Old versus new technologies.
 

I've just made a bit of a boo-boo.:D

For ages I've been telling myself I should contact Blackburn College. Since being diagnosed with Parkinson's, all plans to eventually retire to Brittany and daub about with a paintbrush are no longer viable, as it now takes all my effort to even sign my name.

Some of the best and varied work I ever did was done whilst at Blackburn College on the art foundation course, work that was then used in my portfolio for degree entry.

My course tutor asked if he could keep my portfolio as an example to other students. I'd never really thought much about it, until I'm now unable to draw and produce anymore work.

Today I woke up and decided I would try and see if there is the slightest chance any of my work is still there after twenty three years.

After a search on Google I found the art department at Blackburn College. The tutors name was different, but that seemed reasonable after so long. I sent a Mr Huble an email, briefly outlining my request and the dates I studied there.

Twenty prompt minutes later my email was replied to.

Mr Huble was very sorry to tell me that there is no record of anyone of that name every having studied art at the college, and certainly no missing portfolio.:confused:

Disappointed I replied thanking him for his help, but insisted that I had defintely attended there on the given dates.

This is when I realised that the blurry photograph at the top of the page didn't look very familiar. On closer inspection I was shocked to see that the Blackburn College art department I'd been conversing with was actually in Illinois USA.

When I'd stopped laughing I thought using the telephone might be more my style.

I spoke to a very helpfull women in Blackburn Lancs, who is making enquires about my portfolio and is going to call me back.

Some people just aren't made to use new technology.:D

Re: Old versus new technologies.
 

Garinda,you should send that to Des Lymon,He loves titbits like that for the beginning of Countdown,,,It made me laugh,,and he sends you (a little something ) in return...:D

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how do you know GC ;) hehehehehehe

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Great story Garry. Hope that you find what you are looking for at Blackburn, and if you do get back into painting, I'll buy your first picture, at the right price, of course. Luv, T.C.

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Thanks T.C.:)

Cashman has had one of my old prints framed, perhaps he'll let visitors in to go and look at it.:D

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Cashy's holding an art gallery?? :eek: :D

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Nice one G. :D Will these pics end up in a gallery on this site?

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Now that's the sort of daft thing I'd probably do! :D

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Hey Rindy, I'm sorry your Parkinsons has progress to the point you're unable to do what you are obviously very good at and must have found very enjoyable. I hope you get the answers your seeking from Blackburn.

I think they've made some advances in dealing with some of Parkinsons symptoms. Have you seen any great progress being made? It would be so nice for you to be able to paint again! Chin up mate! (no offense I hope with refering to you as a mate)!

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Thanks. Art was my only natural talent. I've tried things on the computer, but it still all with my left hand, which is frustrating because my brain doesn't let my hand do what I want it to do.

Progress? Yeah the drugs I'm on are great at the moment. I'm sure there'll be great medical advances in my lifetime. There may even be a cure and I could go back to work, if I could find where I'd packed away my alarm clock.:)

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Garinda....I hope you do get your portfolio back.....and thanks for making me smile today. :D

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Lmao Rindy!!! Oh well at least you will never actually meet the poor lady that tried desperatly to find your portfolio roflmao :rolleyes:

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Hope your artwork is found soon. Maybe you could have a showing. Parkinson's research seems quite promising at the moment. It would be wonderful if you could progress to the point where you could get back to doing what you love so much. My cousin is a professional artist. Lives in Ossy. My nephew is trying to break into the field. He just moved to Liverpool which, I understand, has developed into quite an art mecca.

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Thank you.

Yes because Liverpool is soon to be the European Capital of Culture the art scene in the city is very much thriving.

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Their latest piece of art is a 20 foot statue made out of car wheel trims.

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Stop being Scouseist.:p

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hey its a great picture rindy and you still aint been down to see it framed. hope you trace your portfolio, paris and i would love to see it.;)

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scouseland is a great city, must be my family are there.
hmm cocked up hi-tech internet email v telephone conversation.
I use a laser spirit level to put a shelf up that still ends up crooked and the egyptians used something to build a great pyramid.

Your not the only one, but at least you have an excuse.

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What excuse? :D Not being able to identify the American accent in an email?;)

Says she who read some horrific news story a few years ago of an armed gunman running amok in Lancaster - then realised it was not the Lancaster just down the road from Morecambe but one on the other side of the Atlantic!

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Well after my struggles with technolgy and geography yesterday, I recieved a phone call this afternoon from my old sculpture tutor.

Sadly my portfolio can't be found, which was a bit of a long shot after twenty three years. He did remember me, especially the incident when one of my paintings caused uproar because of its explicitness, and some of the old guard wanted me thrown out, but happily some students and the more avant guarde lecturers started a petition for me to stay. Happy days.

Although disappointing about my old work, I'm going to give a talk to some of the students about my career as a fashion whore in London.

