WAVE Fair in Worcester Tomorrow.

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When One Door Closes...

...another door opens? After over ten years, Spine Skateboarding, Worcester is to close this weekend. Chris and Jo Bourke, (Waterhouse) will be closing the doors on a business that has, not only brought top quality skating goods to the city, but has provided it's skating fraternity with a lifeline to the outside world, in terms of creative culture. Jo and Chris installed a small gallery in the shop a few of years ago, called 'This is Ours'. The gallery drew me into the shop, (along with the fantastic book, 'Concrete to Canvas: Skateboarders' Art', written by Jo). The duo are responsible for me doing what I do now. They've become valued friends to Jo and me and I'm so grateful that Chris had the balls to open the shop and keep it going for as long as he has. It's thanks to the duo's encouragement and energy that I am an artist today. The shop will be sorely missed, I just don't think the local kids have realised it yet; it'll be too late when they do, the shop will be gone. Chris and Jo will carry on being the most creatively energetic people I know and their resources will be chanelled into other projects, I know. Watch this space.
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KEEP ON - Chris Bourke 2010

Pushing Forward...

Been pushing forward with my found object, sand-blasting project. Today's additions are a charity shop vase and a pint glass, yum!

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Sand-Blasted Glass Vase (20cm High)

Vase Detail

Pint Glass, empty:-(

Moon

Watched the film, Moon (2009), last night. It was an incredible experience for me, (it prompted to write something for a change!). The film, set in the future had echoes of some of my favourite films, both thematically and visually; notable titles are: Silent Running, Bladerunner, Alien, Outland and 2001 A Space Odyssey. It took aspects from all the above films and created a brand new experience. The experience was profound and moving and elegantly executed...It's the film I should have made! It's the film I dreamt of making, (when I used to dream of making films,). Congratulations to the writer/director, Duncan Jones, he and the crew did a great job, (Sam Rockwell was mesmerising, it has to be said). I had a feeling of nostalgia watching the imagery, the visuals comforted me as they were so familiar. It was a British production, it felt like one, authentic and gritty and human? It contained lots of Special effects models as well as CGI and was a good balance of the two, creating a vivid thematic recall of all the other past movies. The film sets, complete with polygonal shaped corridors and doorways was evocative of a place I know, a place that I inhabited during my childhood. It was my escape shuttle, my Off World Colony... If you haven't seen it, don't watch the trailer first, just watch the film.

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Moon Screen Shots - Gavin Rothery Designs

Mirror Mirror 2.0

More mirror art. This time, a nice 60's/70's? example. A one off, now for sale in Toadstool Vintage, Worcester. g.

Mirror, Mirror.

Bought an antique (1956) mirror today. Sandblasted my Flying House motif onto the surface. Nice, I thought. It's missing a wing or two, (blown off in the sandblaster), so it's officially a second; I've given it to the College library as a gift.
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'Fly Away Homes' Mirror

Mirror Detail (Nice the way it reflects the sky).

Lots of mileage in this, me thinks!

New Piece...

..for our bathroom! I've been playing Batman Arkham Asylum, on the 360, far too much recently, (the dark winged imagery seems to point in that direction). The shelves are oak and the image is my own design, inked and sand-blasted onto the sides...I'm pleased with it and want to do more; might even use existing furniture.

Oak - 50cm X 30cm X 20cm

'Indie Craft' - Book Out Now!

Haven't done much on the blog recently. I'm lost really, not sure what to make or create. I seem to have nothing to say about anything, not really sure if I'm really sad though; just ticking along - comfortably numb sums it up pretty well. There's lots going in though - watching plenty of films, (Kick Ass, Exit Through the Gift Shop and Beautiful Losers getting worthy mentions) ,playing video games, hill walking and reading. Just wish someone could tell me what to do, quite frankly, with the skills I have, just wish someone would take me away and place in a place more worthwhile situation, a place that made more of a difference. As it stands I'm just treading water, not moving, just floating, just hope I drift towards a purpose soon.

There's alot going on around me though, which brings me onto this. The brilliant Jo Waterhouse has just released her latest book, Indie Craft. From the preview pages, it looks awesome; bang up to date and full of motivating images. Good luck with it Jo! Take a look Below: