Last day of the residency...

The last 5 weeks have been the happiest in my life. I can not think of another time where I have felt so free and alive. I think it's not really venice as such, it been a mixture of things. The chance to make new work in a magical location, the wonderful people I have met here, the chance to show 3 of my favourite people another world and way of living. The three charming bulgarian women whom have embraced me and made me free welcome and special. The emily harvey foundation whom is a diamond in a world full of ugly rocks. The people here are beyond special, Alan and his family who have enriched my life no end. Henry and Bertie, a couple beyond comparison, full of grace, humour and charisma. Davidson a person I wish I had spent more time with, as he came across as a special and unique individual. Very witty and full of life in the true sense. Thank you Silvia (In the office) for being so understanding and helping me find my feet when I arrived. Cheers to to the wonderful Domo for being my first guide and for working on our charming little project. Thank you, Steve, Sarah and Mat for making this trip funnier than a million stand up comedians all cracking jokes at the same time. Thank you arts council for believing in me. I just hope the work I have made here is equal to your generosity and confidence in what I do. I will finish with a stream of words I just scribbled in free verse in the naranzia, the best bar in venice. 'Venice is the most ? place (? = no words to describe) I have ever been. It has awoken an unknown passion. This passion has been growing inside me. Everything is different now. Everything. Words can't describe. Words can't describe. Friends, upsurp my expectations. Seeing things for the first time. I am happier than I have ever been and I know now that it will only get better. Better and better. People will ask - I will give. People will ask - I will give. People will ask - I will travel to the moon, which will keep me tuned. Tuned to the gods, tuned to the fish, the goat and the sun.' Thank you Venice. You are the woman I have been searching for my whole life. Finally thanks to Emily for opening my heart again and giving me an opportunity which has filled my soul with tears of joy.

Wednesday...Thursday...Friday...Magic days with tiny obstructive hang ups...

I spent the last 3 days doing some great things with the distinguished gentleman, Lord Matthew Cowan. We met up with with our new new friends, Silvia, Galia and Ivana in the Ghetto. We had a relaxing time talking about the usual things. Such as Bulgarian Folk traditions, how if you don't look into someones eyes when making a toast you have six years bad sex, and Wasks. (a cross between a wig and a mask). The next day we meet Ivana and go to the mythical island of Eurasmus, where we lose a dog and the lord sits on the mythical white sofa. Later he picks the dead leaves off rose shaped salad leaves and I smoke a cigarettes by the canal and wonder how I ended up in such a wonderful place. The farmers here are delightful and Ivana is the most special guide two people could ever ask for. The dog turns up and is chased down the garden. On Friday we visit the Pinot collection of art in Venice. It's all about sex and death. My Hard drive on my computer breaks. I wonder if this is all connected in some way. I am at first quite upset and then I realise I still have all my photographs here saved somewhere else. I take a deep breath and eat a meal cooked by the lord with the vegetables we brought on the Island yesterday. The lord talks about the past and I realise my time here is now limited.

Sunday, Monday and tuesday...

I spent some wonderful time with my sister on this beautiful island, went to Burano, which is one of the most perfect places on this earth I think...All the houses are bright colours..wonderful...really wonderful.... We had fun and laughed till our sides hurt. Mat Cowan arrived on Sunday night and my sister left on Monday...Been looking around and larking about. I got given Mojo. Hes been hidden for a long time. Now I need to find a key to unlock something. If fact I've been finding keys all over the place lately. Keys for love, Keys for life, Keys which open up the whole world and magic doors, which have been jammed shut for too long. I want to find some crucial keys in the next few years and I am crossing my fingers in hope, that these keys will shimmer at the bottom of the river. I'm prepared to dive in.

The dancers...work in progress...

Friday...My little sister arrives...

I tidied up my flat to get ready for my sisters arrival and I watched two episodes of The sopranos, which is my new favourtie TV series. I collect Sarah from the airport at 4pm. Me and sarah look around the main street and cross over to Rialto. Our conversations are littered with observations of surprise and nostalgia. We talk to our family using skype on the computer. I feel very happy to show Sarah Venice. We have a similar sense of humour and we laugh about all the differences we observe in the streets. Sarah nearly falls spectacularly off a stool. It's a Laurel and Hardy moment. She likes the spritz they drink here and narrowly misses poking out her eyes on the cocktail sticks that have a olive on the end!

