homes is astounding. Mine is an <a href="http://www.abrahamandthakore.com/">Abraham and Thakore</a> cotton number, more suited to Indian ocean spa, than the stark, tree lines streets of semi-salubrious west London. SPA coming from the Roman Sanitas Per Aqua, or health through water.<br />
<br />
Hoardes of people combing the streets of Ladbroke Grove on a freezing Sunday evening, in their bathrobes followed orders given by "doctors and nurses" on street corners. The haughty moon staring down chilled and glazed appeared to be in on it. Something deliciously clandestine was afoot.<br />
<br />
A disused mental facility off <a href="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&expIds=17259,17291,17311,23756,24878,26473,26788,27400,27690,27698,27721,27744,27745&xhr=t&cp=30&q=st+quintin+avenue+london+w10&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=St+Quintin+Ave,+London+W10&gl=uk&ei=LMTrTLncLo_qOb6PhYsB&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=image&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CBcQ8gEwAA">St Quintin Avenue</a> was the final destination for November's <a href="http://www.secretcinema.org/">Secret Cinema.</a> This had been carefully managed so no one knew where they were going, all contact so far had been through cryptic e mails and pre-recorded phone messages. I had to change my Facebook profile picture to my favorite yoga pose. The Buddha. I had to fill in forms and send them back and in my Gucci handbag, as instructed, I had a First Class stamp and a photo of someone precious to me.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHSp_LvtR11weQwZIn9fJWw2Pk0kzMG8_pnZ8GNhlGqAhNW7qL3Cz9Ckio6TtzwjVO8QBbWAQB0Nf1dfwfec5wlQygHLDu2AHRgFMbExeHO6-b3hAwNHuPAEKugqFIqUCjRWkNzUPdUB0/s1600/73558_443318251052_46896241052_5977229_7262116_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHSp_LvtR11weQwZIn9fJWw2Pk0kzMG8_pnZ8GNhlGqAhNW7qL3Cz9Ckio6TtzwjVO8QBbWAQB0Nf1dfwfec5wlQygHLDu2AHRgFMbExeHO6-b3hAwNHuPAEKugqFIqUCjRWkNzUPdUB0/s1600/73558_443318251052_46896241052_5977229_7262116_n.jpg" /></a></div>Oregon State Mental Institution read the sign. A line of greeters in white coats and fairly convincing mid-American accents greeted me, slapped a yellow plastic wrist band on me ( I was now sponsored by Windows Phone, the headline partner of the event) and showed me into the ghostly ghastly building which was to be my "home " for the next few hours.<br />
<br />
Inside, the abandoned facility had been transformed to its former glory. Deranged "inmates" slipped by in the hallways doing the Thorazine Shuffle, one or two broke out in uncontrollable monologues, only to be swiftly recaptured and restrained by ever-present, all-seeing attendants.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4mAbFSixixEvYuQ0ilsCvmChCEqu08W-owMvKbcnyRfgUlSWdR88iWAdZ8y1vd0pqCtMYznVO9ezscSeyvIs-uog5SbD7lThd_4YalwfHNPXrWk8zcuALqM-AvKxew6IMa0J8tOHo5Y/s1600/IMG01086-20101121-1915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4mAbFSixixEvYuQ0ilsCvmChCEqu08W-owMvKbcnyRfgUlSWdR88iWAdZ8y1vd0pqCtMYznVO9ezscSeyvIs-uog5SbD7lThd_4YalwfHNPXrWk8zcuALqM-AvKxew6IMa0J8tOHo5Y/s320/IMG01086-20101121-1915.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The 4D film experience this was all a part of was <a href="http://akas.imdb.com/title/tt0073486/" style="font-style: italic;">One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest</a><i> , </i>Milos Foreman's masterpiece staring Jack Nicholson and Danny de Vito. I was ushered off to buy my prescriptions, which were then filled in small rooms off endless corridors and elected uppers, the experience of wandering round in the freezing cold, in my bathrobe, albeit a very nice one, was sombering.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOgOHVGMvWxz-dBVfoLptxjxlutdN8EcVuxPLLK9eVGMyFxiTFp4jYuM6PgdegebnUXhZ0njvdQThj3tq7ao1ULtymLYCfPgZXAhUfVs6qHxSGL5H5Q1kcTBjDBFWwt7GZeidAJmgaFHs/s1600/IMG01087-20101121-1919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOgOHVGMvWxz-dBVfoLptxjxlutdN8EcVuxPLLK9eVGMyFxiTFp4jYuM6PgdegebnUXhZ0njvdQThj3tq7ao1ULtymLYCfPgZXAhUfVs6qHxSGL5H5Q1kcTBjDBFWwt7GZeidAJmgaFHs/s320/IMG01087-20101121-1919.jpg" width="320" /></a>Fortified with a double dose of uppers times 2, I was ushered to meet the Director, who asked me if I knew what year I was in. JFK was about to be assassinated. Or had he already been killed? 1963? He told me I was well enough to reside at the facility.<br />
