Of Love & Hate; Hearts at odds.

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJT2v0xD5eCzxkji5jAFgF3LqhjOeZW7DGunERyFox_nEPiyly8LvFkigt9YpWjfrKT4rpwKRh5h4COU9NiYo8ZLD1aAI-iu4tfGnIg32hyO1M2rItOJ8GlNGsyTQAqrRAS-hbcec/s1600-h/Trinity+of+Rats.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332745601347168194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJT2v0xD5eCzxkji5jAFgF3LqhjOeZW7DGunERyFox_nEPiyly8LvFkigt9YpWjfrKT4rpwKRh5h4COU9NiYo8ZLD1aAI-iu4tfGnIg32hyO1M2rItOJ8GlNGsyTQAqrRAS-hbcec/s320/Trinity+of+Rats.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 225px;" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="color: #cc33cc;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Alternative surface options.</span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;">Whilst processing the manufacture and delivery of transfers, I decided to experiment with some alternative surface options. I decided to apply an old technique used on vases 10 years ago. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Sgrafitto</span></span>, using <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Amaco</span></span> under-glaze Velvet colours, </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;">incised and fired to vitrified temperatures</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;">.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;"> The three rats above are painted in brown and black <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Amaco</span></span> - the brown rat in the middle already</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;">fired (vitrified), whilst the two rats below have been incised, drying to be fired. I will then apply gold transfers to the vitrified surface.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0wDDASVjAI16UEtS42F3-z7EtsFhDxlzgNTsDhxwMZ-S-PChnkeMcnoVFJhAWXjENqn3CvDUBGa6GytyGfsr5q5QCVHra6YYrHm4lyMP2uuUwj67eclffQRbO7-AzufQrlIzA9IYX/s1600-h/ensemble+of+rats.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332744759543252978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0wDDASVjAI16UEtS42F3-z7EtsFhDxlzgNTsDhxwMZ-S-PChnkeMcnoVFJhAWXjENqn3CvDUBGa6GytyGfsr5q5QCVHra6YYrHm4lyMP2uuUwj67eclffQRbO7-AzufQrlIzA9IYX/s320/ensemble+of+rats.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 297px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 320px;" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 130%; font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><span style="color: #cc33cc; font-family: arial; font-size: 130%; font-weight: bold;">Alternative surfaces - incising through under glaze colours. </span>

Of Love & Hate; Hearts at odds.

Alternative surface options. Whilst processing the manufacture and delivery of transfers, I decided to experiment with some alternative sur...

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Rats become Brats / Surface Development.

