In spite of a compulsion to check in an unhealthy number of times, I'm not really a great fan of facebook.  It seems generous to call much of it filler, even if I follow up on quite a lot of it.  Though I hate myself for it, so that's ok. 

But from time to time, one way or another, it chucks up something good, and this article on creativity was one.  I'm not going to repeat great chunks of it here, but very briefly it dealt with composer Aaron Copeland being interviewed for "The Creative Experience" by Abt and Rosner.  I found myself nodding away at nearly all the things being said.  One was that sometimes you find yourself wanting to be creative but with nothing ready to create - been there, often.  It can make me feel I have no imagination and should give up Now and Forever.   Another was that if a piece of work doesn't please you, it doesn't matter whether it pleases anyone else or not, it just won't do.  I think it can be a result of the previous problem - trying to push ahead with an idea that isn't right.  Though it didn't mention the 'yeah, but put it away for six months and then have another look before you chuck it for good - you might find you feel quite differently' theory.  Works surprisingly often, though not by any means always.  It didn't address, either, that sometimes you might not like something initially because it turned out wrong for what you wanted, and you're too close to see yet if it's any good regardless of that. 

The article also talked about an incubation period for ideas - figured that one out - and Copeland said about having to get things down while the fires of creation were burning, because afterwards it would all be gone.  That too had a ring of familiarity - it's all so clear when you just can't sleep because it's searing grooves into your mind, but when you settle down a couple of days later, now that you think you have the time, it's nowhere to be found or is just a misty memory waving a cheery farewell.  Ah me. 

I might have mentioned before that I'm not great at turning up to exhibitions to order - I manage quite a few, sooner or later in their run, but normally more by luck than good judgement.

Gemma Lacey - Longing Cabinet

As you might imagine, it was a fascinating show, rich in variety of print method, theme, substrate.  The most odd might have been printing on a wasps' nest, and it was definitely unusual to see a piece of work suspended under a shelf .  The show was, of course, entirely different to the previous neo: print prize - obviously; different artists, different works, but presumably most importantly, different selectors.  I'm sure it's a hackneyed idea, but it made me realise how interesting it might be to present the same pool of work to different selectors and see how much the choices vary.  Or even, maybe, how little.  I suppose that's sort of what happens with Discerning Eye - there are six selectors, who each pick their own mini-exhibition, but I don't think there's any overlap of work between them.  The same artists might turn up, but not the same pieces.

Lots to like here, though I didn't particularly go for any of the prize prints.  I don't expect to - I'm never going to be a cutting edge sort of a person, in what I do or what I like, and so what?  My own particular favourite was Barbara Ann Swan's 'DNA Women' -  I stood in front of it for ages, studying the riveting selection of body parts.  Loved it.  I liked the strips of film way of hanging it, trailing on to the floor, too.     

I recognized Kaori Homma's work as something I had seen in Discerning Eye's exhibitions a few years ago - they are described as being fire, acid and water on paper, and I'd love to know (of course) how they're made.  Looking through the catalogue, I have realised first that a dozen or so works aren't in there - seems a bit of a shame - and second that there are works in it that I like but failed to notice at the show.  Must really try to go back before it finishes on 2nd November.  

I started efforts to print flyers for this year's Manchester Artists' Book Fair on one of the HBP riso machines - these were two of the fails.  Can't use them, but love the colour mixes.