Welcome

[dougald hine]

Hi everyone -

Welcome to the group! And thanks for a great evening last Tuesday,
those of you who were with us.

I've now created the beginnings of a website for this project:

http://www.redrawingthemaps.org.uk/

What I've failed to do is bring the notebook with the email addresses
of everyone who was at our first meeting with me to Geneva. So please,
if you know someone who should be on this list, can you pass on the
invitation to them?

Arthur, Tom and Ben will be hosting our second meetup at the
Carpenter's Arms this Tuesday evening from 6.30-8.30!

Dougald

--
Dougald Hine
http://dougald.co.uk/

[Katy Robinson]

Please accept my apologies for tomorrow's meeting - I have another
meeting already scheduled (kicking off planning for Brixton's Urban
Green Fair also taking place in September). I'm really keen to stay
involved and look forward to hearing more about the project on this
Google Group and at future meetups. Cheers, Katy

[Pamela McLean]

I'm sorry I can't do that time Tuesday evenings at present, but would like to be involved in anything that follows in the footsteps of Temporary School of Thought and Really Free School and other new approaches to education and thought.

I confess to feeling somewhat of an outsider ref "John Berger’s work has been a landmark by which many of us found our bearings in the world. " as I only remember the TV series and had forgotten about that until you mentioned it. But I'd certainly like to learn more. Do you think I should join in beforehand, or just come along to learn when it is all underway?

Pamela
 -

[dougald hine]

Hi Pamela -

Based on last week's meetup, there seems to be a healthy balance
between Berger obsessives (like myself) and those with a more
tangential relationship to his work... Hope you can make it at some
point! You'll certainly be welcome.

Dougald

[Tony Hall]

Hi

I'm not sure if I can make the Tuesday evening meetings at the moment but I would like to somehow get involved in relation to John Berger and Photography. Maybe the 1972 article, 'Understanding a Photograph' by John Berger, could be a starting point for a some thinking and conversations about photography?  

http://www.macobo.com/essays/epdf/berger_understanding_a_photograph.pdf

All the best, Tony

[hannah lewis]

Hi all

I'm also sending my apologies for tonight as I have a Transition Town Brixton meeting to attend. But will definitely return to future meetings.

As one of the "tangential" people I'm brushing up on Berger - have ordered the Selected Essays (initially intending to read 'A Story for Aesop' and explore the relation of landscape and mindscape) and also 'Hold Everything Dear' as am interested in the political dimension of his work.

Anyone fancy forming a reading group? Read and discuss an essay each week? Just a thought.

Hannah

[Clodagh Miskelly]

Hi all

I like the idea of redrawing the maps (something I've done a fair amount of in the past) and I have read a little Berger .. always wanting to read more....

I'm hoping to make it along at some point to your meetings from time to time but not before April. Maybe with more commitment in summer.

Hannah, I'd be interested in the reading group idea but doubt I could commit to anything weekly.. but maybe monthly (slow reader :) )

best

Clodagh

[Pamela McLean]

Hi all - and especially "the essay-reading group".

Great idea, especially if it's only once a month. Maybe we could start with the essay Tony directed us to?

BTW I like the idea of redrawing maps too... in my case the interest is with reference to the future and "The Landscape of Change".

Pamela

[Alex Fradera]

Hi all

I was planning to come down to the meetup tonight, after getting some
things done in the day.

Instead, I spent the morning tending to - and cleaning up after - an
injured but curious crow. This means I have to stay in tonight to
work.

I think this is an excuse Berger would be happy to hear...

I like the idea of a reading group - beyond the odd online bit, the
only Berger I have read is (appropriately) Why Look at Animals?
Ways of Seeing is somewhere on our bookshelves for sure.

Best
Alex

On Mar 20, 1:59 pm, Pamela McLean <pamela.mcl...@dadamac.net> wrote:
> Hi all - and especially "the essay-reading group".
>
> Great idea, especially if it's only once a month. Maybe we could start with
> the essay Tony directed us to?
>
> BTW I like the idea of redrawing maps too... in my case the interest is
> with reference to the future and "The Landscape of Change".
>
> Pamela
>

> On 20 March 2012 13:19, Clodagh Miskelly <clodaghmiske...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > Hi all
> > I like the idea of redrawing the maps (something I've done a fair amount
> > of in the past) and I have read a little Berger .. always wanting to read
> > more....
> > I'm hoping to make it along at some point to your meetings from time to
> > time but not before April. Maybe with more commitment in summer.
> > Hannah, I'd be interested in the reading group idea but doubt I could
> > commit to anything weekly.. but maybe monthly (slow reader :) )
>
> > best
> > Clodagh
>

