Anyone for Tennis?

Response to the Letter from Mayor Laws regarding 'Negative Nitwits' and a certain ex-Arts Developer!

Thanks to the caller from Guyton Street…..but now back to the point!

Contrary to the petulant response from our Mayor, neither myself nor other concerned constituents supported the illegal activities (e.g Tagging) being discussed. Reasonable people offering valid views, based on experience should not be so immaturely dismissed.

To suggest that, by not supporting the approach to an issue, you condone the issue is absurd. It is akin to saying, 'if you do not support the death-penalty, you support murder'.

The subsequent tired and irrelevant potshots at active community members form a predictable and strategic smokescreen. Distracting from the issues and deterring participation in democratic forums; for fear of public rebuke. This is doubly harmful as many of the implied individuals and groups have contributed, for little reward, to the Council's own Community Outcomes.

Unlike His Worship, I do not associate free speech, creativity, and environmental awareness with anti-social behaviour. Unless there is a bylaw pending? These activities are legitimate and constructive and deserve encouragement, not petty insults. However, as being obnoxious, offensive and denigrating the community can be classed as anti-social, maybe I should dob in an 'ageing yob'? But then again, no-one likes a dobber, do they?

Mayoral Response

The War on Wars

This letter was sent to the Wanganui Chronicle regarding the lynch-mob mentality towards taggers being propagated in Wanganui by Mayor Michael Laws and the 'dob a tagger for money' scheme.

I do not condone indiscriminate tagging of public or private property; however the civic response to this minor social problem is potentially more harmful.

Politicians declare war on unresolvable issues, to create the perception of being active, strident saviours of their constituents. Whether it is the war on terror, on drugs or on gangs, it is political currency not social benefit that is gained by this militant approach. As with the strategic tagging of the Library and Pool; declare war on taggers and they will fight back with their weapon of choice.

These members of our youth have been called, degrading, disgusting miscreants, and threatened with humiliation, vilification, and incarceration. They haven’t robbed grannies, shot babies or physically destroyed property, they write illegible words in public. Are they really so evil?

As the aim of tagging is infamy, recent political outbursts and front-page news coverage only serve to boost it. If working with taggers isn’t your cup of tea, the most effective way to deal with tagging, is to remove it quickly and quietly, sticking the culprits on permanent clean-up duty. As the people most likely to identify a tag, are taggers; rewards, offer taggers the ironic opportunity, to dob in their rivals and use Mayoral money to tag again.

Let’s deal with issues pragmatically, rather than declaring wars that only serve to up the ante for the protagonists, leaving the rest of us with an issue unresolved and an even worse taste in our mouths.

Click for Wanganui Chronicle story

wHanganui random

©burgseye 06

h(avana) guy

h-guy©burgseye1998

h-guy makes his pesos by selling himself as a photo subject to tourists at US$1 a shot-
amongst the crumbling edifices of Havana.

H is for History 2

Letter to the W(h)anganui Chronicle in response to an article on the reaction to the Tupoho proposal to change the name of the town and the district to Whanganui (Wanganui Chronicle Article).

It is with dismay that I read again, the opinions held by many in this town regarding the H in Whanganui.

In a city where there are still statues celebrating victory over the 'savages', war memorials celebrating only the colonial soldiers who died in the NZ Land Wars, cannons on the hill, a courthouse on the Pa and a boatshed named after a gunboat; any notion of cultural healing seems 150 years away.

Whatever the reasons are for the name or the semantics of it, it is important to those who named it, and that is enough. The fact is that when living with another culture, getting the language and names right is essential to understanding, respect and creating partnership between peoples.

The issue should never have gone under the crass hammer of a referendum. 13670 people said no to a name change, this figure represents only 44% of the eligible voting population. To assume that everyone who didn't vote agreed, to produce a figure of 82%, is a serious abuse of statistics.

It is time for this city to discuss this issue seriously, put aside its xenophobia, and realise that the way to cultural healing is through compromise and respect and that the result of cultural healing is something we can all celebrate, together.

Pavlov, is this your dog?

Recently I was sent a forwarded email message regarding the South American artist, Guillermo Vargas Habacuc and his entry at a Biennale which involved a starving dog, tied up without food in a gallery.

With the requisite 'outrage' I was encouraged to sign a petition and forward this message to other friends and colleagues, so that this reprehensible activity can be stopped.

I did not as 'auto-suggested' forward the message on but instead, ruminated on the activity and what I was being asked to do and decided it was time for a 'heated debate'!

