Day 267: Making noise for the Arts

Today I have done heaps of cool stuff to do with creativity and it's got me all fired up! Where to start? Well, I won't spill it all onto you in one entry.

Because it's the Bath Lit Fest this week there is loads of talks going on all over Bath. I went along to one about the future of Arts Education. How will it continue with the new government pushing it to the back of the queue. Whose responsibility is it to keep it going?

There were four people on the panel discussing such things; a teacher, Sue East, a writer, Helen Cross, a cultural organisation person (ie, a theatre or something artsy), Kate Cross and a policy figure (someone who helps decide what's what in schools), Sue Horner. They all said lots of interesting comments, but the thing I took away was that, actually, it's everyones responsibility to make some noise for the Arts.

I think creative subjects are really important. They were what I went to school for. They're why I go into to schools now as a creative person. People deserve to have the change to get creative and try stuff out. But the government seem to think differently and if we, as the nation they are supposed to be taking care of, don't like it, we need to tell them, right?

Are you into the Arts? How? Why? Can we make our voices heard up there in London? It's time to rally the troops people! We're all creative thinkers, so lets put our heads together and find a way to keep the Arts alive in our country. Who's with me?

Day 191: Illusions on the street

Check out these amazing images drawn on pavements:

They are soooo cool and really inspiring. I love illusion art. It makes you question what is there and how it can be made to look like that. Do you recon these artist draw them for fun? Art like this brings the community together and get people interested, even it it's not their thing. everyone can enjoy art out in the street! What would you draw on the street if you could?

I hope these images inspire you're creativity today. How could you bring illusion into your creative work...?

Day 174: Bridget Riley

For those of you that haven't heard of Bridget Riley, she's a British contemporary artist who is interested in how we look at colour and what our eye does to see it...

Her work was extremely influential on my art last year, so I really excited when I found slideshow. It's about her work and a new exhibition open at The National Gallery in London from now until May 2011. If you get a chance, go see it. I really want to go!

Be inspired by Riley's use of colour.

What could you do with colour in your creative works...?

Day 169: World Beach project

Do you fancy yourself as a installation artist?

Want like working with natural materials like stone?

Do you want to get involved in bigger things?

Well, if there's a yes in there, I've found the perfect project for you!

It's called, The world beach project. I found out about it on the V&A website (an museum in London). The project is open to anyone, any age, anywhere in the world! Basically, it wants everyone to get involved in making art with stones from the beach, just like this one:

Find out more about the project and see what has already been done.

So get creating and get involved!

Day 162: RCA Secret

Everyone likes a good secret, don't they? Well this one involves famous artists, illustrators and art students from all over. More than 1000 artists have designed a postcard, which go on sale this weekend at Royal college of Art in London to raise money for art students. The catch, you don't know until you buy it who it's by. What a cool idea!

Each postcard is £45 and you can buy a maximum of four per person. It's getting everyone excited about owning their pocket sized Tracey Emin or David Bailey. But you might get work by a student who could go on to become the next Picasso! How exciting!

What a great way to get the community interesting in art. Not only that but raise cash to help creative people like you and me get to uni and do what we love. With the way thing are going in government, we need all the help we can get, so thank goodness someone is sticking up for us, eh!

Check out their website for more info. If you live around London, you can go see them for free before the sale. Maybe you can guess whose is whose!

So, who'll get the postcards worth millions? We'll have to wait and see...

Day 149: Ben Wilson, the chewing gum man...

I was SO excited when I saw this that I HAD to share it with you. It turns out there's a guy in London called Ben Wilson who goes along the street, finds an old piece of forgotten chewing gum and paints on it! Check out his masterpieces below:

What an incredible idea. It really gives a different slant to painting. I think it would be lovely to walk down the street and see a painted bit of gum on the street. Watch this video if you like what you see. Ben Wilson talks about how his art allows him to work outside and interact with his community, as well as work with what others throw away.

I don't know about you guys, but it makes me think about my own creative work and how I can make it new, fresh and reach out into my community. What could you do with your creativity? Where could you take you ideas?

Because of Ben Wilson, creativity is literally changing the streets of London. Now that's what I call creative thinking!

Day 52: Franz West

What do I have for you today?

A sculpture.

This piece of art is called 'The Ego and the Id' by Franz West, an Austrian artist. It was on display in New York at the Doris C. Freedom Plaza (edge of Central Park), where public art has been shown since the 80s. So, millions of people walk past this spot everyday. Cool, huh.

Well, what do you think? Do you like it? Is is beautiful, fun, strange, ugly, pointless? What does it remind you of? Everyone has an opinion about art and I think it's an important thing to discuss. Getting other people's opinions can extend you own.

So, why not write a comment. What do you think? Does it inspire you? How? Why not?

I guess the real question is, which is Id and which is Ego? Do you think these names are significant?

Questions, questions, so many questions...have a think.