in mere moments i am making my way upstairs to start dismantling the logic of this piece of work......
There should now be a large and mishapen, re-made map of the world.... i have stopped listening to Chilean radi0, BBCworldservice is now switched off.... its just me, the laptop glow and the distant sound of "its a small world after all"....
dark times.....
Internaional is big
International is small
international is one
international is many
International is near
international is far!
international is an ideal
internationa is a front
international is people
international is contact
international is sharing
international is presenting
international is problematic
international is life
international is natural
international is scary
international is kind
Saturday, February 27, 2010
wow
well i just spoke to someone in Germany...
he was watching the simpsons..... the true universal language of the simpsons was revealed to us.
He had a hard night last night so was taking it easy today.....
its alright for some
we dont have much time left here now.... my oddesy of interraction with the world is definately slowing down and i need to know more!!!!!!!!!
i have found someone in China.... he´s an ex-soldier and artist... which is great cos my friend Glenn Fitzpatrick is in the same boat.... everyone should buy his book "Arts and Mines" available from amazon and all good retailers
> Connected, feel free to talk now
You: heyYou: where are you?
Stranger: china Stranger: and you ?You: England
Stranger: football is good
You: what time of day is it there? I dont really know much about football.
You: it gives the english a bad name
Stranger: It is the evening
Stranger: Yeah
You: what do you do???
Stranger: I am an ex-soldier
You: wow... i am an ex-alcoholic...
Stranger: And now
You: ... umm.... i guess I´m an artist
You: www.accidentalcollective.co.uk
Stranger: good
You: and what about you?
You: much of a living to be made as an ex-soldier?
Stranger: I also counted an artist bar
You: kindred souls then.
Stranger: Because I had studied fine arts
You: do you still make work?Stranger: yesYou: anything i could see?
Stranger: wait Stranger: My paintings are in the former home teacher
Stranger: sorry
You: sad times. thanks for looking though (he then produces some lovely portraits done in pencil)
You: cool!!!!! who´re those pictures of?
Stranger: He is my friendYou: i could never draw.... even my handwritting is awful
little interventions!
he was watching the simpsons..... the true universal language of the simpsons was revealed to us.
He had a hard night last night so was taking it easy today.....
its alright for some
we dont have much time left here now.... my oddesy of interraction with the world is definately slowing down and i need to know more!!!!!!!!!
i have found someone in China.... he´s an ex-soldier and artist... which is great cos my friend Glenn Fitzpatrick is in the same boat.... everyone should buy his book "Arts and Mines" available from amazon and all good retailers
> Connected, feel free to talk now
You: heyYou: where are you?
Stranger: china Stranger: and you ?You: England
Stranger: football is good
You: what time of day is it there? I dont really know much about football.
You: it gives the english a bad name
Stranger: It is the evening
Stranger: Yeah
You: what do you do???
Stranger: I am an ex-soldier
You: wow... i am an ex-alcoholic...
Stranger: And now
You: ... umm.... i guess I´m an artist
You: www.accidentalcollective.co.uk
Stranger: good
You: and what about you?
You: much of a living to be made as an ex-soldier?
Stranger: I also counted an artist bar
You: kindred souls then.
Stranger: Because I had studied fine arts
You: do you still make work?Stranger: yesYou: anything i could see?
Stranger: wait Stranger: My paintings are in the former home teacher
Stranger: sorry
You: sad times. thanks for looking though (he then produces some lovely portraits done in pencil)
You: cool!!!!! who´re those pictures of?
Stranger: He is my friendYou: i could never draw.... even my handwritting is awful
little interventions!
emergency calls now being connected
carparks have collapsed, emergency services are now able to respond....
near to the epicentre is still eerily quiet.....
what will they find there.
parts of a motorway have collapsed...
though i am listening to quite a jolly Chilean radio station....
when do we allow Chileans the chance to be happy again and not "in mourning" for the quake...? what is a suitable mourning period for a natural disaster.... things have already gone eerily quiet in Haiti... no more regualr updates from there....
near to the epicentre is still eerily quiet.....
what will they find there.
parts of a motorway have collapsed...
though i am listening to quite a jolly Chilean radio station....
when do we allow Chileans the chance to be happy again and not "in mourning" for the quake...? what is a suitable mourning period for a natural disaster.... things have already gone eerily quiet in Haiti... no more regualr updates from there....
Chile update
there are reports of waves over 2m high hitting the coast around chile
death toll now at 82...
Okinawa has also had a quake of 7.0 on the richter scale too.... whats happenig under ground? it makes you remember there are these massive forces grinding up against each other all over the place.... but 2 in the same day????
Two ships carrying aid have been dispatched to Robinson Crusoe Island, part of the Juan Fernandez Archipelago, which has already been hit by huge waves triggered by the earthquake."Sea level readings indicate a tsunami was generated. It may have been destructive along coasts near the earthquake epicentre and could also be a threat to more distant coasts," the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said..... (curtesy Al Jazeera)
I just spoke to Gonzales in San Francisco... its only half 8 there and he had quite a late night... shocking!
The larges t problem faced by the world today is Small dogs, kept in handbags... DOGS ARE NOT ACCESSORIES.... what next? philipino´s in handbags?
His biggest problem is asserting himself in the workplace (where alot of his collegues are older than him). i know this feeling. sometimes you get an awreness of being young and having to hold your own with people who might not offer you the regard you deserve...
He admits to being abit relationship-aphobic....
International is everything thats not here....
another snapshot of the world....
death toll now at 82...
Okinawa has also had a quake of 7.0 on the richter scale too.... whats happenig under ground? it makes you remember there are these massive forces grinding up against each other all over the place.... but 2 in the same day????
Two ships carrying aid have been dispatched to Robinson Crusoe Island, part of the Juan Fernandez Archipelago, which has already been hit by huge waves triggered by the earthquake."Sea level readings indicate a tsunami was generated. It may have been destructive along coasts near the earthquake epicentre and could also be a threat to more distant coasts," the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said..... (curtesy Al Jazeera)
I just spoke to Gonzales in San Francisco... its only half 8 there and he had quite a late night... shocking!
The larges t problem faced by the world today is Small dogs, kept in handbags... DOGS ARE NOT ACCESSORIES.... what next? philipino´s in handbags?
His biggest problem is asserting himself in the workplace (where alot of his collegues are older than him). i know this feeling. sometimes you get an awreness of being young and having to hold your own with people who might not offer you the regard you deserve...
He admits to being abit relationship-aphobic....
International is everything thats not here....
another snapshot of the world....
why did nobody spot it coming
First map picture and Latest map picture!!!!!!!!!!!!!only a few hours divide them but look how big its got!!!!!!!!
This is all happening above me in a large circular room. They are re-shaping the world from old pieces of atlas while i try to reach out to you readers via cyberspace... eek!!!!!!
time keeps slipping
i have been trying to skype someone in Canada but there´s no reply at all....
this makes me sad. thank god for using Chatroulette.... i have found some dutch girls who have questionable music tastes.... but they got me to play 99luftballoons..... happy happy music!
I spoke to Stephen who´s in the USA (nr Chicago)
He has interesting ideas on re-organisation of the world.... the redistribution of money would solve poverty, a simple idea. take from the rich and give to the poor.
The idea is that money as a symbol of exchange has the power to reshape the political and working order of the world...
I always saw money as a barrier to peace... as long as one person has more money than someone else then there will always be something to strive for... someone who is "better"... someone to be jealous of....