I tried looking at it from an artistic perspective first:

'This dog was probably going to die soon anyway. Do most people care or become outraged when they see a starving dog on the street or only when it is in a gallery?
Rather than stop this exhibition would it not be better for everyone who forwards this message to adopt a dog from a pound or lobby for stricter laws around dog control in these countries?
Is this better or worse than Damien Hirst and his fly life-cycle piece, breeding and then killing thousands of flies in a contained space in a gallery, worse why? Because it is a dog!
In this de-sensitised world, maybe we need the acrid whiff of reality to make a point, rather than the bland, sanitised fragrance of an illusion, a metaphor or a symbol which more closely resembles advertising than poignant truth?
What will you think now when you see an emaciated, unhealthy dog, covered in sores in the street (There are plenty of them in 1st world countries)?'

My response from the 'forwarder' was that I had some interesting points but perhaps the artist could display himself instead. I replied;

'Yes perhaps the artist should put himself on display in the same manner. Although I bet that people wouldn't care half as much about a starving artist as a they do about a starving dog. The world thinks that is an artists preferred lifestyle anyway. A lifelike model would probably have sufficed and had the same if not greater impact, as people considered it real and then realised it was a model.
Art history is also full of artists pushing the bounds of obscenity and taste in order to illuminate and extend the boundaries of visual discussion. many things that are freely on display now, would have been in another time and another place, obscene and grossly offensive to many including maybe us and in that time perhaps tying a starving dog up in a public place would been normal.'

Finally I considered the moral and political implications of complying with the message and responded;

'I am always alarmed when I am sent material and encouraged/ordered to censor or stop something, especially another artist without any discussion and with the suggestion of a moral duty.

To do this without discussion implies that as long as the cause is 'right' (What reasonable person could not object to this) that no balanced analysis, discussion or any other due process need be applied to the issue.

We are then free to ban, banish, villify, censor and probably lynch the person involved without judge or jury and without disturbing our liberal consciousness - we are not fascists, we are righteous defenders of a righteous cause and anyone opposed to that is 'obviously' wrong.
The irony of which, would have made Hitler happy as a hund!

I am often acccused of being ambivalent, a fence-sitter, devils advocate and worse for refusing to blindly condemn or condone one thing or another without debate and long may that continue. To me no argument is 100% sound, no cause 100% just and nothing is black and white, not even black and white'.

The dangers of moral outrage or 'art'rage are many and well-documented throughout history. It is very easy to become what you oppose as soon as place yourself above or beyond that which you oppose. One logic can contradict another and both can still be right. Right and wrong is and always will be a subjective issue, based upon personal experience and a moral, social or political context.

The exploitation and death of a weak animal at the hands of a stronger animal is neither right nor wrong in the natural world, it is fact because natural balance demands it be so. It is only humans that see this as unfair and that is because we seek things to be perpetually advantageous to us or in accord with us and cannot tolerate anything that suggests otherwise - how unfair is that?!

Just to clarify, I like dogs, I do not condone the harming or maltreatment of dogs in any way and no dogs were harmed during the course of this discussion.

Reverend Schweinhund

If you still feel moral 'art'rage and want to stop this activity and ignore the myriad good points made here, please follow the link: http://www.petitiononline.com/13031953/petition.html

H is for History

H is for History - Neil Buddle 2008 (Copyright Neil Buddle - 2008)
Lino-Print + Acrylic Paint / Paper handmade from recycled Wanganui newspapers

This is a one-off print made specially for the Whanganui Artists Open Studio Weekend. It refers to the ongoing dispute regarding the spelling of the town and in a broader sense reflects the lack of cultural healing, understanding and historical revision in this part of Aotearoa.

Blink - Did you miss it?

The weekend of March 1-2, saw the auspicious opening of Blink Gallery. Nestled high up in Titirangi bush, overlooking the City of Auckland, The newly appointed Blink Gallery affords El Presidente (aka Burgseye) and colleagues permanent exhibition opportunities.

The opening was timed to coincide with the Waitakere City Artists Open Studios Weekend and despite the monsoon weather, intrepid art lovers came out to view the best and the rest of local art.
Featuring photography, rare glass, mosaic and garden sculpture, print and painting, the eclectic showing had a little something for everyone. Supplemented by the bush sounds of Hella Aesthetics, the weekend was a fantasic way to kick-start Blink Gallery and the artists into 2008 and beyond.

