Why did no one tell me Glasgow has HILLS?!
A goal-setting method that I use daily, Glasgow murals, crème brûlée doughnuts, the 91-year-old making innovative art, the galleries to visit, and what I'm listening to this week!
Hello and happy Friday! James Clear wrote that to increase confidence you just need to do the things you said you would. Simple. But what do you know… we skipped a week! Luckily for me, there are plenty of challenging things that I did get done this week when I said I would, so my confidence is in good nick. Luckily for you, here’s a fortnight’s worth of goodies.
In the usual Friday style, keep reading for my recap, review and recs.
Coming up:
I ran my first workshop of the year. Here’s one takeaway if you missed it.
Street art in Glasgow and why did no one tell me how hilly that place is??
Can a mirror be art? My boyfriend and I discuss.
The exhibitions on my radar this weekend and some reading and listening recommendations!
The Recap:
The last fourteen days saw me host the first online workshop of 2024 where I shared my sustainable and super-effective goal-setting method. I’ve used it for a few years now and spoiler alert; I just keep hitting those goals.
Before we got stuck into my method, I set the scene by exploring our values and motivations (because there’s no point doing anything if you don’t know why you are doing it!!), the theory of goal setting, and a couple of other supporting theories and habits.
“If we want to feel an undying passion for our work, if we want to feel we are contributing to something bigger than ourselves, we all need to know our WHY.”
― Simon Sinek
One of those supporting methods is the ABC method. Simple and I use it all. the. time. A marathon runner first talked about it like this: “The A Goal is to win the race, the B Goal is to get a PB, and the C Goal is… to finish.” Try it out this week, instead of framing it as ‘best case’ and ‘worst case’ you are choosing a C Goal which STILL propels you forward and you’re using much more positive language around it!
I love talking and learning about the psychology of goals, and habits, and maximising our potential. Expect more to come (I’m currently holding back from just attaching all my slides because they are so golden). Another time!
Next up, I spent two days in Glasgow at the end of last week and why did not a single person say how hilly it is?!
I had a morning run (I ran along some of the official mural trails, which you can find here ) and intervals take on a whole new meaning when your sprint falls on an uphill climb!
Real talk: I ran early in the morning, it was pitch black and stormy. So these are not my pictures, but these are three that I saw and loved. I want to go back and see the city in the sun at some point!
The Glasgow Mural project started in 2008 and since then these extraordinary artworks have been reinvigorating the city. It reminded me of Grenoble, another city which has embraced street art in a really big way!
I went to the Modern Institute and saw the work of Adam McEwen in "A Moment of Collapse”. Adam McEwen's paintings in the Punctures series feature everyday objects like swords, pens, and straws, simplified to their essential diagrammatical shapes (in a very aesthetically satisfying way!). Through sparse compositions and floating elements, he invites metaphorical interpretations, prompting viewers to reconsider their material surroundings and the symbolism of the object (inspired by his interest in journalism, documentation, and reporting). The dagger versus dialogue. Swords vs Sonnets. He’s drawn on pop influences from artists like Warhol and Lichtenstein, and it was a particularly calming and lovely space to be in. Thank you lovely Modern Institute for being so well-placed near my hotel.
I was in Glasgow to join politicians, academics, and policymakers, to explore Scotland's child-centred approach to youth justice and welfare. We hope to apply these insights to revolutionise child care within the criminal justice system in Greater Manchester, England, and Wales. If you're curious, reach out— I’d love to chat more about it!
This week I met my new mentee from the University of Arts, London College of Communications Mentor Programme and onboarded some new coaching clients!
These conversations bring me so much excitement, booking our sessions, arranging studio visits, and just seeing the enormous potential of these incredible artists and knowing that I get to spend the next few months with them driving them forward!
Other highlights:
The best doughnuts from Greedy Cow Bakes including a creme brulee one!
Visiting Hackney City Farm and seeing piglets!! 🐷 And trawling antique shops 🏠
Getting a much-needed haircut. It’s the little things right?!
Having my end-of-probation review at work and hearing feedback from all my colleagues on the way that I’ve worked with them on projects. It was so energising, and despite working since I was 16 I have never been in an organisation where professional development, reflection and appraisals are taken so seriously. It’s a breath of fresh air, and for my hyper-reflective brain, it’s a dream.
The Review:
Gerhard Richter at David Zwirner. Video tour here.
The 91-year-old German visual artist is widely regarded as one of the most important contemporary abstract artists and this collection of works expands Richter's exploration of perception and his commitment to abstraction. It features three famous abstract paintings before he shifted in recent years to exploration of drawing, reflection and installation. New works on paper, using ink and pencil, emphasise Richter's focus on drawing techniques. Recent works reflect Richter's ongoing interest in reflection, both materially and experientially. His large paintings and room-sized installations, using glass and mirrors, become never-ending and self-referential abstract images.
It’s at this point that my boyfriend made an appearance, meeting my gaze in the huge mirror positioned opposite an enormous ‘Strip’ painting to reflect and rearrange the room. “This is art?”, “Well, yes”, “Hmmm, explain why?”.
I will do, using a quote from art historian Hal Foster:
“The felt analogy between a composed painting and a contemplative viewer is so fundamental that we are not aware of it until it is interfered with. And this is precisely what the glass pieces do: our reflection, in the sense of our mirrored image, disrupts our reflection, in the sense of our contemplation.”
—Hal Foster
The mirrored surfaces serve as sites for the creation and contemplation of a new kind of abstract image. The creation of a new image is surely art.
This exhibition is showing until the 28th of March so you have plenty of time to check it out and let me know what you think of the mirror.
The Recs:
Reading 📖
“Archie Moore: kith and kin”: Australia Pavilion at the Venice Biennale on eflux
Ximena Collado on how a series of failures made her a successful fashion illustrator
Listening to 🎶
Camille Henrot talks all about Paris in the 90’s, writers, musicians, and Louise Bourgeois.
My current playlist for feeling like I’m in a lovely happy old-school film all the time.
Art-ing 🖼️
Some exhibitions I’m planning to see over the weekend, if you’re in London take them as your recs and if you’re not… I’ll give you the lowdown over on my Instagram.
Anna von Freyburg, “Papillotage”, HOFA (Mayfair)
Barbara Kruger, “Thinking of You. I Mean Me. I Mean You.”, Serpentine Gallery (Hyde Park)
(Listen to this interview with Barbara - brilliant)
Sola Olulode, “Islands Of The Blessed”, Berntson Bhattacharjee (Soho)
Sun-Kyo Park, “Where is the point”, Moosey (Islington)
As always, I use Art Rabbit to find most exhibitions… so do have a look in your area!
and just like that…we’ve made it to the end.
Thanks for spending your time with me today! I’d love to know what you think about any/ all of the above so do comment or DM me.
And I hope you’ll stick around, or at least lurk around, for what’s to come. Make sure to subscribe so that I drop into your inbox like magic ✨
Have a lovely day, Phoebe 🌻