Hopefully the first of many

by ruth barker, 20 Mar 2009

Hello,

I’ve decided to start a rolling PAR+RS editorial, with which I can share some thoughts. I’ll update as often as I can, but be warned that it may be erratic… As may, I’m afraid, the content. I’m hoping to keep a public art theme, but please don’t be angry with me if I get distracted along the way. You should of course feel free as always to add your comments below, and to pick me up on inevitable errors, ignorance, or banality.

So today I’ve been trawling Youtube for public art related matter, which I’m in the process of compiling for an upcoming overview for Reflections (look out for this, it will be posted soon). It’s amazing how much is out there! Call me naïve, but I’m impressed by the variety – from artists using the site as a way to document new works, to the folks who are diligently uploading archive material of Smithson, Bas Jan Ader et al. If anyone has any favourites that I should look at, do let me know.

I’m also trying to do a little bit on a small project I’m working on for St John’s Hospital in Livingston (part of the Functionsuite programme for Artlink). Early stages so far, but I’ll post pictures when there’s anything to see. This morning I was listening to audio recordings of people talking about themselves, and was thinking just how lyrical people can be sometimes. One lady recalled a nurse who looked after her when she was a child, remembering her dark blue uniform and white collar. “She was cool and fragrant and all of those things that you feel you’re not when you’re in hospital.” How eloquent, I thought.

So, a short post today because I have lots of other things to get done, but I promise I’ll return soon. In the meantime, send me those Youtube public art links.

Best wishes,
Ruth.

p.s. The outrageously sunny author’s photo was taken in Orkney last summer, when I went to visit the Pier Art Centre, and also took the opportunity to voyage out to Rousay see one of the last pieces completed by Ian Hamilton Finlay before his death in 2006. I’ll tell you about it next time…