Artweeks

For the last few years we at the Gatehouse have been doing on a Wednesday night at 5.00-7.00. It has been very therapeutic, you can see al your pain, worries and frustration fall away from you. Before I came to Oxford, the creativity that God gave me did not have any avenues of expression. But places like the Gatehouse and the ACT art group and other places in Oxford you can do the art and express yourself. As an artist we have been it artweeks before. But this year Andrew had the idea of going around all the art sites or as many as I could.

So on the 9 May (Saturday) I set off on my journey . . . One of the first art sites I went to was the Bartlemas Chapel (Joanna Gilmour and Wendy Hughes) their art was textiles. I have been looking for that place for a few years now. But with the artweeks site I found it.

As I went around the art sites they were very varied like: ceramics, pottery, furniture, wood, glass, mosaic, jewellery, metalwork, mixed media, painting, drawing, paper, papier mache, photography, digital art, printmaking, etching, sculpture, installations, engraving, textiles, group exhibitions and non-selling exhibitions. I bought a map of Oxford and I was a bit rusty in using it.

One of the art sites was in the Prince of Wales pub in Iffley. The weather was very hot, so when I went into the pub I asked for a bottle of water. I went to pay for it and the barman said, “If you’re doing that it’s on the house (for free).” In all I visited 45 art sites. I enjoyed it very much but my feet were a bit sore and it was nice to sit down sometimes.

I had to cut short the art site visits because I had a chest infection. I would really like to thank Setareh and Paul and the rest of the people who help at the art class and Andrew. I am really looking forward to going to as many art sites as I can next year, God willing.

Shaun Quirk

Shaun's sponsorship page is on justgiving

You can see a selection of work from the artgroup on
flickr

Meeting Bill Heine (author of "Heinstein") at the Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival




The Gatehouse Bookclub met the author of this year's choice. He read from chapter ? , which describes the attitude of his producers at BBC Radio Oxford to his idea to invite a homeless person called "Matt" to co-present his programme during Homelessness Week. I think most of us were quite surprised at such blatant prejudice against the homeless could be so common even amongst members of such a reputedly liberal profession as broadcasting.

Despite the fear expressed, the show went off well and must certainly have changed the attitude of many listeners. hearing this set us off on a discussion of the reasons people are so fearful of the homeless, perhaps, as one person suggested, a kind of "reverse jealousy". You've made it but dont like to be reminded about those who haven't.



Bill was asked about his favourite guest and this turned out to be Gordon Brown, much to everyone's surprise. BH found himself doing a live interview with the PM during his visit to Oxford and whatever he may have felt about his policies, found him to be a very warm human being in contrast to Tony Blair, who he's also interviewed but found much more shallow.

Someone asked about some of the less pleasant incidents related in his book, for example when a local police firearms officers had him round the throat accusing Bill of having set him up. He'd visited the studio to talk about guns and gun crimes and ended up dropping one of his guns in Radio Oxford waiting room - Bill confronted him about that on air which caused several years of bad blood between him and the police.

He also couldn't get away without talking about his iconic shark art installation that since 1986 has graced the roof of his Headington Home and is now world famous.
All in all it was a lively session and Bill was an interesting and accessible guest.

Bill Heine, autobiography "Heinstein" Gatehouse Bookclub's 2009 choice.

The Gatehouse is supported by the
Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival.

The Gatehouse Bookclub is part of that relationship.

If you like reading, then we have a stack of review copies.

Share your thoughts, whatever they are, on Bill Heine's book.

Share your thoughts, whatever they are, via the Gatehouse's own website.

Meet the author at the festival.

Chat informally over tea and cakes in the Festival tea-room.

Maybe even speak to the press or appear on radio.

I haven't seen the book yet but it looks interesting, with lots of cool pictures of Oxford life, without being too much like hard work.

Watch this space - contact me direct at the Thursday night session (chris)
or Adele or any other member of gatehouse staff to get involved.
Or email me at:

chris@homeless.me.uk

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Bill Heine's Publisher - website

Details from the back cover:
‘Heinstein of the Airwaves’ is a late-in-life coming of age story about pushing the boundaries when that’s no longer innocent. It’s a portrait of a place — Oxford — and the nightmares that lurk among the dreaming spires. It’s a picture of a very private person who has a very public shark sticking out of his roof. If you like contradictions, read it.

