Monday 28 December 2015

5000 Thankyous


Visitors to this blog have passed the 5000 mark and still counting. Thank you so very much! Hope you are all having a lovely holiday over Christmas and here's a special spatial toast to a happy, safe and healthy 2016 for all of us.

Cheers & Happy New Year!

Photo courtesy of  Fox News magazine

Thursday 17 December 2015

Cascadia

GoPro: Danny MacAskill - Cascadia                  Courtesy of GoPro & YouTube

Sometimes navigating space requires skill, coordination, balance and one helluva set of cojones 

Meet Danny MacAskill, the David Belle of BMX (my take).   Don't watch if you have any fear of heights....

Wednesday 25 November 2015

Moh-shuh n

Hip-hop Chronicles: Locking / New York            R Allen-Sherwood 2015

Motion: the action or process of moving or being moved. 
 These images are from a continuing work-in-progress-series that began in 2010 when I encountered my first live break-dancing and I've been an avid fan ever since..

    motion is
    gesture 
    stream
    agitation
    fluctuation
    move
    sweep 
    act

Hip-hop Chronicles: Osaka Sync 2            R Allen-Sherwood 2015

For me, freestyle breaking can express powerfully raw and pure forms of movement. Especially when b-boys and b-girls are battling to protect their reputations or turf. That choreographed stuff you see on TV completely misses the mark.
  motion is  
dynamics 
kinetics
    body English
    full swing

Hip-hop Chronicles: #1           R Allen-Sherwood 2010
That's the first drawing of a breakdancer made in my sketchbook on  Nov 2010.  I wanted to say there's a big difference between this drawing and the more recent works shown in this post....but now I see that there really isn't.....

Oddly, I find that quite encouraging..

Monday 16 November 2015

Advance New Year Resolution

From "The Hiphop Chronicles" series - my current work in progress. Nov 2015
In light of what has happened in Paris with the recent terroist attacks and all that it implies, I have made a firm decision on how to live out the remainder of my life as an artist (and human being). The commitment is this: To carry on fearlessly in faith and hope - no matter what happens.

If I give in to fear, they win.

In this battle for my life, let my art help me to communicate the joy of living; a continuing hope in the future & may I also continue to learn how to love and never give up on my fellow humankind. (No matter how deluded some of them appear to be) (Self included.)

Well, that's my new year resolution taken care of then.

Stay safe in your spaces.

Saturday 24 October 2015

100 Lines in Space

Rachelle's 100 lines (64/100)
The room was already full when I rushed in, ready to take my place in a drawing workshop alongside a group of young architect students in central London.

The instructions at the top of our introduction sheets were simple and clear. It read : "Take 100 pieces of paper and make a line by whatever means on each one". Sounded easy enough, but most things that do, aren't. With that, I began my odyssey into the world of drawing from the architect's-point-of-view.

Escher-fitti
Over the next few hours I watched as a bunch of scrawled signatures morphed into three dimensional Escher-like creatures, floating in space. In another part of the room carefully drawn pencil lines created magnetic white holes which drew the viewer deep inside the paper space.

There were drawn lines which spoke of longings, missed holidays and sexual innuendo. My favorite was an ingenious composition which consisted of a series of lines drawn across piles of paper, meticulously arranged on top of the worktable. To me, it resembled a huge paper mobile of a building, lying dormant on the table. 

Unite & Divide

As for my own drawings, I was quite surprised when one of the young architects described them as "Three dimemsional lines in space"! Although this was my first creative encounter with architects I felt it was a successful one. Their work resonated with me and I felt they understood mine. Hopefully there'll be more creative collaborations in the future.

A great big thank you to workshop leader Sean Griffiths and the Architectural Association for a enlightening evening and a great time.

Sunday 4 October 2015

KU Space of Art

Deconstructing Space: KU  (#6)                 R Allen-Sherwood 2015

"Space is the breath of art".   Frank Lloyd Wright  

Saturday 26 September 2015

Deconstructing Space


"Deconstructing Space:  Ku"        Sumi ink, watercolour on paper  2015
I've been practicing with the Japanese word 'KU' (space) over the past 2 years, using ink and calligraphy brushes but never really comfortable with any of the results -not even when they were perceived as "good" by others....  I always wanted to find a way to express KU in  my own original voice. A way of expression that is truer to who/what I am.. Well, I think I'm finally getting close. (It's only taken a decade.).

This is a work-in-progress, part of a series I've just started to develop. If you are interested in seeing more, please check out my facebook artist page where I will post works as they evolve.

As always, thank you for visiting & see you next time!.

Thursday 10 September 2015

Vertical Space Dance



     "There is no up or down. just space and substance".  
Wanda Moretti  Il Posto founder & Choreographer

Il Posto is a vertical dancing troupe from Italy who are all about creating fluid flowing bodily movements whilst dangling several hundred feet in space.

In a recent interview,  Il Posto founder and choreographer Wanda Moretti talks about the beauty of emptiness and how important it is to her dancers. She described it as: "The suspension in the few seconds of a leap, a moment of freedom in which the legs also become the arms".
 
The surreal visual imagery is mesmerising, if slightly disorienting. Makes me wonder whether the phrase 'wall legs' should be added to existing 'sea & land legs' in the English language? You decide, I'm too dizzy.

Wednesday 26 August 2015

Serra-isms

Visual note taking (not art)        R Allen-Sherwood 2015
I recently saw an interview with the artist/sculptor Richard Serra where he talked about my two favourite topics - drawing and space.

The interview was done a few years ago, on the eve of a retrospective showing of Serra's drawings spanning over 20 years. Serra described his drawings as "space articulations". But he made a clear distinction between what he called his "visual notations" and drawings that were done to work through something in his mind. For Serra, only the latter could be called art.

Richard Serra Drawing 1*
I enjoyed the interview and many of his words resonated with me. Probably because I too, am dealing with the issue of expressing space in my own work even though I cam not a sculptor.. Perhaps it's a more ambiguous issue in my case.

Richard Serra Drawing 2*

One of my favorite moments from the interview came when, asked for the hundredth time as to whether his drawings were inspired by figuration or objects in real life,  a visibly annoyed Serra snapped back:

"I draw space, not image!" 

Hooray! My kind of guy.


(*Drawing 1  courtesy of J. Padgett Washington University)
(*Drawing 2    http://amesadeluz.blogspot.co.uk)

Saturday 1 August 2015

On-Off-On


"Appearing & Disapprearing"                R Allen-Sherwood 2015

My Zen teacher, the late Master Gudo Nishijima used to talk about the Instantaneousness of this Universe as a way to explain the true nature of reality...

What has stayed with me was his description of how every passing moment of our lives speeds by, flickering On-Off-On-Off-On-Off.....

It's taken many years to reach a point where I think I can now understand the meaning of his words.

Then again, I could be wrong..

I'm just glad the universe happened to still be "On" when I snapped the camera shutter yesterday.. Only just.

Monday 6 July 2015

Top 10 Most Popular Posts

FF Crispin and Roy admiring my pop-up installation at Mirfield Monastery (2012)
After last week's post about my Zen Garden article being in the top ten over at Glow Magazine, I became curious about which posts were your favourites on this blog. And so I took a look.... and found last week's post about being in GLOW's top ten in my own top ten! (Thanks everyone for your continuing visits, likes and shares.)

Here's the TOP 10 list of your favourites! Click on titles to see posts :











Saturday 27 June 2015

Top 10 on Glow Magazine


I'd like to take a moment to thank all the lovely folks (including Cynthia Barlow-Marrs) at GLOW MAGAZINE for sky-rocketing my Zen Garden article into their Top 10 Most Popular posts for three consecutive years and counting!

What a surprise. Thank you! 

Wednesday 10 June 2015

Taking a Line for a Ride # 2

Southeastern  ex 1                             R Allen-Sherrwood 2015
Southeastern  ex 2                             R Allen-Sherrwood 2015
Southeastern  ex 3                       R Allen-Sherrwood 2015
Southeastern   ex 4                       R Allen-Sherrwood 2015
Southeastern   ex 5                       R Allen-Sherrwood 2015
Following on from  Taking a Line for a Ride # 1  , the above drawings are the most recent samples from my ongoing investigations into the beauty, nuance and essence of Motion, Materials used include watercolour pen, ink, and graphite. 

