After I speak will you please reply.
There is something important to be said.
Glimmers of hope and slaps in the face
One of the things I've come to realise, (what, only now?), the life of an artist and musician, the life I lead is one that fills you with a psychological dichotomy. That is to say, there is certain degree of feedom that comes with not having a 'regular' (whatever that means), secure (again whatever that means) job. A job you know will be there for you on a Monday morning, so you can be fed and feed those near and dear to you. The freedom of not being tied to a specific timeline and place, means that one can journey through life and experiment with what you do and when you do it. So no complaints.
The security that comes with a more traditional (again, that's a slippery slope there) existence means that you can relax and not worry about where your next meal might be coming from. The ability to not worry has a wonderful freedom of it's own. Now I should point out here, that not in anyway do I consider that my life style is any more 'alternative' than anyone else. But I've not really ever had a 'real' job. Again no real complaint, ultimately this was my decision, I don't really regret it and I'm reasonably happy to live with it. Very often, one makes one's own opportunities. Again I'm not claiming to be bucking the system, but as I see it, we do live in a fairly conservative country, where the arts are not really considered a valuable contribution to society. Sport is though...I missed a trick by not pursuing my superb hockey skills!
So what's this got to do with anything? Well the nature of what I do often means I'm a dog looking for bones. Every so often an opportunity comes up where one applys and waits by the phone or for an email, or as Pip mentioned, hopefully not on the receiving end of a skinny envelope (a fat one is the one you're after). A few little moments of luck over a period give you a little bolstering of confidence, that is just as often followed by a slap or two in the face. These come very often without explanation (see the next rant) and are a real blow. There are some very illogical decisions made out there in the world and you are sometimes at the receiving end of them. So one has to re-boot one's attitude every so often which is what I'm trying to do. While I don't think you should be in the constant mindset that you are owed something by your very existance, you are the best at what you do and eveyone should realise that, it's also not good to be always down on youself, in constant denial of your abilities and value or always worrying.
Now I realise that people everywhere must experience this sometimes, but from my experience trying to balance these states in an environment where one is sometimes pulled wildly from one extreme to another is very difficult. But I realise as I get older, (oh yes our little Matt is growing up), that I need to be mindful of how I take on criticism as well as praise, failures and successes.
I must realise that not everyone in the world knows or understands or even cares about the value of culture and what it contributes to society, but I also shouldn't shy away from speaking about what I do and can bring and contribute to that culture.
Manners and etiquette
I'd like to talk a little bit about etiquette and I'm not talking about the of 'Laddette to Lady', kind of thing, but something more basic and to do with common sense. I'm the first to admit, I can improve my communication skills, I don't always speak clearly and I ramble a bit sometimes. Often my inherent shyness gets the better of me and I'm silent. But one thing I am very mindful of is respect to others around me. It seems to me that with the advent of speedy, instant, portable communication, we have lost the ability to have basic manners. This may sound like an old man thing to say, but for Christ's sake you don't have to talk that loud on your mobile, or speak on it at all in certain circumstances. There would be a generation of people who would not have experienced a life before mobiles and email, but there was and people got by. Yes we are all busy and things need to be communicated, sometimes right away, maybe excuse yourself and get out of the queue. Also, I don't want to hear about your private life at the top of your voice.
In specific reference to the above subject; There are a lot of elements to our communication that are virtual, there is a lot of traffic moving back and forth online and also still in the world of analogue post. One is not to know if something has reached it's destination or not. One shouldn't assume. So
I don't expect an essay, but it would be nice if there were more of the 'Yes I got it thanks, I'll be in touch soon' messages. Especially via email, it's so quick and easy. Why wouldn't you?
Old man rant # 2 over.
Impending parenthood and the midwife issue
So being that I'm now an aforementioned old man, most of you would know that I'm soon to be a father, which fills me with so many different thoughts and emotions, I don't know where to start. Mostly joy, but a bit of fear thrown in too, but of course I'm not the first to experience that.
Although it was more Sally's call than mine, we were both agreed that a homebirth is what we wanted to do. There are many reasons, but first and formost, the comfort and security of a familiar environment is important to the wellbeing of the person doing the hard work - the mother.
Giving birth in the majority of cases is not a medical condition. When it becomes a medical problem, of course you seek medical assistance. Giving birth at home doesn't cause a medical problem. It may in fact defuse one, being that the mother may well be more relaxed. You wouldn't call eating a medical problem, When you choke, it becomes one. But we don't go to the hospital to eat a meal. Over 60% of births in the Netherlands are homebirths. This seems to me to be a good solution here where there is an overcrowding in hospitals and overstretched staff.
And so this simmering little problem that has arisen over the potential illegalities of midwifery is a touch alarming. Sally has already eloquently laid this out on her blog. I urge you to read it if you care about homebirth or even if you have an interest in civil rights. It can be read here.
