We Lack Discipline

19/01/2024

Sunday 21st January 2024 marks a whole decade of the classics-inspired art, snark and sometimes bwark that is Greek Myth Comix. In order to celebrate I'm here to answer a simple question; What's My Favourite and Why? My choice will come as no surprise to our esteemed artist: Day 22: MOTHER. Inspired by a tweet from another wonderful classicist, Dr Ellie Mackin Roberts, the image shows Persephone and Demeter in a very contemporary style....

Sunday 21st January 2024 marks a whole decade of the classics-inspired art, snark and sometimes bwark that is Greek Myth Comix. In order to celebrate I’m here to answer a simple question; Wha…

05/08/2023

Sad banana!

Psst... Did you know a banana grows in this three-part pattern because each banana contains three copies of each chromosome - structures that your genes organise themselves into in your cells. This makes bananas triploid - unlike humans who only have two copies of their chromosomes - making them diploid!

But it gets better! Many wild bananas are actually diploid! The triploid ones are a naturally occurring mutation, but it makes them mostly sterile!

How we get our food is kinda amazing.

Not sure what this slice has got to be sad about, bananas are awesome!

30/07/2023

Touch some old stuff!

Learn about Roman weapons!

Wear a Secutor gladiators helmet!

Join at Colchester Roman Festival!

24/07/2023

Amid my antics this weekend I had a chance to further hone my new art of photography at .

A place of Christian worship was likely founded on the site in the 6th Century, with the last major alterations to the 11th Century Norman Cathedral building taking place in the 19th Century.

Thus, its life spans the tumultuous history of Christianity in Britain, and as such the structures are a fascinating mix of styles, periods and levels of repair.

It is now the seat of the head of the Church of England - the Archbishop of Canterbury (currently ) but it may be most famous as the place where St Thomas Beckett was martyred.

It is a magnificent complex with stunning history and well worth a visit.

20/06/2023

Some of my favourite death imagery from Trier.

Death is an innate, and inevitable part of life. Death is one of those mysterious aspects of biologily where we can sort of see the evolutionary purpose of it but we haven't fully puzzled it out just yet. (The other is s*x, by the way!)

Human culture, then, has taken death imagery to its heart. It has personified death as a 'Grim Reaper' come to harvest our souls when the crop is grown.

An austere and often scary figure, the Reaper is a 'Psychopomp' and, far from being frightening, they are often actually a gentle companion on the journey that bridges life and death.

12/06/2023

Trier, formerly Augusta Treverorum, is widely considered the oldest city in Germany.

Of course the Romans who formalised it's status as a city were not the first to settle here on the banks of the River Moselle.

But the Romans were the ones who left a mark, with the Römerbrück, the impressive bridge, the oldest in Germany; and the 'black gate' - a name given in the middle ages to the darkened sandstone gateway, the Porta Nigra.

Trier itself became an imperial capital, during the tetrarchy, when power was divided across the empire.

Its influences come together in the High Cathedral of St Peter in Trier - the Dom. This building has Roman brickwork, said to date from around 270 CE, but was repeatedly destroyed and added to.

The result is a building predominately 13th Century, but a patchwork of different eras.

It is stunning!

Thanks to for giving me the excuse to get away and her patience as I wander around being a massive history nerd and wannabe photographer!

31/05/2023

Nestled on the North Bank of the Great Stour, only a short walk from Canterbury City Centre, lies St Stephen's Church.

It is an incredible building with immense history in its own right.

But the churchyard! It's a catalogue of changing styles in funerary monuments, particularly between the 18th and early 20th Centuries.

09/04/2023

The gorgeous stained glass at St Nicholas-at-Wade church.

This church dates back to the 12th century, though these windows are definitely not that old!

Absolutely stunning glasswork, especially for your Easter Sunday.

07/04/2023

Anyone want to guess where I was yesterday?

Sadly didn't get to see the exhibition but that's just an excuse to go back!

04/04/2023

Insta 'Un/Masked' shout-out to the wonderful Vivienne Tuffnell, who has three books currently on display in Castle!