Tuesday 2 June 2015

Space Sessions: Dr. Matthew Brewer (Part Two)

Matthew Brewer practicing Tai Chi           Photo: Daoist Internal Arts
Continuing from last week's post : Matthew Brewer is a teacher of Neigung, a traditional Chinese energy practice which pre-dates and informs Tai Chi. Join us in this second part of our discussion about the importance of creating space inside our physical bodies. 

RAS – So your teaching is really a way to open up internal spaces…

MB- Basically it’s for anybody who has a body. The thing about it is that we’re in gravity all the time. Gravity is constantly trying to close you down. Close all your spaces..

RAS- Compression?

MB – Nods. So for example the ‘Standing’ exercise, you’re  maintaining the spaces.

Daoist symbol - Yin & Yang *
 RAS. Is that similar to stretching?

MB – No. Stretching is all about tissue and tissue is important in that if it’s tight, you can’t release the joint. So you need to release the tissues, lengthen the tissues in order to make the space. But it’s not eventually muscles that make the space…. it’s the energy of the joint that makes the space. (My emphasis)

RAS- So how did you get interested in this field of work? I know you’ve been practicing for more than 20 years. Was it something to do with sports?

MB –It was a combination, partly for health -  I was a swimmer and I was looking for a replacement for swimming.  as I don’t like swimming over here. Too cold.  And partly for the philosophy. Tai Chi is a philosophy in practice, if you like. Or practice in philosophy.  A physical practice of philosophy.

RAS – Did you go to China to study?

Bruce K.Frantzis with Grandmaster Liu Hong Jie.
MB – No my teacher is American* (Bruce Frantzis). But I’ve trained with Chinese teachers as well.

RAS - This whole idea of creating and using space in the body is fascinating to me as I don’t normally think of literal internal space. But as you say gravity compresses and takes our spaces away. It has opened my eyes.

MB-  The basic difference between a baby’s body and an old person’s body is that one is all space. The baby’s body is very open. If you lay the baby on a table you’ll see the whole body lengthen as the spine relaxes, There’s no tension.  In comparison, when the old person is on the table, if they can even get onto the table, you’ll see the body tight and stuck. The spine doesn’t melt into the table It’s stuck in its various regions.

RAS- And this is because of compression and no space in the body. So opening this space really is the key.

MB- Yes. Another way to looking at it is through blood circulation…

RAS – ???

MB – Things circulate well, all the blood, lymph, all the liquids in the body, because there’s enough space. Circulation system is blood, so you’ve got your arteries and your veins… if you take pressure off those, get everything aligned and open the body up, it will just flow as it’s meant to. If you’re bent and things are closed down, you’ve got too much pressure in certain places, it’s like stepping on a hose pipe. You’ve got water running through the hose pipe but step on it and it affects the whole flow. Not just that one place. The whole system gets affected. Anyplace that’s closed will affect your whole blood flow and your lymph flow.

Antique Chinese medical illustration    photo: Wikipedia
RAS – Okay, so space is crucial.

MB – Yes, crucial.

RAS – So what would you suggest for people who don’t know anything about it, what would be a good entry point?

MB- Fundamentals is always the way in. Learn how to stand. Get the body aligned. That’s going to begin to help the body open up. And then single movements like the ‘Cloud Hands’ practice that we do. Choose a movement that’s the easiest to get all your alignments working….and the easiest way to learn alignment - stand.  Next, to then apply it to movement,  one repeating movement that allows you to train all these things. It’s complete enough to learn how to do it, but its not as elaborate as Tai Chi Form, where you have to remember a hundred different movements.

RAS– I think that’s the image most people think of when you mention Tai Chi. They think it’s like some kind of karate-in-slo-mo……never think about this aspect - that it’s an internal health enhancing exercise.

MB – Yes, Neigung means 'Internal Practice'.

RAS- Is Neigung the predecessor to Tai Chi?                                                

MB – Yes, much older. Tai Chi is a combination of Neigung and martial arts. You put the two together so you then have a martial art that’s powered from the inside rather than with just external tension strength.

RAS – I see, and how old is Neigung? How far does it go back?