He says povery is the worlds biggest problem
He worries about his daughter and drink. (she´s 18)
There´s an engagement with a person, with the world.... i dont feel ... satisfied
Is that me?
what makes this a satisfying thing to do...? how do i get more out of the engagements i am seeking to make... the information i am looking to find
this makes me sad. thank god for using Chatroulette.... i have found some dutch girls who have questionable music tastes.... but they got me to play 99luftballoons..... happy happy music!
I spoke to Stephen who´s in the USA (nr Chicago)
He has interesting ideas on re-organisation of the world.... the redistribution of money would solve poverty, a simple idea. take from the rich and give to the poor.
The idea is that money as a symbol of exchange has the power to reshape the political and working order of the world...
I always saw money as a barrier to peace... as long as one person has more money than someone else then there will always be something to strive for... someone who is "better"... someone to be jealous of....
He says povery is the worlds biggest problem
He worries about his daughter and drink. (she´s 18)
There´s an engagement with a person, with the world.... i dont feel ... satisfied
Is that me?
what makes this a satisfying thing to do...? how do i get more out of the engagements i am seeking to make... the information i am looking to find
i want to talk to someone on the ground... somehow it seems important to me
Easter Island has been pretty much evacuated....
i am trying to fin dsomeone in Chile to talk to...
They have closed airports in Santiago (quite a way from the epicentre)
Apparently even phonelines for the emergency services were have been down
i have been speaking to people out there in the world... their lives are going on regardless....
i am trying to fin dsomeone in Chile to talk to...
They have closed airports in Santiago (quite a way from the epicentre)
Apparently even phonelines for the emergency services were have been down
i have been speaking to people out there in the world... their lives are going on regardless....
i´m really trying
I think i might be demanding too much....
I am after a ceaseless supply of information on things developing over there.... i want to know everything. does knowing help those in trouble?
The 1960 earthquake being our guideline... .look here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxXf-dYtG7Q
I dont know what to expect to happen soon...
should i worry or be grateful?
I am after a ceaseless supply of information on things developing over there.... i want to know everything. does knowing help those in trouble?
The 1960 earthquake being our guideline... .look here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxXf-dYtG7Q
I dont know what to expect to happen soon...
should i worry or be grateful?
ok ok ok
ok ok ok.....
i worry that i´m losing focus here.... i am having real trouble finding more information on Chile as it unfolds....
everyone keeps saying the deathtoll is set to rise........ Everyone says "signs of devastation"
look at this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEgI1reQpM0
no sound
i worry that i´m losing focus here.... i am having real trouble finding more information on Chile as it unfolds....
everyone keeps saying the deathtoll is set to rise........ Everyone says "signs of devastation"
look at this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEgI1reQpM0
no sound
hmmmm
Whats going on?
There´s alot i don’t know about Chile....
I worry that some rush of sympathy, outpouring of grief on my part would be false. I don’t know these people, i don’t know their homes.... i have never heard of Concepcion
Severe shaking
The Chilean National Emergency Office (Onemi) is responsible for coordinating responses from services such as fire fighters, medical teams and civil defence.
The emergency response system is organised at national, regional and local level.
"Chile is a seismic country. So, we must be prepared!" is the message from Onemi.
The office provides advice on how to prepare for earthquakes and other disasters, and how to behave when one strikes.
Scientists say severe shaking is likely to have been experienced along a 300km stretch of coastline, including in important urban centres such as Concepcion, Arauco, Lota, and Constitucion.
So they were prepared but does that make it easier to deal with the devastation?
Is it only so crucial because we still feel a hangover from Haiti barely more than a month ago.... there´s still some fundraising going on but the constant reports and stories of the troubles there have died down alot. Only 78 reported dead.... so far!
I wonder why Chile ended up being the shape it did... This elongated stretch of coastline... seemingly only there to protect Argentina from the Pacific Ocean. Barely heading inland as if reassured by the presence of the sea, clinging to it....
more than 25 aftershocks... and apprently Ther ehas been a clue dropeed by Carly Simon as to who the song "yoú´re so vain" is about.... The Sun has figured it out.....
I´m dissapointed with myself at being distracted by celebrity news...
There´s alot i don’t know about Chile....
I worry that some rush of sympathy, outpouring of grief on my part would be false. I don’t know these people, i don’t know their homes.... i have never heard of Concepcion
Severe shaking
The Chilean National Emergency Office (Onemi) is responsible for coordinating responses from services such as fire fighters, medical teams and civil defence.
The emergency response system is organised at national, regional and local level.
"Chile is a seismic country. So, we must be prepared!" is the message from Onemi.
The office provides advice on how to prepare for earthquakes and other disasters, and how to behave when one strikes.
Scientists say severe shaking is likely to have been experienced along a 300km stretch of coastline, including in important urban centres such as Concepcion, Arauco, Lota, and Constitucion.
So they were prepared but does that make it easier to deal with the devastation?
Is it only so crucial because we still feel a hangover from Haiti barely more than a month ago.... there´s still some fundraising going on but the constant reports and stories of the troubles there have died down alot. Only 78 reported dead.... so far!
I wonder why Chile ended up being the shape it did... This elongated stretch of coastline... seemingly only there to protect Argentina from the Pacific Ocean. Barely heading inland as if reassured by the presence of the sea, clinging to it....
more than 25 aftershocks... and apprently Ther ehas been a clue dropeed by Carly Simon as to who the song "yoú´re so vain" is about.... The Sun has figured it out.....
I´m dissapointed with myself at being distracted by celebrity news...
Chile
what is the largest problem faced by you in your daily life!?
Well i just heard a report about a lady who was too weak to get her door open as the house started to come down around her....
Thats a hard thing to face.... hard day.
She got out.
The people of Concepcion have started making up massive sand bags to help protect the coastline. apparently there are already bigwaves
Well i just heard a report about a lady who was too weak to get her door open as the house started to come down around her....
Thats a hard thing to face.... hard day.
She got out.
The people of Concepcion have started making up massive sand bags to help protect the coastline. apparently there are already bigwaves
Day two begins!
so now we are into the final stage of this piece of work...
eek...
in theory i´m supposed to be working on -2 GMT... but i find myself drawn to this mornings earthquake in Chile...
There are still reports flooding in from this part of the world....
Currently the death toll reported by the BBC is 78....
Sky news reports that Tsunami warnings have been issued in 53 countries...
I´m fascinated by the fact that the sea is such a physical conduit in the transmission of such vast amounts of power and literally throw it up again hundreds if not thousands of miles away... Last time this happened in Chile there were follow up tsunami´s in Japan!
eek...
in theory i´m supposed to be working on -2 GMT... but i find myself drawn to this mornings earthquake in Chile...
There are still reports flooding in from this part of the world....
Currently the death toll reported by the BBC is 78....
Sky news reports that Tsunami warnings have been issued in 53 countries...
I´m fascinated by the fact that the sea is such a physical conduit in the transmission of such vast amounts of power and literally throw it up again hundreds if not thousands of miles away... Last time this happened in Chile there were follow up tsunami´s in Japan!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Antarctica
Antarctica is a continent.....
i dont think we grasp how truly mangled our view of the world is until we think on that....
i mean the arctic is ok and all.... There´s the north pole all of that.... Santa.... but Antarctica is contrary to our whole world view.... everything goes East to West, left to right (or vice versa)... so then sitting at the geographical bottom.... the underside... is this other continent....
an unaccounted for, place.... a place of penguins and polar bears... though, since 1997 it has played host to cash machines... this means that whichever continent you ar eon you will be able to draw out your cash. isnt that a reassuring thought...
i dont think we grasp how truly mangled our view of the world is until we think on that....
i mean the arctic is ok and all.... There´s the north pole all of that.... Santa.... but Antarctica is contrary to our whole world view.... everything goes East to West, left to right (or vice versa)... so then sitting at the geographical bottom.... the underside... is this other continent....
an unaccounted for, place.... a place of penguins and polar bears... though, since 1997 it has played host to cash machines... this means that whichever continent you ar eon you will be able to draw out your cash. isnt that a reassuring thought...
