look at book

WEEK um ... 7?

2009-09-18T09:03:00.000-07:00

About 8 weeks ago I bought a blank sketchbook, and made a piece of art over the first two pages, a piece of art that attempted to comment, in some way, on the last piece of art Duke made in our book project five years ago. Then I put it in an envelope and sent it away. It felt a bit strange to be doing it again, but nowhere near as strange as having it arrive back yesterday with six pieces of art in it.
We really have begun now. Seems like it took Mac only one week to make the back look just like the old book!

Done and dusted

2009-09-16T03:22:00.000-07:00

This time I had a nice smooth pick up from FedEx.

Book is now on its way across the water to Oliver in NYC and I'll be following next week.

Here's a small section of my spread.

WEEK 6

2009-09-13T01:30:00.000-07:00

So now that we have decided that its not a blog, it's back to the task at hand.

I received book on Friday and I have been locked in my studio working away on Week 6 all weekend. This is when it starts to get exciting, as there have been 3 spreads completed since I last looked at book. It's also interesting to see Duke's response to my first piece. This second spread is proving trickier than the first.

2009-09-03T13:09:00.000-07:00

Ok, I'm done with my book tour and back to my laptop.
So, lets not call it a blog then.
I agree with much of your rant against blogs Mac, although not entirely. Blogs are a little like New York City theatre, home to the best and the worst in the world. Of course there are some awful, awful blogs out there, but there are also some great ones. It's a new and really interesting way of communicating information, and I think a lot depends on the information being communicated. But this isn't just about blogs.
The reason I have been an advocate of creating a blog for this version of book is because I believe that, like me, many people are fascinated by process and like a nosy into where and how people work. I think these are very relevant things to record, so there I couldn't agree with you more. Given their current relevance I figured a blog would be an easy and publicly accessible way of doing this. It depends on how publicly we want to convey the inner workings of the project. I personally want as many people to see the project as possible, but you are right about knowing that people are watching might change the way we do it. I guess we'll find out. Calling it a blog doesn't bother me. We had a pretty good book website last time round, and we never felt like calling it a moving magazine instead of a website. But then again, we were selling copies of book last time round, so I suppose it was a little more like a commercial enterprise then. Alright mate, we can continue giving each other shit next week when I get back to NYC. And... um... speaking of book, has anyone seen it? it was supposed to arrive in Belfast yesterday morning.

2009-08-27T11:25:00.000-07:00

I've been stagnant for a while, so getting back into book was a necessary shock to the system. And a mess.

I spent a lot of nights in the studio after Frieda went down (as is evident in the second picture). I made a big wreck of the thing, cleaned it up, ruined it again, ripped parts out and loved the whole process.

I've a dearth of patience these days; I divide all I have between a two-year old and crap economy (as Oliver can testify to). Even though it was rough going on this one, and the end result is manic to say the least, I was completely invigorated by making this spread. Exhausted, out of time, and happy to be doing book.

OK, now I would like to talk about blogs. I hate them. I think they provide a platform for self important ramblings. What's worse is when this diarrhea of the editorial is knighted 'journalism' because it exists on a third party platform. I think blogs are evidence of our mile-wide but inch-deep attention spans. In short, I am a grumpy old man about the whole thing.

Now, concerning to this project, I am opposed to a 'blog'. Blogging about this project places book in a commercial realm that robs it of it's integrity. I know that sounds like bland and typical anti- talk, a sort of "fuck advertising, this is art, man" sentiment, but I assure you, I am not presenting an argument that sophomoric; nor do I have a problem with advertising. It's just that book isn't a commercial venture. I am not saying it is better than a commercial venture, just that it isn't one. Therefor it is measured by a different system, though the two (art and commerce) are very often pitted against each other in an almost always misguided debate . And if we shape it in that light, I think it will effect the project, and I think we won't get out of it what we are hoping to achieve.

Let me say this:

I do not want to emulate book 1.

I do not want to re-make an experience.

I DO want to lose myself in our conversation through this project.

Simply stated, I think it goes like this: If we plan on showing this thing to the world, we won't make something worth showing. If we don't worry about exhibiting this work, and make it for truly selfish reasons, we may end up having something worth sharing.

Now, having presented a diarrhetic editorial of my own, I think we should keep blogging about book. What? That's because I think there is value in recording the process, regardless of where this project goes, and as long as we don't contaminate the process by discussing content. Can we just not call it a blog please?

Here is a picture of book and some beer. American beer (owned by a Belgium company).

Book has left the building

2009-08-11T04:28:00.000-07:00

Mr FedEx has finally arrived and picked up Book. Next stop Brooklyn.

No pickup today

2009-08-10T09:10:00.000-07:00

Sorry Duke. Just spoke to FedEx International and they have no record of a pickup for today, even though its on our account. It has been re-booked in and will be getting collected tomorrow.

Guess you are going to lose a day, same as myself.

WEEK 2

2009-08-10T03:40:00.000-07:00

I have finished my first spread in Book and I really enjoyed working on it again. Book is now packed and ready for Mr. FedEx to pick up. It will start making its way to Duke's studio in Brooklyn today. Duke, here is a little peek for you.

Book has arrived

2009-08-06T11:42:00.000-07:00

Book is in Belfast safe and sound. There was a little delay in Indianapolis but it has arrived and we are all very excited. Time to begin.

WEEK 1

2009-08-05T10:54:00.001-07:00

Week 1 in my studio.
Rory, here is a wee sneak preview for you to mull over tonight. Figure that's only fair.

Still No Book!

2009-08-05T08:40:00.000-07:00

Just sitting and looking out the window waiting for Book. If it isn't here in the next hour then I'll miss my first night at it. Shame. I was really looking forward to seeing what Oliver had created and getting stuck in.

1 down, 35 to go

2009-08-04T11:46:00.000-07:00

Oliver has completed the first spread in Book, and it is now making its way to Rory.

There's no going back now!