A bridge with a door and three dens...

I spent the last couple of days making some den artworks at the international school and meeting 2 new very special bulgarian friends, called Galia and Silviya. At the school we made three dens, all of these were simply fantastic. It was amazing spending time with these lovely Italian Kids, whom taught me various italian words. I met up with Siviya and Galia yesterday. They came around and I made them food, we spoke about many things and I leant a lot about Bulgaria. In the morning I made another work called 'The Dancers' which I was extremely happy with. Tonight I went to see Silviya's paintings, which are beyond my idle words. She really is an incredible painter and a very beautiful person. On the way home at 1.30am I crossed a bridge which on the other side had only a door, the door was closed. I studied the door. It was possibly the most wonderful door I have ever seen, but it was closed. I imagined what may be behind. I think there were many lyrical chairs, a mysterious male character called, 'mojo' whom is always being chased by foxes, a cupboard full of stylish and very classic clothes and some discarded shoes. The house is very old and the person inside is similar to me, able to go to dark places and stay there a while. They are like me, deep and full of imaginary dreams and able to glimpse at a world in between worlds. She is also kind, like the sea on a calm but foggy morning. She can guess the seasons with minute accuracy. The door itself is locked and the mysterious owl 'mojo' holds the key. I asked 'mojo' the way home, because I had forgotten where I was. I'm sure, more sure than anything in very a long time that this door, unlike the others without bridges, is more beautiful than the spring time, it's colours, whistle a tune which is able to make the autumn time start afresh. The door is so very unusual and I knock uncharacteristically on the wood, which is made from ancient wood and covered in needle scratches. I look through the letter box and a complicated fox smiles back at me, giving me the sign, that it's probably time to make my very own latin den, and that I should never regret this way that I feel. I hear a glass break in the distance and realise that I don't need my keys anymore because this den is a magic den. A lucky 'den'. I wait there and eventually as the bells of a nearby church call out her name, I fall into a pensive sleep.

tired...

I'm feeling really tired today. Saw Steve off today. It's been brilliant spending time with him. We had a funny time, larking about here. We also made a photographic work, which I'm going to call 'The writer'. It's very spooky. I saw Alan and his lovely boys in the afternoon. We some running races, which I lost! In the evening I am exhausted. I tidied up, ready for the cleaner. Thats Ironic I think. Tomorrow, my Den project with the international school and meeting some new friends in the evening. Silviya and Galio. I know I keep saying that I'm happy, but I am. And my sister arrives at the end of the week. I can't wait...

Memoirs of a geordie man in Venice pt2

From Steve my visitor: Day Two in the Big Venice house. 10.30 am, washed the haze of a wine fuelled evening into the early hours the night before with a superb coffee across the street in the company some of the great players in European art world, canny for a sunday.11.15am, Back to the apartment for eggs, then out. 12.00pm explored the Sunday flea markets on the quayside, bursting with trinkets, artwork, jewelry and antiques, no fleas like. 12.40pm, took to the water with a trip around the grand canal of Venice. A very relaxing and invigorating way of seeing this city. 2.00pm, visited the famous cemetery island, this place was immensely beautiful but also very uncomfortable place to be, in fact me and James got a bit freaked out and sat quietly all the way back. 4.00pm, Returned to the centre, stopped of for a slice of pizza (2 Euros) then joined James working colleagues for a cocktail, these people I think are giants in their field and it was a privileged to spend a short time in their excellent company, We even at one point compared the streets of Philadelphia and New York to the back lanes of Tyneside. Bizarre, but whatever you do, don't mention the fish to James!!!! 7.oopm Back to the apartment. Pasta, wine, coffee, chill, done. A great day in excellent company, "Gonna keep me'sel right with the wine the neet though" Tomorrow Hieronymus Bosch, Come on!!!!!!!! Best Wishes and keep a'haad, Steve.