> > On 20 March 2012 13:08, hannah lewis <hmmle...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >> Hi all
>
> >> I'm also sending my apologies for tonight as I have a Transition Town
> >> Brixton meeting to attend. But will definitely return to future meetings.
>
> >> As one of the "tangential" people I'm brushing up on Berger - have
> >> ordered the Selected Essays (initially intending to read 'A Story for
> >> Aesop' and explore the relation of landscape and mindscape) and also 'Hold
> >> Everything Dear' as am interested in the political dimension of his work.
>
> >> Anyone fancy forming a reading group? Read and discuss an essay each
> >> week? Just a thought.
>
> >> Hannah
>

> >> On Mon, Mar 19, 2012 at 7:40 PM, Tony Hall <t...@tonyhall.co> wrote:
>
> >>> Hi
> >>> I'm not sure if I can make the Tuesday evening meetings at the moment
> >>> but I would like to somehow get involved in relation to John Berger and
> >>> Photography. Maybe the 1972 article, 'Understanding a Photograph' by John
> >>> Berger, could be a starting point for a some thinking and conversations
> >>> about photography?
> >>>http://www.macobo.com/essays/epdf/berger_understanding_a_photograph.pdf
>
> >>> All the best, Tony
> >>> On Saturday, 17 March 2012 11:47:27 UTC, Dougald wrote:
>
> >>>> Hi everyone -
>
> >>>> Welcome to the group! And thanks for a great evening last Tuesday,
> >>>> those of you who were with us.
>
> >>>> I've now created the beginnings of a website for this project:
>

> >>>>http://www.redrawingthemaps.**org.uk/<http://www.redrawingthemaps.org.uk/>

>
> >>>> What I've failed to do is bring the notebook with the email addresses
> >>>> of everyone who was at our first meeting with me to Geneva. So please,
> >>>> if you know someone who should be on this list, can you pass on the
> >>>> invitation to them?
>
> >>>> Arthur, Tom and Ben will be hosting our second meetup at the
> >>>> Carpenter's Arms this Tuesday evening from 6.30-8.30!
>
> >>>> Dougald
>
> >>>> --
> >>>> Dougald Hine
> >>>>http://dougald.co.uk/
>
> >>> On Saturday, 17 March 2012 11:47:27 UTC, Dougald wrote:
>
> >>>> Hi everyone -
>
> >>>> Welcome to the group! And thanks for a great evening last Tuesday,
> >>>> those of you who were with us.
>
> >>>> I've now created the beginnings of a website for this project:
>

> >>>>http://www.redrawingthemaps.**org.uk/<http://www.redrawingthemaps.org.uk/>

>
> >>>> What I've failed to do is bring the notebook with the email addresses
> >>>> of everyone who was at our first meeting with me to Geneva. So please,
> >>>> if you know someone who should be on this list, can you pass on the
> >>>> invitation to them?
>
> >>>> Arthur, Tom and Ben will be hosting our second meetup at the
> >>>> Carpenter's Arms this Tuesday evening from 6.30-8.30!
>
> >>>> Dougald
>
> >>>> --
> >>>> Dougald Hine
> >>>>http://dougald.co.uk/
>
> >>> On Saturday, 17 March 2012 11:47:27 UTC, Dougald wrote:
>
> >>>> Hi everyone -
>
> >>>> Welcome to the group! And thanks for a great evening last Tuesday,
> >>>> those of you who were with us.
>
> >>>> I've now created the beginnings of a website for this project:
>

> >>>>http://www.redrawingthemaps.**org.uk/<http://www.redrawingthemaps.org.uk/>

>
> >>>> What I've failed to do is bring the notebook with the email addresses
> >>>> of everyone who was at our first meeting with me to Geneva. So please,
> >>>> if you know someone who should be on this list, can you pass on the
> >>>> invitation to them?
>
> >>>> Arthur, Tom and Ben will be hosting our second meetup at the
> >>>> Carpenter's Arms this Tuesday evening from 6.30-8.30!
>
> >>>> Dougald
>
> >>>> --
> >>>> Dougald Hine
> >>>>http://dougald.co.uk/
>
> >>> On Saturday, 17 March 2012 11:47:27 UTC, Dougald wrote:
>
> >>>> Hi everyone -
>
> >>>> Welcome to the group! And thanks for a great evening last Tuesday,
> >>>> those of you who were with us.
>
> >>>> I've now created the beginnings of a website for this project:
>

