Lesley’s Reading list
28 August 2009
As many of you know it can be a very solitary world as an artist. Arts+Media work with a wide range of practitioners who come in a variety of guises. Our blog offers you an insight into how other artists’ approach to creativity, exploring their thoughts, feelings and how they work. Please feel free to comment on these blog entries at the bottom of each section…. or let us know if there is something you would like to feature.
As part of the Equate project Lesley, has been using the A+M blog to write about her thoughts and ideas….
‘I’ve been reading a book called ‘The Garden of Cosmic Speculation’ by Charles Jencks. Sheilagh lent it to me and I’ve been looking after it very carefully :)
Charles Jencks is an internationally celebrated architectural critic and designer. He and his late wife created a 30 acre garden in the Scottish Borders that explored fundamental aspects of the universe. The project was (and is..) an ongoing speculation into the basic elements of nature and I have found many of his ideas quite thought provoking. He speaks about how his work is there to be enjoyed, but on another level how it is an attempt to reinterpret the way in which we relate to the space through new ideas - something I can really relate to at the moment. He speaks about how many of us are blind to many mathematical discoveries because they are not interpreted on a cultural level and given artistic expression. I think this is so true. There’s loads in the book that I have to keep writing down - but it’s a slow slog. I have to keep going back and rereading bits and because of this I’m nowhere near the end yet!
Another book that was a lot lighter to read, and a real page-turner, was ‘Loving Frank’ by Nancy Horan. It was about the legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright and his love affair with Mamah Cheney. I’d been to The Guggenheim in June to see the exhibition ‘From Within Outside’ and found both the exhibition, and the building itself, very inspiring. The book had constant references to his ideas and philosophies about organic architecture, and was a great read. ‘I go to nature every day for inspiration in the day’s work. I follow in building the principles which nature has used in its domain.‘
Have also been in and out of ‘Does God Play Dice’ by Ian Stewart and ‘Pi in the Sky’ by John. D.Barrow. Thanks Jack!