The lost posts......
In this small period of relative hush (plus some coldness and definately some darkness....) i thought i´d post the lost blog from the start of today.......
nicely mixes things up doesnt it
Friday, 26 February 2010
whats in +12 GMT
Whats in +12 GMT??Who knows? i´m abit baffled at the moment and thinking this might be an impossible task. its really hard to look at world clocks... they all presuppose you know the country your looking for...hmm....ideas to iamsmall@accidentalcollective.co.ukI´m using this site called chatroulette which is this savage place where you connect randomly to strangers all over the world. it seems to be mostly blokes... i get cut off alot as i think they´re all hunting girls... ho hum it seems that people all over the world like girls.not a groundbreaking realisation. but a realisation none the lessI just spoke to jesus... yes jesus. it connected to a figure of christ on the cross. i asked where he was... he said "heaveb"... i said ohh... where´s that?... he said "yes...heaveb"... as asked if he meant Heaven... he signed off....wonder what that could mean!
nicely mixes things up doesnt it
Friday, 26 February 2010
whats in +12 GMT
Whats in +12 GMT??Who knows? i´m abit baffled at the moment and thinking this might be an impossible task. its really hard to look at world clocks... they all presuppose you know the country your looking for...hmm....ideas to iamsmall@accidentalcollective.co.ukI´m using this site called chatroulette which is this savage place where you connect randomly to strangers all over the world. it seems to be mostly blokes... i get cut off alot as i think they´re all hunting girls... ho hum it seems that people all over the world like girls.not a groundbreaking realisation. but a realisation none the lessI just spoke to jesus... yes jesus. it connected to a figure of christ on the cross. i asked where he was... he said "heaveb"... i said ohh... where´s that?... he said "yes...heaveb"... as asked if he meant Heaven... he signed off....wonder what that could mean!
I just spoke to Daisy´s mum!!!!!!
I just spoke to Daisy´s mum!!!!!
She´s in Yorkshire! So its the same timezone for me! whoop whoop!!!!! i feel like two partos of my being have been squashed back together.... but not in a Startrek, transporter accident kind of way. more in a two pieces of playdoh pushed back together sort of way! becoming whole again but not without its own squishy gurgling noises.
Miranda (Daisy´s mum) thinks that the media has a large part to play in alot of the worlds problems... is there too much?
We giggled at the irony.
Her problems are more rooted in the world she inhabits... as you would expect...
Young people who need help but giving that help without the endless finances and resources that would make the job easy... I wouldnt even know where to start.
So she´s not a million miles away but she still has different experiences. hmmmmm.... but i was sort of coming to the conclusion that we were all basically the same....
Rafael (Pablo´s dad - See!!! we´re on first name terms) said to me that despite our economic ailings, piss poor weather, whatever.... we´re not poor. not Africa poor, not Indian street child poor...
i really want to speak to someone in Africa now... just to find out....
Just because of a conversation with someone up the road in Leeds...
West Yorkshire
They have culture...
Founded in 1888, Leeds City Art Gallery now houses an impressive collection of art dating back to around 1820. The Gallery's 20th century British collection was hailed by the Times as "probably the best outside London". Spread over three floors the Gallery boasts famous Victorian paintings, a small collection of French Post-Impressionist paintings, contemporary British art and a selection of works on paper drawn from the important collection of prints, watercolours and drawings.
The Gallery also houses the Craft Shop and Design Gallery, one of the most prestigious retail outlets for contemporary craft in the North of England.
They have night life...
Leeds has arguably one of the best clubbing scenes in the country packed into a compact metropolis that defies even the most discriminating clubber not to find something to take their fancy. Whatever floats your musical boat you will find it in one of the dozens of nightclubs or hundreds of bars in the city centre. There is an abundance of mainstream clubs for those whose main objective is unabashed fun! Creation is Leeds’ largest nightclub and offers three areas of music under one roof – Commercial Dance, Cheesy Chart and RnB. The same three genres are executed across 3 floors at Heaven and Hell in the Grand Arcade. Majestyk in City Square is in a similar vein, but the club is one large space as opposed to several rooms. Bondi Beach and Baja Beach Club are both beach themed venues where the music has been imported from a Dairylea factory (pure cheese) and the staff bounce around in bikinis. Check out Bondi to experience the city’s only revolving dance floor although getting off is not always easy after a few alco-pops too many!
and the means to create a night life
Leeds Brewery
Leeds' Independent Brewery
Leeds Brewery was established in 2007. It is the city’s only independent brewery. We combine the latest in brewing technology with time honoured skills and use the finest ingredients – choicest English hops, select British malted barley and our unique Yorkshire yeast – to create truly exceptional beers.
Our beers are full of flavour
Our young and enthusiastic team bring experience from across the industry to brew the finest ales and provide the best possible service. We hope the quality of our ingredients and our devotion to the brewer’s art is evident in the superior flavours, aroma, balance and character of our beers.
and a university....
I´ve been there... though it rained everytime, i think its a very nice place....
Thats the first place i have talked about today that i have actually been to!
She´s in Yorkshire! So its the same timezone for me! whoop whoop!!!!! i feel like two partos of my being have been squashed back together.... but not in a Startrek, transporter accident kind of way. more in a two pieces of playdoh pushed back together sort of way! becoming whole again but not without its own squishy gurgling noises.
Miranda (Daisy´s mum) thinks that the media has a large part to play in alot of the worlds problems... is there too much?
We giggled at the irony.
Her problems are more rooted in the world she inhabits... as you would expect...
Young people who need help but giving that help without the endless finances and resources that would make the job easy... I wouldnt even know where to start.
So she´s not a million miles away but she still has different experiences. hmmmmm.... but i was sort of coming to the conclusion that we were all basically the same....
Rafael (Pablo´s dad - See!!! we´re on first name terms) said to me that despite our economic ailings, piss poor weather, whatever.... we´re not poor. not Africa poor, not Indian street child poor...
i really want to speak to someone in Africa now... just to find out....
Just because of a conversation with someone up the road in Leeds...
West Yorkshire
They have culture...
Founded in 1888, Leeds City Art Gallery now houses an impressive collection of art dating back to around 1820. The Gallery's 20th century British collection was hailed by the Times as "probably the best outside London". Spread over three floors the Gallery boasts famous Victorian paintings, a small collection of French Post-Impressionist paintings, contemporary British art and a selection of works on paper drawn from the important collection of prints, watercolours and drawings.
The Gallery also houses the Craft Shop and Design Gallery, one of the most prestigious retail outlets for contemporary craft in the North of England.
They have night life...
