Madison protest with Radio head

I often want to film parts of protests that I am on.. but sometimes the camera gets in the way of conversations and I let go. I also end up taking pictures of the ground and feet and skylines which isn't always what I think they expect of me, whoever they are..

Anyway some dropped this link through and I love it. Time lapse, great sound, and movement..

Tax the rich. (Shared on NSSN facebook pages and others have in build up for the 26th March)

Uncovered..

I finally sent out the link to this to more than 30 people I know very well, some less so, and one or two I hardly know but think this process, themes might link into.

I keep wanting to read all that I have written and edit and cut and delete but there is no time, unless I give up this day to that. I am imperfect and these words reflect that.

No point just having me ramble in this space alone, when your there and I could be working with you, around you and through you too.

Step up missy dillon, theres more to uncover....

Franz Marc colour in darkness

I was looking for colour... in the sadder times and spaces that are happening.. going ahead and I feel and reach.

At the end of the TUC womens conference, which ironically ended with a debate on cuts to the arts, a couple of us stayed to walk by the water before and walked into a small gallery. The artists work used colours like Franz Marc and Marc Chagall did... warmth, depth, inviting but layered.

I added a photo to profile pic on facebook... but I also learnt more about him and the work. I felt an incompleteness to the work, unfinished, unstarted, but actually it was far worse than that he was imagining... far worse that we can see..:

It wont let me upload.. something about the file format:

This is his wiki -

And here is the image: unfinished, chaos with beauty inter twined and bound.

RMT Vs The standard

From Steve Hedley Regional Organiser for RMT.

(Early on I thought I would follow the RMT's coverage of the RMT though I am in an active way and supportive, its not the key part of this MA.. but important)

Dear colleauges

You may have read a completley false story about me in the evening standard .
The story is this.I was at mile end station and was aware that three trains had dropped off pasangers at a station that was supposed to be closed.I went to question a manager as to why he was keeping the station open with less people than the minimum number required and in so doing breaking the law so move him back.section12(brought in after the Kings Cross disaster)

The manager leaned towards me in an agressive way only inches from my face and i put my hand on his shoulder to prevent him headbutting me.Three independent witnesses including a prosecution witness confirmed my story the manager had no witnesses.Despite this the bosses court could not resist the opportunity to have a political stab at the RMT and fined me 200 pounds plus 500 costs.I am of course appealing.

http://guy-smallman-photos.photoshelter.com/gallery/RMT-metronet-strike-protest-4-9-07/G0000akR8mUC3Xac


Ironically during the last metronet strike I saved a standard photographer from a management thug who attacked him see link.Of coures this did not get reported in the standard or any other paper.One law for them another for us.

Madness & sadness (draft after watching HOWL)

The madness and the sadness that follows me

Follows you

I have opened the door and let it in

It is what becomes of them, of me,

It is what is brews in me, what I am

But the maddness is not mine alone

nor sadness that I own

...

I have fed on these for years and fears

and eaten them up like there is no more

and you, each of you I bite,

in kindness, darkness and delight

I have fed on these for fears, for years

and eaten you for light and sight

I eat less today, no need to grieve

on your, on mine, the past, not now

My madness, my sadness

is not mine alone

My madness, my sadness

is not my only home

Fed on you for fears, for tears

torn up, torn blue

turned red, torn through

My madness, your sadness

I held, too tight

this day, this time

I let go, let light..

let light.

Arts..

I woke up early today half four in the morning and have trundled downstairs as it feels like I can move here. A hot choclate and lets see.

My mind started on what could I or should I say at the TUC women's conference? Section on cuts, which I need to go through but also the final resolution, around cuts in arts.

What cuts have their been in arts over the years, what impact has that had, cuts in HE and FE, what are arts and purpose in society. .. Women in 1917 bread and roses... wanted and need material basics but also something that began to fill the empty bursting soul that we can be told to accept.

Why do I need the arts in my life? Colour, purpose, research, process, disabilities?

I need to research the cuts made and proposals, impacts on local and national work not mainstream theatres or galleries which already suck up the majority of arts funding. Funding which comes from most of our taxes.

This is a ramble but needed as I begin to work my way through this and also begin to consider the process. How will I work out what I need to work out..

Will I forget this MA as time ticks over and over and I become less and less engaged with the student world I was almost part of?

Its been a while..

NSSN anticuts campaig (I didn't lay it out but helping to develop content and raise profile of site and campaign). Added this little word JPEG for peoples profiles, to try and quickly raise the profile of the date online, in social networking sites, ours and that of those involved.

And I don't quite know what I have done with it all.. well this week and a bit of last week has been working on a communications strategy for the NSSN anti cuts campaign. And its great to be involved in and also have people to work with and engage with. In fact, that's probably the key to it all!

I need people to work with, that I can rely on and that will rely on me, so I get something done rather than wallow about from one site to another..but often in denial at taking the risks that would show that my skills are poor, my world view is wide and generalised and the things I want to do, I sometimes get a chance to do. ..However poor or questionable they are.

Today I see my supervisor again, been a while, since Dec I think, but I couldn't have met any earlier and truly, I am not that prepared. When I have been, I have been able to make the most out of the process. The intelligent, challenging but deeply and insight fully supportive discussion. I am very lucky!

But I have questions, is this worth my while? The money, the remote nature of the process and structure. Its not enough. Its not enough for me.. I think. But I could develop a team, maybe Sophie for some Liverpool shoots and narrative challenges. Lisa for similar but the edit and discussion. Pete for additional footage, linking in the Liverpool experience and also

I can get more 1--2-1 as I work along through text

- 6-8 tutorials

- 4-5 meetings with specialist tutors

- kit?

- post kit and ideas

- some sitting in on a few units - Photography, video portraits,

- some collaborators? Ex students - you need a synopsis. Time is running short..