Fixing a broken fish...

Steve and me went to San Michelle, the Cemetery Island. I took a giant panoramic image, which I later deleted because it seems a little inappropriate. If fact I got a little freaked out by the experience, as this is such a huge place. On Italian graves they often have photographs of the deceased, which made it all that much more real. Steve and me were very quiet on the way back to Venice, very touched. Later we met up with the people from the Emily Harvey Foundation: Henry, Davidson, Bertie, Domo, Steve and myself. Everyone was so nice and accommodating. We drunk wine and talked about art and our interests in different places in the world. I'm really enjoying spending time with well travelled people. It was all going swimmingly well until I knocked over a glass fish, which smashed into lots of pieces. Much time was spent finding the pieces. I say sorry about a million times and feel really embarraced. But you know it was great because everyone fixed that fish. It felt symbolic in a way, fixing a fish, which kind of symbolizes emotions to me. I got to thinking that I need to fix some of the elements of my emotional life. Fix some of my recent troubles. It is perfect sharing some of my experience with Steve. He is one of the nicest people I know and it's great to spent time with him. Last night he made me laugh so much my sides hurt. It's been a while since I did that. Starting to realize my time here is limited. I love it here so much.

Memoirs of a Geordie man in Venice pt1

From Steve my visitor: Bonjourno, Y'alreet? Steve here, in Venice. Only been here for 24 hours, yet the experience so far is unbelievable. This is such a beautiful part of the world, with a culture so rich and vibrant. Today we have explored the city soaking up the history and sheer wonderfulness of it all. Every street is like a masterpiece painting; with colorful characters everywhere (Not too dissimilar to Shields Road on a Saturday morning) the architecture is simply breathtaking at every turn. Just had the best calzone ever (2 Euros') followed by a fantastic glass of wine in the city's oldest bar (2 Euros), no pickled eggs like. To be here for such a short time and feel so inspired by everything around. James is a fantastic guide and his company is great as always. He has really embraced the lifestyle and traditions here with a passion, god help the Byker Wall when he returns to England. As a man with the culture of a clarty sack, I have seen and experienced so much in such a short time. I look forward to the next few days. In the words of Dame Cheryl Cole "Its Amazing", Speak again soon

Sunday...Mr Byron day...

Today I met up with my first visitor from the UK. My good friend Steve Byron. It was really nice showing him all the local attractions. To pass on the little I have learnt about the place was special. We have a very good kinship me and Mr Byron. We make up lots of funny jokes about, UK equivalents to place we see in Venice. Steve is one of the most hilarious people I know and we have very funny banter. I tell him it took ages to create the Whole of Venice, ready for his arrival, he says that I have done a good job, but I could have made it a little less busy. We spend the evening drinking spritzers and putting the world to rights.

11th March. Suit you sir...

I spent the morning with Domo making a photograph of us as two historical characters meeting on a bridge. We were so lucky to be able to borrow masks and costumes from two of the best Ateliers in town. The Mask shop La Bottega dei Mascareri is run by Sergio e Massimo Boldrin, who made the masks for Eyes wide Shut. (LINK) The costume shop Atelier Pietro Longhi is run by Franscesco Briggi. (LINK) Both these places were wondrous to look around, Sergio and Frascesco chose masks and costumes for us to use, in keeping with the two characters we were going to be. The Painter Giorgione (me), as a Bacchus, nature being and Aldus Manucio, as a nobleman, but as a complementary character, whom is both pagan and natural, with a leaf face. It was wonderful to work with people whom were very generous in spirit. When we walked around Venice dressed as these characters, it made us laugh. It was very theatrical and anarchic. We used my Gigapan Camera and photographed each other on different sides of a composition. This proved quite difficult, not least because, the machine ran out of battery power. I am really pleased with the final outcome, which has given me a lot to think about, as it's quite different from the artwork I have made up until now.

Wednesday...Batman St Marko...Work in Progress

Tuesday...The cold wind blows...

