2013 update

Still studying for my PGCE (not long left)
More teaching hours at WNC, rejoined the gym, had some holidays too. Lots of training with Stix at the House of Pain Wrestling School.


Doctor Craven with his tag partner (and patient) Felony.

Back wrestling, stronger than ever! Lifting Diamond Dave Andrews with ease.

Also, check out this wonderful "flying ass" manoeuvre on Heavy J

And this devestating senton on Danny Chase

2012 Update

I have begun studying for my PGCE, for the time being I will be writing a teaching journal. so won't be able to update my Blogger account so often.

I got a bird on my head...

and bought myself a playstation 3. Maybe, I'll never be seen again!

Taking some time off wrestling... But the Doctor will return

Dr Craven @ House of Pain Wrestling

After acting as a manager over the psycho wrestlers of the Asylum at the house of pain for the last year Dr Craven finally makes his wrestling debut at the "Christmas Chaos" show host by Stixx at the House of Pain.

The naughty psychiatrist took it upon himself to arrange a match against his former patient Zero Tolerance.

Although this was Craven's match debut it is not the first time he donned a leotard to enter the ring. He once bravely battle through to the last 5 in an over-the-top-rope, battle royal, rumble match. Well, he came in as the last man and was eliminated almost immediately.

Wes & MAMA’s Quartet of Queer Experiences - Witte de With Festival

Wes & MAMA’s Quartet of Queer Experiences was part of the Witte de With festival know as Wereld van Witte de With in Rotterdam. My contribution as one of the quartet was my over the top billing as "the strongest man in the world" who has come to Rotterdam to defeat the city in a series of open challenges to members of the Dutch public as they take me on in one-on-one speed eating bouts.



I was successful in every speed eating challenge with the only exceptions being yoga and a drinking competition where I was defeated, those two lucky contestants getting to take home the coveted trophy much to the relief and appreciation of the crowd.
I was of course invincible at sprouts, ate 6 Reese's peanutbutter cups in the time it took a lady to eat 4, ate three chicken nugget happy meals in the time it took a dutch child to eat one, was challenged by 'Skip' who was young and fresh in his baseball cap to eat three cheese burgers, but I wiped the floor with him. Dutch favourites such as bitterballen and turkse pizza were no problem, nor was the 9 doughnuts. It was just the litre of chocomel... From now on ONLY EATING CONTESTS!

This is my favourite pic from vit-e-mine

Papillon (non performance) @ BACKstage - Backlit - NotLost Festival

The title of this work (Papillon is the french word for a butterfly) is somewhat over titled as my appearance was little more than that, there was no performance as such other than the interaction of myself an the audience. I would speak to people who either knew me or didn't know me about the very physical transformation I have gone through by showing photographs of me from my twenties.


The outfit and the overall way I chose to present myself at this show is all very uncharacteristic of me as evident by the photographs but throughout the evening I was also collecting an anecdote of how people who knew me well were not able to recognise me. I felt that I had achieved a metamorphosis fantasy I had from my school days where I may one summer holidays reinvent myself into someone completely different. I took great pleasure in the experience and sharing it with people who were meeting me for the first time.

Backstage is part of the NotLost festival

Life Model

As I teach painting and drawing for West Notts College and want to give my adult learners an opportunity to experience drawing a life model I decided to wear my wrestling singlet for one session and teach the class whilst stood in front of them so they can draw me.


The response to the lesson was positive and enjoyable for the students. I found many of the resulting studies to be aesthetic for different reasons, here are a couple of my favourites.

Black Swans

Black Swans is the "Sideshow" game show hosted at Tether's TV studio (also used for presenting the sideshowshow)


In Episode One (recorded in October) Jon Burgerman wreaks havoc, Nikki Russel looks bemused, the death of Jack Bauer is decided, A really big meat pizza is ordered by Bruce Asbestos, David Cameron, Rob Blackson Dancing, a waitress, a round of applause for a bow tie and much more.

In Episode Two (recorded in November) Curator Rob Blackson is back for revenge, we say goodbye to Jon Burgerman as he leaves for New York, Nikki Russel looks bemused, little violence but lots of sex, erections, piles and intercourse.

In Episode Three (recorded in December) Curator Rob Blackson is back for more revenge, we celebrate Christmas and commiserate the end of Black Swans, The British Art show, Sideshow and the Tether Studios. We play the game Hitler or His Highness, Nikki Russel gets into an arm wrestle, Sonic the Hedgehog brings gifts, David Blandy and more.

The Elreys

The Elreys are a rock band from Mansfield.

I'd like to introduce you...

Throbbing bass lines courtesy of Chris, he has the bluest eyes on a man that I've ever seen and likes to hit his licks loud.


Adam the drummer, big into his Waits and Cave, he's the bleeding heart that gives this band life and soul.
.

Rich Cutts, formerly of (John Peel session recording) "Intense Degree" has the dirtiest riff you have heard.


Bryony, 'The Vamp', sultry keys and haunting backing vocals. She will mesmerize man, woman and child.


And me... Seedy, sleazy, dark hearted crooner... enough torment, controlled and ready, to share with everyone. An eyesore of a vision in brown. May sell you snake oil or buy your soul, either way you'll be stung.

Patent Application

I have filed my patent application in march 2009, and was published on 28/07/10

"in production" @ nottingham contemporary

In production is an opportunity for Midlands based artists working with video to present new video to people involved in the local art scene for some critical feedback. I found the process to be useful for hearing views on what I could do to develop my documentation.

The evenings curation was quite interesting as it unfolded Thomas Darby and Theo Reeves-Evison who both produce works that explore themes of the male mind, made a comfortable segway for my video and allowed me to talk freely about how wrestling is an important part of my current art practice.