I did a BBC Radio interview yesterday morning live. Was interviewed by Ian Perry, who’d just come back from his holidays. We talked about my USA road trip which starts today, my work, this blog and my website. If i can get hold of the recording, I’ll post it on here.
The journey has started very well. I found myself bumped upto business class, so had a glass of champagne to take off. How very nice!
One of the questions the BBC producer had written for Ian to ask me was, is it appropriate for an environmental artist like me to be doing a road trip?
My answer is yes. The purpose of my trip is to go see and bring back what ive seen and learnt, to better teach and inspire more people. I’m involved in teaching eco building and sculptural art to people in Britain, having learnt techniques in Africa and the UK over the years. I plan to share what i learn from the States with the community back in the United Kingdom primarily, but am intending to run eco encounters internationally in the future.
So, in the States, I’m going to be researching eco building methods, and im particularly looking for pioneers to learn from. I will be visiting eco architectural sites, meeting and interviewing eco artists, soaking up the landscapes that have influenced major artists like James Turrell, Georgia O’Keefe and Frank Lloyd Wright.
I’ll be spending time with artists and even a Shaman from the Pueblo Indian Tribe – peoples who still live close to the earth.
I’ll be walking in the footsteps of environmental artists and making work in situ out in the states too. When im in the cities i’ll be checking out the local artists scenes and the major art galleries too.
I have some fixed points on my journey, – some people to meet up with along the way, some sights id like to see, but have left my itinerary pretty open too, so as to allow spontaneity and whimsy.
As i sit here writing, waiting for my connection to LA in Calgary, Canada, i’m incredibly excited to have been given this opportunity. I plan to use it well.
Meetings in the Middle of Somewhere 