Friday 8th June

Final day of the degree show today, may have to open next week for the external examinar though.

Yesterday had the parents drop by, Hammam, James, Rona and kate all looked after the church for me, having said that they actually just set up on the alter and played chess. Very theatrical.

Clossed early at 3 and went for a walk with Rona to see the Briggate gallery space. For two months this summer the gallery will be free for use and we have been invited to take it up for one week each. We looked at the work and watched the Marcus Coates video (hysterical) before heading back up the hill. We said our goodbyes at the Met gallery where i cought a quick glimps before it clossed. A much more mature show than our own. i probably shouldnt even think that never mind put it in writting. If you really want to know what i think then here goes.

To many fucking rich/upper middleclass children using this course as either a finishing school or a three year party in a hip northern city. Few of them bringing anything to the course, no life experience, no strong ideas or beliefs except that they are here becuase they are the best, right? So concerned about art that the first thing they do when they graduate is either travel the world or get a job as a recruitment consultant. This is of course all jelousy. OK not everyone on the course is like this, there are some truly quality students/ people more talented and naturally capable than I could ever hope to be, i just wish that there were more of them. The Hamams, Evas, Ronas, Helens, Lauras and Alsias. Maybe I just dont know enough people, but then I barely know some of those mentioned. When i floated the idea that maybe more talented people never got the opertunity to participate on this course because of a lack of opertunity/ education/ luck i was roundly dismissed. No we are here because we are the best, everyone else agreed, slightly disturbed that anything other than this could have been suggested. I still plan on leaving a plack over the entrance to Old minning that says somthing like.

"And so all the truly talented artists were forced to work in Call Centres"

Christ I have a chip on my shoulder. Im actually in a very good mood, the sooner i start my next work the better for everyone.