There is a story about a Native American Indian who was hitchhiking across the USA and kept asking the driver to stop after every two hours of driving. They would stop and the Indian would sit by the side of the road in silence for a while before he was ready to go back into the car to continue the journey. Only after a number of times of stopping the driver asked – why are we doing this? Indian gave a simple reason – we are travelling too fast and I need to stop to let my soul catch up.
Just like the Indian, I feel that I need to stop and catch up with all that happened during last StudioBook ‘session’. This was the inaugural weekend of the In Nothing Flat exhibition in Manchester, organized and curated by Mark Devereux Projects, which brought together artworks by twelve artists who took part in the StudioBook2017 programme.
We met again after three months that flew past and were busy for all of us. It was an intense experience, in spite of the cold gallery space. No need to mention that refreshments and the crowd of people who came to the opening made it warmer, as did the mutual appreciation and special connection we, the StudioBook2017 artists, shared. But, it was so short and intense and my feelings were raw. I felt that I did not have the chance to speak with everybody as much as I would have loved to.
I felt overwhelmed but, at the same time, so grateful I had been chosen for such a unique opportunity that will feed into my artistic career for years to come. And, I do feel extremely fortunate with the ongoing support of my new, extended art family – Mark Devereux Projects and my StudioBook peers.
My feelings continue to be a wee bit raw but time will help me process this intense and positive experience.
Everything is going to be alright, I’m sure.