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"Do everything they tell you," He whispered ominously.<br />
<br />
The tannoy in the hallway screeched,<br />
"Art therapy will be held in Ward 9 in four minutes." So I made my way to ward 9.<br />
"Art therapy will be held in Ward 8 in three minutes."<br />
I was going crazy. Oh yes, of course, that is why I was there.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ2M-OU-VnXypxzrO30_VewcYPWu4VZjagvX5hR2Sz-7QF-rYJs8OB36f7Pq0RkPxVB8Sp2vw-a16XAd5b4IFeyJZRVAFFeOg5TbDZOxmKdjVRl0OIPFYW_-x6mAinZugdosWFCeiBMUY/s1600/IMG01089-20101121-1928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ2M-OU-VnXypxzrO30_VewcYPWu4VZjagvX5hR2Sz-7QF-rYJs8OB36f7Pq0RkPxVB8Sp2vw-a16XAd5b4IFeyJZRVAFFeOg5TbDZOxmKdjVRl0OIPFYW_-x6mAinZugdosWFCeiBMUY/s320/IMG01089-20101121-1928.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">art therapy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Then there was Yoga therapy, for those who wanted to attend.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPMmCrhZxLkij33gQbm3GmTiQJ6L38KaIfW-2pw4j9EzIauIYn2Gfpbp9LGESwPzsuRDYvJJ5xFInivKH6mnSP6qxWF5-ZrXQpGOTjioNkXwzPibH1gQpKQF_2YK-lDCVb-QJjT9eiBg/s1600/IMG01092-20101121-1933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPMmCrhZxLkij33gQbm3GmTiQJ6L38KaIfW-2pw4j9EzIauIYn2Gfpbp9LGESwPzsuRDYvJJ5xFInivKH6mnSP6qxWF5-ZrXQpGOTjioNkXwzPibH1gQpKQF_2YK-lDCVb-QJjT9eiBg/s320/IMG01092-20101121-1933.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div>The entire space had been given over to this fantasy, small cell-like rooms had been converted into what looked like prison dormitories. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFcsEJbDHHAFePoi86Mo6QRMwsJPLJfDbnqUvwGzVISIc-v9SlOxod83Uu2z3kAY6scEjvr-_HYS4Pw5k-sZMQq-i0mvUBKG4vDwF2qEWbSdkA5C3yBpzwP8awf37iT61w-66tfIexfvE/s1600/IMG01084-20101121-1906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFcsEJbDHHAFePoi86Mo6QRMwsJPLJfDbnqUvwGzVISIc-v9SlOxod83Uu2z3kAY6scEjvr-_HYS4Pw5k-sZMQq-i0mvUBKG4vDwF2qEWbSdkA5C3yBpzwP8awf37iT61w-66tfIexfvE/s320/IMG01084-20101121-1906.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>I'm sure I saw a bed with <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/nov/07/government-cuts-poor-legal-action">Nick Cohen</a>, raging anti-Islamic commentator's name on it. We become that which we most hate, something to think about within the cold cruel walls of this sanatorium. The hospital staff broke into a scratchy version of Simon and Garfunkle's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hUy9ePyo6Q">The Sounds of Silence</a> and encouraged rudimentary instrument-playing. An interesting immersive experiment was going downstairs into the unlit basement and watching the convincing and charismatic <a href="http://www.foolishpeople.com/">John Harrigan</a>, director of Foolish People who had contributed to produce this event with T<a href="http://thenewwellbeingfoundation.com/">he New Wellbeing Foundation</a>. I'm still not sure what they are about, something to do with "solving the problems of control" but clearly there is a large section of youngish people willing to part with their hard-earned to be part of something quirky. John was brilliant as the Nicholson character, daring people to go to the edge and to escape to Ward 12 which didn't exist.</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUsgaAndwxB0wbs6oNSJTUbbAnibH4cJudyCGiHlZvoDM8YRMGr0cGREEd4H55NI8bXijtwuIoR7jLQNs34_UIZJxRKPYOo4IN-NZaPJMgtbde6aauRWgZHN8EaTJh5XDj4IJ1qOtX0Y/s1600/IMG01099-20101121-1957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUsgaAndwxB0wbs6oNSJTUbbAnibH4cJudyCGiHlZvoDM8YRMGr0cGREEd4H55NI8bXijtwuIoR7jLQNs34_UIZJxRKPYOo4IN-NZaPJMgtbde6aauRWgZHN8EaTJh5XDj4IJ1qOtX0Y/s320/IMG01099-20101121-1957.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div>There were other interactive participatory events, the little screening /torture room, the no-exit through the tunnel, the lecture to ascertain if I was well enough to be part of the chosen few who went in for "special treatment" in Ward 12. A lot of thought had gone into dressing the place for the happening, specimen jars of what looked like body parts and pills adorned shelves and surfaces, everywhere I turned, someone was asking me how I felt and if I knew where I was and why I was there. Every time I turned around, a really tall black guy was sweeping the floor, he saw me, stopped to stroke my hair four times and then resumed sweeping the floor. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2eskPucScpvI2s6E_4xqcWCgoUDeEbvThm37mgG3AhwKCsV_FLdbExqnvY_ZyVvRXqhLl7ofPtaIEnG4BAYTmupNDU28tq7_xtkjPPT0aK69GfqQspXVjGAATn2dqioFa7eqTgvw9YtQ/s1600/IMG01097-20101121-1943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2eskPucScpvI2s6E_4xqcWCgoUDeEbvThm37mgG3AhwKCsV_FLdbExqnvY_ZyVvRXqhLl7ofPtaIEnG4BAYTmupNDU28tq7_xtkjPPT0aK69GfqQspXVjGAATn2dqioFa7eqTgvw9YtQ/s320/IMG01097-20101121-1943.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div>Perhaps there is something peculiar to the English psyche that needs to be <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporal_punishment">controlled and contained </a> but after a while it started to feel creepy. I thought about leaving but there was a nerdy goon at the door who told me I was expected to stay and "participate." Just in time, "Film Therapy" was announced. There were three screening rooms, depending on the colour of the wristband dispensed upon entry and for a moment I worried about the Elf and Safety fairy, should this get out of control. There were a lot of people there.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8DpTy_nTwCT5ZDme1RJHz8uZsRFZ6tdOFjVWP1voOj1-qImm52z1VvOCcSQspnviKaIFEwkCVtucSIwBLCnUC0p04DLs2JtcO9hx9ozaTULl4p8HO1tt7f8IZb5sDWmEOhFRlQMRG8Ec/s1600/IMG01096-20101121-1941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8DpTy_nTwCT5ZDme1RJHz8uZsRFZ6tdOFjVWP1voOj1-qImm52z1VvOCcSQspnviKaIFEwkCVtucSIwBLCnUC0p04DLs2JtcO9hx9ozaTULl4p8HO1tt7f8IZb5sDWmEOhFRlQMRG8Ec/s200/IMG01096-20101121-1941.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_0gMdKMOcLrJzDvV6LlwJoz5m-Ea8sI58zOA3BUqZGb3qLabw85pHOClWLv4xA3I7RzCm8z2vxaSQTGn7ol6UzpUwMIVj6KLtJW5EPNhFn7d4B8bLfy3mOpUFvY6J1-_QRK2znVu6yHU/s1600/IMG01090-20101121-1929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_0gMdKMOcLrJzDvV6LlwJoz5m-Ea8sI58zOA3BUqZGb3qLabw85pHOClWLv4xA3I7RzCm8z2vxaSQTGn7ol6UzpUwMIVj6KLtJW5EPNhFn7d4B8bLfy3mOpUFvY6J1-_QRK2znVu6yHU/s200/IMG01090-20101121-1929.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<br />
People delved into the spirit of the evening, strangers laughed together, copious amounts of alcohol were imbibed, and a kind of insane hedonistic Nirvana was attained. It was like being at a grown-up kid's birthday party with permission to eat too many cupcakes and quaaludes, sing too loud and have too much fun. Strange that it took being locked in a mental institution to "have fun."<br />
<br />
Well not really Nirvana but it was fun and a good way to spend £30 on a Sunday evening. Drinks and food are extra. Book <a href="http://www.wegottickets.com/secretcinema">here</a> . Take a sweater. And remember<br />
<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Tell no one. </span></span></b></div>Virtual Factoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14414018483919645063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058601307411481198.post-66397896614595250712010-11-22T05:31:00.000-08:002010-11-22T05:31:11.388-08:00Shellshocked <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Punish me or pray for me. Lock me up or look the other way. I’m not going anywhere.”</i><br />
<div><i><br />
</i> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">Six short plays, each thirty minutes long. Three in the afternoon, Charged 1 and three in the evening, Charged 2, at the Soho Theatre. This is the acclaimed current commission by Camden-based theatrical company <a href="http://www.cleanbreak.org.uk/">Clean Break</a>. Founded in 1979, Clean Break has established itself as a serious writing / commissioning theatre company which works with women whose lives have been affected by the criminal justice system and also women still in prison, through drama and writing workshops . It offers ex-offenders mentoring programmes with well-known and respected playwrights . By “researching” with women in the prison estate, Clean Break is only too well acquainted with the issues that affect a woman once she enters the criminal justice system, the heartbreak of missing a child so much on her first night in prison that she hallucinates; the profound effects of misogyny in the police force; a writer who goes into prison to teach prisoners for “release “ and for “free association” of their experiences” through the written word, are just three of the stories explored.