Local BBC broadcaster Bill Heine upset the police so much they refused to speak to him for two years and stopped giving the station travel information. Bill angered a convicted paedophile so much he put out a contract on Bill’s life. ‘Heinstein’ is an area where the main character has to dodge virtual bullets from both sides.

In twenty years on BBC Radio Oxford Bill has met a fascinating mix of people from world-famous celebrities to passionate local campaigners. Here he brings us the highlights of these meetings. The book is an insight into how a good broadcaster treads the line between challenging his listeners and interviewees and keeping their trust — and that of his employer. It’s also an up-close look at the underside of a city more often eulogised than criticised.

Bill’s view: ‘ Phillip Pullman created a parallel universe outside of Oxford, I’ve looked at what we have right here inside Oxford and found it.’

Once Upon a Time in the North. By Philip Pullman, £9.99, 114pp,
Isbn 978-0-375-84510-9 (0-375-84510-0)



“Once Upon a Time in the North” by Philip Pullman is the story of how a rather large Armoured Bear by the name of Iorek Byrnison meets an intrepid balloonist from Texas by the name of Lee Scoresby & his Daemon.

In this universe created by Philip Pullman people are accompanied by their Daemon from birth till death. Daemons are in the form of an animal. Where up until very early adulthood they can change shape. Upon reaching a certain age they settle on a final form. In the case of Lee Scoresby his Daemon Hester chose an Arctic Hare. All Daemons are the opposite sex to their human.

I found this book to be an extremely enjoyable read the only problem being that it wasn't long enough. Other books by Philip Pullman are “His Dark Materials” a trilogy of books including: 1. The Northern Lights 2. The Subtle Knife & 3. The Amber Spyglass. All these books are quite epic & all the more enjoyable for it. “Once Upon a Time in the North” is a prequel to “The Northern Lights” filmed as “The Golden Compass”.

In “Once Upon a Time in the North”, Lee Scoresby crashes his balloon in a town where there are large Bears walking around. The Bears can talk. Lee helps a Dutch Captain of a Ship to get his cargo back from a warehouse where its being held illegally. In doing so he be-friends Iorek Byrnison who helps Lee enter the warehouse using his excellent knowledge of craftsmanship or maybe “bearmanship” in this case, scratching a cross on the door after much tapping to find the weakest point then telling Lee to shoot at that point.


Philip Pullman is an excellent author as he's able to put a very realistic image in your head with his imaginative descriptions. In my view this is the mark of a great author and anyone wanting to enjoy some truly wonderful books should read all of his. These include “His Dark Materials”, “Lyra's Oxford” & “Once Upon a Time in the North”. Also having a game at the end of the book was a very nice touch, along with the letters from Lyra.

I hope you enjoy reading my review & enjoy Philip Pullman’s books even more.

Simon

Mark Johnson II

David –

I finished the whole book, and I do read a lot. I’m a discerning reader. It’s a very good story and that’s a good endorsement. If it weren’t a good book I wouldn’t have read or finished it. I found some parts of it very disturbing. Especially about his childhood, the abuse and being hit by his father.

It rang a bell with me because it was something I’d experienced in my own childhood. It gave me a personal connection with the book.

I’ve also got some experience of the other bits in the book, the drugs and the alcohol abuse. Not that I was ever into these things myself but I know people who were. If anything I related more to how it would be to be on the receiving end of a person like Mark – his parents, siblings, friends etc. I could see it from their point of view – having seen other people in a similar situation. I heard of people whose partners use a lot of drugs.

I thought the descriptions of drug use in the book were very accurate. I’ve seen that in other people. It was obviously upsetting and rough on them – especially if they were on the receiving end of aggression, whether deliberate or accidental, from the abuser. Sometimes when people are withdrawing, they can lash out without really knowing they are doing so – for example they may thrash about and kick out in their sleep. I’ve known people who’ve had a few bruises from that.

But I know, as in Mark’s book, low as things might get, it’s never completely hopeless, there is hope at the end of the tunnel.

