May 26th, 2010 Doug
Working study of Minotaur for Nuclear Submarines collaboration
As part of my current studio work, I’m developing collaboration projects with several poets. One of these collaborations,
which will be on show during my residency at the Scottish Poetry Library, is with Edinburgh poet Rob A. Mackenzie.
Working study detail for Nuclear Submarines collaboration, from the poem by Rob A. Mackenzie
Nuclear Submarines
One day they will surely betray me.
For now, they seem content to drowse
resolutely without wit or purpose
like autistic sharks balooning
through seaweed, rock and sand
of fish cities deep in blackout.
While I’m trying to trust, one breaks
the Gareloch’s surface and fixes
its stunned gaze on the mirrored sky.
Things are as they should be -
the clouds, the flotsam, the stranger
peering from the shore with my face.
The second it drops, I no longer exist.
It has no memory, no plans.
The water rises, the sky falls,
and I am as blue is to the fish.\
Many thanks to Rob for permission to post his poem. Rob’s book ‘The Opposite of Cabbage’
is available from www.saltpublishing.com, or from any good bookseller.
Rob A, Mackenzie also writes for Magma Poetry Online
Posted in Collecting and researching, Work in progress, poetry | No Comments »
May 16th, 2010 Doug
Postcard image of Bas Baile - Rotal
As part of the Net Mender exhibition at The Scottish Poetry Library, I will be artist-in-residence at Crichton’s Close on the 1st and 2nd of June, creating new art/poetry collaboration works. Poetry (and literature in general) has always been a great source of ideas, images and influence in my art work, and to have the opportunity to exhibit and develop new collaboration pieces at such an important national resource is a great privilege and pleasure.
Currently in the studio, I am working on several assemblages and drawings which will feature in the two days of the residency. Two poems which are being translated into box constructions come from poems by Shetland born, and Edinburgh based poet Robert Alan Jamieson. Also with similar geographical connections, poet Christine De Luca has given me two fantastic poems to work with, ‘Fire - Sang Cycle’ and ‘Breton Circle Dance’. Both poems will feature in Christine’s forthcoming new collection.
Breton Circle Dance
Ouessant, Finistère
An dro
Feet drum doon a aert flör
dancin hit clean
rivlins in rhythm,
side-steppin, saaft sheen.
Airms linkit tagidder
back, fore, up an owre,
lik flail apö flakki,
lik sail at da shore.
Minuet
Da wye da horizon wavvels:
hadds tae her, but tizes farder,
balances apö da aedge.
Even time dips her, salists.
An boats, heeld owre i da ebb,
recline for a artist’s brush.
Da snaar here - a slow dance –
isna sib tae da Manche whaar
tides gallop fast as a horse.
A sea foo o sky. Sun lip-lines
waves as dey hadd der braeth,
glosses dem. Dey tip, smush
inta smoorikins, a hush
apö saand; a linkin o airms,
a steppin tae da sea’s percussion.
An dro
Feet dance doon a aert flör
daddin hit clean
rivlins in rhythm,
side-steppin, saaft sheen.
Airms linkit tagidder
back, fore, up an owre,
lik flail apö flakki,
lik sail at da shore.
An dro – a Breton circle dance, with linked arms
Along with the above, there will be new works from collaborations with Jen Hadfield, Donald S, Murray and Rob A. Mackenzie. So, if you are in the Edinburgh area at the beginning of June, pop along to the Scottish Poetry Library just off the Canongate, on the Royal Mile, and find out more about the collaborations, or just say hello!
The Scottish Poetry Library at night.
Poem by kind permission of Christine De Luca
Scottish Poetry Library photograph by kind permission of Chris Scott,
If you would like one of the Bas Baile postcards, leave your address on my contacts page, and I will forward one to you.
Posted in Event, Exhibitions, poetry | No Comments »
May 8th, 2010 Doug
The Scottish Poetry Library, Edinburgh
A selection of the Net Mender exhibition is now on show at The Scottish Poetry Library, Edinburgh.
The library is a fantastic national resource, and it is a privilege for me to be able to show my work amongst one of the finest collection of poetry and literary studies in Scotland. Poetry has played a large part in influencing and enhancing my work and the pieces on display in this exhibition have either direct collaborative links with poets such as Andrew Philip , or are in response to poems I have researched relating to a subject as with the Emigrant and Bas Baile works.
The exhibition rums from the 8th of May until the 12th of June, 2010. The Scottish Poetry Library is located in Crichton’s Close, just off the Canongate, on Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile.
As part of the exhibition, I will be taking part in an event at the library in early June. More details will be posted soon.
Click on the title below the picture of the SPL to link to their Our Sweet Old Etcetera webpage, which has the latest news from the library.
Posted in Exhibitions, poetry | No Comments »
