I have taken time out from blogging as it has been impossible to keep it up with all of my time taken up with project managing the residencies, planning a school project, developing a new performance and finalising the closing event, oh yes and don’t forget looking after my child. My last post documented my research residency in Tampere, Finland and then shortly after this Helen Sargeant and her son Naoise went on their micro research residency for 2-weeks. Helen documented her experience on this new blog titled M(o)ther and Son: http://helensargeant.co.uk/motherandson/ The blog is a very honest account of the highs and lows of making work with your child in a new environment. At times I found it difficult to read as I wanted to make the residency the best it could be, however I have to remind myself that this is a research and development project and the work was not only the doing of the residency but more importantly what can be learnt from the experience. Often we do not see or hear about the challenges of starting a new project as this information is often glossed over or edited out.
Saara Sillanpää and her family will be artists in resident at Islington Mill between 23rd October – 4th November which I will be hosting. We have been making initial plans for the families visit as I feel its important to have a loose structure in place as they are here for such a short time. I am mindful of having activities for the children and making sure that Saara gets time to carry out her visual research. Saara will have a large studio space and the children will have the sheds to work in with dad, Laurent that will be in close proximity to the living space at the B&B. The flow of the live/work spaces at Islington Mill allow connectivity with the family, artist community and also separation to focus on creative work. It’s been good research for me to read Saara’s blog http://familygoesart.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1 and see her thinking about what a residency is, the children’s sketches for the sheds and ideas for working together as a family. As part of Saara’s proposal she wanted to meet with artist parents which was the initial momentum behind the We Are Resident event at Islington Mill. This will also give me and Helen the opportunity to show some work in progress alongside invited artist parents in the project space. I am really looking forward to showing a performance in progress titled #make and I have a special prop that I have been practising with, can’t wait to see if it will all come together at the opening…