MB- The written record goes back at least to…500BC. But even with those writings it’s clear that it was already well established by then. It’s a good three thousand years old.

RAS – On that note, I’d better let you get back to teaching class! Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge about Neigung. And for showing us how important internal space is, to living a vibrant and healthy life.

For more information please see Matthew's website here  for more details. 

*Yin & Yang symbol courtesy of longwhitecloudqigong

Saturday 23 May 2015

The Space Sessions # 3 : Dr. Matthew Brewer

Matthew Brewer doing Tai Chi           Photo: Daoist Internal Arts
To do Tai Chi is to open up space in our body.”

Dr. Matthew Brewer is a teacher of Neigung, a traditional Chinese energy practice which pre-dates and informs Tai Chi as we know it today. (He is also my teacher). Listen in to Part One of our conversation, as Matthew talks about the importance of space within the body and how it links with our health and vitality.

Rachelle (RAS) -What is space in Neigung, because I believe in Chinese traditional medicine, space is considered a bonafide element alongside water, fire, wind and so forth.

Matthew Brewer (MB)  – No, that’s Hindu thought – Indians recognise Akasha (space) as the fifth element. For the Chinese it’s earth. Earth element has the same function as space in the Hindu system. Earth contains everything. It holds everything.

RAS – Including space?!

MB – Well…earth is the ground…unless you have a place to work from, you can’t do anything. In other words, without earth you have no place. From that point of view, there is space relative to the fact that there is earth.

RAS – But in your practice there are teachings about space inside-the-body! I recall your speaking about the spaces between our internal organs, or inside our joints. That isn’t something we normally think of - because space is usually perceived as being outside! Right?

MB- Really?

RAS – Well you’re used to thinking that way, Matthew, because for you it’s a way of being….

MB – Well, yes. From a Daoist* point of view, there’s as much inner space as there is outer space. So, say with meditation, your awareness can travel a very very long way out.  There is a practice in Daoism where you extend your awareness beyond the Moon, beyond the Sun, beyond the solar system, Beyond the stars. But at the same time you’ re travelling the same distance inwards, deeper and deeper. The space we’re talking about here is more equal to spirit.

RAS- Is that like the Unconscious, in psychological terminology?

MB- Well if you’re speaking of the unconscious, you’re talking about level of mind. And within traditional (Chinese) systems, mind is important - but it’s not the end.

RAS- So that means space is different from mind?

MB – Not true mind, but what we think of as mind. Most psychologists play with the emotions, you know: “how do you feel, what do you think, “  all that stuff.  That’s not yet True Mind.

RAS – Is it like in Japanese when they say “Kokoro” which is the word meaning ‘Heart/Mind’?

                                 Kokoro or Shin           Calligraphy by netnejpcalligraphy                           

MB- That’s Shin in Chinese. Yes, the Heart-Mind is what you really are. From the western point of view we’d talk about soul.  Shin and soul – well I don’t really want to equate them but they are in the same sort of territory.

RAS- Is this the space we strive for in Tai Chi?

MB – Well the mind is a way into that inner space, if you like.

RAS – But how does that link with to your talks about spaces between the joints….

MB – Well, at first you’re just talking physically…

RAS – Yes, but it’s actually reality because I’ve seen your demonstrations and have personally felt those internal spaces that you speak about.. I can attest that it’s real.

MB- Yes, that’s physical space. So, the difference between a joint that hurts and a joint that doesn’t hurt, is space.

RAS- Really!

MB- Yes. For instance you’ve got a bad hip, like the people who need a hip replacement, they’ve lost space so that the ball and socket are rubbing against each other.

RAS- Right, but that comes with normal wear and tear… 

MB – Why does it wear and tear? Because something is pressing on something else. It wouldn’t wear and tear if it wasn’t rubbing on something. How do you stop a joint from rubbing on something else? You maintain the space in it. You make space in the joint, the joint fills with fluid –because the inside linings of the joint ‘leak’ oil, if you like, the Synovial Fluid keeps the joint alive. So you need space to let the liquid in to cushion the joint.

RAS. So if the joint is worn down and rubbing, are you able to intentionally open it back up again?