Leeds has arguably one of the best clubbing scenes in the country packed into a compact metropolis that defies even the most discriminating clubber not to find something to take their fancy. Whatever floats your musical boat you will find it in one of the dozens of nightclubs or hundreds of bars in the city centre. There is an abundance of mainstream clubs for those whose main objective is unabashed fun! Creation is Leeds’ largest nightclub and offers three areas of music under one roof – Commercial Dance, Cheesy Chart and RnB. The same three genres are executed across 3 floors at Heaven and Hell in the Grand Arcade. Majestyk in City Square is in a similar vein, but the club is one large space as opposed to several rooms. Bondi Beach and Baja Beach Club are both beach themed venues where the music has been imported from a Dairylea factory (pure cheese) and the staff bounce around in bikinis. Check out Bondi to experience the city’s only revolving dance floor although getting off is not always easy after a few alco-pops too many!
and the means to create a night life
Leeds Brewery
Leeds' Independent Brewery
Leeds Brewery was established in 2007. It is the city’s only independent brewery. We combine the latest in brewing technology with time honoured skills and use the finest ingredients – choicest English hops, select British malted barley and our unique Yorkshire yeast – to create truly exceptional beers.
Our beers are full of flavour
Our young and enthusiastic team bring experience from across the industry to brew the finest ales and provide the best possible service. We hope the quality of our ingredients and our devotion to the brewer’s art is evident in the superior flavours, aroma, balance and character of our beers.
and a university....
I´ve been there... though it rained everytime, i think its a very nice place....
Thats the first place i have talked about today that i have actually been to!
Pablos DAD!!!!!!!!!!
So... I just spoke to Pablo´s Dad...
that was random.
He´s concerned we´ve lost touch with one another and our common spirit....
When i pictured peoples responses to the question "what is the biggest problem facing the world today" i imagined answers like "Pollution" Recycling" "child povery"... Bob Geldoff answers.
Instead.... Common spirit, Pride.... are offered up as answers. much more hollistic, more open to interpretation and all ask us to change ourselves to change the world.....
interresting.
International is ... The ability to talk to people in other languages.
So says Pablo´s Dad... coming from a multi lingual family i can see how that would qualfy a person to be considered international... I hate the fact that Pablo spends five minutes in a country and has worked out the alphabet, phonics and most childrens nursery rhymes and folk tales.
god bless English education!
that was random.
He´s concerned we´ve lost touch with one another and our common spirit....
When i pictured peoples responses to the question "what is the biggest problem facing the world today" i imagined answers like "Pollution" Recycling" "child povery"... Bob Geldoff answers.
Instead.... Common spirit, Pride.... are offered up as answers. much more hollistic, more open to interpretation and all ask us to change ourselves to change the world.....
interresting.
International is ... The ability to talk to people in other languages.
So says Pablo´s Dad... coming from a multi lingual family i can see how that would qualfy a person to be considered international... I hate the fact that Pablo spends five minutes in a country and has worked out the alphabet, phonics and most childrens nursery rhymes and folk tales.
god bless English education!
Heading dangerously towards Europe and i dont feel like i´ve learned an awful lot
i need to talk to someone........... (does it show?... not to me love!... oh well thats alright then!!)
I´m trying to contact Ana in Egypt at the moment. she´s not answering my skype call thing... (i´ve never used it before today!)... which makes me a little bit sad actually... i was really hoping for some more of the interraction bit...
now i dont really know what to do. i looked at Egypt already... i wanted to hear a voice, see a sight maybe would have been good.
which sights would it have been?
so what about all these places i´m trying to discover... what about all the people?
The human angle??
i am due to talk to Sara in Egypt in half n hour os so.... i could do with some relaxed human interraction ... its all abit frought behind me...
When talking about Egypt we have to talk about the Nile... The pharhaos...
what is it like to live in Cairo today...
The 16 million people who live in Cairo, the largest city in the Middle East and Africa, generate over 9,000 tons of garbage every day. At no cost to the government, a group of poor and displaced settlers from Egypt's rural south, the majority of who are Coptic Christians, have developed an economy and community from collecting the city's trash. Known as the Zaballeen, or "garbage collectors", they not only help to maintain the cleanliness of the city, but sort out all recyclable materials to sell back to the manufacturers. Because of their efforts, 80-90% of all the garbage they collect is recycled and re-used. This unique income-generating model is an extraordinary example of environmental sustainability that has been lauded, studied and replicated around the world.
While the estimated 65,000 Zaballeen provide a valuable service to the city and the environment, they are not formally recognized by the government and are largely rejected by Egyptian society because of the stigma associated with their work. Most are illiterate and suffer from health problems due to the piles of waste that occupy their district. In addition, the government has recently secured contracts with foreign multi-national waste disposal companies in an attempt to modernize Egypt. These contracts cost millions of dollars, demand collection fees from the citizens of Cairo, and require only 20% of the waste to be recycled. (from Kidswithcameras.com)
There´s 65,000/16,000,000´s answer... either way those numbers seem unreal. statistics, estimates, percentages, slices of the pie, lists of potential maladys, unique characteristics, laudable efforts... the stories write themselves from that dont they?
The human angle??
i am due to talk to Sara in Egypt in half n hour os so.... i could do with some relaxed human interraction ... its all abit frought behind me...
When talking about Egypt we have to talk about the Nile... The pharhaos...
what is it like to live in Cairo today...
The 16 million people who live in Cairo, the largest city in the Middle East and Africa, generate over 9,000 tons of garbage every day. At no cost to the government, a group of poor and displaced settlers from Egypt's rural south, the majority of who are Coptic Christians, have developed an economy and community from collecting the city's trash. Known as the Zaballeen, or "garbage collectors", they not only help to maintain the cleanliness of the city, but sort out all recyclable materials to sell back to the manufacturers. Because of their efforts, 80-90% of all the garbage they collect is recycled and re-used. This unique income-generating model is an extraordinary example of environmental sustainability that has been lauded, studied and replicated around the world.
While the estimated 65,000 Zaballeen provide a valuable service to the city and the environment, they are not formally recognized by the government and are largely rejected by Egyptian society because of the stigma associated with their work. Most are illiterate and suffer from health problems due to the piles of waste that occupy their district. In addition, the government has recently secured contracts with foreign multi-national waste disposal companies in an attempt to modernize Egypt. These contracts cost millions of dollars, demand collection fees from the citizens of Cairo, and require only 20% of the waste to be recycled. (from Kidswithcameras.com)
There´s 65,000/16,000,000´s answer... either way those numbers seem unreal. statistics, estimates, percentages, slices of the pie, lists of potential maladys, unique characteristics, laudable efforts... the stories write themselves from that dont they?
iran iraq turkey all to come
what´s an islamic republic?
http://www.persianbazaar.com/ Exercise your freedom in shopping!!!!
I found the constitution of the Islamic republic of at http://www.iranonline.com/iran/iran-info/Government/constitution-1.html
i found the Persian Bazaar link at the bottom of the constitution homepage...
http://www.persianbazaar.com/ Exercise your freedom in shopping!!!!
I found the constitution of the Islamic republic of at http://www.iranonline.com/iran/iran-info/Government/constitution-1.html
i found the Persian Bazaar link at the bottom of the constitution homepage...
Afghanistan
If you google Afghanistan you get 16,600,000 hits...
If you google Life in Afghanistan you get 97,600,000 hits...
If you google Kent you get 82,900,000 hits...
If you google Life in Kent you get 97,600,000hits...
I just realised i know someone in Romania so I just facebooked them to see if they could take part... i had to be reminded of international links i have... even though i don’t think of myself as international in any way shape or form... though i do have an american father though i´ve never been there...
Afghanistan makes me think of poppies... which makes me think of rememberance sunday... but its not really like that...
IED´s, roadside bombs, the return trip through Wooten Basset...
Sun, sand, no sea for miles around... Landlocked.
more people were involved in Afghan Opuim production in 2007 than had access to the internet... just goes to show that international trade can blossom with or without cyberspace
i never seem to have enoug time in these half hour slots to get any real sense of the country i´m looking at. There´s abit of Wiki, some tourist and travel sites... then... i panic.
