Alfred Wallis

I'd only seen one reproduction of a painting by Alfred Wallis before we went on our trip to Cornwall and to tell the truth I was struck dumbfounded when I saw them in the flesh. His paintings are intensely honest, powerful and spirited in their execution. I fell in love with them immediately. Alfred Wallis spent most of his working life as a fisherman. He claimed to have gone to sea aged nine and was involved in deep-sea fishing, sometimes sailing as far as Newfoundland in Canada. In 1890 he moved to St Ives in Cornwall, where he became a marine scrap merchant. He began painting at the age of seventy “for company” after the death of his wife. Wallis sold few of his paintings during his lifetime and lived in poverty until he died in the Madron Workhouse in Penzance. He was buried in Barnoon cemetery, overlooking St. Ives' Porthmeor beach and the Tate St Ives gallery. An elaborate gravestone, depicting a tiny mariner at the foot of a huge lighthouse – a popular motif in Wallis' paintings – was made from tiles by the potter Bernard Leach and now covers Wallis' tomb.  Jonny Trunk emailed me this morning with an odd bit of Wallis trivia, apparently Richard Attenborough sold a pair of Alfred Wallis paintings a few months ago.  So there you go.  Here's a few examples of his work.  I hope you like them as much as I do.

Object: Gesture: Grid, St Ives And The International Avant-garde

I was thrilled to see this fantastic exhibition of Post-Second World War art which explored the development of Modernism. Highlights included; 

A small, untitled, painted wood sculpture by Ben Nicholson, circa 1936.

"Female Fig Leaf" by Marcel Duchamp which was made from Electroplated copper over plaster, circa 1950. 

"Linear Construction In Space No.1" by Naum Gabo which was made from perspex with nylon monofilament, conceived 1942, but probably executed in the 1960s.

...... and a fantastic, raw and spirited oil painting by Alfred Wallis [more of which later] entitled "Voyage to Labrador" , circa 1935-6.

Postcard To The Other Side

My son, who has just turned six, was asked to write a postcard to Barbara Hepworth by one of the museum staff.  He wrote, "Dear Barbara, I hope you have a good time in heaven" and sketched his favourite sculpture to the side. 

Trewyn Studio, St Ives

Barbara Hepworth's stone-carving workshop has been left more or less untouched since the artist’s death in 1975. It's an oddly moving experience seeing work in progress by an artist who has died.

Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, St Ives

The family spent a wonderful summer afternoon walking around the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden.  Both our young children had a great time, climbing, touching and hiding in the sculptures.

Museum Of Witchcraft, Boscastle

The Museum Of Witchcraft in Boscastle houses the world's largest collection of artifacts devoted to witchcraft in all its forms. It's a fascinating collection and I could have spent many more hours reading and looking at the vast range of material available.  The museum has a very open curatorial approach, mixing both the sacred and the profane, the highbrow with the lowbrow.  I was particularly intrigued by the poppets on display as I'd recently read both "The Uncanny" by Sigmund Freud and the catalogue of Mike Kelley's show of the same name.  I'm currently enjoying "A History of the Pendle Witches and Their Magic: Wicked Enchantments" by Joyce Froome and the wonderful collection of "Songs Of Witchcraft And Magic From The British Folk Tradition" which I came across in the museum's shop.

Hurlers Stone Circles

These stones were located on Bodmin Moor, around 4 miles north of the town of Liskeard.  It took us a while to find them but the walk across the moor and the sound of the wind made it all worthwhile.

Tintagel

The holiday has lasted longer then expected, so apologies for not posting recently. The family took an extra 'wee' vacation to Cornwall. It's a wonderful place and we'll definitely go back.  Cornwall is a place I've always wanted to visit.  It's a place which is steeped in traditions of old.  Tintagel was one of the first places we visited.  I'm not that great at photography but hopefully I've captured a little of the atmosphere of  Merlin's cave below Tintagel castle.  Our children had a great time throwing pebbles and listening to the echoes.  Merlin is said to have lived in this cave which can be found below the fortress of Tintagel. 

Jack Hammer

The moment I heard this lp, I loved it.  I don't really know what attracted me the most, maybe it was the combination of the earnest beatnik angst and frenetic cellar jazz. Maybe it was the nonsensical logo that strangely reminded me of a fish.  I really don't know.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I have over the years. A Sound Awareness will resume normal cultural production in two weeks time.....

Three Transistions

I couldn't resist this before I took a break.  An early example of video art by Peter Campus.

Normal Transmission Will Resume Shortly

A Sound Awareness will be taking a short break for the next few weeks but rest assured there's lots of interesting bits and pieces coming up soon, such as a look at the graphic work of Destroy All Monsters, experimental design from the Unmann-Wittering Lab and a wonderful little piece written by Jonny Trunk on a rather odd and peculiar project he's been working on.

Fantastic Four 48

My good friend Marc, at Kingly Books, emailed me to say how much he liked my new collage and that the magenta planet put him in mind of this Jack Kirby collage from Fantastic Four 48.  Lovely isn't it.

Collage No.3

Salto

Funeral Parade of Roses

Putney Swope

The Museum Of British Folklore

More From The Rayon Muting Archive

Another found image from the Rayon Muting Archive. Again, if you know anything about these images, please get in touch.

Northern Soul At St. Salvadors Church, Dundee

Odd venue and moving in more ways than expected.

Tal R

Tal R is an Israeli born artist based in Copenhagen. I like his primitive scrapings. It reminds me of Madge Gill's work, which is always a good thing in my book.