Recent activities
Myself and Scot Cotterell performed a DÜO no-input set, (that is to say, no external sound sources were used, mixers and the input of a cassette deck feeding back into themselves) for the Graduate Show at Centre For The Arts in Hobart on November 6. Response was pretty good, although we were essentially background ambience, most were there (quite rightly) to see family and friends artworks and congratulate each other for achieving a degree. It was a lot of fun and we got some interesting sounds out of the gear. Here's some images and to hear some of the results go to:
http://www.virb.com/matt_warren_muzik
Top image courtesy of Matt Warren, bottom image courtesy: Aaron Horsley.
MOIO performed our second live performance at the Fringe Festival's 'Heavy Noisy Things' night. We ended the night, response was great. Even sold a few CDs. Don't have any images or audio from this appearance, but here's the poster for the event.
You may have noticed the name on the bottom of that poster, Untermorast. That was myself and Tim Panaretos' new improv duo, myself on effected voice and Tim on effected electric bazouki. More details as they come to hand, but keep an eye out for a myspace page down the line and hopefully followed by more gigs.
MOIO's third gig was on 26th of November at ONO # 2 and we were greeted by a very positive response to our set, especially considering we followed the completely maniacal and impressive Lightning Bolt. Cool place to play, (a disused floor of what was once Fitzgeralds in the Hobart CBD), big and boomy room, suited us well. We will now be working on new material for a while before going out to play again, but rest assured we will be back. I can't speak for Aaron, but I'm pretty sure he would agree, I greatly appreciate that MOIO is so appreciated.
Also at ONO # 2 (amongst many other wonders) was a performance/installation ritual piece I conceived and directed (a performed with 9 others) called ex-X (Phase 10hz). It was work about catharsis and each participant contributed wonderfully, thanks all. The whole ritual part was 10 minutes with the 'aftermath' as an installation being ongoing (well until closing time). Here is a condensed video document of the piece.
An extra curricular activity that I did a few months back was contribute some percussion (drums, cymbals, shakers and chime) to a track called 'Waste of Flesh' by London-based industrial metal band Concrete Lung, for an EP, also called 'Waste of Flesh' which is due out on December 12. It was great to be a part of, the wonders of file-transfer across the web! I look forward to hearing the result.
Oh I finally officially graduate on December 15!
Upcoming in 2010:
Jan 8 – 31. I will be presenting a slightly interactive/participatory surround sound and object installation at Kelly's Garden at Salamanca Arts Centre in Hobart as part of their program and the annual MONA FOMA festival. The piece is called 'The Last Beach Movie' and references the popular mythology about Brian Wilson's compositional environment.
Image mockup by Matt Warren
Feb 12 -March 5. 'Of Heaven and Earth' is a two person exhibition of light, sound, collage and video works by Matt Warren and Sally Rees (some solo, some in collaboration) produced mainly whilst on residency in Montreal, Canada in 2008. This will be shown at 6a ARI, in North Hobart.
Image: The Lull by Matt Warren in 'Of Heaven and Earth', Auberge Alternative, Montreal Canada, 2008.
On March 12 I will perform a live soundscape for Fiona Lee's work in the two person show (with Cath Robinson) called Chora Choruses at Kings Gallery in Melbourne. The plan is that I will also be part of the artists floor talk the following day. My soundscape (a pre-recorded surround piece) will also feature in Fiona's installation throughout the remainder of the show's run.
My solo ambient/drone/mood project mumble(speak) is going to be touring in June 2010.Thanks to Sound Travellers, mumble(speak) will present the 'Good and Bad People and Things' show (a narrative) on tour throughout the country. Full confirmation of venues and dates are still to happen, but the planned schedule is:
June 17 - Hobart
June 18 – Brisbane
June 19 – Sydney
June 20 – Melbourne
June 25 – Darwin
June 26 – Perth
June 27 – Adelaide
Late November; a three week performance/installation laboratory at Salamanca Arts Centre, collaborating with Sally Rees and Deborah Pollard for a project with the working title of 'Decay'. More on that later.
Listening: JESU – 'Opiate Sun' e.p (2009), Alice Cooper – 'DADA' (1983)
Watching: 'The Bed Sitting Room' (Directed by Richard Lester from a play by Spike Milligan - 1969). This has recently been released as a budget-price (but not budget quality) DVD...see it now!
Reading: Contracts, proposals and applications and re-reading 'Smile – The Story of Brian Wilson's Lost Masterpiece' by Domenic Priore (2005).
This will likely be the last post for 2009, so whatever you do at this time of year, have a good one, take care of each other and yourself.
The secret ingredient to good beans on toast – smoked paprika!
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