UPDATE - You can see by Poetry DJ set list here: www.notgrimupnorth.blogspot.com
I guess I am an arts fan. Or 'regular attender'. From theatre to large scale interactive electronic installations, from live literature to dance to gigs galore. I'm very excited to be part of an Antony Gormley piece. Some years ago I drove from the Midlands to the North West via the North East to see Angel of the North, not long after it had been installed. Now I live in the North East I enjoy its beauty regularly and I can see why it is so iconic and so important for the region. I may be a marketing and PR man by trade, but I'd love to be an artist - probably a writer. I am lucky enough to have done a fair bit of voluntary and paid marketing work in the arts. Now, to be part of a piece of work is as exciting as it gets.
I tend to be instinctive, gut feeling-based in my decision-making, though I do always try and apply some decent analytics to it (usually a good idea for marketeers). But when I had recovered from the excitement of being selected, my immediate thought was that I would read a selection of poetry during my hour.
I thought poetry - as part of a visual arts installation - may work. I enjoy cross-art forms (Jonathan Coe with the High Llamas; Bobby Friction with a classical orchestra; Rafael Lozano-Hemmer's interactive, almost promenade theatre style installations etc etc). So maybe poetry-live art-installation sort of thing. Or maybe just me reading to a handful of people.
About me................well I'm not remotely an arts aficianado. I have a small level of knowledge in some areas...............local government communications, cricket, indie pop music, Leicester City, customer service training for the tourism industry, public sector marketing, Albania, restaurants of the North East and a few random others. However as far as the arts goes, Im generally just an audience member always wanting to experience new work. And now I can be part of an exciting new piece of work!
Oh, and my nickname is usually the more prosaic 'Rosey', but this was already taken in the Plinthers register, so I have had to revert to one of my other cricketing monikers.
My idea has moved on a little from just reading my favourite poems, to asking a few poets if they would consider writing me something (or recommending pieces), even if it's just a haiku. Im also going to ask a few friends for recommendations. And I have secured one agreement to write something already, from the fabulous, North East's finest (and BBC Radio 4, Politics Show, etc etc favourite) Kate Fox.
By the time I become an official plinther, this may already have been done. Or it may prove to be undescribably dull as I read aloud without the panache of a trained performer. But I hope it will be entertaining, and fun.
