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.