> >>>>http://www.redrawingthemaps.**org.uk/<http://www.redrawingthemaps.org.uk/>

>
> >>>> What I've failed to do is bring the notebook with the email addresses
> >>>> of everyone who was at our first meeting with me to Geneva. So please,
> >>>> if you know someone who should be on this list, can you pass on the
> >>>> invitation to them?
>
> >>>> Arthur, Tom and Ben will be hosting our second meetup at the
> >>>> Carpenter's Arms this Tuesday evening from 6.30-8.30!
>
> >>>> Dougald
>
> >>>> --
> >>>> Dougald Hine
> >>>>http://dougald.co.uk/
>
> >>> On Saturday, 17 March 2012 11:47:27 UTC, Dougald wrote:
>
> >>>> Hi everyone -
>
> >>>> Welcome to the group! And thanks for a great evening last Tuesday,
> >>>> those of you who were with us.
>
> >>>> I've now created the beginnings of a website for this project:
>

> >>>>http://www.redrawingthemaps.**org.uk/<http://www.redrawingthemaps.org.uk/>

>
> >>>> What I've failed to do is bring the notebook with the email addresses
> >>>> of everyone who was at our first meeting with me to Geneva. So please,
> >>>> if you know someone who should be on this list, can you pass on the
> >>>> invitation to them?
>
> >>>> Arthur, Tom and Ben will be hosting our second meetup at the
> >>>> Carpenter's Arms this Tuesday evening from 6.30-8.30!
>
> >>>> Dougald
>
> >>>> --
> >>>> Dougald Hine
> >>>>http://dougald.co.uk/
>
> >>> On Saturday, 17 March 2012 11:47:27 UTC, Dougald wrote:
>
> >>>> Hi everyone -
>
> >>>> Welcome to the group! And thanks for a great evening last Tuesday,
> >>>> those of you who were with us.
>
> >>>> I've now created the beginnings of a website for this project:
>

> >>>>http://www.redrawingthemaps.**org.uk/<http://www.redrawingthemaps.org.uk/>

[dougald hine]

Hi Alex -

Reading your message, I couldn't help thinking of this - "The Flight
of the Blackbird: Aboard John Berger's Motorbike":

http://www.readysteadybook.com/Article.aspx?page=merrifieldonberger

D.

On Tue, Mar 20, 2012 at 6:11 PM, Alex Fradera <alex.f...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi all
>
> I was planning to come down to the meetup tonight, after getting some
> things done in the day.
>
> Instead, I spent the morning tending to - and cleaning up after - an
> injured but curious crow. This means I have to stay in tonight to
> work.
>
> I think this is an excuse Berger would be happy to hear...
>

[mark narayn]

Hi Dougald,

I'm interested in getting involved in 'redrawing the maps'. I briefly
met you at one of the 'everything unplugged' meetups, and think it's a
great idea. I live in Norwich, but am reorganising things so that
I'll be able to get along for most of the Tuesday meetups from April
onwards. Will they be weekly or monthly?
My email is: ma...@hatchetmusic.co.uk
Here is my WikiQuals profile:
http://wikiquals.wordpress.com/sqolars/mark-narayn/
Let me know if I can help with anything (bids, etc).
I look forward to meeting everyone!
Mark

On Mar 17, 11:47 am, dougald hine <writetodoug...@gmail.com> wrote:

[home....@googlemail.com]

Dear Dougald and all
Great that the group, meetings and website are up and running - for those who don't know John's body of work so much, I'd be very happy to give copies of the catalogue for the season I curated (see www.johnberger.org) which gives an overview in all media; Tom, maybe I could give you some to take along? V best Gareth
Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange

[gareth evans]

ps

this book is out early April - will be a useful summary....

