19 Raptures



RAPT is the Rehabillitation for Prisoners Trust and tonight they’re launching Rapture 19  a series of writings by artists such as Tracey Emin, Well Self and  Beth Orton     19 in all. The subject is addiction.   The event is at The Rochelle school where my friend Whitney McVeigh had her most recent exhibition which only came down a week ago.

I really don’t want to go tonight .  I’m tired.  The journalist my mostest and closest hostess  asked me. She thinks it something I would like. But there’ll be lots of Friends of Bill who’ll be there . And I have ignored Bill for  a good while. I haven’t
ignored his ideas nor practice just meetings.
And now I feel guilty nyaaaggghhhh
  

Keeping it simple after causing her much phone stress with this I give in I  go.  Apparently she’s already there with work colleagues so I walk in alone.  There’s art on the white walls and sculptures in the bright white  space which I navigate through the launch  chitter chatter.  Within a minute  I see someone I know.  She is beautiful and wise and famous before famous. There are some women who are just that way. Nor is she a friend of Bill. The entire thing  is  filmed by Sky Arts.  

Eventually I find the journalist with her journalist  friends, all whom I like, there’s wine and elderflower water.  Elderflower water is always a treat.    In no time the event begins.  Tracey Emin a contributor and supporter  sits on the floor and looks like a person who says “the art gallery is  another room of my home”.  The event is  a reading by Will Self.  Hearing  his  unselfconscious  tones wrap themselves round other peoples connecting syllables is a total treat.     

I’d say there are about one hundred people here. Though I didn’t pay for a ticket I bought a book.   It isn’t a book at all. It’s a set of  leaflets, 19 raptures,   inside one envelope and if you are thinking about buying  it I should tell you now  it’s worth every single penny and more.  


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