Wanderings

Selfridges, Bright Old Things - Wednesday visit

Photos taken at main entrance while waiting to give a tour for a journalist from Economia magazine. 

New Bond St Crossrail installation

Door into the PJ Harvey recording session at Somerset House - highly recommended

Selfridges, Bright Old Things - Overheard on another Sunday

"Imagine coming in to work in the morning and saying I've got a really good idea for a window - and then they produce this. What were they thinking?"

"Very, very nice - I like these, how you say, vitrines ..."

"See that ? What am I looking at? Wierd !"

Selfridges, Bright Old Things - Overheard on a Sunday morning

Comments by window shoppers, Sunday 18 January 2015.

"Sharon, get me glasses out of me handbag will yer - I don't like opening my handbag inside Selfridges - its full of robbers ..."

"We're up from Exeter to see the ballet , Swan Lake - it was lovely"

"He's got a good taste in music ..."

"Ooh look, Radioheads ..."

"One of thems is an 8 track machine thingy ..."

"Sing, sing, sing..." (in a Swedish accent)

"Ha ha, wooden headphones !"

"Bank Robber by the Clash - that must be worth a lot!"

Selfridges, Bright Old Things - Close ups

RojRog Log - Entry 6

My friend Roger lives in West Wales - I first met him in 1975 at Exeter University, I was studying accounting and he was studying french. He is, these days, one of my art collaborators and was a co-DJ for my final degree work, Resonate/Generate. Over the next two months he will be commenting on and reviewing from afar my latest show, Bright Old Things at Selfridges.

Shoplifters of the World Unite 

Artist : Rog, how did the photoshoot go? What did the VM girls have to say about Fishguard's unique high street offerings?

Cheers, Roj

Roger :  Sorry I’ve been quiet - I had an unexpected call from your friends Belinda and Amanda, but who said they were fascinated by the novel approach to VM (Virtual Merchandising to all the ignoramuses, or ignorami, out there) taken by both Betta Buys and Motor Tackle - Fresh Vegetables. So they dropped into Fishguard to take a look for themselves. 

They joined us at BAPS for a skinny latte, and I think Belinda was quite taken by Alan Bennett, though I’m not sure it was mutual. Lord S was clearly quite taken by Amanda and I know for a fact that it was definitely not mutual. Though both the girls quite liked Dylan T, they felt that he smelled a bit. Lord S said that Dylan was a smelly lightweight and should be fired, but Alan B said it wasn’t really surprising he smelled, was it, as he’s been dead for about 60 years and by the way does anyone want that last custard cream?

Anyway we all had a long chat about the two shops. Belinda and Amanda (B&A) weren’t sure about Betta Buys’ window and sign but were quite interested in their pricing strategy. Alan B suggested Selfridges might do a one off Betta Buys day after the BOT show and price everything in the store at £1 or less. A said she was sure this would do wonders for the number of shoppers but it might be a tad tricky in terms of profitability. Grayson said that didn’t matter, as selling a Mont Blanc pen with an ink pot filled with liquid gold (cost: £43,000) for 99p was a wonderful artistic statement about the……something. Can’t remember what he said exactly, but it was something to do with art.

Next door there’s BIG news from Motor Tackle - Fresh Vegetables. Apparently they’ve been really successful in cornering the market for the vast number of shoppers who come to Fishguard needing only a couple of parsnips, a new reel for their fishing rod and some chainsaw oil. So we popped in for a chat with the owners, Merv the Motor and Dai the Tackle. They explained that their diversification strategy was working so well that they want to take it a step further with a couple of new products. We caught them just as they were putting the finishing touches to their new shop sign: “Motor Tackle - Fresh Vegetables, Mobility Scooters and E-cigarettes”. 

The girls thought this was a certain winner and became even more excited when Dai explained that their new store at Blaenau Ffestiniog in Snowdonia was doing incredibly well since it had branched out. It’s called “Motor Tackle – Fresh Vegetables, Climbing Gear, Ropes, Harnesses, Leather Boots, Webbing and Anne Summers”. Now that’s synergy, said Lord S.