</div><div class="MsoNormal">The themes are the same, whether it’s about the plight of girl gang members, being trafficked as a nine-year old child or a junky mother, meeting her maybe /maybe not daughter who was taken away by the authorities and adopted, decades later. The underlying subject, which festers like a scar, being constantly picked and picked open again, is disturbing. Whether in or out of prison, women “at large” have no rights and are generally treated as <a href="http://www.object.org.uk/">objects.</a> . We are shown, over and over again that whatever little we manage to wrench from the male hierarchy which makes the rules and enforces them, in order to survive in their world, we have we have to fight and struggle to maintain.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbxuHbCC8QPOC3dLpE7n9atKm0ZUjfCv-924yd85dA_qsTUaFTeROnjwSYIwssuotTrCiu-vaVBQdz5Knmfcr7xpZl1Xpjt54e1occRT9kWgW0sHqarLqC32HJROPOL-Zg49bUaMDduM/s1600/Dream+Pill_CREDIT+Sheila+Burnett.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbxuHbCC8QPOC3dLpE7n9atKm0ZUjfCv-924yd85dA_qsTUaFTeROnjwSYIwssuotTrCiu-vaVBQdz5Knmfcr7xpZl1Xpjt54e1occRT9kWgW0sHqarLqC32HJROPOL-Zg49bUaMDduM/s320/Dream+Pill_CREDIT+Sheila+Burnett.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Another theme is loss, the loss of wasted lives, of the sadness and pain that affects all the lives of those who are trapped in the system whether they are victims of it or whether they are trying to administer a <a href="http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/docs/corston-review.pdf">man-shaped hole</a> of a punitive system, and forcing women into these ill-fitting preconceptions of justice and punishment. We witness the devastating ripple effect, like a malevolent butterfly inflicting typhoons and hurricanes through the beatings of its wings, in other far-distant hearts. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dream Pill</i> by Rebecca Prichard is an accomplished, heart stopping story about child trafficking and its vile consequences. Amongst the mostly white (I might have been the token brown face in the audience plus one other woman and there was one other black woman who attended) journalistic audience, there were a few teary eyes and sniffling noses. It was unbearably difficult to watch. The sing-a-long style of speaking, in which nine year old little girls communicate with each other was a stark and horrific foil to the moment when they talked about the white man, </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“their blood is white and sticky,</div><div class="MsoNormal"> I can tell you how to make them go quick, just go yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah. Like that.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">There are funny ha-ha moments when the audience laughs, but the whole issue of locking up women, of brutalizing them and further criminalizing them is one so close to my own heart and experiences, the laughter felt uncomfortable. I sat on the edge of my seat throughout Chloe Moss’ <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fatal Light</i>, the story of a woman who dies in prison and the consequences of that for her 6 year old daughter and her own mother in whose care the child has been left. The story begins with an inexperienced police woman knocking at the door to break the bad news to grandma, and flinching when the old lady tries to hug her, desperate for comfort and consolation. But who wants to share the ugly pain of deviant women and their sordid stories. We want our justice sanitized, our criminals warehoused and the process of punishment white-washed and ultimately hidden away from us. Facts and figures such as there being about 5 000 women in prison at any given time are discreetly ignored, except by vociferous campaigners and <a href="http://www.howardleague.org/">certain sector</a> and <a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Desktop/Writing/womeninprison.org.uk">gender specific charities</a> working towards changing sentencing and social policy. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvmbt6GFGzenWLrbpp5fQXxTVmGmxdVktP4Xeldqz_i1FyAuaCqS_6W3xlcpHbtGS4_twn2Kpvy0DnWjnbGcjFZSzXDIfT1_y4EWFomghT76daZBu_P2Oo_jlhd1jSgT6mp10vLnvIaw/s1600/Fatal+Light_CREDIT_Sheila+Burnett.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvmbt6GFGzenWLrbpp5fQXxTVmGmxdVktP4Xeldqz_i1FyAuaCqS_6W3xlcpHbtGS4_twn2Kpvy0DnWjnbGcjFZSzXDIfT1_y4EWFomghT76daZBu_P2Oo_jlhd1jSgT6mp10vLnvIaw/s320/Fatal+Light_CREDIT_Sheila+Burnett.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br />