The Reverend would like to thank El Presidente and his delightful First Lady, for the opportunity, the inspiration and their exemplary hospitality, all the artists, both visual and musical involved and the visitors, friends and family who supported this event and made it special. Not forgetting a special thank-you to anyone who purchased something and helped the artists continue doing what they are doing.

Some of the work displayed on the weekend is still on show and anyone wishing to view work or find out more about Blink Gallery, Burgseye Photography and friends, please contact burgseye@slingshot.co.nz .

Kia ora

Late nite Hella Aesthetics Up Close & Personal

OPEN STUDIO DAY @ BLINK
Musical Expressions as Hella Aesthetics cut loose after Tom Tom had left the building.

Life during wartime 08

Game Over.

I am writing to resolve once and for all the ongoing discussion that originated from a previous post relating to the C.I.A.
This post inadvertently caused a disagreement between friends/colleagues that regretfully escalated to the detriment of a previously warm and constructive relationship.
We have been made aware (See comment on previous post) that some of these comments did not come from the percieved source but were written by colleagues of the friend in question, of which he did not approve.
As far as DIGlog is concerned this matter has been settled privately and is finished. No more comments on this issue will be published.
As previously stated DIGlog welcomes constructive comments from all perspectives and welcomes interaction and contributions.
Success to you all in your personal and professional endeavours.
Peace,
The Reverend

is 5

hillsarealive,nepal©burgseye06
"If a poet is anybody, he is somebody to whom things made matter very little-somebody who is obsessed by Making. Like all obsessions, the Making obsession has disadvantages; for instance, my only interest in making money would be to make it. Fortunately, however I should prefer to make almost anything else, including locomotives and roses. It is with roses and locomotives (not to mention acrobats Spring electricity Coney Island the 4th of July the eyes of mice and Niagara Falls) that my "poems" are competing.
They are also competing with each other, with elephants, and with El Greco.
Ineluctable preoccupation with The Verb gives a poet one priceless advantage: whereas nonmakers must content themselves with the merely undeniable fact that two times two is four, he rejoices in a purely irresistible truth (to be found, in abbreviated costume, upon the title page of the present volume.)
is 5"

ee cummings
Foreword to "is 5"

People in Stone Houses Shouldn't Throw Glass

Kia ora,
Despite our complete lack of activity and profile, we are flattered to have recieved some robust comments from 'anonymous' readers, which should soon appear on the blog.
We welcome comments from all perspectives, however personal and embittered, as well as the good ones that we don't write ourselves. As always with any creative pursuit, it doesn't matter whether people think what you do is good or bad; as long as they are not indifferent.
We are amazed that anyone has the time or the inclination, to repeatedly criticise us as people and as aspiring creatives. However we are glad we can provide an outlet for these frustrated ghosts of the internet. These ghosts need a home and have suggested setting up an 'Anti-DIG Blog'. This is a much better idea than doing something constructive, with integrity on their own behalf and we wholeheartedly encourage it. We of course will be able to link to it, comment on it and rave on like pretentious, egotistical idiots about it. It will also give us an opportunity to fully appreciate the superior calibre of our critics, not only in the creative realm, but also their substantial contribution to 'the kids', community, world-peace and 21st Century culture.

So....if you want to say something personal, do it personally, if you have got something constructive to say, say it constructively and if you have something to show for yourselves, show it - You DIG!...

..."TAXI"

The Writing IS on the Wall!

This piece was written as a quick response to a request from the local newspaper for opinions about Graffiti and what to do about it (As an issue). The 'issue/phenomenon' of graffiti is a universal one and so is the response; an over-emotive, sanctimonious slather of ignorant, rhetoric with no conclusions.

(Above Graffiti by Banksy - UK)

The Writing IS on the Wall
As a life-long fan of 'real' graffiti art and with a career in community facilitation; I have seen both sides of the 'Spraypainted fence'. With the recent furore and discussion regarding graffiti in Wanganui, it is time to dispel some misconceptions and get realistic about this 'problem'.

The biggest misconception is that graffiti is a new phenomenon to be blamed on 'youth culture'. This suits those among us who delude themselves, that their generation and those before it were upstanding, disciplined and respectful and just didn't do that sort of thing.

Hip-Hop music and Hip-Hop graffiti are a relatively new cultural phenomenon yet graffiti is one of the oldest. Man's first recorded artistic expressions were daubed on the walls of caves and depicted the life and identity of the artist in a stylised way; no different from the 'real graffitti' of today.

