Himptology extracts

Some extracts from our new show at the Arches.

Himptology: The Second Coming

Returning to the Arches for the first time since their successful, eponymous exhibition as part of the Glasgow International in 2005, which focused on moments of everyday life, "Hole in my Pocket" now turn their attention onto the slippery and dangerous topic of religion.

With the Pope coming to town next month, it seemed like a good time to open that divisive question of religion and see what could be found. Our current generation say they have no religion, in a 2006 Guardian poll 63% of people said they were not religious. Hole in my Pocket have therefore set out to steal all the best bits from other religions and form a new religion of their own - Himptology. It will be a democratic religion based around the ideas of creativity (not creation) and part of their new Arches exhibition will focus on audience interaction, asking where mainstream religion has been going wrong and calling for suggestions for what a new 21C belief system could entail.

HOLE IN MY POCKET: THE SECOND COMING

"Bringing their thoughts on faith, belief and belonging to The Arches, Hole in my Pocket form their own religion and ask you to become a true believer."

As well as the main exhibition Hole in my Pocket are also organising a series of three unusual social events which are shaping up to be great fun and rather unique and exciting experiences. The events, entitled "Hole in my Pocket: The Sunday Service", will use the framework of a traditional Church service to present new art work and performance. They will be an exploration of the creative industries in Glasgow and a celebration in creativity in general.

THE SUNDAY SERVICE

"Hole in my Pocket invite you to join them for The Himp Sunday Service, an non-denominational alternative to Sunday School for creative types. Come along and hear a series of sermons from top artists, designers and performers about their chosen creative fields, find out what inspires them and celebrate the Church of Creativity in style with some group karaoke led by a local Choir, readings from Moby Dick and a nice cup of tea. Sundays 19 September and 3, 10 October 1 -2.30pm."

Month of the Book

Just realised that Himp sketchbooks along with other pieces of my work will be on display/ sale at the following over the next wee while. There are associated launch nights and parties to them all - check out the links.

Zine Showcase 19 March - 4 April
Gin Palace 9-12 April
Welcome Home Gallery 17-25 April
GI Artist Bookfair 16-17 April

I'd better get drawing - book two is far from finished.

Common of Houses

Currently working up some ideas for a touring exhibition of the Common of Houses competition entries. www.commonofhouses.co.uk

A Wee Tasty Experiment

In all the pigeon excitement of earlier on I forgot to mention that our books are for sale at Stereo in Glasgow tonight as part of A Wee Tasty's Experiment. Theres a write up about it in the Skinny here. We were asked to take part by the guys at Now Now who are trying to orginise all sorts of arty fun in Glasgow and have just recently had an art record breaking day.

We weren't able to make it - sadly - hence the reason I'm sitting at the computer and not enjoying all the fun but it sounded like it was going to be a lot of fun. Looking forward to the photos.

Saul Stienberg

A couple of my drawings got into the Saul Steinberg competition at the Dulwich Gallery and you can see them at the below link - for some reason the quality is terrible though.
http://pix.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk/gallery23.aspx

New exhibition

I popped through to Edinburgh at the weekend to drop off some paintings for this show. Looks like it will be good fun. Its taking place in a very nice town house in Edinburgh two doors down from the American Consulate and its rather posh.

Its also for a really good cause so please try and pop along and see if anything takes your fancy.

Good book

Just heard word about the launch of the website about the postcard book that I am going to be in, when it is published in September. I've had a wee look and it seems I am in good company with David Shriggley and Tom Gauld for company.

http://www.postcard-book.info:80/

Back

Been out of things for wee while due to work commitment and jury duty. Jury duty was very interesting but not the most pleasent experience of my life so far.

More photos of the GIBF are online now
http://www.giab.org.uk/

Stop me and buy one

I had an intersting time over the last two days at the Glasgow International Artist Bookfair, the first such event to take place in Glasgow. As mentioned before we didn't have a table and above is the trolley we created to sell our wares. It was really god fun pushing the trolley around the place, it did mean I had to be on my feet for two whole days but it did allow me to move to wherever I fancie and meant I could walk over and chat to the other stall hodlers and check out their stuff. The stuff in question was a huge variety of artist books ranging from short one line cards, to artist-zines, book sculptures and massive leather bound prints.


Above the four himp books on sale

himp lolly-pop business cards


himp in card
Himp Flag


*Mucho gracious to Ann and Gav for their assistance in getting the trolley ready for the show.
Himp flag

Book fair excitement

Well we are in another book fair this coming weekend. Its part of the Glasgow International Festival and takes place in the Royal Concert Hall from 11am - 6pm Friday 25th & Saturday 26th April. For more information, the list of other artist involved, maps and all other do-das visit http://www.giab.org.uk/.

