Good news again! Hankil Ryu, our lead Korean sound artist who is helping organise the Korean trip in the autumn has confirmed that Mullae Arts Factory have put us into their programme for November. Dates TBC but we can plan for an exhibition of my work and a concert night of sound art where we plan to launch the sound app and also the film that Tela Films are going to make documenting the project. I think I might see if I can make a ‘miniature’ (well, that’s a bit unrealistic for me, as I usually make large scale work!), so perhaps a smaller scale series of pieces so the shipping is not too much of an encumbrance.
I still haven’t had time to even think about making the big piece for Sladmore Contemporary yet. Which is worrying me. There is simply too much to do. This is normal for me, so it’s just a matter of prioritising, but in the end, it still all has to be done.
I have been trying to get my current public art commission designs to a place where I can send them off, satisfy the commissioner, and put it to bed until after The Ceramic House and Sladmore exhibitions are up/over. The problem is, it is a huge, ambitious commission and I am having to practically learn photoshop (which I’ve never been very confident with) to be able to do it. So, on top of everything else, I’ve been having photoshop sessions with my graphic designer to get those done! Every day this week I’ve said I can only spend one more day working on the designs for now. So today is the last day (again!). And then I will send off a package of work in progress so they can see what I am planning at least.
I now have an assistant helping in the studio, which is brilliant. The main things she is helping with are finishing the tiles for the grand entranceway and helping with my private commission for a fireplace which keeps being subject to kiln disasters. In the last firing, one out of four of the main big feature tiles came out perfect. So, re-make!
All this week I have had tilers tiling every unfinished surface of the Ceramic Garden. Last night I was at a private view and when I told this to a friend, she said, “So you’re doing that as well as everything else, right now?!”. And I found myself attempting to make excuses! But it’s always been in the plan. For years, actually. To make the last few external floor features and the grand entranceway, and those are the tiles I have been making with an assistant since January. Anyway, the weather was favourable and the tilers were accomplished. It’s looking great! Two floors done, three fireplace hearths and the front wall/pillars nearly finished. Just one pathway to go and the new tops for the pillars (second hastily remade batch currently in the kiln – fingers crossed!) and grouting the entrance feature to complete, scheduled in for next week.
The flyers have arrived, looking nice. The advert in Crafts Magazine has been submitted. I’ve still got to send off invites to the private view at The Ceramic House. I been compiling a new list of invitees (over the last few nights during my insomniac hours), which is taking a lot longer than one might expect. I have various lists from different years so I’m trying to get a definitive updated PV invite list together once and for all!
I saw some of my Korean exhibitors at Ceramic Art London last week, which was lovely. The first box has arrived from Jon Jin Park, still unopened, but I know what he’s sent me as I chose them after seeing what he had at CAL.
The other artists have been sending me selections to choose from. Some of them! Some just haven’t, but I guess if the work is still in the kiln… that’s OK, I know it will be brilliant work. I’m worried about customs, having had boxes stopped before when coming from overseas. It’s a tricky one, as the costs are astronomical and the chances are the work will go back again anyway. I have to trust that the artists know what to do. The last thing I want is half the work being held at customs and no budget to pay the fees!
Exhibition installer booked in, photography for PV/exhibition booked. It’s countdown time now. Less than 4 weeks to go!
