Raoul Vaneigem

The work of art of the future will be the construction of a passionate life.

Raoul Vaneigem- From The Revolution of everyday Life.

THE FASCINATION OF TIME
The impossibility of realization:

People are bewitched into believing that time slips away, and this belief is the basis of time actually slipping away. Time is the work of attrition of that adaptation to which people must resign themselves so long as they fail to change the world. Age is a role, an acceleration of `lived' time on the plane of appearances, an attachment to things.

I look forward to winter walks..

in the Lickey Hills with Laura. The Lickies have always been one of my favourite spots growing up in Birmingham. It takes me back to childhood...days out climbing the hills and walking through the woods. It was the ultimate adventure land. Then on the way home we would stop at the penny arcade. I would save up all my coppers. I was a whiz at the two pence machines. I'd always say last go last go....then a bunch of coins would come crashing down. But I always learnt to quit when I was ahead. I never left empty handed. Las Vegas with the quarter machines was never quite the same. Cant beat the Penny Arcade.

So yes I am looking forward to getting back home to England after three months in New York. Catching up with the family. Hitting up the Lickies Christmas day...

Here are some of Lauras photographs...from our last day out there.

Laura

This is Laura my little sister. Whenever I say little sister people presume I mean a child. She's twenty three now. I've known her all her life, which makes me happy.


Whenever I tell people about Laura, I tell them how I know you cant choose your family, however you can chose who your friends are. Laura's way more than a little sister she's my best friend too. I know that I am blessed to have her as a sister and a friend. The first time I went to New York, was with Laura. She was seventeen and I was nineteen.

I said to a little girl the other day, who was playing with her little sister. (Ages six and four). "Are you two best friends?"
The six year old laughed and said "No silly we're sisters".

I admire, love and respect my little sister so much. In many ways, she's the youngest of three girls, with 2 years age difference both sides. She is actually the oldest. And I can bet that our big sister would agree.

The photo is Laura in reception aged five. It's so funny because the one she had done the year before she tucked in her neck. So my mom called her Laura no neck.And told her the next time she had to stick her neck out. She looks so beautiful, and smart and confident. Just how she was.

Links to Laura's blogs and web site:

www.atribecallednext.com
http://lawbassi.com
http:// flickr.com/photos/ law_b/

a day in Manhattan

I have been in NY for the past three months now. I enjoyed taking photographs on my friends Nickon D80. Until one day during fashion week, I was sat on a really tall seat, in Bryant park, with the camera on my lap. I needed the loo. A lady told me where there was a bathroom. I stood up pretty quick and excited. The camera and it's not so cheap lense went crashing to the ground. I cried. Because it wasn't my camera and I couldn't believe I had been so careless with it, after months of being so careful.
These are a selection of the last few photos I took...before it was all over.

The two girls second from last picture, are sisters from Brazil. They have their own fashion label, and were showing at fashion week in the tents. I saw them crossing the street to go to Cafe Habana while I was stood outside waiting to be seated to get some real good corn on the cob...

The guy in the Phoenix shirt was reading news papers he found in the bin. The guy in the orange shirt had just put his news paper in the bin. I do love me some recycling.
The world should share more.

The sisters ( i have to find the card they gave me to check out their line) were telling me they love fashion but hate spending money on clothes. Girls after my own heart. I love shopping picking stuff up, and one by one putting it all back down, because frankly I dont need it. Now I only buy something if I love it. If its really special.

My new rule since being here, is jewellery and lingerie. You cant have too much, and it cant be too expensive. My favourite gifts from me to me.

Cat face

a painting I have been working on...

Jason..

My friend Jason had these photographs of himself at little school, in his house in Chicago. I loved them so much I have 1999 in the front of my wallet. I'm just missing 2000. He had even cooler ones, but these were the only wallet sized one. i like how his swag has changed the older he gets.

The standard

I like this photo. It was on one of the rolls of film I got developed that had been pileing up. One of my favourite things about shooting film is that it is always a huge surprise when you get the pictures back. Especially since I let mine pile up until there are about 19 rolls. I actually have a collection, some of which must be atleast ten years old, I have been finding in various drawers in my bedroom. One thing you will learn about me I am a hoarder. A collector, a complete bag lady. My art teacher, Mrs Hibbard would tell "us never throw anything away, collect it. store it keep it. You never know when you mite need it for something!" Boy did I live by that. Much to my mothers horror.
I still have all of my old school books...from juniour schoo. i actually recently parted with the maths books..and kept just the drawings and creative writing stuff. I have two suitcases (I picked up with my sister at a thrift store in Orange County circa 2004)- underneath my bed. One houses journals. The other photographs. I have written a journal since I remember. And taken photographs since I remember also. I'm one of the few people who has a record of us in school from year seven to eleven.

So a bunch of the film I got developed came out really yellow. I couldn't tell if it was the film or the way it was processed. it actually looks kinda cool. Like Lomo coloursplashish.

As soon as I get home, and I have some pennies to spare. I'm hitting up a photo lab with my bag of ten year old 35mm films. To see what treats/ horrors I have in store. I'm sure there are ex boyfriends and perhaps other things I may never want to see again. but hey it's all part of the beauty of film.

I hate the instantness of digital, and how the second after you take a person's photo they say "can I see it". I upset people often with my little Nickon when they realise they cant.