MB – Sure!

RAS- My goodness….really! Well I suppose that’s why chronic pain sufferers get sent to you by the NHS  The practice helps them on a practical, real level.

MB –  Yes. Another example...slipped discs are the same. The vertabrae are too close, so it pushes the disc out. How do you unslip the disc? You open up the space and the disc goes back in.

To be continued

*Note: I am using the modern Chinese transliteration of the word 'Taoist', in keeping with Dr. Brewer's usage of the word, Please see his website ' Daoist Internal Arts'  for a more detailed explanation.. 

Calligraphy Illustration :  http://www015uppso-netnejpcalligraphy.blogspot.co.uk/2009/10/heart-japanese-calligraphy.html

Wednesday 6 May 2015

Motion Flower*

       "UV 40"                                           Photo: R Allen-Sherwood 2015
              "Motion Flower"                      Photo: R Allen-Sherwood 2015
          "I've been waiting for you.."                      Photo: R Allen-Sherwood 2015 
   "Whoosh!"                                                          Photo: R Allen-Sherwood 201
"Gutei's Finger"                                                 Photo: R Allen-Sherwood 2015
"Everything is in motion. Everything flows. Everything is vibrating".
William Hazlitt

*Note: In case you are wondering, nothing has been photoshopped. All the photographs above, were taken from the veiwpoint of a moving train. You are seeing them exactly as they came out of my Canon  'point & shoot' digital camera. Nothing technically clever but quite magical. (Well, to me anyways)  

Friday 17 April 2015

Connect Transfer


Hello everyone, as I am still currently acclimatising due to having recently made a big move, this week I will share with you another gem from my collection of things which inspire me.

Based in New York, The Shen Wei Dance Troupe combine dance movement with ink painting in a celebration of free form expression. Hope you like it as much as I do. 

Stay well in your spaces & see you next week! 

Wednesday 8 April 2015

Space Samurai

*"KU"                                        R.Allen-Sherwood 2015
"Make your emptiness your way, and your way your emptiness"   
Miyamoto Musashi      (Boogk of Five Rings 1643)

* I have been practising writing "KU" which is the Japanese character for emptiness, space or void. The above one is my personal favorite from recent practice batch.

(Ps. This is not the usual orthodox way to write the character. It's my interpretation..)

Friday 27 March 2015

Equilibrium

"Ealing Lights #1 "                                                   photo: R. Allen-Sherwood 2015
"The dimension that counts for the creative person is the space he creates within himself. This inner space is closer to the infinite than the other, and it is the privilege of the balanced mind... and the search for an equilibrium is essential – to be as aware of inner space as he is of outer space". 
Mark Tobey, artist

Thursday 19 March 2015

Alkaline - Memory of Place



"Alkaline" is a labour-of-love dance project by Julie Gratz which took two years to complete from start to finish. I chose this particular video because I felt it demonstrates a nice way to straddle the time and space gap with organic motion. (with some help from special effects!) In this case, space becomes a memory of place.

Wednesday 11 March 2015

A Gargantuan Bluescreen


In this fascinating documentary, American author and physicist Brian Greene introduces us to the topic of space in an easy-to-understand accessible manner, free from too much technical jargon.

Although the program was made prior to the discovery of the Higgs-Boson particle,, the information is still relevant. It's thought provoking stuff. Especially when Prof..Greene brings up the newest and craziest space theory towards the end of the show...

the title of this post is directly inspired by what one witty You-tuber posted in response.

Enjoy!

Wednesday 4 March 2015

Space is a Doubt

                                                                               R Allen-Sherwood 2015

I would like there to exist places that are stable. unmoving. intangible, untouched and almost untouchable, unchanging, deep-rooted, places that might be points of reference, of departure, of origin.

Such places don't exist, and it's because they don't exist that space becomes a question, ceases to be self-evident, ceases to be incorporated. ceases to be appropriated. Space is a doubt. I have constantly to mark it, to designate it. It's never mine, never given to me. I have to conquer it.


                                                                                      R. Allen-Sherwood 2015
Space melts like sand running through one's fingers. Times bears it away and leaves only shapeless threads.