Tagging is as old as cave-art and examples of it can be found all over the world. I have seen 2000 year old Roman monuments with epithets carved in Latin; the equivalent of 'Julius woz ere'. At school, the desks were engraved with scrawls, names and insults, going back before WW2. This is an age old societal issue and like others (prostitution, gambling, inebriation) , prohibition has never solved it.
Serious graffiti artists are highly-talented visual artists. They work for free in the public arena. It is essentially an altruistic pursuit. Taggers are the equivalent of a dog marking it's territory; alas the 2 can't be seperated due to the media-driven, ignorance of the public. The difference is simple; Real graffiti transforms ugly, negelected, urban spaces into something beautiful and tagging transforms pleasant, urban spaces into something ugly. Must we persecute all of it?

We cannot eradicate graffiti, however much money and hubris we expend on it. As has been demonstrated by the Castlecliffe project; it is only when we accept and understand graffiti as an essential part of human expression, that will we be able to transform this negative into a positive for the whole community.

Published - Wanganui Chronicle Sat 8th December 2007

To name names...

Tao rhymes with cow
and also with Chairman Mao.
This makes me wonder how
he came to pow(er)
as he obviously hadn't read it.

Refusal of the Call (a message to self)

Often in actual life and not infrequently in the myths and popular tales, we encounter the dull case of the call unanswered: for it is always possible to turn the ear to other interests. Refusal of the summons converts the adventure into it's negative. Walled in boredom, hard work, or "culture," the subject loses the power of significant affirmative action and becomes a victim to be saved.

His flowering world becomes a wasteland of dry stones and his life feels meaningless - even though, like King Minos, he may through titanic effort succeed in building an empire of renown. Whatever house he builds, it will be house of death: a labyrinth of cyclopean walls to hide from his minotaur. All he can do is create new problems for himself and await the gradual approach of his disintegration...

The Hero With A Thousand Faces
Joseph Campbell
(First published 1949)

Under the Influence

For any artist in any media, the line between reference, influence, plagiarism and pastiche is a fine one. Even if one knows the line well, there is the issue of how to exclude or include them in your own work?

Being well versed in the history of art-form you are engaged in is a good thing; but when does it become a bad thing? Never before in the history of creativity have we had so much access to so much inspiration.

My house is overflowing with books, records and artefacts from the creative world. Although I am an artist I am also a consumer of creative product, a connoisseur, an expert or at least a dilletante possessed of a strong opinion. I relish in these documents of creativity and in some way define myself by them and by my association with them.

How often when asked to describe a new band or artist would you say "They are a bit like...or it reminds me of such and such". Only the truly innovative, as ever, define categorisation.

Sometimes a particular record or book will fire me up to engage in my own distinct and unique oeuvre of originality. This is often lessened by the awareness that I am 'copying' or 're-interpreting' what I have been so enthused by. Sometimes this realisation of influence kills all creative enthusiasm dead, spurring me to crack another beer and bemoan my own mediocrity.

This is reinforced by the evidence of retro-retro-retro-chic, pervading the media in fashion, music, film and literature. We living in an 'Apres-Garde' time. The regurgitation of previous cultural styles and interests is natural and can be rewarding. However the law of 'copying' states that with each reproduction a loss of quality occurrs. Imperceptible to those who see it for the first time but for those who have seen every decade since their birth repeated culturally at least once it is the law of diminishing returns.

It is often perceived also that the quality of the influence informs the perception of originality. If I utilise junk-mail in my work, that could be seen as ironic, playful and acceptable. If however I utilise the paintings of Pablo Picasso in some way, I am more likely to be judged as a plagiarist or lacking in imagination. This is because of the percieved creative value of the respective source materials not the level of original thought required to interpret them.

When recently in a discussion about plagiarism regarding graphic design, I opined that there was no-one who could realistically claim, completely original work. An opinion for which I was criticised. Though I believe the statement to be true, it was definitely not an insult or a reassurance about my own mediocrity. It was a statement of fact and acknowledgement that the first artist, did not create something entirely original, they interpreted their environment and it is the nuance and quality of that interpretation that we value as art.

outlook for thursday

elevation©burgseye06

Unrelenting National Dream

©burgseye 1996

this smug sporting nation
whose one dimensional dream
blurs the line between passion and unhealthy obsession
is prepared for anything but losing
and when it does, the collective consciousness
is anything but sporting