I wish there were more books on the market that showed people in his situation. They help other people understand what’s going on. Some people may judge others without even knowing what really up. The ordinary man or woman in the street often judges people like Mark harshly – so maybe his book will help. It would open their eyes to what actually happens in the world. Mark did a very good job. I am looking forward to meeting the author. It’s not so much that I have any questions of him but I would praise him for what he’s done – putting his life down in a book – it’s a very brave of him to do it.




Tips on Reviewing

Oxford Gatehouse & Night Shelter Bookclub with Mark Johnson at the
Sunday Times Oxford Literary festival



Mark Johnson turned out to be a really good bloke - as you can maybe see from all the photos on this page and via the link to Isisbridge mega collection on Flickr (See link at the end). If you read the book you'll know that he finally got clean and restarted his own Tree Surgery business. Although since he wrote that he's sold the business and works full time for the Prince's Trust where he uses his experience to advise on offender issues and programmes. As you might imagine, his input is going to be different to that which comes from "The Great and the Good".

More photos on the Gatehouse Website and watch this space for more interviews.






Isis Bridge's wonderful photos - including some from the recent Bookclub meeting with Mark Johnson

Oxford Gatehouse & Oxford Night Shelter -

Readers Group/Book Club

Mark Johnson, Wasted

Meet the author Mark Johnson at 2.00pm on Thursday 3 April
at Christ Church College, followed by tea in the marquee.

We can meet people at the main gates.
He's also speaking in the evening & anyone interested
can ask for a free ticket.


Andrew W Smith
Project Director, the Gatehouse
18 St Michael's Street
Oxford OX1 2DU

0777 3333 728
www.oxfordgatehouse.org




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We’re talking about the book “Wasted”

by Mark Johnson.

Si: It was very good, it was quite harrowing in some parts, especially in some parts, especially for me personally, having the same experiences as him, being homeless and being a drug user, although I’m not using at the moment.

CM: So were some of the experiences in the book, ones that you’d experienced yourself?

Si: Definitely, especially that first night, of sleeping on the streets. I was in Oxford, he was in London, but even so he describes how he was very scared and shocked that first night. It’s quite a shock to realise that you’re homeless and that you really have no where to go.

CM: When he had his first night on the streets in London, he had someone to help him out – someone who was already sleeping rough and knew the ropes – did that kind of thing happen to you?

Si: No, I was completely alone. I knew other homeless people but there wasn’t anyone there when I went to sleep rough. I slept in the underground car park at Gloucester green. The reason I did that was that you get the heat of the cars, when you go there its warm but by six o’clock in the morning its quite cold and you get woken up by the sound of the first cars coming in. That’s probably not too healthy with the carbon monoxide coming from the exhausts. I think a lot of people end up taking drugs or alchohol on the streets to numb the effects of sleeping rough. The mental stress of noting having anywhere to go.

Particularly in the book, “Wasted” by Mark Johnson, he had a lot of problems when he was young; his dad beat him up, that kind of thing. I didn’t have that kind of thing at all. My parents were good people, they are still married and there was no abuse. In my family we may have been smacked if we were naughty but we were never kicked or punched so there was never any physical abuse.

CM: At various points in the book Mark goes back to his his family and they try to help him out, did that happen to you.

Si: My parents were very supportive at first but because of my addiction, I stole from them on more than one occasion. At one point when I was withdrawing from drugs, I stole my Dad’s bankcard and helped myself to 40 quid. It was the minimum I needed to get “well” and to get into Oxford to score. The bank prosecuted me and I ended up with eighteen months probation. I did the OSAP (Offender Substance Abuse Programme). So when I went home after that and my dad had had a phone call from his bank, he wouldn’t let me in and so I was officially kicked out.

But now I’m getting on with my parents and reducing my methadone down to 65 milligrammes a day from 95 to 65 in 5ml drops
I’m not using, the last time I used was 5th February.

CM: Well done. The descriptions of drug use in Mark’s book, are they true to life??

Si: Very accurate, really bang on, 100%.

CM: it had the ring of truth about it.