As we were leaving the shop, B&A persuaded me to do a tour of all the other Motor Tackle/Betta Buys (MT/BB) outlets in Wales with them, to see what they could learn about this highly novel approach to VM and market positioning. At that point however there was a bit of a ruck when Lord S tried to make his feelings for Amanda  a bit clearer and Alan B invited Dai to show him his tackle. Grayson – who was wearing his Little Bo Peep outfit again – waded in, swinging his crook. Windows were smashed, cauliflowers thrown, Dylan shouted “Oh isn’t life a terrible thing, thank God” and was knocked unconscious by somebody wielding a cucumber. Then the police arrived. Oh dear.

Once we’re out of the cells, I’ll be off with B&A for our MT/BB VM and pricing strategy tour, so toodle-pip for now.

Chairs, Rog 

RojRog Log - Entry 5

My friend Roger lives in West Wales - I first met him in 1975 at Exeter University, I was studying accounting and he was studying french. He is, these days, one of my art collaborators and was a co-DJ for my final degree work, Resonate/Generate. Over the next two months he will be commenting on and reviewing from afar my latest show, Bright Old Things at Selfridges.

Art for Art's Sake or I Predict a Riot

Artist : Rog, I'm amazed that you've been able to get Lord S to join BAPS! I hope he is behaving himself. Actually on that note, I've had a few puzzled visitors, struggling with the concept of performance and installation as art. Any  thoughts ?

Cheers, Roj

Roger - Roj, funny you should ask but we’re having real problems with Lord S. He went down to Selfridges to look at your window before today’s BAPS gathering. 

Once he’d stopped most of the effing and blinding, he said that it isn’t art no effin way is that art there’s no effin paintings on the walls apart from the cyanide things and they don’t really count cos theyre chemical and all blue not exactly Picasso is it there’s not even any bloody sculptures in there and a mannequin’s a bloody mannequin innit and yes OK they belong in shop windows but theyre not art and anyway its not art unless you can hang it on the wall of your office and pose about it to all the people who come grovelling in to see you and most important of all its not art if you can’t sell it immediately for at least twice the amount you paid for it to some mug who should know better but has more effin money than sense and what’s more ITS JUST NOT BLOODY ART

Grayson got annoyed and poured his tea over Lord S, then there was a bit of a ruck, Dylan said it was just like the old days in the Fishguard Arms on a Saturday night and Alan B got very upset and decided he wouldn’t have that second slice of Lemon Drizzle after all……….Oh dear

Chairs, Rog

RojRog Log - Entry 4

My friend Roger lives in West Wales - I first met him in 1975 at Exeter University, I was studying accounting and he was studying french. He is, these days, one of my art collaborators and was a co-DJ for my final degree work, Resonate/Generate. Over the next two months he will be commenting on and reviewing from afar my latest show, Bright Old Things at Selfridges.

Kraftwerk - Schaufensterpuppen

Artist : Great idea to include Showroom Dummies by Kraftwerk in the window - I would also like to somehow feature their lyric "I'm the operator of my pocket calculator ..."

What do you and your art group, BAPS, think about the influence of Kraftwerk on contemporary music since the 70s ?

Cheers, Roj

Roger : We’ll be having tea and bickies on Friday as usual, so I’ll let you know. I know Maurice is a big fan of Kraftwerk, so there shouldn’t be a problem.

We’re having a spot of bother getting Alan Bennett on board. Firstly, he says he’s only joining if we have Custard Creams and Marie Biscuits (do they still exist?) on alternating weeks; secondly I think he has a few issues with Grayson. According to Alan, they met by chance last year at a fancy dress party in a mutual friend’s house at Scratchy Bottom, and apparently Grayson said he thought Alan would look cute in a Little Bo Peep outfit. I think Alan may have been a tad taken aback………..