</o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br />
</o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">The other play which stands out, in its head-bangingly precise portrayal of the boredom of prison life is by Rebecca , <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">That Almost Unameable Lust</i>, a story of two lifers doing time in a closed prison, attending writing classes, given by a writer who is engrossed in her own story and indeed her own forthcoming book, one of the woman expresses the frustration of her world being so different: <br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“...No. No actually I’m not all right. You’re talking about some prophet in a cave. And you’re very nice and your book will have a shiny cover. WH Smith and all that. Picture of you on the back drinking...coffee.”<br />
<br />
The writer, well-intentioned though she is misses the point and that these two women can’t speak of their stories, can’t tell them in the way she would like so they evolve structured, orderly with a beginning a middle and an end. Life is messy, not like a fairy tale.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Charged 1 and 2 left me feeling slightly queasy and very shell-shocked. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> It’s essential viewing but Clean Break and <a href="http://www.sohotheatre.com/">the Soho Theatre</a> have missed the point slightly by pricing out the people who need to see this body of work. If all they are trying to attract to this extravaganza of deviancy and dysfunction is a white, do-gooding- middle-class audience then it works. Having spoken to a few workers “in” the criminal justice industry who have stated the ticket price is too high (it escalates the longer into the run the performance goes) , there might have been some consideration as to how they could have better reached their target audience. The production is touring in prisons, so hopefully more people will get to see it outside the rarefied inner sanctum of the Soho Theatre’s boundaries, people who matter and whose lives have been touched. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Charged</b> is at the Soho Theatre from November 10 – 27 2010</div><div class="MsoNormal">For more information please see http://www.sohotheatre.com/</div></div>Virtual Factoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14414018483919645063noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058601307411481198.post-66488939211666667322010-11-21T04:14:00.000-08:002010-11-21T04:14:14.057-08:00What Happens to those missing Socks?<iframe frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4gNJMT9mmT0?fs=1" width="425"></iframe>Virtual Factoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14414018483919645063noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058601307411481198.post-38194094184088302882010-11-19T05:06:00.000-08:002010-11-19T05:11:07.749-08:00Bird Watching<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJMImSqjiEjoMWa9FfpNQ5rk6WsPVdsNtmNwGjictgKjFVvu040CkqJVD0bhrI96STjnJuU3M_fLS5VZtJs8j7EaaUvz79zbSDV33w6TwjpKSgKJU96UlKFUQEmLej8Thje7vgcWsg2sM/s1600/minilogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJMImSqjiEjoMWa9FfpNQ5rk6WsPVdsNtmNwGjictgKjFVvu040CkqJVD0bhrI96STjnJuU3M_fLS5VZtJs8j7EaaUvz79zbSDV33w6TwjpKSgKJU96UlKFUQEmLej8Thje7vgcWsg2sM/s1600/minilogo.jpg" /></a></div>London's first women only film festival, <a href="http://www.underwirefestival.com/programme.html">Underwire</a> opened last night at the Kobi Nazrul centre off Brick Lane. There was a good mix of film-makers, culture vultures and a general (mixed) viewing audience, there to watch the contributions to the representation and screen writing categories. <a href="http://www.katbanyard.org/">Kat Banyard</a>, director of <a href="http://twitter.com/UK_Feminista">UK Feminista</a> and the epitome of cool edge of modern feminism gave an inspiring talk about how scheduled festivals such as this one could make an impact on the film and creative industries and will eventually foster inclusion.