Si: Absolutely, 100%! I didn’t do snowballs – crack and heroin – I would smoke crack and inject heroin. I started by smoking heroin but then moved on to injecting. The fastest way to insanity is to inject crack. I tried a snowball once. It’s a euphoric feeling followed by a numbness brought on by the heroin. You feel the crack first then the heroin. From what he described in the book it was very similar, very accurate.

CM: It’s not all negative is it, he does talk about why people do it. The visions he had when he was in the rave scene. . .

Si: Oh yes, I used to go to Raves; LSD was my drug of choice when I was fourteen. And I think it opened my mind quite a lot but I don’t think it lead on to taking hard drugs, and I don’t think cannabis did either, because I was a heavy cannabis user. I used to sell it as well. Mark did that too, he used to travel around dealing. And that’s it, if you can fund your habit you don’t think what its going to be like when you’re ill,. But eventually your money dries up. On the day before Valentines day about four years ago I got dumped by my girlfriend and mugged by Asian rude boys. And that led to me not being able to pay my dealer who I owed 1900 quid to. So I spent all my profits on crack and heroin, about 100 quid every day for fifteen months, when my money supply run out, I had to go beg for money, which is not a very good thing to have to do.

CM: In the book Mark does some incredible dangerous things, hanging out with criminal types, stealing drugs

Si: I haven’t experience that but I can imagine being in that situation. I’ve never dealt class A but he would have been under the thumb as well from his dealer. They have a lot of power over you if you are addicted to a substance like crack cocaine or heroin.

CM: In the book he goes very, very low. There’s a scene in the book where he’s got his baby on the back seat of the car

Si: He leaves his kid in the flat when he goes out to score. You see for me personally if I had a kid, especially with my current girlfriend who doesn’t even smoke tobacco, I think that would be the saving thing, that would be it, I wouldn’t go near drugs every again. There’s always a danger I could relapse – I’m not completely clean yet.

CM: I got that impression from the book – it’s a bit stop go – takes a lot of attempts before he finally stops using.

Si: Yeah - there’s one bit where he’s on his way to detox services and he finds twenty quid and goes off to score instead. Money is my biggest trigger. I give all my money to my girlfriend on “giroday” so I can save up for something nice, maybe driving lessons or something for the flat.

CM: In the book Mark buy lots of expensive climbing equipment that just sits in the corner of the flat unused.

Si: Yeah but now he’s a successful tree surgeon.

Reading that book for me, sometimes I think I’m never going to get off opiates, never going to get clean. I’m in the very early stages of recovery. I’ve been maintained on methadone for a long time. When I got to the end of the book it gave me hope. He goes very low, its very harrowing and especially if you are on those drugs. You think god I’m never gonna get out of this. Opiates affect the pain receptors that make withdrawal one of the worst feelings in the world. You get feelings in your arms and legs like you’ve got to shake them out. I was banging my arms and legs on the sides of the bed, causing myself pain to distract myself from the pain of withdrawal. That’s why it’s so difficult to get off. People are scared of what that process will be like. He must have known that he could just walk out and score – like at the beginning of the book, he says he’s going to walk out of rehab because he feels so rough.

I’d recommend that book to anyone, drug user or non drug user. I want my girlfriend read it, so she knows what to expect. So it goes low but it shows there is hope, and you can get out of the addiction. Even though I can explain it to her, reading that book gives it a useful perspective.

I read a lot of books, mainly stuff like “The Wheel of Time” series by Robert Jordan. “Wasted” is a really good book, really helpful, really accurate. I’m looking forward to meeting the author.
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MARK JOHNSON will also be interviewed by MARCUS MOORE
in the evening
Wasted
Thursday 3rd April, 6.30 pm
Festival Room 2, Christ Church
£6.30 (we have some tickets for this session too)

Beaten as a child, constantly in trouble at school, Mark Johnson began stealing at seven, was drinking by the age of eight, took his first hit of heroin aged eleven and ended up in Portland prison as a young man. In this searingly honest memoir, Mark chronicles his descent into the depths of addiction and criminality, and his astonishing recovery. Today, he runs his own thriving tree-surgery business, employing and helping other recovering addicts. His story is at once shocking and inspiring – a compelling account of one man's struggle to save himself, and help save others in the process.

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