PRE-OPERATIONAL DIY

I'm not the helpless female type.and could probably survive on a desert island if I have a tool kit and am not eaten by wild animals before being obliged to eat them if edible plants are not available.

DIY jobs around the house have never been a problem but at present the wonky hip makes everything slower and trickier so I enlisted a willing friend to help me install the handrails I bought online. My flat has stairs and when I get home from hospital after the op something to grab hold of when going up the stairs will be necessary. 

The thing about my DIY expertise is that it has to be done My Way or not at all. I allowed my kind but non-DIY friend to hand me tools, hold things in place, sweep up the mounds of plaster dust etc. while I got on with the serious job of drilling, screwing (don't smirk) etc. She may have been bored with her role but I didn't mind. The result is excellent. I'm thinking of offering my DIY skills to the surgeon if he has any trouble fitting new ball & socket in my hip.

BLESSING THE NHS

May all heavenly and earthly blessings rain down upon the blessed NHS and drench it in every kind of goodness, both material and immaterial. That's what I'm saying.

The NHS is not perfect - no human institution is perfect - but the quality of its mercy, the depth of its dedication, skill snd humanity are wondrous to behold. And humour, don't forget humour. I

n a pre-op meeting the other day when I mentioned my age they fell about laughing. In a good way, a great way. They couldn't believe how ancient I am because I only look about nine years old. Well not exactly nine but you know what I mean.

I love the NHS and all who walk, trudge and run down its long, long corridors every minute of the day and night.

BIONIC DATE

I've got a thrilling date on the 20th of March. It won't involve wining, dining, dancing or other forms of seductive entertainment associated with the word "dating".

However it will most definitely include expert inspection of and fooling around with intimate body parts as well as the consumption of mind-altering drugs.

In other words: I'm having a hip replacement operation on that date. Wish me a good time and happiness ever after.

HIP REPLACING AND RETRO BOASTING

I'm being harassed by my right hip which is now the wrong hip as far as I'm concerned. Not quite disabled but am getting on a waiting list for the hip-replacement op. Hard to be thrilled at the prospect of having an erzatz ball & socket joint inserted where my home-grown, long-standing mechanism has inexcusably decided to misbehave. Confidently declaring "I am an arttist and don't have time for this shit" doesn't seem to work.

So I'm going to post some retro self-promotion to prove to myself and anybody else who happens to pass by that I am indeed a lifelong artist-person with a lot of serious artstuff behind me and if my bodymindspirit as well as Whoever Is In Charge of it are willing, there's going to be a lot more artstuff from me still to come.

By the way, if any of you passing by over here can read Dutch please let me know. I'd like help to translate a couple of reviews that were in Dutch press at the time of this exhibition.

For A Song among British Library Treasures

To the British Library yesterday to sloat (see and gloat) at my For A Song displayed among their Treasures. Coincidentally my mother, Blanche, used to call me mon trésor. If that isn't foresight I don't know what is.

There it sits surrounded by other treasures in the contemporary Art of the Book display case. There are many magnificent objects in the whole room but the lighting is very dim, no doubt to protect fragile ancient volumes, and it was nearly closing time hence only a couple of photos. I will go back.

Dear Christine exhibition opens at ARTHOUSE1 in London

The Private View of the Dear Christine exhibition at ARTHOUSE1 was packed to the rafters last night, no room to move but I managed to snap a few shots.  Many thanks to Fionn Wilson and to everyone who made this event such a great success.

LEAVING EU

Nothing to say about the event on 31st January, the headlines, the talking heads, the yelling, the boasting. Another sad day in history.

But this by John Crace is worth reading.

MATERA CELEBRATES GERARDO GUERRIERI

Thanks to my niece Selene Guerrieri for the preview of the celebrations which will be held in Matera, Italy on the 4th of February, birthday of my late brother-in-law Gerardo Guerrieri who was Selene's and her sister Indira's father and my sister Anne d'Arbeloff's husband.

Below is the first edition of Selene's book on Gerardo with my portrait of him (painted in 1958) on the cover. The second, expanded, edition is titled Un palcoscenico pieno di sogni (A Stage full of Dreams).

 

CAN YOU BECOME ECCENTRIC OR ARE YOU BORN THAT WAY?

Waiting to have my lowlights done in a local hairdresser I saw this photo of the Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama in a magazine and thought: why can't I be more eccentric?

 People who look and act eccentric are often famous and wealthy. Apart from our age, Yayoi and I have very little in common but I surreptitiously tore that page from the magazine and when I got home, fooled around in Photoshop to see if eccentricity becomes me.

Obviously not, unless I could be Harpo Marx.

YAOI KUSAMA

I AM AMONG TREASURES

Heart and ego-warming news just received. This is from the fabulous British Library and if you're in London why not go and see their treasures among which are some of my own humble (not really humble) works.
The one mentioned below is 'For A Song' an artist's book I made in 1980 in the throes of deep emotional experience. Seven poems and seven etchings in a hand-bound book, limited edition of 15 copies. Full details here:

 Jeremy Jenkins, British Library, Contemporary Published British Collections, writes:

"This month saw an upgrade and refresh to some of the displays in the British Library Treasures Gallery. These changes include a completely new case exhibiting Contemporary Artists’ Books. I am delighted to inform you your work For a Song, (1980) RF.2017.a.10 has been included in this case and is currently on display. The case is part of a larger exhibition sub-section exploring the “Art of the Book”. 

As you will know the Treasures Gallery exhibits some of the world’s most exciting, beautiful and significant books, manuscripts and sound recordings. It also the principle way many of the Library’s thousands of visitors annually will experience the Library Collections."