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8buRL8Y41nIRMGy45TEotqWRFzCqdWkjodw0GLywVeOK3NoLUtOB3HD7ERXfLp-b7b2g_3h7NVGONHbXD3_yCicBtXwUHopde4BBK0CHi3t5xYRWgTciq1kXxcvN8S98uBSVDM72kBM/s1600/154231_10150091215556007_587246006_7617133_5027446_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8buRL8Y41nIRMGy45TEotqWRFzCqdWkjodw0GLywVeOK3NoLUtOB3HD7ERXfLp-b7b2g_3h7NVGONHbXD3_yCicBtXwUHopde4BBK0CHi3t5xYRWgTciq1kXxcvN8S98uBSVDM72kBM/s320/154231_10150091215556007_587246006_7617133_5027446_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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The films are all written / directed / produced by women so the feminine gaze, sadly lacking in today's Hollywood bonk-busting boring releases, is evident. It's the tiny details, such as the gentle tapping of a manicured fingernail on the side of a steering wheel to the rhythm of a rock-song on the car stereo as she drives to her disabled war veteran's house in <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1687888/"><i>Love at the End of the World</i></a><i> </i>, to the sensual, repeated shots of lip-sticked lips, soft skin, beautiful landscapes, there's a softer visual touch through which the feminine conciousness shines. <br />
<br />
In <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1288384/">Mother Mine</a> </i>by Susan Everett, a grieving adopted woman sends a video-tape to the woman who gave her away 28 years earlier. But, in art, as in life, it isn't all quite as simple as it appears.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvK_6BdWnucct9orQJgjq59xMMuStMG0LSWwKmoGPdCZc6Bj7vhxn7Zwo0vDRfmW5hpy_G3gCv3ew3P8hNl6VDPYSkGlFnNavLCkTG8g03G3dnyG4XrGiLasLKU7VDNKEpQeqkq-xcRA/s1600/77147_10150091215241007_587246006_7617115_7125833_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvK_6BdWnucct9orQJgjq59xMMuStMG0LSWwKmoGPdCZc6Bj7vhxn7Zwo0vDRfmW5hpy_G3gCv3ew3P8hNl6VDPYSkGlFnNavLCkTG8g03G3dnyG4XrGiLasLKU7VDNKEpQeqkq-xcRA/s320/77147_10150091215241007_587246006_7617115_7125833_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kat Banyard</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://kathryn%20bigelow/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Kathryn Bigelow</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">achieved such acclaim for her film about <a href="http://thehurtlocker-movie.com/">war</a>, outshining the "natural" for the year's Oscar</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> for best director </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">, her own husband and Hollywood royalty, James Cameron with his film about little blue people, she made people sit up and notice that a woman can make a "man's film." Women need to be recognised for being able to produce mainstream films, attractive and marketable to both genders, regardless of the film industry's inherent stereotypical bias towards male and furthering their achievements. <a href="http://jezebel.com/391217/hatred-of-hollywood-women-reveals-an-underlying-misogyny">Hollywood </a>remains resolutely the last bastion of "men only" networked connections. Underwire's dedicated founders Gabriella Apicella and Gemma Mitchell certainly pave the way towards that, in providing a platform to female film-makers at the beginning of their careers. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">So tonight, p<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">roducer of various films festivals Carla McKinnon, and award-winning filmmakers <a href="http://www.destinyekaragha.com/">Destiny Ekaragha </a>and Lindy Heyman are in conversation with <a href="http://www.wftv.org.uk/wftv/">Women in Film and Television UK</a> TONIGHT at the UnderWire Festival - 6pm at Amnesty International. Tickets £5 from the UnderWire website or on the door (exact cash only)</span></span><br />
<br />
Underwire continues till Sunday November 21st 2010. The programme is <a href="http://www.underwirefestival.com/programme.html">here</a><br />
For tickets click <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1440217775"> </a><strong style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/directory?q=under+wire+festival&lat=51.5001524&lng=-0.1262362&x=TG9uZG9uLS0tLUdyZWF0ZXIgTG9uZG9uLS1Vbml0ZWQgS2luZ2RvbS0tR0I=&loc=London&s=date"> here</a> </strong>Virtual Factoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14414018483919645063noreply@blogger.com0