 

vbest

Gareth

 

 

http://www.reaktionbooks.co.uk/book.html?id=522

 

 

On 17 March 2012 11:47, dougald hine <writeto...@gmail.com> wrote:

--

Grant Gee's acclaimed documentary Patience (After Sebald): Hackney Picturehouse, 6.30pm, 21.3.12:

www.picturehouses.co.uk/cinema/Hackney_Picturehouse/film/Patience_After_Sebald/  

*
Gareth Evans: Writer, Editor, Curator: www.gotogetherpress.com

Adjunct Film Curator, Whitechapel Gallery: www.whitechapelgallery.org

Writer in Residence, Jerwood Visual Arts: http://blog.jerwoodvisualarts.org/?p=1005

Railtracks, the acclaimed new book by John Berger & Anne Michaels 

London Review Bookshop No.1 Bestseller: www.lrbshop.co.uk/railtracks

Grant Gee's new feature documentary: Patience (After Sebald): www.artevents.info 

in UK cinemas now; www.sodapictures.com; www.nbcq.co.uk 

www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2012/feb/08/patience-after-wg-sebald

Artesian latest issue, TIME, available now: www.gotogetherpress.com/page3.htm

"very well conceived, deftly written and handsomely designed." - Don DeLillo

Estate: a film for our times, about the places and things that matter...

to get involved: www.fugitiveimages.org.uk/projects/estatefilm/

"Don't undertake a project unless it is manifestly important and nearly impossible." - Edwin Land

[hannah lewis]

Hi all

Hope the meet-up went well last night and it's nice to see the discussion developing on here too!

Quite a few people have expressed interest in a reading group - and the consensus seems to be monthly rather than weekly. Also many of us (me included) won't be there every week anyway. So how about...

• The last Tuesday of the month is when the 'reading group' officially meets (as part of the larger meet-up) - so we'll start next Tues 27th

• But also we can have a few suggested essays for each month - which anyone can propose via this google group - so whoever is there each week can discuss them with anyone else who happens to have read them

• Has anyone been in a reading group before? I haven't so am not sure of the protocol. I guess everybody reads the proposed piece of writing in advance and then meets up and discusses it. But does somebody take responsibility for introducing it / reading some aloud / summarising it at the beginning of each session? Is the discussion chaired or freeform? I guess we can make it up as we go along, but if anybody wants to suggest a way of structuring it please do!

Since 'Ways of Seeing' is probably the Berger book that most people have a copy of - I suggest we start with something from that. Last week I came with a quote that I had jotted down in an notebook many years ago, which I think relates strongly to the idea of "Redrawing the maps". This reads as follows:

'Every exceptional work was the result of a prolonged successful struggle. Innumerable works involved so struggle. There were also prolonged yet unsuccessful struggles.

'To be an exception a painter whose vision had been formed by the tradition, and who had probably studied as an apprentice or student from the age of sixteen, needed to recognise his vision for what it was, and then to separate it from the usage for which it had been developed. Single handed he had to contest the norms of the art that had formed him... This meant that he saw himself doing something that nobody else could foresee.'

This is from Chapter 5 of Ways of Seeing, which is a brief survey of European oil painting. Shall we start next week with a discussion of that chapter? The concluding section (p109-112), from which the quote is taken, focuses on the opposition between art as a celebration of property and status, and other ways art can function, pointing to 'existence as a question'. Artists recognised as 'masters', Berger argues, have produced work 'diametrically opposed to the values' of the tradition of art as property - yet later 'the tradition closed around their work, incorporating minor technical innovations, and continuing as though nothing of principle had been disturbed'. I guess any aspiration to 'redraw maps' must anticipate and contend with that tendency for the redrawn maps to be co-opted into 'the tradition'. Yet it would be interesting to look at what kinds of redrawing have been done in the past by people dissatisfied with art as property / status symbol.

Other essays that have been mentioned so far – which we could also share this month or next – include the one Tony suggested about photography (http://www.macobo.com/essays/epdf/berger_understanding_a_photograph.pdf), and I am planning to read 'A Story for Aesop' (from Keeping a Rendezvous or Selected Essays).

Looking forward to meeting next week,

Hannah

+44 (0)791 903 8778
www.remadeinbrixton.org

[Tony Hall]

Hi

I would like to participate in the reading group, but find it difficult to make these evening meetings at the moment. I might be able to make some daytime meets if anyone is about. 

I'm also involved in the Dark Mountain Photography group which meets on Saturday afternoons, this could be another time that people from the reading group meet. Cat Lupton has written an article about photography that includes quotes from John Berger: 

http://www.dark-mountain.net/wordpress/2012/03/05/edge-of-the-eye/

All the best, Tony

[dougald hine]

Hi Gareth -

That would be excellent! There's some wonderful stuff in that
catalogue - definitely a good introduction for people.

D.

--
Dougald Hine
http://dougald.co.uk/