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August 28, 2009
not building again
processing the photographs of Laura
upstairs on the top floor of the mill
against the soot-dark lime-washed walls
Posted by john at 04:58 PM | Comments (0)
August 26, 2009
Of Substance and Standing
“Writers sometimes like to draw glib parallels between building and writing, but it seemed to me nothing could be farther from the truth. Did a writer inhabit a world where “true” and “right” were things you could ascertain, where abstractions stood or fell of their own weight, where the existence of something didn’t depend on a consensus? At the end of his day the builder alone could say – and yet didn’t need to say, because there it was – he had added something to the stock of incontestable reality, created a new fact.”
Michael Pollen - A Place of My Own 1997
I like the idea of adding something to the stock of incontestable reality. That’s the joy for me, to be able to see the result of my day’s labour in tangible and palpable form, rather then just knowing it's a series of on/off codes, stored on a fancy metal disc.
Writing is conjuring up an abstraction out of nothing. Building is the re-ordering of existing materials into something that retains it’s shape. It’s hard to tell how the writing’s going. Building has more immediate feedback – if the wall falls over, it ain’t going well.
the fuck-off sink
Posted by john at 06:04 AM | Comments (1)
August 25, 2009
more from the soap box
a bunch of sombre Edwardians
Posted by john at 08:01 PM | Comments (0)
August 24, 2009
THINGS YOU FIND IN A SUNLIGHT SOAP BOX IN THE ATTIC WHEN UN-BUILDING A PRINTWORKS
Posted by john at 10:07 PM | Comments (1)
August 22, 2009
Tubas in the moonlight
photographing tubas on a friday night
reminds me of the late great Viv Stanshall
Through the twilight, I can hear the humming of a melancholy coon.
For the memories that still linger,
I thank you mister Moon.
And, although I've never smiled,
Winter, summer, autumn too,
Now here's one tune to remind me why I feel so blue-oo...
Tubas in the moonlight,
Playing for me all night,
Tell me what I want to hear.
Am I only dreaming?
Am I only scheming?
Stars above me, shining brightly.
Why can't she be sitting here beside me?
Tubas in the moonlight will bring my loved one home.
Posted by john at 08:16 AM | Comments (3)
August 21, 2009
raised beans and various greens
Katrin's raised bed in the morning sun
Posted by john at 05:04 PM | Comments (1)
August 17, 2009
and while not un-building
photographing the stunning Anna,
modeling Katrin's jewelery
Posted by john at 08:47 PM | Comments (0)
August 16, 2009
painting hat
What every well dressed painter wears in Bavaria,
though it would most probably be the Suddeutsche Zeitung and not the Guardian.
Posted by john at 07:59 PM | Comments (1)
August 14, 2009
as dusk approaches
When the tools are put down for the evening and we trundle off for warm showers and sustenance sometimes we see this from the works door:
very comforting
[no colours were altered or enhances while processing this image]
Posted by john at 08:41 AM | Comments (2)
August 13, 2009
framing out the workshop
Posted by john at 10:40 PM | Comments (0)
August 12, 2009
gap beading
deft work with the caulking gun
Posted by john at 09:33 AM | Comments (0)
August 11, 2009
THINGS YOU FIND BEHIND THE RADIATORS WHEN UN-BUILDING A PRINTWORKS No.2
Posted by john at 07:48 PM | Comments (0)
August 09, 2009
The Old Print Shop
featuring, on the left, some of the machinery featured in previous posts
Posted by john at 11:24 AM | Comments (0)
August 08, 2009
THINGS YOU FIND BEHIND THE RADIATORS WHEN UN-BUILDING A PRINTWORKS No.1
Posted by john at 09:44 AM | Comments (0)
August 05, 2009
Plumbing as art
Untitled 47 plaster, emulsion paint, water, copper, John Coombes 2009
Posted by john at 11:17 PM | Comments (0)
August 04, 2009
a new room takes shape
first insulate the sub-floor:
then put down a new floor:
then put up some timbers for the wall:
Posted by john at 07:30 AM | Comments (0)