Southbank Bristol Arts

Remember Axis? It was intended to be a universal directory of artists as well as supplying its artist members with opportunities sent in by visitors. It has un-universalised itself by making half its artists invisible. Read more at: http://www.hanleyexpress.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/all-about-axis.html

This is a book I've awaited eagerly for most of my life without really being aware of it. This is a short review, but you can see the whole thing in my blog, http://hanleyexpress.blogspot.com

THE LAST BOHEMIANS
The Two Roberts-
Colquhoun and MacBryde

Roger Bristow

The two largely forgotten giants of Scottish art, known to pre-‘cutting-edge’ art students, particularly in Glasgow, and a few art lovers and collectors, as The Two Roberts, have left a substantial influence, regardless.
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Art Fairs have always been a serious risk for the participants, and no matter how hard they try to keep the wall prices down, from the public's point of view everything on offer seems terribly expensive, even at the 'affordable' fairs. This is because the overheads are gigantic: hiring the venue, raising and striking the stalls, paying the staff and advertising, no matter what the style of show may be.

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Life can be seen as a string of accidents, and they can lead you where you didn't expect - the trick is to adapt. Tonight as I was about to escape from my responsibilities to hide-out at the movies, I trimmed my scrappy beard while wearing glasses, severely impairing my sense of distance. The result: a deep cut right through my ear-lobe, necessitating a stay indoors with bandage. Final count: a new painting, strong on the verve, that would never have otherwise have existed. This kind of daft occurance may have happened to the perpetually drunken Dutchman, too.

If you don't read The Jackdaw, it's time you caught up - the antidote to artbollocks and always a stimulating read. This letter may be in the next issue...

As the writer of the letter referred to by Don Kennewick (Correcting Correctness, no.76 March) I'd like to say first: I agree with him that so-called political correctness is one of the more egregious American imports; the phrase and the attitude both. It's a safe bet that you will find someone who, having taken PC on board, will also subscribe to the condemnation of making 'value judgements' at art exhibitions.
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Out there in the ether there is my last blog entry. It was a monumental piece of ephemera, and its loss should serve as a warning to us all. Don't get smart!