It is hard to put into words just how amazing a friend, important an influence and incredible a supporter Vivi has been to me.

Being real for a second, while nowadays I'm dressing dandy, putting up museum displays, performing poetry and singing and looking like I'm bossing it - my life hasn't always been this way.

I spent many years in a hopeless, unemployed wilderness - as many autistics do.

I did myself harm in numerous ways.

It was not pretty.

But Vivienne has been there through all those years and truly deserves inclusion in this display. She deserves to be seen, heard, acknowledged, supported and loved - in just the same way she has done with me.

She is an exceptionally talented author and poet and her work is in no way included out of pure nepotism! She is a magnificently powerful and visionary writer.

But she is also autistic...and as my display demonstrates - this holds us back...or rather people not accommodating autistics holds us back.

End the discrimination and see the brilliance.

*x

04/04/2023

An 'Un/Masked' shout-out to , the Queen of , whose 'Pictoral Guides to Ancient Antiquity - Drag Edition!' feature on display at Castle.

I met Shelly recently at a zine fair in Margate and could not resist these little make-your-own classical-sculpture-meets-drag.

Our history and heritage is collective, it belongs to all of us and - while there is objective truth in events - interpretation and understanding of characters and events are subjective.

I think these little zines do an excellent job of demonstrating that!

Whether looking at classical sculpture through a drag lens, the witch persecutions through a disabled lens, or the relationships in the WWI trenches through a q***r lens - it's all valid.

Autism did not exist as a diagnostic term until 1943 - so it doesn't 'exist' in the past and any recognition of autistic heritage must come from speculation and reinterpretation of relatable stories, signatures and experiences.

So thanks for the inspiration !

*x

31/03/2023

Un/Masked shout-out to .eliart!

These beautiful sharks were drawn by Eliot and are now on display on .

Eliot was the artist-in-residence for the and drew that image of me looking like a handsome king! Which pleased me!

Clearly incredibly talented, it shocks me, then, to be approached by such an amazing person and told "when I grow up I want to be like you!"

Partly it reminds me that I'm old! 🤣

But it also tells me I must be doing something right.

Leaders can be leaders regardless of hierarchy, gender, race or disability!

So thanks, Eliot, for your kindness and support. I look forward to bumping into you more, working with you more, and having more awkward exchanges of compliments with you!

But one bit of advice;

Don't grow up to be like me.
Grow up to be the best version of you! ☺️

30/03/2023

A big Un/Masked shout-out to and .

This Cacofonix sticker (stuck on my copy of the 'Pengiun Book of Unrespectable Verse' 😛) is on display on .

A little celebration to coincide with the announcement of their new venue!

I decided to include them in my display because they did what far too few people have done through my life and gave me a chance.

I was invited to take part in the Cacofonix Poetry Slam, I was very warmly welcomed, and met with a raucous reception. It was encouragement the like of which I have literally never known.

The next Cacofonix event will be in The Drapers Arms, Canterbury on May 11th and I would strongly recommend you go!

29/03/2023

Today saw the installation of new display in Castle, thanks to

'Un/Masked'

This display looks at the under-representation of autism and neurodivergence in our museum collections and exhibitions.

Looking at one autistic life, my own, it asks the question;

If just one humble autistic person has so many stories to tell, where are the rest of them in our museums?

'Un/Masked' will be on display in Colchester Castle until around early June.

Visit while you can.

Calm at the Castle - a sensory friendly evening - will be taking place on Sunday 2nd April if you would prefer to visit then.

Huge thanks to , .south, Colchester and Ipswich Museums Service, and all the wonderful staff involved for help making this happen!

There are lots of little hidden Easter eggs, influences and works from other neurodivergent people, that I will highlight in other posts.

*x

29/03/2023

Feels so good to be back in Colchester!

27/03/2023

Back in Canterbury at the lovely for Utterance Poetry Slam!

22/03/2023

is in the air!

The Northern Hemisphere is ceasing it's autumn/winter rest and waking back up.

The birds are singing their possessive songs, insects are taking to the air and that means the are out!

Some beautiful and out there right now!