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNMR_1l7zSKh0XC1vbwfpbHIWWlNJFMHFSwQYuX13rKS2WFUcmDjjCCUPi9IO2zWM_bou8Lgmhz7BSVu8lvXLyqVBVAO8ECnqqW8pw9zefZLz-uSNHIn4rrv2oMlu8eDLN80K9Ju1/s1600-h/symbolism+of+roses.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330134141504155714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNMR_1l7zSKh0XC1vbwfpbHIWWlNJFMHFSwQYuX13rKS2WFUcmDjjCCUPi9IO2zWM_bou8Lgmhz7BSVu8lvXLyqVBVAO8ECnqqW8pw9zefZLz-uSNHIn4rrv2oMlu8eDLN80K9Ju1/s320/symbolism+of+roses.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 240px;" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><span style="color: #cc33cc; font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">Surface development concepts.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Its time to develop appropriate surface options for the rats, derived from an investigation into possible titles for the works. I have cast and assembled a variety of animated options for the rats as reflected in the final image posted below. The installation and various groupings (pairs) are now possible, completely visualised and could be realised. However without an integrated, conceptually refined ceramic surface, the actual ceramic sculptures are incomplete. Hence the enclosed images of transfers, their intended symbolic meaning, including the religious and political extremists and fundamentalist symbols, necessary to give shape and meaning to the intended ceramic installation, to be titled, </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Never-Promised-Rose-Garden-Signet/dp/0451160312"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I never promised you a rose garden</span></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Never-Promised-Rose-Garden-Signet/dp/0451160312">.</a> For further insight into the concept behind the title - see caption below. </span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFNbnoEZXltj7iJjOzcBrA2-j4zewIjg6wxgH3SpS8fR_4om0FUXJeGkv9__-KUGil-3QRj4Hiq3LCqmnR0DGA6YzNAk08xW_E8BgDjn1pae1E3aXHmnbNc_7WF5bbcsxRkX2v-GC/s1600-h/roses+symbolic+value+of+colours+final.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330133919612952850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFNbnoEZXltj7iJjOzcBrA2-j4zewIjg6wxgH3SpS8fR_4om0FUXJeGkv9__-KUGil-3QRj4Hiq3LCqmnR0DGA6YzNAk08xW_E8BgDjn1pae1E3aXHmnbNc_7WF5bbcsxRkX2v-GC/s320/roses+symbolic+value+of+colours+final.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 241px;" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">The title of the work has it's roots within the conflict experienced by the author, Joanne </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" style="font-family: arial;">Greenberg</span><span style="font-family: arial;">, of the book with the above mentioned title. She was bullied as a child which shaped her worldview as recorded in her autobiography. The idea behind the installation and pairs of rats is to encapsulate the complex juxtaposed worldviews plaguing society today (incorporating religious conflict - <a href="http://pluralism.org/news/index.php?cont_story_id=105">French ban on religious symbols in schools</a>). Fundamentalists and extremists with their hateful agendas are bulling their way forward; in direct response to the impact of globalisation. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;">Why <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">transfers</span> of roses you may ask? </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Their </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" style="font-family: arial;">intended</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> meaning</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">{a bed of roses, The war of roses (movie title)} - they are highly complex symbols, ambivalent as both heavenly perfection and earthly passion, the flower is both time and eternity, life and death, fertility and virginity. A symbol of beauty, grace, </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" style="font-family: arial;">happiness</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> but also </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" style="font-family: arial;">voluptuousness</span><span style="font-family: arial;">, the passions associated with wine, sensuality and seduction. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;">The Rose garden is a paradise symbol</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> - and is the place of mystic marriage, harmony, the union of opposites - beauty, perfection and chastity.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;"> The evanescence of the rose</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> represents death, mortality and sorrow, its thorns signify pain, blood and martyrdom.</span> Although colour plays an important part (symbolism captured in ballpoint pen in the above enclosed images), the emphasis was placed on the rose garden - a spectrum of colour; showcasing the beauty of society's diversity and hence the variety of rose transfers.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_90iX-oFxHdJIyRXjiuYQcJbl8ZUtm9Uj7HJGLiUQOoPYoW_aB8p5FVtQWDNMhYoR3eTcCHRgAhPowFvzzpAJpZycLCe7Gt7W0-nT5c2piPc9nt12ejpef9-MRIQShE36yDvS7JPM/s1600-h/Religous+symbols.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330133610037471890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_90iX-oFxHdJIyRXjiuYQcJbl8ZUtm9Uj7HJGLiUQOoPYoW_aB8p5FVtQWDNMhYoR3eTcCHRgAhPowFvzzpAJpZycLCe7Gt7W0-nT5c2piPc9nt12ejpef9-MRIQShE36yDvS7JPM/s320/Religous+symbols.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 240px;" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVA0Q6w7ZiqDAkAiSGq9uMgbXWGDOB7JCfP1olVdF56iqFhTk3TsBVnfzjHabeaqjewsCb_LT802B6fR5N-aOW3bjhQyPvvSKhY_51nOKIjW-fUWi4JOSIt7W0-W5V_2qgdiIUnDBE/s1600-h/extremists+symbols.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330133469624781042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVA0Q6w7ZiqDAkAiSGq9uMgbXWGDOB7JCfP1olVdF56iqFhTk3TsBVnfzjHabeaqjewsCb_LT802B6fR5N-aOW3bjhQyPvvSKhY_51nOKIjW-fUWi4JOSIt7W0-W5V_2qgdiIUnDBE/s320/extremists+symbols.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 244px;" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #cc33cc; font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Religious and political symbols - for many they represent images of conflict (enforced morals) and oppression (bullies)</span><br /></span>We all strive to live in peace and harmony, a open and free society, tolerant of each other views. However we live in a world plagued by hot wars with no front (Umberto Eco; </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">Turning back the clock</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> 2008) - the enemy lurking within (the enemy is amongst us) and around us. Hence the fact that the above showcased religious and political symbols (printed gold transfers) will be dispersed in a calculated and carefully designed fashion amongst the rose transfers on the body of the animated rats - turning them, on close observation, into fundamentalist and extremist brats (bullies); ready to spread their anger and frustration, reminiscent of the black plague.</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqqtdrCWOgyLRoSm-ocI3FAnOpUokDjXHy7T6UTsiQSqxP1PTVII2j2zDGOk9DsWOi-O-mVbrE1j48PLuVTxZdT2LVdZYexRyB0RCmi_tQh7fGaUsoDgf4pIFDfoPG8NFpUPuu5dz/s1600-h/Animated+slip+cast+rats.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330133270866542418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqqtdrCWOgyLRoSm-ocI3FAnOpUokDjXHy7T6UTsiQSqxP1PTVII2j2zDGOk9DsWOi-O-mVbrE1j48PLuVTxZdT2LVdZYexRyB0RCmi_tQh7fGaUsoDgf4pIFDfoPG8NFpUPuu5dz/s320/Animated+slip+cast+rats.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 240px;" /></a>