It was very cold today. Jack frost seems to like this city on the sea. Spent the morning planning. Planning new things, which make me smile. Later I go to the international school to talk about the Den project. Making three Den sculptures with different classes. I got lost on the way to the school. I got on the wrong bus! It's strange being lost in a new place, because one has no idea what is behind the corner. Like life itself I guess. But in a new town, life has new meaning...A different kind of exhilarating lost-ness, which makes me laugh out loud. No one speaks English so I can't ask for directions. Also like life! Luckily I have my mobile and I can call Alan, whom has a knack with directions, and life actually! Spent the evening with: Alan, Nic, Joseph and Daniel. It's nice to be in a real home. We wax lyrical about the strangeness of life, about art and I feel slightly awkward about smoking in their kitchen. There is no other choice because Mr. Jack Frost has followed me from Newcastle. It's nice to feel the weather again. On the way home to my place in Venice, I am filled with new promise, as I shuffle through freezing streets.

8th March...getting my head down...

Did a recky on the places to take a photograph tomorrow. I worked on St Marks Square, Batman, Which is developing well. It's made me laugh, which in my opinion is always a good sign (here's a sneak preview). Saw Henry Martin, who runs the foundation. I got a really good feeling from him. He told me that he liked my lego works. I am looking forward to talking to him again.

Sunday...Route canal work.

I understand where I am now. I know which way the boat goes and the local area quite well. I walked around again this morning and figured out how various areas connect with each other. It's great to have the time to do this. Later, I worked on some of my new giant photographic works. Silvia whom I met with a few days ago, is coming to see them on thursday so I have to get cracking. She might want to interview me, which I am really happy about. It's great to have these little meetings and projects to keep everything flowing. I feel like i'm really getting somewhere with these new works.

Saturday, Hanging in Mestre...

I went to Mestre to meet Alan, Nic and their super dooper kids, whom beat me at table football. I watched a bit of 'chitty chitty bang bang'. I forgot just how brilliant, this film was. I remember being really scared of that child catcher. I spent the afternoon looking at Alan's artwork, which was a real treat. Alan Bowman makes artworks using various fun and interesting processes, partly inspired by Fluxus, but mainly derived from his very own unique perspective. His work includes specific observations at what is often overlooked. Making banal objects and events into beautifully crafted: drawings, sculptures, musical scores, collages and assorted ephemera. He makes art by looking at the world sideways. A drawing made by placing a pizza on some newsprint, a musical score derived from a knitting pattern, a mathematical graph made from a persons name or a series of straight lines drawn when running, after drinking six bottles of wine. Alan takes a situation or thing, mutates it, chews it up with child-like curiosity and spits it out again as art. Alan's work has a boundary-less and boundless abundance, with a reverence of simple everyday human behavior. He changes words using code, he plays art games and he has a well-crafted lyrical understanding of word play. I would have as a guess there probably nothing, which Alan couldn't or hasn't made art out of. Because it's those little things that most people pass by without thinking of, that Alan makes us see again in a new way, to enjoy again. I speak with Alan about his work and about whether he's thought about showing this work as a big solo show. We discuss ideas to do with presentation. In my minds eye I can see how his work would work as a kind of mini retrospective. He really is a hidden gem, waiting to be discovered. Later that night, I'm invited to a party, held by some of Alan and Nic's friends. My first Italian Party. Wow. The people at the party were brilliant. Really friendly and fun. I felt instantly at home with them, I got really quite drunk and also very jealous of Diego's commodore 64, which he paraded in front of me. I was very bow legged on the boat that took me home!

6th March. My friends arrive...

5th March, Back to school...

I went to the International School of Venice and talked to a head teacher Nic Waugh about doing an art project with them. I want to make a series of 'dens' with different year groups, which will result in a series of photographs. I like the concept of den-making as, like the creation of objects out of lego, it's one of the first construction activities we do as children. In this case we are making our first temporary sculptures, using elementary easily found household objects, i.e. Sheets, String, Pegs, Chairs and Tables. Nic was very keen for me to work with them and was happy to write letters for the children, so they can bring their own sheets and other materials into the school. I like Nic very much, she's fun and very open minded. Later in the day I meet up with two local Venetian's Silvia Casini and Nicola Callegaro. We discuss art (Silvia is a photography and film curator) and interesting and unusual places to visit in Venice (Nicola is a marketing manager for the city of Venice). They are a charming couple whom are very helpful and their english is perfect. Silvia expresses an interest in my work. I invite her to my temporary studio. I very much hope she visits as she is seemed like a very dynamic and clued up individual, whom I think would be excellent to work with. I look forward to meeting them again, hopefully some time next week.

