Today’s post continues on from where we left off yesterday. Intriguingly we also hear from The Benefaktor, but not the benefacktor. Over to you again Gaynor…
Listen to Gaynor narrate both parts of her piece here:
Grey is not flat cold and shadowless like black. It does not engulf and cover.
Or swamp.
Grey has tone.
There’s perspective, warmth, movement and light.
Grey had hope.
*
Why did this resonate with me so much?
I had been stuck trapped / engulfed in black before, with no music and no art back in the olden times.
Grey allowed me to wake up and escape. It was a way out.
Grey is the colour of hope.
*
Every day I stood in front of that tin of International Grey paint by Bill Drummond I was just so in love with the idea that grey could wipe out the offensive and beauty could be had everywhere at your own whim. I loved it was actually a tin of paint.
I used to fantasise about liberating it and taking it down to B&Q and watching people mull it over.
It was perfect. It’s not a mock up pretend impostor of a tin. There were no shoddy paper labels. Care, attention to detail and planning had gone into that tin of International Grey.
I pondered did Bill say to Alan in his Scottish lit: Aye Alan, this grey would be perfect for you? Do you wanna borrow it? Or was it an acktual kollaboration?
Or had Alan previously collected/ bought it a time ago?
Who could I ask? (I was only a brief acquaintance with the benefacktor(+)).
So I never did.
The International grey paint is an enigma I’ve seen …….
*
International Grey gave me hope.
International Grey gave me my art back.
International Grey IS the colour of hope.
Gaynor
10 December 2023
(+) The Benefaktor would like it noted that “the benefacktor” is not the same person as has featured in this earlier instalments of this blog, and who funded the great majority of the GANTOB project, posting, materials, and even at one point offered GANTOB a stipend. The Benefaktor notes the following simple rules: the benefacktor who Gaynor mentions – AKA Alan’s benefacktor perhaps – has a lower case “b”. He or she has added the “k”, but retains the “c”. The reason for this is not clear. The Benefaktor – always a stickler for rules – would also like it noted that Gaynor’s blog does not follow GANTOB’s rules of Kreative Tyranny. At 685 words it is too long for a single blog, and too short for a double post. These notes make them two perfect 400s.
If you have 400 words you would like to contribute to this blog, please get in touch. Ignore the deadlines, but please remember to provide an excuse for being late. If your blog is used in December 2023 you will receive a copy of the forthcoming book: GANTOB’s 2023: A trilogy. Good luck!
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