Rats become Brats / Surface Development.

Surface development concepts. Its time to develop appropriate surface options for the rats, derived from an investigation into possible titl...

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Blair slams Pope's entrenched Attitude on Gays.

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh7-K_fj1o186uZjVtDz7StH8mqNFtYTIrw3lJ76cAlwHibxvPHmBGoSBp96zb9G03uMTdPs1r90gkodxCaXj9cGiInQGixga-ksPmVKLXB4K0C8Ug4j0VOmYA0Cgr9C7DKDZFbHcs/s1600-h/new+platter+angled+final.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327964465771640770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh7-K_fj1o186uZjVtDz7StH8mqNFtYTIrw3lJ76cAlwHibxvPHmBGoSBp96zb9G03uMTdPs1r90gkodxCaXj9cGiInQGixga-ksPmVKLXB4K0C8Ug4j0VOmYA0Cgr9C7DKDZFbHcs/s320/new+platter+angled+final.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 278px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 320px;" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiD53UlzRjnPFUJ6G0veNVkJNpGP_bFWtI7CHAFIi10Dj7cTLo7-OoqDv8Zj1mSlIZl3IqR6bti6ttumGHn9UmFyUeixuRulfqr9jIsHX9Y31jdIJD4K51-PcONFtdOaJZtznu0EmD/s1600-h/celebrating+pansy+two.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322961332745541442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiD53UlzRjnPFUJ6G0veNVkJNpGP_bFWtI7CHAFIi10Dj7cTLo7-OoqDv8Zj1mSlIZl3IqR6bti6ttumGHn9UmFyUeixuRulfqr9jIsHX9Y31jdIJD4K51-PcONFtdOaJZtznu0EmD/s320/celebrating+pansy+two.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 258px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 320px;" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #cc33cc; font-size: 130%; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://news.pinkpaper.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=887">Celebrating pansies</a>.</span> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 85%;">see post entry dated 16 January 2009.</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Another confrontational platter, titled <span style="font-style: italic;">Celebrating pansies</span> - in direct response to Blair's strong words on on the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7987566.stm">Pope's "entrenched" views on homosexuality</a> (see news paper article posted below or any of the posted links highlighted). In an interview with the <a href="http://www.attitude.co.uk/aboutattitute.aspx">gay men's magazine Attitude</a>, he (converted to Catholicism in 2007) stated that the Vatican should modernise. <span style="font-weight: bold;">You go Blaire - Attitude magazine hailed Blair as "probably the most prominent pro-gay religious figure in the the world (Daily Mail)".</span></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidtWOb0mE8HmmahrDKvYCuiXjcUwuksl2BC6k4iuIkgxqACGuNn4-rnMk69DQa6JuNyPDxKlBMCj_JLDikx5d5O7cw01uaQISb-RnyzVFHm5wgOz5rQqSmPSLYXW7XQsVLGCkDSICB/s1600-h/Blaire+news.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322959864351672930" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidtWOb0mE8HmmahrDKvYCuiXjcUwuksl2BC6k4iuIkgxqACGuNn4-rnMk69DQa6JuNyPDxKlBMCj_JLDikx5d5O7cw01uaQISb-RnyzVFHm5wgOz5rQqSmPSLYXW7XQsVLGCkDSICB/s320/Blaire+news.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 215px;" /></a>

Blair slams Pope's entrenched Attitude on Gays.

Celebrating pansies . see post entry dated 16 January 2009. Another confrontational platter, titled Celebrating pansies - in direct respon...

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