Alex Heslop

My blog is about to change its tune slightly.

Get ready.

For I’m about to wrestle with uncertainty.

And some big-ass stuff.

Like, big-ass,

real life, 

spanner-in-the-works,

angry-at-life, stuff.

But don’t worry,

I intend to not be a cheeseball about it

(I hate those kind of blog posts).

Just lots of anger.

And moderate reflection.

But mainly anger.

And bad grammar.

So, this time, not the beauty

(as it says up there to the right).

But the rubbish.

Naval-gazing?

Definitely. 

But right now, I don’t care.

And perhaps you won’t either.

So here goes.

-

Grief: a deconstruction

(I did warn you).

-

Grief.

An abstract noun, apparently.

More like cold hard concrete.

A feeling?

Many. 

A state of mind?

Perhaps.

Although, I’d challenge anyone who says that it can be altered.

A problem?

Sometimes.

A moment?

Never.

A lifetime?

Always.

They say 'time heals'.

But it doesn’t.

Time creates distance.

Distance from a certain day, 

hour, 

minute, 

second, 

when everything folded in on itself.

And collapsed into an inescapable nightmare.

An incessant,

destructive,

confusing,

restless

nightmare.

Very present.

And very real.

Distance can distract,

fool

and often help.

But it does not mend.

‘They’- whoever ‘they’ are- are wrong.

Idiots.

It remains very present

and very real.

(whatever ‘it’ is).

Grief.

Love’s cruel concrete consequence

(try saying that when it surprises you).

Hopeless.

Unpredictable.

Versatile.

            To celebrate my new found residential location, I thought I'd write a little something about Edwina Ellis.

(besides, anyone with the name Edwina, definitely deserves a mention)

Edwina designed the new kickass masthead for the Times and is responsible for the Bridge series of four one pound coins, and for a new two pound coin (there it is above).

She's also the fine lady who taught me wood engraving at uni and has a rather endearing Australian accent. 

As you can see, she has MAD engraving skills, a keen eye for detail and designs for purpose like a BOSS.

She's also doing some great stuff for engraving as a whole; having recently developed printing apparatus using laser-cutting technology and has recently worked with Intaglio Printmaker to develop a range of engraving tools.

Check them out...

They're really quite beautiful objects.

This particular type, with bowed sides, is called a spitstick.

                  So I’m now officially a LONDONER.

It’s been a long time coming, but it’s happened.

And is definitely a big fat change from rural Welsh life.

Looks like we’ve traded all the bountiful fields, crystal clean air, trusty welsh folk, abundant wildlife, tractors, the flowing river Teifi and a rather mellow pace for some questionable grass, general pollutants, DANGER, badman gangsters, one-legged pigeons, hubbub, the dirty river Thames, and a general feeling of over suspicion.

But, on the PLUS side, at least we now have a kickass shower, lots of pals nearby and Dennis the postman does seem very nice.

Oh, and I get start a new academic adventure in the museum of dreams.

I guess that’s a bit fat BONUS.

So, yeah, hello Hackney. 

I hope you will be kind to us.

I have a sneaky feeling you will.

And, to quote king Simba, “Danger? Ha! I walk on the wild side. I laugh in the face of danger.”

So I've just discovered THE BEST PLACE ON EARTH.

Tucked away in Ozzano Taro, a small neighborhood in Collecchio, in the province of Parma, is this museum of everyday life- a beautiful collection of every day things. Here objects are displayed in mesmerising ways, with some tool or other occupying every available nook and cranny. 

This modest collection is the result of a lifetime of care, hard work and patience of primary school teacher Ettore Guatelli:

“These are humble things... but some of them are incredibly ingenious, poetic in their humility, and loveable...That makes you want to understand who was there, and what was behind these objects. It makes you want to know in what way and under what circumstances these items were used”

Have a little look at these photos . I'm sure you will agree, quite a magical looking place.

Definitely know where i'm going next year.

Just picked up my Autumn copy of Printmaking Today and read about this little project.

This 45 minute documentary looks at modern British wood engraving, exploring it’s many uses and profiles the lives of todays practitioners.

Looks lke a good one.

Oh, it also features ten minute interviews with a handful of engravers, including Miriam MacGregor and my engraving teacher (and all round TOP lady) Edwina Ellis. 

Just ordered my copy of this badboy. 

As issue Number One was SO great, thought I'd get my order in PRONTO.

If you haven't heard of this magazine of unexpected creativity, it's defintely worth a gander. 

It's a nice look at finding beauty in everyday life and how ideas and products make an unexpected impact.