Frame of Reference

There are days 

when water feels like cream on your lips

& others when you have to try so hard

feeling only follows blood

or chipped tooth.

& it's not just a question of money

or love,

or ....how the light falls

as if those would be easy to accept an answer from 

even if they offered

but it's in the line & the cadence & depth of the gasp;

how much slack the strings take for themselves

before life takes it up

wrenching us back into orientation 

& dragging us deeper into memory

j.f.

2010

love to you all

j

Upcoming open Studio..... In Basel

“Try to catch the deluge in a paper cup.”  Crowded House 1986

Which is to say that if your first trip to mainland Europe comes at age 35 it can be a fabulously overwhelming experience! I think of it as a positive culture shock. From an african perspective there is almost no way to explain the size of the differences we have socially, financially, morally and even philosophically. The volume of fine art, the wealth of the art collections have been an eye opener. This Basel residence made many inspiring meetings possible and many enlightening exchanges too. The challenge becomes to leave enough time in 10 weeks to focus some of this inspiration through one's sculptural process with out missing any of the spectacle. Some very promising creative relationships have been started for the future, and I have been given a thorough look into current Swiss fine art practices with all their successes and challenges.

I will show some previous kinetic suspensions I made in Japan, some maquettes for ideas Basel has given me, and works in progress of an entirely new kind for me. I hope to see you, and show you what I have made. Bring whoever you think might be interested in examples of visual art practice from deep in the southern hemisphere.

www.justinfiske.com

Arrive spontaneously if you like – but if you know when you might come, let me know by email please – just to help me with catering thanks!

justin.fiske01@gmail.com

Time:  Sun 28. Feb – all day from 10am to 10pm and Mon 1. March – from 5pm 

Place:  The ‘iaab ateliers’, are located in “Gross Basel”, near the Rhein, between “Gasthof Zum Goldenen Sternen’ and the Youth Hostel, two steps away from “Museum für Gegenwartskunst’. iaab atelier N° 4 St. Alban-Tal 40a 4052 Basel +41 (0)61 271 11 43

They are melting cheese in my honour....

Some kind lasses are doing this for me (This is not an open invitation I'm afraid):

Dear All

 

In honour of Martina and Justin let's have a wonderful Fondue dinner : )

It woud be great if you can come!

 

Best Patricia and Janine

This is kind of like a knighthood here for beginners to Swissness.

Sorry about the blog silence I've been busy..... numerous days of cultural immersion....... in a row.

I've sucked up so much culture this week I could pop

Show opening after show opening after party after play after dance performance.. not just trivial socializing either..
Caining it...
Just started working yesterday.....ideas coming out like popcorn....

http://vimeo.com/9156606
is the one thing that I saw

Loosely translated: perfection is not sexy....
Jimmy is a Dancer.
I watched him perform ( please don't convince yourself that vimeo experience conveys any of the calibre of a real performance)
He has no legs.
He drove me to a party after.
In the Snow.
It was in that strange room on the Die Antwoord site. (Not sure if you've been privy to their recent stellar climb to fame.... www.dieantwoord.com   http://www.dieantwoord.com/secret.html )
He was one of 5 different people than spun me that evening.
You should meet him.
You know when you see an ant sukkeling with something 3 times it's size.... being around him's a bit like that would be if you were 5mm tall.
Once again I felt like I was in Ghostwritten. In all the narratives at the same time.

Friday went to an opening, then for a birthday drink with James the dancer in the wheelchair which turned into dinner at a German club and dancing at a Funk night....
Was a bit tiring, and full of cigarettes got to sleep at 4. But had a good skank.
Did it all on my bicycle which was intrepid as I had to cross the city 4 times in heavy snow fall....
When you invade a Swiss dance floor with professional dancers in 2 wheelchairs and one with a stroke  you got yourself an evening to remember

Saturday I saw this:  http://www.kaserne-basel.ch/Gesamtprogramm/130210

which was  Robert Palmer on mescaline meets the Thomas Crown Affair.

and then two shite bands.

& last night missioned to Zurich to see this guy:  www.hidetoheshiki.com

Very Japanese meets very Swiss, but some very resonant  moments and I'm not easily won by expressive dance.

I have set a date for my open studio, & I'll post the invite for you all tomorrow. 

I'll of course also have to knuckle down and try to knock something memorable out... it's looking promising

Wish me luck

j