Monday, February 25, 2002

Glasgow Saturday 23 February.

Start a two day course in Dreamweaver at GMAC ( Glasgow Media Access Centre). As usual I am the slowest and oldest in the group.

Our tutor is Adina van't Klooster, a young Dutch woman , a new media artist and graduate of GSA some years ago. We look at her web site. Her interest is cyborgs. Am struck by the similarity between her appearance and the cyborg she has created onscreen. Is she aware of it? doubt it.
Glasgow. Friday 22 February.
Do we read to escape from the real world? to enter a new world? or to broaden our understanding of this world? these were some of the questions raised by Francis Spufford, London based writer and critic on Friday at the weekly Glasgow School of Art lecture.
In his own case one suspects and he half admitted too it was to escape into the world of the imagination which for him was more real than the real world. Some discussion followed over whether films - a communal experience- could exert the same power over the imaginationas a book.The conclusion was yes but it was a different experience because it was one shared.

Am reading Stephen King's horror novel Cujo. Had forgotten just how gripping some narratives can be.

Afterwards a group of us had lunch in Fazzis. The Norwegians in the party fill us in about what life is really like in remote areas of Norway, much more to it that the film Cool and Crazy suggests. You conform or else....And the issue of the Sarmis - I referred to them as Laplanders and got pulled up for my political incorrectness- was not even touched upon.

Just as we leave I spot Tanya Ecclestone, new Head of Sculpture and Environmental Art. Go over and congratulate her . Then I add that my videos are now in GOMA's collection.
"What's GOMA?" Explain that GOMA is short for the Gallery of Modern Art in Glasgow.
She is Australian and not noted for her tact .

A new Head of Fine Art was announced this morning before the start of the lecture. He is German and has been working for a number of years in Norway. Looks at last as if Glasgow School of Art is finally moving into the 21st century.