Sadly we found out about the show too late to get one of the tables so instead we were asked to come up with an alternative method of showing the books. Our alternative method is shown above, a nice old trolley found in a skip. Over the next two nights it will be going through a full face lift and will become a beautiful trolley of books selling wonderous or at least very brightly coloured.

Books on sale will include - "Tales from the Edge", "Himp Vol 1", "Space Adventures 1" and "B for Boredom". All are excellant gifts for the loved ones in your life and, if you can't make it down to what promises to be a very entertaining show this weekend, the books are availible from our site, just drop us an email to sort out purchase.

Paper, Scissors, stone

Probably should have posted about this a while ago but we have some books on sale at the Paper, Scissors, Stone Artist book fair in London tomorrow morning. (Details below.) We will also be selling them as Part of the Glasgow International Artist Book fair on the 25th and 26th April. Will post more details later.

Storyscapes: Part 2

Doh, sad news again I'm afraid. We didn't get picked to build the Storyscape piece for the Museum in Wem. It's a shame as I think our ideas were pretty good and I think working with the folk at the museum would have been great fun. Dez and Ali who run the museum are really nice and are both full of stories. The museum itself is a treasure trove of different art objects, storytelling artifacts and book upon book of stories. Sadly, I didn't think to take any photos when I was down, but if you are in the Shropshire area it is definitely worth a visit.

After the interview on Friday Ann and I spent the weekend driving around Shropshire and Wales. We'd never been to that part of the country before, and armed with our satnav, we happily trundled around having a look at everything we could find. Was a very pleasant way to spend a weekend, despite the torrential rain and high winds.

Highlights of trip include, the Myth museum itself, the odd village of Portmerrion, seeing several thousand swallows swarming over Gretna Green and me accidentally catapulting a bowl of rice over a nearby table.

Storyscapes

The museum in Wem are after some kind of device that will act as an art object/ interactive piece within the musuems pernament collection but which can also be used by storytellers as part of a storytelling experience. This sounds hopefully along the lines of the Storytelling Machine I designed for the musuem of Shetland, so I am developing a idea along similar lines.

Had a few good ideas so far. One of which is using music and an old bird cage. I'll post some outline sketch ideas next week after the interview.

Between the words

(Sample of some of the different artists work)

The Bookmark Project 2007: Parallax

Guest Curator: Danielle Williams

November 4 - 11, 2007

Reception: Sunday, November 4, 2 to 4 pm, Koffler Gallery lobby

For the sixth year in a row, the Koffler Gallery has organized The Bookmark Project. This year's theme, Parallax, examines the bookmark's paradoxical nature, as its very position and purpose appear to vary when viewed from different perspectives. Selected through an open call, artist-designed bookmarks are introduced into the 8,000 books on display during the 30th Annual Jewish Book Fair, Leah Posluns Theatre Lobby at the BJCC, with sample bookmarks on display in the Koffler Centre showcases through November.

This year's participating artists include: Natasha Bailey, Roberly Ann Bel, Mira Berlin, Allistair Burt, Carrie Chisholm, Alex Coley, Heather Courtney, Stephen Cruise, Scott McCarney, Nola L. McConnan, Issha Marie Onoya, Kathy Ouellette, Portia Priegert, Cecilia Tiburzio, Karoline Varin-Jarkowski and Alma Yingyi Wang.

For more info click here http://www.kofflerarts.org/gallery.shtml

Science geeks

Science Geeks

The Plockton Exhibiton opens on Friday - and the word on the street is that its going to be very good. Obviously chuffed to have work in the show and also equally chuffed that our book is on sale there and doing very well. For those of you who haven't yet had a chance to purchase "Hole in my Pocket - Sketchbooks volume 1" then fear not as there is still a supply left in stock - though not sure how many more print runs there will be with work now progressing on volume 2. Wy not check out the extracts and if you still want a copy then send us an email.

cover

extract 1

extract 2

extract 3

extract 4

back cover

more things i made

Battle Elephant

The Storytelling Machine

Just recieved this copy of an image of the Storytelling Machine in postion. Hard to make it out, but it does look suitablly old and spooky.

Plockton ideas

Where the animals hide (2007)

Inital colour test sketch for a painting inspired by the book "The testement of Gideon Mack." Will try and complete this and a further series of 6 paintings by this time next week.

Hmmm can't decide if pen and ink overlaid looks good or not http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1277/589423855_fab8a2ee37_o.jpg

Shetland is open

Hmmm it was the opening of the new Shetland gallery and museum yesterday for which I designed the above storytelling machine. Sadly I didn't get to go to the opening or I could have met up with Charlie and his mrs and the Queen of Norway. Instead I had to make do with listening to a tour of the new museum on Front Row on Radio 4 - click here to hear it for yourself.

EDIT: Whoops the link didn't work - is now fixed