I've also started a painting a canvas that I've had stretched ready to paint for ages. It might take me years to finish, but it will be one day.:)

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Just think rindy 300 years from now when they knock down the art department, they will discover your long lost originals, stuffed behind a radiator and someone will make an absolute fortune. ;)

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Yes but for the next three hundred years how am I going to entice people up to my bedroom without my etchings?:eek: :D

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Erm, well, errr, you could always try waving your magic wand!
:)

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Aw what a shame that they can't be found after all that! :(

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sad to hear they couldn't find them G, maybe someone nicked em and have them proudly displayed somewhere... :eek:

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Never say never. They may still surface one of these days. Glad to hear you are attempting a new canvas.

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Will it be a Lowry style painting of Ossy or a personal painting of ASFC?

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Its a portrait that I've had in my head for ages now.

Square canvas, about 15 inches, painted dark brown.
A circle as big as the square inside, covered in gold leaf.
In the centre, a side view, head and shoulders portrait of a man, similar in looks to Rudolph Valentiono, 1920's matinee idol look. It might have bits of poetry stuck on the brown background, and will be heavily varnished.

I know exactly what it'll look like, its just getting my hand to do what I want it to do now, which I will...eventually.:D

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go for it rindy you CAN do it mate.;)

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you sound like me willow a lousy artist ;) yet me lads got a masters in it. don't know where that came from.:D

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Mind you - I did get some artwork in a Dr. Who book once so that mustn't have been too bad! :D

Here's a pencil sketch I did of singer Dobie Gray umpty million years ago. Unfortunately some well meaning person cut it out from the background so it looks a but weird round the edges.

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/a...1&d=1159572287

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That ain't at all bad Willow.

Who is Dobie Gray though?

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He's an American singist

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/a...1&d=1159573021

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Right. It's a very good likeness then. Did you draw it free hand, or work from a photograph of him posed like you drew him?


(I'll get told off for wandering in my own thread. I should start a Rindy's Vision On thread.:))

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Cool, its really good. I'm going to find some of his music to listen to as well.:)

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You go Willow, I grew up on that music! He had a unique way of singing!

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Were there is a will there is a way. Dosnt mater how long it takes its something you want to do so go for it G.

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I've just had a call from another of my old lecturers, some of my work has turned up, and I'm arranging to go and to pick it up.:):):):)

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Did you use regression therapy on your old lecturer so s/he could remember that far back :rolleyes: :D


I bet you are pleased to find some of it Gary.

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Just remember there are no cheap flights from Manchester to Blackburn (england) garinda :o

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Just a quick question Rindy, have you thought of getting your signiture made into a stamp then when you need to sign you can just use the stamp alot easier when you have parkies!

A lady once used it to sign her things in the shop eg: cheque or bank transaction slip!

Just a thought for you. :-)

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My bank, the Halifax, have been really helpful with similar ideas. Though with chip and pin, happily I hardly need to sign anything anymore.:)


Yes Mick, I'll try and end up in Blackburn Lancashire and not Blackburn Illinois....hopefully.:D

Re: Old versus new technologies.
 

Really lovely suprise this morning.

My old lecturer at Blackburn, who inspired my choice of degree course at art school, contacted me this morning.

This was her message...

'I remember you - and very fondly. I don't think anyone else ever saw the potential in making garments out of the print backing cloth! You were a total joy as a student. Intelligent, witty, hard- working and completely bonkers - the best combination of attributes.
I do have one piece and some photo's that I have always kept for sentimental reasons as well as for being great work. It's your "book project" work sheets and the photo's of you and other students in your (so 80's!) garments. I would love for you to have them.'

Had an awful week, health wise, and this has been a total tonic, and made me smile

Hopefully going to collect the work, and catch up with an amazing lecturer, very soon.

Sorry for bringing up an old thread.

Just wanted to share something that's made me happy.

:)

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Yes, and thanks for sharing ...xx
Feel better soon.

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Just PM'd you G....hope you will soon be feeling much better.

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If you're still in to that sort of thing, I've got some 'owd odd socks you might be interested in making garments out of. I'll drop them off next time I'm up in Ossy.

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Very nice story G. and the lady surely had you weighed up when she said you were completely bonkers, spot on there mate:D

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Bonkers made me laugh too.

:D

This lecturer was one of a group who threatened to resign, after some of the drawing masters, there since the fifties, tried to get me thrown out for exhibiting an 'obscene' painting.

So bonkers was probably a very good description of me at seventeen...just as it is now.

:rolleyes::D

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The only thing is G your older and wiser now, and still bonkers:D

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Wiser?

I'll beg to differ on that one.

:rolleyes::D

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Don't encourage him, he'll unravel 'em and have a go at this. BBC - Guerrilla knitting by 'yarn-archists' comes to Crewe

Mind you in Hyndburn he'd probably get public funding for it.

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Ya well it was probably me being a little over exuberant :D;)