Artsmonkey Blog

Well, I was going to write a piece moaning about the injustice of sixth form and exam pressures etc., but you’ll be pleased to know that you’ve been spared any grumblings as I’ve just discovered THE BIG LUNCH campaign http://www.thebiglunch.com which aims to give us all something to smile about, reinforce a sense of community, share food we’ve grown and break bread with our neighbours by holding a street party in our street, a field, a patch of common ground, etc, on JULY 19^th. It’s not just about sharing food, it’s about making music, performing, swapping seedlings, getting out our hidden talents and bringing them to the party – sketching the event, making decorations …endless ways to be involved.

The Big Lunch is a UK initiative created by Tim Smidt and friends at the Eden Project with the aim of putting a smile back on Britain’s face. It’s an idea with legs and no reason why it shouldn’t travel a little further afield.A party in your street! How long has it been since the Queens Silver Jubilee, possibly you’ve never experienced a street party? Lots of support on how to organise and manage such a thing on the website (see link above) and you can look and see if one is already planned near you. Lots of supporting partners are also getting onboard to help make it easier for you to do this. Businesses could hold one, Arts Organisations could plan one, Schools can do this (easy peasee). C’mon let’s do this! Let’s come together right now and do THE BIG LUNCH (you know you want to).

I have become a fan of emerging new artist Jon Hawke aka @theboywyatt especially his poetry which takes me from sadness to uncontrollable giggling fits. He recently launched his poem “That Older Woman” via Twitter and his Tumblr blog and it had a great response especially from those of us for whom it may have been written – who really felt quite flattered (slightly pink cheeked even). To echo the words of one reader Elly Laine “I want to pick him up and put him in my pocket”. I suspect it’s now pinned up on fridges all over the world, that’s the wonderment and the challenge of social media – instant access. If you take a peek and like his work, do let him know – feedback is to artists what a good hairdresser would be to Donald Trump – Vital  ;0)