If you google Life in Afghanistan you get 97,600,000 hits...
If you google Kent you get 82,900,000 hits...
If you google Life in Kent you get 97,600,000hits...
I just realised i know someone in Romania so I just facebooked them to see if they could take part... i had to be reminded of international links i have... even though i don’t think of myself as international in any way shape or form... though i do have an american father though i´ve never been there...
Afghanistan makes me think of poppies... which makes me think of rememberance sunday... but its not really like that...
IED´s, roadside bombs, the return trip through Wooten Basset...
Sun, sand, no sea for miles around... Landlocked.
more people were involved in Afghan Opuim production in 2007 than had access to the internet... just goes to show that international trade can blossom with or without cyberspace
i never seem to have enoug time in these half hour slots to get any real sense of the country i´m looking at. There´s abit of Wiki, some tourist and travel sites... then... i panic.
half fourdo you know
Do you know what happens when yo ublog the word international????
you get adverts for motor sales, international deliveries, the rotary club.......
about 7th or 8th is Amnesty international
so i guess we´re moving towards Bangladesh, India that sort of way.... bu talso a big slice of Kahazakstan and Russia......
Bangladeshi bowlers.... thats where my idea of Bangladesh is rooted... in that and the fact that bangladeshi food is sooooooooo delicious and so firey and so complex and so subtle..... cricket and food.... the underpinning of all modern day understandings...
did you know you can get to Bangladesh for as little as 350 pounds!!?
you get adverts for motor sales, international deliveries, the rotary club.......
about 7th or 8th is Amnesty international
so i guess we´re moving towards Bangladesh, India that sort of way.... bu talso a big slice of Kahazakstan and Russia......
Bangladeshi bowlers.... thats where my idea of Bangladesh is rooted... in that and the fact that bangladeshi food is sooooooooo delicious and so firey and so complex and so subtle..... cricket and food.... the underpinning of all modern day understandings...
did you know you can get to Bangladesh for as little as 350 pounds!!?
so wher ein the world are we.....
where are we?
who am i?
These are good existential questions but one s i haveno time to deal with at the present time.
Ther reason is that i am desperately trying to keep up with time and it keeps jogging on... if only i didnt smoke so much.... it would enable me to try a little harder and wouldnt make me so aware of my own mortality by slowly taking my breath away.
I´m a little lost as to the timezone i am on for this half hour
its all getting abit blurry.... i thik its currently +7GMT
where´s that?
its some parts of china.....
here´s everything i know about China.....
It is a very large country,
t is a communist state which has recently opened itself up in certain economic ways whilst still being able to determine its own destiny (in some ways)
In recent years it has gone through a perdiod of rapid industrialisation building cities, roads, links of all descriptions have been made possible with modernised airports, sea ports... we have been buying alot of stuff from them... as we ll as sending them stuff of ours to make and then send back to us.... we even send our recycling for them to recycle and send back to us to reuse... there´s something peculiar in that...
Chinese food is improperly represented in take aways and restaurants all over britain and it can be healthy, light and with little or no deep frying involved.... (take that Century Chinese)
I have seen a documentary about the way in which poor people in china are moved off their land in order that cities and towns can be built and they are then "asked" to take jobs in the new cities and towns and never asked how they feel about that....
I know that China had the olympics not so long ago.... they did very well though the opening ceremony with the tictacs on LSD was a little disconcerting......
Apparently the Chinese also hosted the Paralympic games to a high standard providing fully accessible facilities, drop curbs all over the city and generally were very nice...
I know about the whole thing with a monk sitting in front of a tank and setting fire to himself... and protests turning into Bloodbaths.... i think thats happened alot in the past. not just there but in other places.... so i might be getting them confused.
who am i?
These are good existential questions but one s i haveno time to deal with at the present time.
Ther reason is that i am desperately trying to keep up with time and it keeps jogging on... if only i didnt smoke so much.... it would enable me to try a little harder and wouldnt make me so aware of my own mortality by slowly taking my breath away.
I´m a little lost as to the timezone i am on for this half hour
its all getting abit blurry.... i thik its currently +7GMT
where´s that?
its some parts of china.....
here´s everything i know about China.....
It is a very large country,
t is a communist state which has recently opened itself up in certain economic ways whilst still being able to determine its own destiny (in some ways)
In recent years it has gone through a perdiod of rapid industrialisation building cities, roads, links of all descriptions have been made possible with modernised airports, sea ports... we have been buying alot of stuff from them... as we ll as sending them stuff of ours to make and then send back to us.... we even send our recycling for them to recycle and send back to us to reuse... there´s something peculiar in that...
Chinese food is improperly represented in take aways and restaurants all over britain and it can be healthy, light and with little or no deep frying involved.... (take that Century Chinese)
I have seen a documentary about the way in which poor people in china are moved off their land in order that cities and towns can be built and they are then "asked" to take jobs in the new cities and towns and never asked how they feel about that....
I know that China had the olympics not so long ago.... they did very well though the opening ceremony with the tictacs on LSD was a little disconcerting......
Apparently the Chinese also hosted the Paralympic games to a high standard providing fully accessible facilities, drop curbs all over the city and generally were very nice...
I know about the whole thing with a monk sitting in front of a tank and setting fire to himself... and protests turning into Bloodbaths.... i think thats happened alot in the past. not just there but in other places.... so i might be getting them confused.
Thailand
So what about Thailand?
where is thailand? on the old tourist trail... "go to thailand" "stopped over on my way to/from Australia" i saw the rainforest, ladyboys, porn, drugs..."
I have never been to Thailand.
i dont know what to write.... nobody is talking to me out there... though i found some blogs and learnt some things..... The Thai voice is worth loooking up. i have learnt about financial scandals, shopping mall scandal, crises.............
i am losing the ongoing battle with my printer and camera set up... it wont seem to talk to one another and it makes me sad to think i cant get any photos up for you to see..... so i´ll see what i can do.... grumble!!!!
where is thailand? on the old tourist trail... "go to thailand" "stopped over on my way to/from Australia" i saw the rainforest, ladyboys, porn, drugs..."
I have never been to Thailand.
i dont know what to write.... nobody is talking to me out there... though i found some blogs and learnt some things..... The Thai voice is worth loooking up. i have learnt about financial scandals, shopping mall scandal, crises.............
i am losing the ongoing battle with my printer and camera set up... it wont seem to talk to one another and it makes me sad to think i cant get any photos up for you to see..... so i´ll see what i can do.... grumble!!!!
and on and on
so here we are....
two and a half hours....
in fairness my planning hadnt gone as far as this........ what happens next. who do i talk to where are they?
from this open sided booth in a tiny city in England. i am reaching out.
i cant research the places i dont know. its impossible to find out about a place simply via google... i can look at maps, tourist board websites, blah blah....
Talking to Andrew has given me a real sense of what it is to live in the world. He´s an expat, living in Japan. aware that it can be as unfriendly as any place. but still making the conscious decision to live inthe place that makes him happy,
He also sends Richard his best regards and fears that the odd email and letter they exchange isnt quite as frequent as´they´d both like.... sound familiar to anyone? I have people who only live down the coast i dont see as often as i should, let alone on the other side of the world...
two and a half hours....
in fairness my planning hadnt gone as far as this........ what happens next. who do i talk to where are they?
from this open sided booth in a tiny city in England. i am reaching out.
i cant research the places i dont know. its impossible to find out about a place simply via google... i can look at maps, tourist board websites, blah blah....
