Well that’s it now. I’ve done the sound edit with Dave Hunt. Its lovely. And I showed the film to the gallery and they are very happy.  I also showed it to Cumbria’s other most famous artist - Conrad Atkinson - the other day. He was really supportive and positive. Very generous man. I went up to Cumbria again to finish editing the blog and have a rest.  It was also the Queen’s Jubilee - so I went to visit my Mum and watch it on TV with her.  On my way home from Cumbria, I finally managed to find Schwitters’ grave in St Mary’s churchyard in Ambleside.  Its about 150 yards due south west from the massive conifer tree next to the church.  I decided to add a shot to the film.

The following week I went to a conference on the Themerson’s and the Gabberbocchus Press who published Schwitters’ poetry.  It was great to get back to the source again. I’ve been so distracted by the whole Cultural Olympiad thing, I sort of lost touch with what I had originally wanted to do.  Its all still there though.  I still love this man’s work and still feel an extraordinary connection to it. I met Roger Cardinal and thanked him for the book which was a very helpful research source.

There has been some very positive publicity. Local colour supp did a feature. The Huffington Post have selected the exhibition and the concert as one of the 21 Best Cultural Olympiad Art Events. And now its just the installation to do. 

I can’t believe I have been working on this project since I went to Hanover back in November 2010.  Its going to be two years.  Its been incredible and exhausting and brilliant.  I have met the most amazing people and had such fun.

Thanks for advice, knowledge and professional and emotional support to - 

Steve Beresford, Jefford Horringan, John Russell, Roger Turner, Gwendolen Webster, Christopher Salzbrunn, Tim Fletcher, the Littoral Trust, Barbara Crossley, Russell Mills, Mary Burkett, Celia Washington, Niklas von Bartha, John Carter.  Jarle Sanden, Terje Thingvold and Espen Flobersgeter at the Romsdal Museum, Molde.  Bertramme Somme, Anna Perry, Anne-Mette Moe, Terry Nilsson-Love in Norway. Nick Rogers at Abbot Hall Gallery. Jeremy Adamson, Nick Adams. Tony Herrington and Clive Bell at the Wire, Paul Bream at Jazz North East.  Lorna Fulton and Nigel Hinds at LOCOG, Anne Fletcher-Williams at ACE.  Anne Bean, Robin Klassnik at Matt’s Gallery, Judith Knight and Gill Lloyd at Arts Admin. And of course my curators, Emily Marsden and Rob Airey at the Hatton Gallery, Newcastle.

The exhibition opens at the Hatton Gallery in Newcastle on the 28th June and runs until the 18th August.  There is also a Merz evening curated by me at the Sage in Gateshead on the 30th June.  Then the installation goes to the Royal Festival Hall (in the White Room, lower ground floor) from the 31st August to the 9 September.  Then Abbot Hall Gallery in Kendal 15 September (I’m giving an artists’ talk that day) to the 19 November 2012. Hope somebody comes…

Throw Them Up and Let Them Sing is commissioned by the Unlimited programme of the Cultural Olympiad.  Funded by the Arts Council of England.