Always Outsiders: Map-less Social Practice Art in the Ancient Landscape of a Global Geopark (ABSTRACT)

Smelt.  Clart.  Pitch.  Clay.  Pit.  Hit.  Bray.  Hob.  Hoy.  Words overheard on map-less meanders over still-chartered grouse moors.  Stories told and retold by blazing public house firesides.  Cautionary tales.

This is the abstract for my forthcoming paper presentation at the Royal Geographical Society 2016 International Conference in London on 2nd September.  The session is explores "The Nexus of Art and Geography: practice as research", is part of the Participatory Geographies Research Group activities and is convened by Cara Courage (University of Brighton, UK) and Anita McKeown (Independent Researcher).

The Right and Freedom to a Home: My introduction to Theresa Easton’s new artist book

Everyone has the right and freedom to a home, don’t they?  And yet, so many people are homeless in the UK, in Europe, across the entire planet; displaced by war, oppression, climate change and the imperialistic march of global capitalism.  The United Nations are concerned: deeply concerned.

heresa Easton's superb new book explores housing crises and homelessness.  She kindly asked me to write the introduction.  Here's the draft published with the author's permission.

I’ve moved to a new blog page…

HELLO, I'VE MOVED MY BLOG TO SQUARESPACE. CLICK HERE FOR NEW BLOG PAGES

PARTICIPATION ON TRIAL: STATE-SANCTIONED ART – A DEMOCRATIC SWINDLE

This was my prosecution witness statement from the excellent Participation on Trial event organised by the lovely Chrissie Tiller and Goldsmiths from May 2015.

I think it remains as relevant to me as it did more than a year ago but I would say that I was a little over-generous in my support for socially engaged art - a term now so completely appropriated by the Institution of Art that it effectively is THE SAME AS participatory art.  Perhaps my views have hardened?  Anyway, I now have claimed socially engaged art is DEAD - twice!  Undoubtedly, I will do so again...

The (eventual) verdict was “GUILTY – BUT WHO CARES?”  Do you care?

The existential crisis of Owen Jones (or Do as the MSM say!)

Image (c) Mark McGowan @chunkymark http://theartisttaxidriver.blogspot.gr/?m=0 Owen Jones's blog, Questions all Jeremy Corbyn supporters need to answer, is rather odd. It's as if he's having (or had) an existential crisis. Labour's low poll ratings have worried him. I find his blog a little bit patronising.  Here's why... Essentially he says (to quote a repetitive, but really rather…Read more The existential crisis of Owen Jones (or Do as the MSM say!)