Talking to Andrew has given me a real sense of what it is to live in the world. He´s an expat, living in Japan. aware that it can be as unfriendly as any place. but still making the conscious decision to live inthe place that makes him happy,
He also sends Richard his best regards and fears that the odd email and letter they exchange isnt quite as frequent as´they´d both like.... sound familiar to anyone? I have people who only live down the coast i dont see as often as i should, let alone on the other side of the world...
i am small keeps on running
so we´re going on again and again...
I now have to contact Japan...
Andrew was delightful to talk to.... i learnt alot.
including...
That the japanese are just a rowdy on the tube...
They arent as polite as they used to be
International is Macdonalds... he likes the coffee... he wanted to give me a profound answer.
Personally i think that is profound
i may be the only one but i am very confused by all this timezone business... singapore and Japan. different timezones... but seemingly in the wrong order...
i dont really get it
answers to iamsmall@accidentalcollective.co.uk
I now have to contact Japan...
Andrew was delightful to talk to.... i learnt alot.
including...
That the japanese are just a rowdy on the tube...
They arent as polite as they used to be
International is Macdonalds... he likes the coffee... he wanted to give me a profound answer.
Personally i think that is profound
i may be the only one but i am very confused by all this timezone business... singapore and Japan. different timezones... but seemingly in the wrong order...
i dont really get it
answers to iamsmall@accidentalcollective.co.uk
Daisy now has blogs on her home page
daisy now has blogs on her homepage "accidentaldaisy" as she logged me into it right at the start.
i shall try to catch you up in a moment.....
right so here we are. i feel i have been failing in my duty as the kind of engine room, back office function for the running of this piece!!!
i have been trying t ofind ways to contact the world and see whats ou t there because i am small... there is lots to see and do...
i was using a site called "chat roulette" wher e you can be endlessly connected to randome people all over the world. it seems to be mstly men looking for women... so i seem to get cut off alot.
i also am researching timezones as i go.
i am working backwards from +12 GMT. .. every half of an hour, represents one time zone. i am to speak to someone in that timezone if i can and find out some things about that part of the world.
as i have said.... i ahve been failing.
That just changed as i spoke to Debbie in Singapore. I dont know who was more scared. probably me! i didnt know aht to say i was just so excited! first contact, There IS a world out there.
i shall try to catch you up in a moment.....
right so here we are. i feel i have been failing in my duty as the kind of engine room, back office function for the running of this piece!!!
i have been trying t ofind ways to contact the world and see whats ou t there because i am small... there is lots to see and do...
i was using a site called "chat roulette" wher e you can be endlessly connected to randome people all over the world. it seems to be mstly men looking for women... so i seem to get cut off alot.
i also am researching timezones as i go.
i am working backwards from +12 GMT. .. every half of an hour, represents one time zone. i am to speak to someone in that timezone if i can and find out some things about that part of the world.
as i have said.... i ahve been failing.
That just changed as i spoke to Debbie in Singapore. I dont know who was more scared. probably me! i didnt know aht to say i was just so excited! first contact, There IS a world out there.
i am small... it begins.
so... i am small the world is big starts... so far one picture taken... i´ll see if i can put it up... looks like i cant til i work out enough spanish to navigate my way round pablos´s laptop.
Its half hour number one and for me that means i am interrested in getting this all started.
every half hour i shall be trying to contact one person in a given timezone. Today we are working backwards from +12 GMT... so at one thirty i shall be trying to contact somebody in that timezone... its a weird one. i shall also be trying to keep you up dated and find out some interesting things about those places.
i want to reach out... i want to know what it is to live out there... in the world!
Where are you?
what is the biggest problem in the world today?
What is the biggest problem you face in your life today?
answers to iamsmall@accidentalcollective.co.uk
speak real soon!
Its half hour number one and for me that means i am interrested in getting this all started.
every half hour i shall be trying to contact one person in a given timezone. Today we are working backwards from +12 GMT... so at one thirty i shall be trying to contact somebody in that timezone... its a weird one. i shall also be trying to keep you up dated and find out some interesting things about those places.
i want to reach out... i want to know what it is to live out there... in the world!
Where are you?
what is the biggest problem in the world today?
What is the biggest problem you face in your life today?
answers to iamsmall@accidentalcollective.co.uk
speak real soon!
Friday, February 19, 2010
Skype around the globe!
Dear all…
As part of "i am small THE WORLD IS BIG" we are looking for people from all round the world to Skype with us!
We have divided the project’s 14 hours of duration amongst the different time zones, so that every half hour will be dedicated to a different area. What we are looking for is for people in these time zones to be connected for half an hour onto Skype and wait for a call from us.
So, if you know anybody around the world (it might be even yourself) we would really appreciate if you could read and pass around the following information.
Thanks a lot!
Pablo
……………………………………………………………….
Dear Potential Skypee....
We are Accidental Collective, South-East England's most exciting live-art and performance company. 2010 has seen us embark on our most ambitious and wide reaching piece of work to date. And we want you to be involved through Skype!
"i am small, the world is BIG" is a multi faceted, interactive performance-installation which seeks to bridge the gaps in our understanding of ourselves as individuals and the world at large.
Taking in such questions as "what one thing would you change to make the world a better place?" Accidental Collective seek to reach beyond their own experience of what it means to live in the 21st Century and speak to and of the world.
We're setting up a ‘sweatshop’ where voluntary collaborators will be stitching together a reconfigured world map. We'll be inviting people to change the world in their own ways and we'll be attempting to encapsulate the wealth of experiences and ways of life from around the world... a big task
In the first of many incarnations, i am small, the world is BIG is being installed in the Senate building of the University of Kent over the 26th and 27th of February this year. We are using the closest English University to mainland Europe as a launch pad for this exciting, ongoing work.
As part of our ‘out-reach’ into the world we are going to attempt to Skype one person in each of the worlds time zones every half hour for which the project is live. We'd be looking to talk for about 5 minutes about what its like where you are, the climate, politics, news and anything else really... we're just reaching out into the world... reaching out to you... We're working around the world from the International Date Line and would love to speak to people of every age, gender, creed, and any other way of categorizing the myriad of fellow humans around the globe.
What do you reckon?
5 minutes to connect with someone, free... are you?
Please look at the table below. And if you live in one of the states GTM zones and are free at the times stated, we would love you to be involve (times are stated using the 24 hour clock):
SATURDAY 27th February
GMT your time Countries (some examples)
+12 1:30 – 2:00 New Zealand
+11 1:00 – 1:30 Vanuatu, Solomon Islands
+10 00:30 – 1:00 Papua New Guinea, Eastern Australia (Sydney)
+9 00:00 – 00:30 Japan
FRIDAY 26th February
GMT your time Countries (some examples)
+8 23:30 – 00:00 Western Australia (Perth), Philippines, China
+7 23:00 – 23:30 Thailand, Vietnam
+6 22:30 – 23:00 Kazakhstan
+5 22:00 – 22:30 Pakistan
+4 21:30 – 22:00 Oman, United Arab Emirates,
+3 21:00 – 21:30 Madagascar, Tanzania, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Moscow
+2 20:30 – 21:00 South Africa, Sudan, Egypt, Israel, Turkey, Romania, Ukraine
+1 20:00 – 21:30 Namibia, Algeria, Europe
0 19:30 – 20:00 Portugal, Mali, Cape Verde, Ghana
SATURDAY 27th February
GMT your time Countries (some examples)
-3 11:00 – 11:30 am Argentina, Brazil (Sao Paulo),
-4 10:30 – 11:00 am Bolivia, Venezuela
-5 10:00 – 10:30 am Peru, Colombia, New York,
-6 9:30 – 10:00 am Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Mexico
-7 9:00 – 9:30 am USA (Denver) Canada (Edmonton)
-8 8:30 – 9:00 am Los Angeles, San Francisco
-9 8:00 – 8:30 am Alaska
-10 7:30 8:00 am Hawaii
-11 7:00 – 7:30 am Tonga, Samoa
If you might be able to be connected onto Skype between the above mentioned times and you'd like to take part in this innovative and all encompassing art event then send us your details to iamsmall@accidentalcollective.co.uk from there we shall endeavour to create a timetable and will be in touch with you shortly.
