It is now nearly september and I know I have been avoiding this blog for ages.I have ,however , religiously fed into my other blog, the one that speaks about events and avdertises dates to meet at the shed.
This one seems to be much more about my feelings about the project and they have been all over the place since I started.
I certainly reached a point when I resented the Arts Council for having given me a grant for a project which is near to impossible to complete. Then I thought in turn about
a.taking a job at Tesco
b.digging a hole in the field and burrying my head in it.
c.leaving the country
Fortunatly, I did not apply for the job, I did not have a very good spade and I went to France anyway and hid at my Mum’s for a short break and some heart warming food.
I AM NOW BACK WITH A VENGEANCE!
Despite the depressing fact that I did not secure funding to carry out my MA Fine art for this year and I am broke as ever as I did not make any income since the project started.
The positive facts are:
I have engaged so many people in the project and spent so much energy advertising it that most people I meet in and around ask me regularly about progress.
I have gathered a team of keen volunteers who are following me in the adventure.
I have engaged with many school children via the farm and via workshops and am expecting to start school projects in September.
I have had corporate visits, artists and curators, members of the public, dog walkers, farmers…all asking questions and paying interest in the process.
I have created a strong trusting relationship with the farm and am managing to get help and feel that we are now working in partnership on developing the farm , the project and the future of both.
I have started to shape other events to link with the project and looked for core funding to help support further workshops which would include all for free.
I am also growing a good crop of madder for the next few years.
So looking back, I have done a lot of work and am a long way in the project in terms of public engagement. The actual making of the work is slightly slower but I have come to understand that I will certainly be on site for a bit longer than first planned(which is all ok with the farm and matches all the progress we are making).
I have also , now almost secured an exhibition for the work(thankfully not before february 2013) at Bridport Arts Centre which gives me a good deadline and motivation to carry on.
So , as for all previous Arts Council awards I have received, I am making incredible progress and am transforming my work and my career in unexpected ways.
So I should say so far so good! That is, if I can keep up the hard work for another year or so!