As it happens I’m just off to Fishguard with the photographic team, to see if we can capture the essence of Betta Buys’ magic on film. A couple of the girls from Branding and Merchandising are coming along, as they want to write a piece on the market positioning of the shop next door, Motor Tackle - Fresh Vegetables.

Chairs, Rog

Click here for the original video of Kraftwerk's Schaufensterpuppen 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mybflC03kU4

or below for just the music

RojRog Log - Entry 3

My friend Roger lives in West Wales - I first met him in 1975 at Exeter University, I was studying accounting and he was studying french. He is, these days, one of my art collaborators and was a co-DJ for my final degree work, Resonate/Generate. Over the next two months he will be commenting on and reviewing from afar my latest show, Bright Old Things at Selfridges.

She Does it Right

Artist: Rog, last link for the day - Susie Bubble’s blog - very influential blogger - look out for her in the news.
http://www.stylebubble.co.uk/style_bubble/2015/01/bright-old-things.html

Cheers, Roger

Roger: Roj, excellent – as you know I’m no blogger, but I read this one. I think she gets it dead right and she writes well too.

  

What’s more she’s a founder member of the Betta Buys Art and Poetry Society ("BAPS") – me, her, Maurice and Grayson meet every Friday for a bit of a shop (mainly cheap toothpaste, reading specs and poo bags) followed by a glass or two of absinthe.

Chairs, Roger

RojRog Log - Entry 2

My friend Roger lives in West Wales - I first met him in 1975 at Exeter University, I was studying accounting and he was studying french. He is, these days, one of my art collaborators and was a co-DJ for my final degree work, Resonate/Generate. Over the next two months he will be commenting on and reviewing from afar my latest show, Bright Old Things at Selfridges.

Career Opportunities

Artist : Rog, have sent you the official press release and some copies of the newspaper coverage. Had to scour the world for that orange shirt - being brightly dressed seems to have worked?

Roger : Roj, fantastic coverage. As you said, the orange shirt was a great idea……..

I bumped into Maurice Saatchi again yesterday at Betta Buys in Fishguard. We decided to go for a quick beverage at the Old Sailors afterwards and talked about the show over our skinny lattes. He feels, and I agree, that you should be getting more of the publicity as you have really changed direction with your career. 
Chartered Accountant to Fine Artist ! 
What’s more boring than being an accountant? And what’s more exciting and thoroughly brilliant than, having been an accountant, becoming a cutting-edge artist in about five years flat? I found the cartoon below to support my point ...

Chairs, Rog

RojRog Log - Entry 1

My friend Roger lives in West Wales - I first met him in 1975 at Exeter University, I was studying accounting and he was studying french. He is, these days, one of my art collaborators and was a co-DJ for my final degree work, Resonate/Generate. Over the next two months he will be commenting on and reviewing from afar my latest show, Bright Old Things at Selfridges.

We are the RO-BOTS!

Artist : Rog, I have been selected by Selfridges to be part of this great group show featuring older artists who have made big career changes later in life - its called Bright Old Things!

Roger : This is absolutely fantastic Roj - really chuffed for you. But I think Selfridges may have pinched the idea from Betta Buys, Fishguard’s leading pound shop. I’ve recently been selected as their GOB (Grumpy Old Bastard) for 2015.

Selfridges - Bright Old Things, Tours and Tourists

Tours
I have been offering friends and family tours of all of the windows and the art in the atrium and concept store, followed by a drink at one of the many bars in store.
This week, I took Amanda and her college friends around the show - they seem to have been under the influence of the 70s...

http://jogroglog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/selfridges-bright-old-things-2015-1975.html

Selfridges, Bright Old Things - Guest photographer

I met Martin Gallagher, a professional photographer from Northern Ireland outside the window after finding myself taking a picture of him taking a picture of me - we had a great chat about the window and Oxford St shoppers - he sent me the photos below. Thank you.