We'd love to hear from you!
Accidental Collective.
This project is kindly supported and commissioned by The Gulbenkian Theatre and WorldFest 2010.
----------------------------
Accidental Collective
www.accidentalcollective.co.uk
www.theworldofaccidentalcollective.blogspot.com
As part of "i am small THE WORLD IS BIG" we are looking for people from all round the world to Skype with us!
We have divided the project’s 14 hours of duration amongst the different time zones, so that every half hour will be dedicated to a different area. What we are looking for is for people in these time zones to be connected for half an hour onto Skype and wait for a call from us.
So, if you know anybody around the world (it might be even yourself) we would really appreciate if you could read and pass around the following information.
Thanks a lot!
Pablo
……………………………………………………………….
Dear Potential Skypee....
We are Accidental Collective, South-East England's most exciting live-art and performance company. 2010 has seen us embark on our most ambitious and wide reaching piece of work to date. And we want you to be involved through Skype!
"i am small, the world is BIG" is a multi faceted, interactive performance-installation which seeks to bridge the gaps in our understanding of ourselves as individuals and the world at large.
Taking in such questions as "what one thing would you change to make the world a better place?" Accidental Collective seek to reach beyond their own experience of what it means to live in the 21st Century and speak to and of the world.
We're setting up a ‘sweatshop’ where voluntary collaborators will be stitching together a reconfigured world map. We'll be inviting people to change the world in their own ways and we'll be attempting to encapsulate the wealth of experiences and ways of life from around the world... a big task
In the first of many incarnations, i am small, the world is BIG is being installed in the Senate building of the University of Kent over the 26th and 27th of February this year. We are using the closest English University to mainland Europe as a launch pad for this exciting, ongoing work.
As part of our ‘out-reach’ into the world we are going to attempt to Skype one person in each of the worlds time zones every half hour for which the project is live. We'd be looking to talk for about 5 minutes about what its like where you are, the climate, politics, news and anything else really... we're just reaching out into the world... reaching out to you... We're working around the world from the International Date Line and would love to speak to people of every age, gender, creed, and any other way of categorizing the myriad of fellow humans around the globe.
What do you reckon?
5 minutes to connect with someone, free... are you?
Please look at the table below. And if you live in one of the states GTM zones and are free at the times stated, we would love you to be involve (times are stated using the 24 hour clock):
SATURDAY 27th February
GMT your time Countries (some examples)
+12 1:30 – 2:00 New Zealand
+11 1:00 – 1:30 Vanuatu, Solomon Islands
+10 00:30 – 1:00 Papua New Guinea, Eastern Australia (Sydney)
+9 00:00 – 00:30 Japan
FRIDAY 26th February
GMT your time Countries (some examples)
+8 23:30 – 00:00 Western Australia (Perth), Philippines, China
+7 23:00 – 23:30 Thailand, Vietnam
+6 22:30 – 23:00 Kazakhstan
+5 22:00 – 22:30 Pakistan
+4 21:30 – 22:00 Oman, United Arab Emirates,
+3 21:00 – 21:30 Madagascar, Tanzania, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Moscow
+2 20:30 – 21:00 South Africa, Sudan, Egypt, Israel, Turkey, Romania, Ukraine
+1 20:00 – 21:30 Namibia, Algeria, Europe
0 19:30 – 20:00 Portugal, Mali, Cape Verde, Ghana
SATURDAY 27th February
GMT your time Countries (some examples)
-3 11:00 – 11:30 am Argentina, Brazil (Sao Paulo),
-4 10:30 – 11:00 am Bolivia, Venezuela
-5 10:00 – 10:30 am Peru, Colombia, New York,
-6 9:30 – 10:00 am Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Mexico
-7 9:00 – 9:30 am USA (Denver) Canada (Edmonton)
-8 8:30 – 9:00 am Los Angeles, San Francisco
-9 8:00 – 8:30 am Alaska
-10 7:30 8:00 am Hawaii
-11 7:00 – 7:30 am Tonga, Samoa
If you might be able to be connected onto Skype between the above mentioned times and you'd like to take part in this innovative and all encompassing art event then send us your details to iamsmall@accidentalcollective.co.uk from there we shall endeavour to create a timetable and will be in touch with you shortly.
We'd love to hear from you!
Accidental Collective.
This project is kindly supported and commissioned by The Gulbenkian Theatre and WorldFest 2010.
----------------------------
Accidental Collective
www.accidentalcollective.co.uk
www.theworldofaccidentalcollective.blogspot.com
Monday, February 15, 2010
POSTER
A while back we bought a second hand sewing machine with our meagre budget... Last Saturday Daisy came around my place and used it to put together the poster for i am small THE WORLD IS BIG. I think the final outcome is a thing of beauty. And that comes from me, who up to now had always designed the posters for our projects using rather crude tools. As a n homage to her creative vision and her perseverance, and as a second part or follow up to her first round against a hand-operated sewing machine here is a little video.
And of course, below you can see the final poster. You would think that something relatively minor like a poster or a postcard would not make us loose any sleep. Unfortunately, we have a somewhat perfectionist streak. Which means that we have to carefully consider every little thing, including the relationship between the publicity material and the project. Daisy and I agreed that, even though the poster does not illustrate the project's aesthetic it does reflect its sentiment/ethos rather nicely... Judge for yourself.
Pablo
The internet is for...
As I am sure I have mentioned before I have a slight weakness/addiction for BBC documentaries. Recently I have been hooked on Dr. Aleks Kotroski’s The Virtual Revolution. Trekkie Monster, resident of Avenue Q, would do well in watching the second episode, Enemy of the State?, because he would quickly come to realise that the internet is not just for porn. In said episode Dr. Kotroski investigates how the internet can be used as a tool for individuals to “play David to the state’s Goliath”. The example that most stuck in my mind is that of Austin Heap. This young American living in San Francisco responded to the post-election disturbances in Iran with direct action. As civil unrest worsened, the Iranian government blocked sites such as Facebook and Twitter to restrict its citizens’ ability to upload information, photographs and footage of the repression onto the internet. On the other side of the globe Austin Heap sprang developed Haystack, a piece of encryption software that allowed Iranians to access the blocked sites without being detected. The story seemed to resonate with i am small THE WORLD IS BIG. As tiny individuals we can make a difference, whether big or small, that can reverberate throughout the world. Moreover, the fact that the internet had been used as a tool for empowerment is also relevant to our project. We are currently investigating the possibilities of using Twitter and Skype throughout the piece. Although the use of this technology will be somewhat reduced in February’s presentation, we fully intend to expand this aspect of the project in future versions.
