Albion Journal (ePub)

Liskeard 29/ 07/ 2011 While she browses the natural products in a friendly organic shop, he glances with increasing interest at the intersection of the sunlit street, the gentle mound of a bare tarmac rising to connecting lanes that lead elsewhere. A figure seems frozen in a moment of reflection, completing the setting perfect for a post-war Italian movie, say by Vittorio de Sica, or Federico Fellini, like 'La Strada'. The Garden She, tall, handsome, brown hair shaped to the neck; wearing a cashmere shawl over a long loose skirt. He, shambling, a waxen sweaty sheen, some physical degeneration - onset of motor neurone? Late fifties. They exchange compliments as they settle to dinner, the topic turns from teaching and students to the garden. "My concern is their (the employed) quality of presentation and service. He was observed by our neighbour (Anne?) smoking and talking on his i-phone in the garden. I am not prepared to pay for that." "You do not pay for it, I do." She retorts and arches defensively. He persists, leaning forward and raising his voice unpleasantly, with an increasing common inflection.. A beady eye fixes on his partner, chilly and critical."Watch for the subtext to this," the neighbouring table lends an ear "He is really probing her." The listener is distracted by the arrival of a dessert of jelly and vanilla cream with a side of raspberry sorbet. They look out at the beautiful aspect of the headland and pale oean, near Porthscatho. St.Mawes "Angelica is fretting for you." The woman talks to the mother on a mobile phone from the quayside. The dear little girl in a pink pinafore takes note and whimpers suitably. A vigorous man in black singlet and red bermudas strides past. A hound takes the sun, eyes closed, muzzle pointing, reclining by his owner's table.

Studio-Life . The Resort . Incident and a Memory . Holiday Island . Clouds and Suns . Intervals . Cross Connections . Murmurings fron the Vale of Albion . Chronicler . Cross Country . Idle Dreams

Nicholas James studied painting at the Slade School of Art, UCL, and History of Art (MA) at Kingston University. As a researcher and writer on art his recent assignments have included interviews with Jim Dine, Billy Apple, Mat Collishaw and Yinka Shonibare, with reviews of Anish Kapoor, Marc Quinn, Matthew Barney and others.

'Drops a long probe to our mindset' John S

'Unexpected, illuminating, different and ultimately influential' Marina Vaizey (on the Gallery London)