"Species of Spaces and Other Pieces"  Georges Perec

Thursday 26 February 2015

Everything Emptying Into White *

"Pine Tree Island"  Ink and wash  2012
In the art of Japanese calligraphy or Shodo, blank space (on paper or canvas) is seen in a positive light, not in the negative or angst inducing way some artists would have you think. Blank paper is a white area packed with unfulfilled potential, waiting for the calligrapher's brush mark to bring it to life. Literally.

One of my favourite descriptions of this, can be found in the book "Japanese Calligraphy The Art of Line & Space", Author and calligraphy teacher Christine Flint-Sato writes: The black line passes through white as a boat through water, the wake created by its passing is felt through the white. The white is not a passive space or vacuum to be entered and which is unaffected by the line, it is energised or activated by it. (pg 58)

"Floating "  Ink on paper  2013  
Viewed in this manner, it is easy to understand the important role space & motion play in the art of brush and ink. Space and line mutually support each other within the composition of the work but it is the energy motion of the line which brings it all together.

* Thank you Cat Stevens 

Monday 16 February 2015

Love Letter to Space

Deep Space               
I've always wondered why do I have this deep fascination with Space /Motion. It wasn't like I suddenly decided one day "think I'll study space and motion for the rest of my life!" No. This was an intuitive decision. And I am happy to say that it's been a good one because the topic continues to grow deeper and richer with each passing year. I just need to catch up to it......

Space /Motion is a vast resource to delve into. I don't think one lifetime is enough to learn about it all. Each time I make a new discovery I try hard to figure it out intellectually so that I can explain it to myself or others but it doesn't always work out. People just think I'm crazy most of the time..

What I am beginning to see is that with space, the less said the better.

Sometimes a painting can say more about the experience than whole herds of typed character words on a keyboard can.  That's probably why I'm an artist instead of a writer!

Image info    Deep Space        Sumi ink, paint and chalk on paper   by R Allen-Sherwood  (created 2011)    

Friday 6 February 2015

"Houston, we have motion!'

image courtesy of NASA
Couldn't resist posting this gorgeous photograph I found on the web,. It combines everything I love: space, motion but with a genuine space-suit thrown in. Unintentional art. How good is that!

It's actually a photograph of an astronaut testing the motion capability of a new spacesuit. I found it in this NASA  treasure-trove  of space images, - a resource so rich and vast, you could seriously get lost in it!

Hmm, might use that for the title of my next post. "Lost in Space". :)

Wednesday 21 January 2015

Taking a Line for a Ride

Notes from a sketchbook                               R.Allen-Sherwood 2015

Last year I became re-interested in another subject I studied during my art school days at university. I am talking about the concept of motion or movement. The drawing above is one of the very first studies I made whilst riding on a bus.

Yorkshire Train Ride                                  R Allen-Sherwood 2015

I never really developed the idea until much later. This second drawing above was done ten years after the first one! Using sumi ink and brush, I completed the drawing whilst travelling on a train this time.


This personal investigation into movement continued in fits and spurts in the background whilst I carried on with other things in life. But it was always there, like some distant memory of a song in the back of your mind. A song you can't remember the name of but can't stop humming the melody........ I continued making motion works but always found the results unsatisfactory,

Sands of Time                                                      R Allen-SHerwood 2015

Then I tried using a camera. It works better, but I still feel there still a ways to go before the idea, inspiration and execution can marry into one happy union that goes skipping off into the sunset..

Am I fussy? Yeah. Motion matters to me because it's an important component in my never-ending search into the meaning of space.

Motion defines space. I will dedicate more time this year towards this because I honestly feel that Motion & Space are flip sides of the same spinning coin. 

Tuesday 13 January 2015

3 x 3 Inches Square


My idea of what a Zen garden should or shouldn't be has changed dramatically. Maybe it's a natural progression, given the seven years I've spent,dedicated to this subject matter in one way or another.

Now, the Zen-garden-in-my-mind expands and shrinks at the same time..It has become internalised. On the one hand, Zen-garden fills this world, yet also sits quietly inside a compact little 3 x 3 inch square box covering half the space of my upturned hand.

The above photo was my first realisation that things have changed.

Change. Something we can always rely on....

Happy New Year.