You can see The Virtual Revolution by visiting http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00qsbvv/The_Virtual_Revolution_Enemy_of_the_State/ And for those of you reading this from abroad (unfortunately BBCiplayer is only available in the UK), you can still find out about this fantastic documentary series by visiting http://www.haystacknetwork.com/ Finally, to learn more about Austin Heap and Haystack go to http://blog.austinheap.com/haystack-good-luck-finding-that-needle/
Pablo
SPACE II
This is somewhat overdue, almost two weeks to be precise. As I mentioned in my previous post logistics and practicalities have, at this stage, a tendency to take over. But I have managed to steal a few hours to give you an update on our developments.
On Monday 1st February we had a much awaited visit to the
The two main practical issues we set to resolve were the audience’s route through the building and the layout for the ‘production line’ in the upstairs room. I will attempt to discuss the intricacies of the audience’s route first. i am small THE WORLD IS BIG will take the shape of a journey where the audience will be led though different rooms and areas: through the automated sliding doors and into the foyer, up the stairs to a welcome desk, into the main chamber and out again, down in the lift, into a small waiting area, into the vox-pop ‘booth’, and back out through the foyer into the wider world. The journey follows a logical, almost intuitive route through the building. Interestingly, it describes the outline of a spiral, first inwards towards the centre (where the large world map will be remade), and then outwards towards the world itself. This is strictly speaking not a one-at-a-time experience because for the most part, the audience will pass through communal areas (foyer, stairs, chamber, and waiting room). However, in line with the project’s concerns, we did want to offer some space where the audience members will stand as an individual: alone or in the company of a single performer. We therefore decided that the journey down in the lift will be taken by one person at a time, and designed the vox-pop ‘booth’ as a one-to-one performance exchange. The lift, to us, is a crucial moment. Even though the ride only lasts 10 seconds we hope this time spent alone will serve as a direct stimulus for personal reflection. This emphasis on the individual is also reflected in the way in which people will be led through the building. For Schengen Smile we used instructive posters and other similar devices that very clearly shepherded the audience: you must go here, you must wait here, you most not enter here, you must proceed here… For i am small THE WORLD IS BIG we wanted to use a less authoritative attitude, as we did not feel this would suit the project’s ethos and sentiment. We therefore have to strike a delicate balance between letting people know where to go and what route to follow, and maintaining a friendly and warm tone.
The layout of the production line, on the other hand, is set and secured. One the one hand is is always easier to work on the layout of one particular room (in this case the upstairs Senate chamber), rather than a whole route through a building. On the other hand, this is, at the end of the day, the project’s main thrust so it is not surprising that we were able to achieve a great level of clarity so quickly. When we first settled on the idea of setting up a ‘production line’ we instantly decided that the layout should be circular rather than in rows. Our aim was to quote, reference, or allude to industrial sweatshops rather than actually recreating one. Due to the project’s concerns the circle presented itself as the best and most logical option. Coming together, community, making a joint effort. Circle, circle, circle. On a more practical level, this option was the best one to fir the octagonal chamber where the ‘production line’ will be placed. But one question remained, how would be the circle organised? Since this ‘production line’ is made up of several stages and there are several workstations we would have to find logic to its layout. At the same time we were interested in the possibility of also quoting, referencing, and alluding to international conferences/summits. How would this be done? The answer came with a picture.
The above photograph was taken during the G-20 summit in
- an outer circle of independent tables (for the cutting, the shredding, the sewing machines, and a workstation for the audience to directly contribute towards the map-making)
- an inner circle of chairs where collaborators will stitch their personal fragments by hand
- a central area where other collaborators will stitch together these disparate fragments, creating a large re-shaped world map on the floor.
We then simply decided where each of the various stages of the process and workstations would be placed. Our final decision was shaped by the building. On the one hand we followed its symmetry and alignment. On the other hand, following a spatial narrative, we placed the cutting-table nearer the door used by the audience to enter the space and the shredding-table on the far end. This layout will allow the audience to come into the circle following a spiral route (into the room, along the outside of the circle, and then into it). The route will be emphasised by the movement of collaborators coming and going on their shifts.
And so this is it. The stage is set.
Pablo
Friday, February 5, 2010
PEOPLE!
February is well and truly upon us, which means there are only three weeks until i am small THE WORLD IS BIG opens its doors. If we have been somewhat absent from this space it is because we have now entered our production schedule proper; meaning that every day there’s something to decide, to do, to make. As a result the posts that will follow this one are somewhat retrospective (and will potentially be quite short).
Right now I wanted to tell you about people: the wonderful people who have come on board to the project. It strikes me that up to now we have never really worked with other ‘bodies’, other ‘doers’, other ‘makers’. So it is somewhat comical that we find ourselves in a situation were we are collaborating with over 20 individuals. That’s it, Accidental Collective jumps into the deep end! But don’t worry; we are taking like ducks to water.At the beginning of January we sent out a call for participants who will become an integral part of i am small THE WORLD IS BIG. Due to the project’s themes we tried our best to gather people from a wide demographic (ages, backgrounds, etc). Once we had a significant number we organised a few meetings (on the last two Saturdays) where we gave some basic information about the project, noted their availability, answered questions, and also did some sewing/stitching (we prefer a hands-on approach). It was fantastic to meet everybody. Especially because it suddenly felt the project was happening. This is it.
i am small THE WORLD IS BIG was no longer an idea in our heads, but a reality. Moreover, we realised the project’s potential to generate ‘community’. As we sat together in the upstairs room of The Jolly Sailor (thank you to Ian - the landlord- for making this space available to us), there was a true coming-together. People who had never met before were embarking on a joint, creative effort. Together, each contributing their little bit, we were going to make something big happen. To say that this filled us with excitement is probably an understatement. This accidental community was full of potential beyond the project itself. If anything, one of the most direct benefits of these meetings was the exchange of stitching tips. The mother of more than one gentleman will be awfully proud that their son is picking up a needle and thread, and familiarising themselves with this ‘alien’ technology. On a more practical level, for us, these meetings were highly beneficial because suddenly it was not just three brains thinking about the project, but many more. Even though we had come up with the basic structure and framework of the project, some of the individuals involved clarified our thinking with their questions, whilst other still gave us some very interesting ideas: could the ‘workers’ do something in unison at some points, could the centre map be photographed every hour on the hour…
So, as a little tribute to all these people, here is a list of names of those who are involved to date:
Lewis Barron, Amyie Butler, Muriel van Cruchten, Jo Dyre, Olivia Farrant, Richard Franklin, Sebastian Grau, Laura Hobbs, Maggie Johns, Lorraine Keene, Liz Knowles, Phoebe Marsh, Jessica Nine, Alex Norcott, Mez Pondole, Hannah Riches, Estelle Rosenfeld, Daphne Seale, Marc Shilling, Alice Taylor, Catherine Ward, Gemma Williams, Paul Williams, Alex Wood
Thank you, thank you, tank you. To each and every one of you (and a special danke to Sebastian who let us upload the pictures he took during the first meeting).
And of course… We sill hope that more will join. The more the merrier!
Pablo
So, as a little tribute to all these people, here is a list of names of those who are involved to date:
Lewis Barron, Amyie Butler, Muriel van Cruchten, Jo Dyre, Olivia Farrant, Richard Franklin, Sebastian Grau, Laura Hobbs, Maggie Johns, Lorraine Keene, Liz Knowles, Phoebe Marsh, Jessica Nine, Alex Norcott, Mez Pondole, Hannah Riches, Estelle Rosenfeld, Daphne Seale, Marc Shilling, Alice Taylor, Catherine Ward, Gemma Williams, Paul Williams, Alex Wood
Thank you, thank you, tank you. To each and every one of you (and a special danke to Sebastian who let us upload the pictures he took during the first meeting).
And of course… We sill hope that more will join. The more the merrier!
Pablo
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