Pressing Buttons

Button theme today. Started with a blank calendar thinking of how busy people are. Lists, ticked boxes and then at the end of the week a button. All cleared, button and "press here to teleport to the weekend." Other versions....Press this button to eject the current government. Turn knob and import code to teleport to weekend. If you don't like weekends, adjust dial accordingly. Veronique is going to Paris in a few days' time for her sister's funeral, the one who smoked too much. She would like to take a government tile there to place somewhere near her sister's home. So it is applicable in many cases and changes meaning and emphasis according to where it is placed. My mother wants one. She is sick of Obama. An Obama blamer. Yeah buttons. some looking like the interior of a cockpit and some looking like oven knobs. Rob likes the Rob tile. Good. A roast chicken with Veronique today. Ben not well in bed at seven voluntarily. One week to get better. 

Winter surrounded by Lego

I've felt under the weather for the past week. The term grinding to a halt. Some things completed and some not. Last week, some guests from Paris. This week, Hal passing through from Barcelona to Portland. I took on too much since September, but next year, will keep things manageable and stick to painting more and doing other things less. Roy is ready to go riding and installing with me. I look forward to it and to showing Julian the works I've made this past week. It is a nice story to be found like that. It's encouraging. Ben's Christmas play is next week. He's not even a tree. But he is singing some songs. And he did have the honour of having an entire play written about him last term. Ben, the superhero who had lost his powers. Ha ha. His purple Lego bus has come apart. I want him to put it back together before he forgets how it goes. He is surrounded by Lego. I am still fiddling with the temperature of the kiln and hoping to find the right formula. On the phone with John in Chicago today. Looking forward to seeing them soon. 

Recent Thoughts

It is all feeding into itself. Things are becoming more defined as I go in several different directions having three esl students, two editing-proofreading jobs-one on design theory and consumerism....the other on population dynamics....two full days of the ed class that is a dull formality involving collecting and binding together numerous xeroxes and handouts....bike class, jewelry class, ceramics class, then the actual real live painting of ceramics for commercial sale. and then looking after the babby who is no longer a babby. He's seven. Making sure he doesn't overbid on things on ebay. And now, even Saturday is full up with the few hours working at Calthorpe with the 8 to 14 year old boys. and then a student at four pm for two hours. Things will chill out and thin out a bit after December. And for Ben's school, the principal said again in an unprompted enthusiastic tone, that yes, he'd be interested in my teaching something there...that we will discuss and I am best making a printed out plan of my intentions....artwise and I think now...most usefully...an esl class for the students who need it...in small group format. five or six maximum. that could be the niche for me really. no massive pgce certificate programme...just an inhouse esl teacher for the primary school level. I bet there's a need for that. Having the time pressure with the full schedule, I know what I like the best...I know this because I am unaware of the time when I am painting chinaware. I just want there to be more time. That is the key. That is what to look for. and also today reading through Michael's design articles...I could have stayed there all day. It was really enjoyable. that is the key. Stick to what you enjoy. And turn the bloody switch on the kiln and fire up those tiles. the gallery is interested. don't let them slip by. that's what I do. I get some interest and it is enough. I don't pursue it further. not lately. and look at this ....crap way to portray myself in cyber space...not exactly a marketeer am I? It's true. That was the bright flash I had today...that I would create a decent dyber prescence next year. Most obvious thing in the book...get a damn website. 

Stages of child development

Assignment 005

0-3 Months

Newborn babies do not understand what is happening to them. How does this impact on their development? They can easily feel overwhelmed. It is best not to overload newborns with too much activity.
They do not know that they are people.
They are basically happy when they are fed and they cry when they are hungry or in need of a cuddle.
Newborn babies can feel but not think, so they will pick up on the carer's feelings.
The human voice is important to them even though they do not know what you are saying.
Physically, the digestive system is still forming. Babies are only digesting milk or formula.
At this stage, sleep patterns vary greatly. Sucking and grasping are their main reflexes.
They are attracted to bright light, primary colours, patterns, dots and stripes.
Can lift head momentarily whiule on the tummy. Can't roll over or sit up.

Venice Video

Scenes from collage sketchbooks...click on the title above to see the video.

www.vimeo.com/28712318

Lately fingers in different pies, making jewelry, dabbling in an education course, making tiles in stoneware and terracotta, learning how to fix my bike and hiking on the weekends. 

Snoring

Art video is coming together slowly but surely. The curator has not been in touch. Blurry dimensions as to when and how this is happening. Roy is good fun and has lots of stories. The biggest tv and the best sound system I've ever seen. I am technology poor. He used to be a limo bike rider for Virgin. This last visit, I brought Ben and he was in playstation heaven plus the cats who are part wild cat and eat microwaved steak for breakfast. I will not buy a playstation for Ben as I fear I would never see my child again except to take him to McDonalds. Kentish Town is good too. It's a relief to find a meal in a cafe for a fiver instead of the overpriced milky coffees of Holborn. It's been a slow and easy summer with no big trips. Camping is good and bad. I like being outdoors. But it's hard on the back. Inflatable air beds would be kinder, but not easy to pack. It has put me off the idea of trekking in the Sierra Nevadas in October. Glad I did all my travelling when I was younger. Ben has enjoyed the local playscheme nearly every day and I have read a few more Harlan Coben novels and got a bit of art done. Life is mundane but stable. I used to move on when things got stale, but now, this is the test. To live in one place. And the change only has to come from within. Roy thinks I'm recovering well from this breakdown. Maybe I'm impatient. Now, I'm invited to be a show about sex, but there is no sexy at the moment. 

Soup, drill, saddle

A lovely potato soup with garlic, thyme, Greek basil, paprika, turmeric, and carrots, butter and milk. Wish I was sharing it with someone. I made it for the boys, but I bet they prefer pizza. A saddle purchased today for the painted bike. It's a Brooks B17 for the ladies, so it will be comfortable and outlast me. I started a letter to Ilya. Haven't seen him in years. He's in San Francisco at Ideo. Ben was just a baby the last time I saw him. Roy is coming over tomorrow. All set for the shoot. This is exciting to look through the books again and see them with new eyes. A ride up to Camden Town today and a new cordless drill purchased to put up the curtain rod and caulk...heavy duty caulk, not just any caulk. Every house needs a drill. Next will be blue paint to redo the hallway and paint over the pencil and marker Ben made years ago. Kevin is taking Ben and I to the Cars movie next weekend. I'd like to pop down to the seaside at some point. I've not been out of the city since April. Steve has made a list of technical questions about making the video. Americk and Arthur are sleeping over. It will be three in a bed. No need to start cleaning until they leave. They have been shooting birds with water pistols and playing outside on the bikes. I overheard Ben saying he was going to marry somebody. He is very future oriented.