#AnArtFlo. Summer 2023.

On June 1st 2023 I arrived in Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhone to be 'arty' crew on a sailing boat that was to voyage back to Normandy.  I had no experience of sailing but had met skipper and project initiator Jean-Marc through a mutual friend having stayed in his home near Isigny-Sur-Mer during my project 'Au Monstre D'Isigny' over the summer 2022.   

Throughout the voyage I made daily paintings and drawings capturing the locations we visited and the adventures undertaken.

***Link to Flickr folder with all my pictures from the Voyage***

The other 'arty' crew members were Iza Gyuk, 1st mate and film maker, Julian Happe; musician and Adé Béart; writer film maker.  I left the boat on the 10th of July in Porto because of an exhibition commitment in St Saveur-La-Vicomte.  But on the 21st july, the crew rejoined me for a first exhibition of work made on the 'AnArtFlo' in the Chateau of Saint-Saveur-Le-Vicomte.  Other mainly filmic work is still emerging...

***Link to Flickr folder with all my pictures from the Voyage***

***Link to Flickr folder with all my pictures from the Voyage***

Painting the Market and Art... ça Marche?

I've begun painting a series of pictures in the market, on the market, of the market. 

I live in the Cotentin peninsular and there are more than 40 street markets spread throughout the area and week.  They are where you can find the finest and best value local produce.  During 'La Bataille D'Isigny' I also found the street market an invaluable means to present in person to the town population. 

When I was in my 'locale' Au Monstre D'Iisgny' I was often asked 'Ca Marche?'  Based in a high street shop people assumed I was there for business.  The church building opposite me is an extravagant demonstration of a non-business high street presence.  When people ask you 'ca marche?' it kinda means is it working?  and by that they mean are you selling.  'Ca Marche?' one could ask the priest... although the context would then change to meaning...hmmm.

In English the word 'market' shifts from the street market, to the stock market to the idea of virtual transactional exchange effortlessly.  On a painted sign above my market stall I painted a text In French that I'd translated from English poking at my purpose in the market.  But I've found the definition of  the word 'marché' in French is less transferable from the street to other.  After my second market I adjusted the sign striking the text through with a golden line.  But I have kept it because I believe it does still provoke thought into the playful conceptual space I want my 'on/in/of' market painting activity to stretch into.  

Ca Marche? people say to me wondering if I'm selling anything but I immediately swing the question back to them asking them to judge the quality of the painting and the wider aesthetic exchange of my presence  on and in the market...perhaps my art?