Accompanying Exhibition in CentreSpace, DJCAD, Dundee

Accompanying Exhibition

There will be an accompanying exhibition of documentation related to the AHM symposia in Centrespace, Visual Research Centre, DJCAD (lower floors of DCA) between Wednesday 21 September and Sunday 2 October (open 12:00 – 16:30)

Neil Mulholland Presentation

Neil Mulholland delivered a talk which illuminated the paradoxes inherent in contemporary Scottish culture and politics, drawing on Michael Gardiner’s arguments in, From Trocchi to Trainspotting: Scottish Cultural Theory since 1960. Referring to the anxiety which has arisen in the wake of devolution Mulholland compared Scotland with Venice...fiercely independent... punching above its weight, but slowly sinking. He reminded us that there was a British culture and a Scottish culture, that there was currently no English parliament, and that the “big society” was only applicable to England. The Tate Gallery’s brand, for example, is an expression of British statecraft which barely registers in Scotland.  Acknowledging the influence of Hedley Bull’s, The Anarchical Society,  Mullholland noted that within the world order there are multiple loyalties and when applied to Scotland this reveals what he describes as ‘ disputed national imaginaries’.

Mulholland went on to discuss ideas of cultural ecology - how long will our share of the world’s wealth be maintained ? - citing Eric Raymond’s, The Cathedral and the Bazaar,  before returning to the local, where artists’ voices and activities can be and should be of real importance. The example of the New 57 Gallery’s constitution, which was in turn adopted by Transmission and the Collective Gallery amongst others, exemplifies a set of values developed locally, but capable of allowing national and international dialogues and exchanges and offers a ready-made course of action for artists.

Christine Borland Presentation at the AHM Symposium

AHM pose a question

At the AHM symposium in October, Philip Schlesinger questioned whether Creative Scotland will be successful - will it convince the public it works? As yet there there are no clear set of objectives - only a vacuum of silence - although it appears that a business plan will be finalised in December. Philip Schlesinger noted that The Symposium offered the first real focus for debate since the establishment of Creative Scotland in July, 2010.

The discussion session was mainly about how artists could achieve a “voice” with Schlesinger suggesting that effective lobbying should reach out beyond obvious self-interest and that a more sophisticated argument, involving others, needs to be thought through.

AHM would like to pose an initial question: What do you, artists, designers, creative beings, expect and want from Creative Scotland?

Please share your thoughts via the AHM Symposium group on Central Station:


http://community.thisiscentralstation.com/_AHM-pose-a-question/blog/3024058/126249.html

One minute manifesto: Anthony Schrag

One minute manifesto: Anthony Schrag (Circa 2010)

(NOTE: the performance of this will be much better than the writing – It will involve attempting to juggle kitchen knives.)



Central Two Tenets of My Practice:

1) Everything will be ok

2) Make it all up as you go along.

(I’ve already failed at one of these)

MANIFESTO

A Manifesto is defined as public written declaration of principles, policies and objectives, especially one issued by a political movement or candidate. I am not sure if I am part of a political movement or if I am candidate for anything other than being myself, however, I will endeavour to provide some sort of manifesto that might explore my principals, policies and objectives in a cohesive manner.

The artist Nathalie de Brie once referred to my practice as “Fearless”. The writer Marjorie Celona said to me: “Anthony. You have a lot of ideas. Not all of them are good.”

I am not sure if in admitting that I become a better artist. Or worse.

And I am not sure if it is clear from this admission that what I am interested in is the tension between fearlessness and failure. Someone, recently, said: there is nothing better than authentic failure on stage. And while I am not a big fan of stages, sometimes we can’t ignore that we all have some form of stage – a gallery wall, a theatre, a blank page, a canvas, a house, a car, a lover or even a field: everyone has a stage that they drag along behind them.

So if we take this person’s statement about authentic failure as a type of truth (and I have chosen to do so) I’d like to use this stage to illustrate the nature of failure and fearlessness, as a way to show another part of my practice - that I’m more of a “doer” than a “maker”.

I can’t juggle. I can’t even juggle with balls. But I do have three kitchen knives and I’d like to see if I can’t just create some authentic failure right now…. I think it illustrates the need within contemporary art to be more welcoming to failure, which is a much wider and bigger topic to discuss, but perhaps it is within the attempt where art can be the most powerful.

(At this point, I will try to juggle with some kitchen knives. I’m not sure what will happen next. But when its finished happening, I will leave the stage.)

AHM are the featured group on Central Station

AHM are the featured group on Central Station!

AHM have formed a group on Central Station called AHM Symposia, and documentation of the initial AHM State of Play Symposium is gradually being uploaded.

You will already find video footage of Philip Schlesinger's presentation, lots of photos, and a report on the event by AHM.

One by one, the individual manifestos are being uploaded to Central Station and the AHM blog, starting with Anthony Schrag's one minute manifesto today.

AHM are really keen to hear from people and continue the discussion started at the symposium, and these individual manifestos prove an ideal opportunity to do so.

Please join Central Station, become a member of the AHM Symposia group and make any thoughts, questions, comments about the symposium material.

The Central Station link is http://www.thisiscentralstation.com

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes

AHM

Join the AHM Symposia group on Central Station

AHM Symposia group is on Central Station - please join!

One month ago, the first of three symposia organised by AHM (Ainsley Harding Moffat) took place at the Gilmorehill Centre, University of Glasgow.  The aim of the event was to examine where Scotland’s art and culture stands today and to re-engage the radical imagination.

The symposium sold out three days before the event and 186 people turned up to spend a Saturday sharing their views on the State of Play in the arts today.

This group has been established to continue the discussions that began with the initial symposium.

AHM realise that there were many people that would have liked to have attended, but who were unable to. Through this group it will be possible for such people to access symposium material. Over time, there will be plenty of footage (video, photos, text and audio) from the symposium to help stimulate more debate and response.
There will also be information about the forthcoming symposia.

Please get in touch and lets continue the discussion!

http://community.thisiscentralstation.com/_AHM-Symposium/blog/2967289/126249.html

Q&A: Martin Boyce

Central Station have published an interesting interview with Martin Boyce which looks at Glasgow's Art scene.

Read it at:
http://community.thisiscentralstation.com/_QA-Martin-Boyce/blog/2601506/126249.html