The Oracle Bone

Currently playing (a lot).

The Oracle Bone by Richard Skelton, released 20 March 2020 1. The Oracle Bone 'What is a body but an instrument for the elements to carve and shape? What are bones but oracles?' (Autumn Richardson) Released as a fundraiser for Corbel Stone Press, to help mitigate loss of earnings due to the impact of the Coronavirus.

Whispering in the Trees

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A series of 40 newly-commissioned artworks inspired by traditional Manx folklore.

These beautiful images by Mark Kinrade were created during 2018-2019 through a commission by Culture Vannin which resulted in an exhibition at the Isle Contemporary gallery in St. John's.

More information about the Whispering in the trees: Images of Manx folklore project is available here. The image above is The King of the Birds by Mark Kinrade and inspired by a traditional Manx folktale.

Diary of a Pandemic: May 29, 2020

Image by Alex Majoli, from the Diary of a Pandemic series on magnum.com, curated by Cristina de Middel.

Polava. Italy. April 18, 2020. Italy Slovenia Border.

“For the past 35 years the EU – a borderless zone – has ensured both freedom of residence and of movement for persons and goods across its member states. Following the outbreak early this year, on March 17, EU leaders decided that the best course of action was to stop the movement between member nations and re-establish border checks. Even little alleys and passes have been blocked by Slovenians as of March 10. As of April 27 a total of 199,414 people in Italy have contracted the virus since the outbreak began, and 26,977 of them have died – more than anywhere else in Europe and second only to the United States.”

A Dundalk Dérive

“What I like about this way of engaging your surroundings is the playfulness. There are no strict academic guidelines and there's no need to write about your wanders at all, but ideas from psychogeography can make your Corona exercise more entertaining. As Robert MacFarlane writes in 'Psychogeography: A Beginner’s Guide': 'Unfold a street map... place a glass, rim down, anywhere on the map, and draw round its edge. Pick up the map, go out in the city, and walk the circle, keeping as close as you can to the curve. Record the experience as you go, in whatever medium you favour.' It seems the government has drawn that circle for us already. “

From a short piece on psychogeography in lockdown I wrote for The Argus, commissioned by the An Táin Arts Centre. Read it in full here.