CXCampbell

It's been a while

2010-02-10T14:08:00.000-08:00

Just some wee pics of some of my work from 2009

Art

2008-12-13T03:56:00.001-08:00

Study of Man, Tallinn by cxcampbell

via Artbreak - Share and sell art online

Long time, no speak

2008-12-08T13:34:00.001-08:00

Nagemist Tallinn : a quick update for the moment...Currently residing in Zagreb, Croatia. It was two weeks of travel in an 1987 Yugo, via Helsinki, Finland - Rostock, Berlin, Leipzig & Dresdan, Germany - Prague & Brno, Czech Republic, Bratislava, Slovakia, and Budapest, Hungary, but we made it.

The reason for being so late with my post: accessing the internet's been a bugger... A bigger post to follow on each of these countries, with plenty more pics :)

Pic on 14 November 2008, from ferry, Tallinn - Helsinki

A Moskvitch in Havanna (we get ready for the opening)

2008-10-28T07:47:00.001-07:00

A Moskvitch in Havanna

2008-10-28T07:28:00.000-07:00

'Aia Q.U.R.K', 100x60cm, oil on canvas

'Aia Kumme Uheksa Viis' 100x60cm. oil on canvas

So the exhibitions up (opening was 16 October). A rather late update to the blog, but my internet takes ages to upload my photos at the flat - currently holed up in a wee soviet tearoom on Narva Mnt stealing Reval Hotels wireless...much quicker.

The opening was good, if a little bit quiet, but I guess that's to be expected when in a city where no one knows you. We did get some good feedback from the people at the Art Academy though. Upon the arrival of Friday 31, I will have the 'enjoyable' task of dismantling the lot, to package it up and return it to those involved, who currently are all over the place like Amsterdam, Germany & Scotland. So fingers crossed the lot gets to it's multitude of destinations safe and sound.

A few wee pics of Estonia

2008-10-18T05:48:00.000-07:00

Red Tallinn

2008-09-27T03:29:00.000-07:00

This week the weather has been great, colder than the July/August months, but very sunny :) and a little less nippy than it had gotten. We went out Nava Mnt, onto Pirita Tee to Viimsi, north east of the city. It is a beautiful wee place, quiet and very posh. But the views of Tallinn from there are beautiful.

I took this photo from the very most northern point looking back on Tallinn on Wednesday night.

And these were taken when I went on a bike ride out to Pirita beach on Thursday - I cycled about 15 miles, and I haven't been on a bit for about a year (walk a lot though). But god does my ass not half hurt! :)

Charles Manson meets Jarvis Potter & I know where Knightrider is

2008-09-23T12:12:00.000-07:00

Valli Bar, Tallinn. Charles Manson meets a Jarvis Cocker/Harry Potter hybrid.

The Valli Bar is the last soviet pub in the centre of Tallinn, between the old town and Freedom Square. A very odd place, complete with formica counter top, and 80's poster adverts for drinks like Harvey's Bristol Creme and Tia Maria, which was last night filled with Finns and drunk Estonians, singing, while one played an accordion. Very odd.

I also had the good fortune of stumbling upon KITT whilst on my way to the supermarket from my studio this week. He's old and tired looking and had the misfortune of some reprobate plastering him in stickers and logos but I'm sure it's him. Now, to find Michael Knight...

Lou Reed

2008-09-21T10:30:00.000-07:00

Lou Reed at Linahall, Tallinn - amazing concert, complete legend - good times, sang his new stuff, but threw in 'Satellite' just for good measure :)

Nearly forgot to stick it on here, was one of the first things I did when I got out here.

My nice red dress :)

2008-09-21T08:41:00.000-07:00

I had a red dress, bought at Primark so no expense spared, and wore it over here which got me numerous stares and looks of bewilderment. It only dawned on Jon much later that my dress was, infact, about the same colour as the soviet flag. I learned that practically no Estonian woman would ever wear red/scarlet (a sort of unwritten rule). My dress was a sort of tube thing and therefore had the distinct possibility that I may have looked like I had just tied the Soviet flag around me.

So, not only did I resemble a Russian with my dark hair, I (in my 'Soviet flag') dressed like some Bohemian/Hippy also. Wonderful :) At least my Russian neighbours at the studio will have appreciated it. Primark items having the 50/50 chance of being destroyed the first wash though, has seen my dress succumb to the bin, and thus no longer having the ability to offend the Estonians who quietly go about their daily business :(

Quick sketches

2008-09-21T06:26:00.000-07:00

Quick wee sketch :) I am doing something, and the ideas are coming!

I have been slightly stalker'ish' in my technique of gathering references for my art ie, walking down the street, camera in hand, snapping away, or from distances at which I won't be noticed.