Thursday...Officially broken tripod R2d2 day...

I broke my tripod. I brought a new tripod. I placed a toy R2D2 on top of the broken one and was really pleased because it looked really good. He can look out of the window now, no problem. I spent the rest of the day doing some drawing and working on the computer. I have decided to make a photo-collage called Batman/St Marko's Sq. It's gonna be a masterpiece! Hopefully going to visit a school tomorrow to talk about making some giant Dens. Boy my life is good.

3rd March. My eyes are wide shut...

I spent the day looking around Venice at various buildings, one which was probably lived in by the artist Giorgione and one which was lived in by Aldus Manutius (LINK)
My new friend Dimosthenis talked about how these two scholar may have met. There is no evidence that they did meet. However, because Manuzio printed books which were highly likely to have influenced our other new friend Giorgione. We surmised where they could have certainly met (especially as they lived very near each other in Venice). We discussed what they may have talked about. Philosophy, Mathematics etc... Dimosthenis suggested that we could make some pretend images of us being these characters. I said that perhaps we could get some masks made to represent them. Yesterday I came across a shop with a Venetian mask maker that made the masks for the Stanley Kubrick film, 'Eyes wide shut'. I suggested we meet this person and ask him if he would like to collaborate with us on this project. Amazingly this said man, Sergio, was very keen to join in. We agreed to meet next tuesday, and he would choose some masks for us and help us find some costumes. We were overjoyed by this. I had my first Venetian cake, 'a cake for a king'. It tasted like shortbread, very un-king-like actually!

Mi chiamo, R2D2

I spent all morning working on a giant panoramic collage, that I have decided to spend the rest of my time here working on. It's a view from the Rialto bridge with superimposed images from my past overlaid. I'm really glad to have an artwork to sink my teeth into now. I will also be doing some collaborations here too. One with Dimosthenis Agrafiotis from Greece and another with Alan Bowman. I met Dimosthenis this afternoon, we ate and talked about some local history and mulled over various ideas. He's going to show me around some interesting places tomorrow. I ate the artichokes they sell here. Never had an artichoke before. Now i know someones been hiding stuff like this from me. Monkey.

1st March...Boy in the ghetto...

I spent the day taking a few very big panoramic pictures using my new toy. The first one was near where i live of a palace with a splendid spiral staircase. I have called the image, The Snail, as the palace is called 'the palace of the snail', I have placed an object within the image, which was made by Rachael Allen, a wonderful artist from Newcastle, so the image is a collaboration. I was very happy with the result. In fact this is the first artwork I have done here which I am truly happy with. TO SEE CLICK ON THIS LINK (on this image, pan in and look for the small object behind the bars) Next I went back to the Ghetto area in venice, and I brought myself a child's dummy to place in the square as a kind of tiny still life. I thought the contrast of a Ghetto with a children's object would be poetic. This place is where Jewish people had to live before Napoleon arrived and released them, to have full assess to the city. I spent some time composing a picture and waiting for people to leave the square. I think I outstayed my welcome because a Policeman came over and said I couldn't take pictures. I was annoyed with myself because I should of been quicker and left before I drew attention to myself. Later on reflection I thought that maybe this subject matter was not suitable for my work, but I was still annoyed to be almost forcibly removed from a public area. I got to thinking about: Images, power and a persons right to be creatively free. I knew that I shouldn't dwell on this because I could probably say what I wanted to say another way, and this would ruin my day. Despite my annoyance, I did enjoy the fact that somehow I was acting like a Graffiti artists snatching images when people weren't looking. It's not gonna happen again, I will be quicker next time! I am glad to be out there composing new artworks...the blood is flowing again, must be all the red wine I'm drinking!..This Cassonova will not be repressed.