Booking cancelled…

Just thought I’d add a note here to mention that tomorrow’s birthday party I had been booked for by a local celebrity, has been postponed indefinitely. In the meantime, I have been pitching to a local cinema house to paint a piece for them – doing the research work and prodding forums for ideas only to be met with a cone of silence in the communications department – the cinema simply stopped replying to my emails. I did send a note to them yesterday asking for an update – after a week’s silence from their end, which was surprising in itself seeing as every other email I sent to them was answered in under fifteen minutes!

Sigh… life goes on. I have been clutching at straws to earn a quick buck to pay for the tour and neither one or the other appear to be in the process of coming into being. Uffah.

The big plan…

And now, dear Reader, I take you away from the officious reportage of my public life and down to the level of intent and motivation. I have been doing the record-spinning gig for the past two years – initially for a bit of a laugh, a bit of fun… and have seen an incredible impression being made upon the people with whom I work. Flashes of inspiration, moments or realization, expectations being blown away… whatever you want to call it – there appears to be some sort of communion with the divine, the creator within, that scarcely is unnoticed by anyone who sees it – participant and spectator alike. There is something amazing, magical, that transpires in the ten minutes or so that I am with someone. They open up a space within themselves and touch something.

I have a growing and devoted following here around town where I live and, following recent dates ( such as the Small World festival), I can see that others too are recognizing the rare genius contained within the work I do – and not a moment too early!

As put so well by an art therapist “What you do in ten minutes takes me three days to do. Oh, btw – I’m stealing your idea”. Oh well, mimicry is the best compliment.

Since October last year I have been working to take the Viz-Usual Spin on the road to share it with the European continent, meh, the whole world, to cut a stencil of each of the localities I visit, to paint limited edition pieces only at those locations and, to promote the creative inspiration I see as a light in the eyes of someone who ‘gets’ the work I am doing. Most importantly of all, I want to promote MY creativity, the work that I do! I’ll bring along a canvas or two, a portfolio and some business cards… here’s hoping my phone will keep ringing long after the tour is done! Winter work as an artist living in England is a blessing!

Let me tell you a little bit about what I’ve organized so far.

I have saved up on records, and now have about 6,000 or so, with more sources available. I have researched locations and laws and have found no real restrictions in those. I have looked on eBay for a suitable van – 3.5t will be necessary at the very least in order to carry people and supplies, and an ex-community bus or crew cab unit will be ideal, with tinted windows please, and then there’s insurance to throw in on top of that, plus fuel, breakdown kit (fuel filters/ fan belts/ spare light globes), plus food…PLan is, to sleep in the van

We will also need some paint supplies. I do have quite a pile of offbeat colours yet require a palette of basic, standard rainbow and girly and boyish colours; ROYGBIV, black, pinks, purples, a couple of fluro’s just for good measure.

From the time I am financed, I think it will take me 2 weeks to get everything ready and together – to pack the van in such a way that I can cut stencils on the run, modify it if necessary, and make any servicing and repairs and to book a ferry.

Wish me luck!

So what do I hope to achieve from all of this activity? A fun holiday? No. I hope to achieve notoriety for what I do, to sustain my family on it’s wave long enough to improve our life situation which, ultimately, would arrive at our finding a rural plot of land and living simply, networking with others to live a simple and low impact life without the confusions of money to dictate whether or not I live or die, eat or starve and all that.

**I have been making a video log of this entire process, from the when we were going thru the eviction and move out, to all the way along. I intend to make a video documentary with a little help from my good friends at Bat On Ball Studios.**

Kickstarter has been a great thing for me to help me to put my ideas together, in a straight line format which every day becomes clearer. Wish me luck!

A busy weekend

This weekend went really well for pre-tour experience! Saturday we were in the middle of a.huge street party where there were many stalls to match. The Kemptown carnival was a bustling booze up with live music and hardly a space to put one’s elbows!

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We pitched in a side street which was nice at first only to find that we were out of the.main traffic flow and that the mouth of out street served a a perfect stage forth local samba band! Whistles and drums beat loudly making communication near impossible… So I went for a walk instead. I met the badge lady who inspired me to make some of my own using my spin painting as a design template – I made 8.
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The day wasn’t brilliant by a long shot yet I did learn that many hands do not brisk trade make when so many other services are on offer, including and especially the dreadful alcohol! Human wreckage was strewn about the street like litter by 6pm and, as we were one of the last to pack up, found ourselves the focal – or should I say vocal – point of their mind-meander. :-/

Sunday came upon me by surprise, despite the fact that I knew for certain that it follows on from Saturday. On Saturday, we were told of an event being held at Stanmer Park. We had no idea what it would be so rolled up anyway. The guard at the gate phones ahead and directed us past an event dedicated to nature where arts and crafts were being exhibited.
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There was a huge marquee housing photographers, jewelry makers, textile artists and character designers, to name but a few.
The day began very quietly in spite of reports pouring in of a hectic event down the road. I enjoyed the sun, chatted and showed off Rameses to a lazy flow of lunchgoers whom were lulled into sleepiness by the weather, the atmosphere, and the sweet melodies of live bands.
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Today has taught me that I need to spend some time educating my attendees of my plans! Whilst it is nice to engage in competitive bicker over the worth of a pound, my knowingness of my own project’s needs does sour the bantering experience for me, somewhat. I suppose I’d best get on to telling you about that one!