But good reason...This is because there is nothing worse than work with looks stagnant and too posed. Well maybe a few things worse, but it's pretty bad, and I like people watching, they're in public places, doing public things (except the hobos, as I've said before, they take it just too far) >:(

Paldiski

2008-09-21T05:48:00.000-07:00

Went to Paldiski a small town, about 30 miles (slightly south) west

of Tallinn and a former Soviet base.

The lookouts on the coast are quite deserted now and the buildings along the roadside leading

there have been all but demolished, but people still live in the town, and there is still a small military base for the Estonian army.

More (near) studio action - surreal Russian Market time

2008-09-21T05:11:00.000-07:00

I went to the Russian Market (Balti Jaam). It's a very odd place. Lots of old Soviet occupation memorabilia; old Russian money, badges with the hammer & sickle logo, furry hats and busts of Lenin and plaques featuring Stalin.

Controversially they also have old WW2 matchbooks for sale, some of which sport rather fetching propaganda imagery of Hitler or his idolised Arian race girl or boy waving a flag with the swastika on it, and rings featuring the swastika. It's very odd to see this sort of thing for sale, but I guess the Nazis flooded occupied countries with these sorts of 'supporter' propaganda. It's a little disturbing really to see these sorts of thing existing in daily life, to be surrounded by it and people selling it as part of their stock.

Studio Action

2008-09-21T04:14:00.000-07:00

So, Teleskivi's where it's at, in Hobo terms at least. But for Dave and I too.

Just a couple of drawings I did over the summer of people in and around Tallinn.

The upcoming exhibition now has a title. After days of painstakingly agonizing over possibilities, Jon suggested 'A Moskvitch in Havana', so all agreed, that's the goodie - I did the poster, Yeyh! :) Gotta add a couple of details like address etc , but it's all good, in the Kunstiakadeemia (Tallinn's Art School).

Travels so far

2008-09-21T03:04:00.000-07:00

So, an update as to travels so far, as Ihave been really bad at updating blog :(

En route to Estonia, I went to the National Gallery in Copenhagan - which was great - the building had been extended - morphing from an old historical build into a modern structure made of glass and steel. but it looked good. The collection was quite exciting too. Similar to that of Tate Britain, only consisting of historical and contemporary Danish artists mostly.

Part of the gallery has been turned into an open workshop. A small section of the gallery is open to visitors, allowing the public to view restoration work being carried out on old paintings. The workshop is set behind glass so that you can see the guy restoring and conserving paintings. Information also given on laws they have to adhere to, and what they are allowed to do and how it's done. In the past, paintings were sometimes altered, decades, or even centuries, after the artist had originally completed the painting, so they remove the 'new' paint/alterations (sometimes still hundreds of years old). Very interesting, but complicated.

Since arriving in Estonia, I have a studio in Teleskivi, it's less than 10 mins from the 'Old Town' tourist trap, but is an okay wee area...or so I thought.

It has since been pointed out to me that Teleskivi is a very surreal place, inhabited by Hobos.

The studio is on the third floor, and has a fairly good view, of the surrounding area, and it was not until David, my studio partner in crime, pointed out to me we had a 'piss bush' on the opposite side of the road, next to the train tracks. And sure enough, hobos (and sometimes those who don't even look that hobo'ish') stagger into, and out of the bush 'fixing themselves'. Many others simply stand beside the bush drinking cans of 'Rock', or if they're very lucky, swigging from 12% proof cans of 'Maximator'. Nice.

A less discrete pee stop is the grassy area up at the top of the road, next to the tram stop, and opposite the little cafe we like to go to, which is actually really nice, and quite up-market, selling sweet and savory pancakes, and salads etc. Yes you can enjoy a bite to eat, will enjoying the spectator sport of peeing in bushes. And the hobos, well they seem to be under the misconception that because they turn to have their backs to us that we can't see them, cause they can't see us?

In saying all this, I do have one Russian hobo 'friend'. I've christened him 'No Toes', or Bob for short. As you can guess, he has no toes. I usually give him money when I pass him, and the security guards at the Viru shopping centre usually give him beer. He's always polite, no English, or Estonian, but he does know thank you in Russian (I'm guessing) Spanish, French and Itallian.

I live in a cartoon

2008-09-21T02:45:00.000-07:00

Currently residing in Tallinn, Estonia.

Tallinn is very beautiful. The peeps here are ok, but not as friendly as the mentalists back home. It is strange here though as parts (such as the Old Town) are pastel coloured-turrety bulidings. Same thing in Tartu (Estonia's 2nd largest city). I feel like I live in a cartoon world. But, it's funny.

All good - I am working in my studio with David most days getting ready for the inevitable terror that is EEE-day (Eastern European Exhibition opening - AAAAAArgh!!).

I took this photo from the lookout point, high in the old town, (difficult to see maybe) but I live in the building opposite the blue samsung sign. Very bright when trying to go to sleep at night.