September 2018
The inspirational buzz of this year’s John Moores Painting Prize exhibition and opening of the Independents Biennial 2018 provided another opportunity to explore Liverpool’s cultural melée, this with the added bonus knowing I would be part of the IB18 at the Corke Gallery at the end of August in the exhibition called The Politics of Beauty in Liverpool when I would be exhibiting with artists Josie Jenkins, Paul Collinson and John Elcock.
Our preview on the evening of August 28th flew by in conversations, meeting new friends and old alike. Here was my first opportunity to introduce and test out how my theme of Hull’s tenfoots would be understood outside Hull, here in Liverpool, where alleys, ginnels and passages are more familiar and commonplace.
Nic Corke, the gallery owner, added a new aspect to the way my artwork is viewed, not only by myself but also the gallery visitor. This was by way of hanging the thirty two of my 20cm x 15cm paintings in a group format: this approach adds impact to the overall view of exhibition. I had previously exhibited my work in double rows or smaller groups so having another’s take on the installation was welcome for me.
We, as artists, are familiar with our own work, we title our work with little consideration to how others, curators, gallery owners, will then interpret works with similar titles and numbers (as in series). My well-intended system has thrown up a few issues, all of which I thought I had resolved by way of a detailed consignment list of paintings and drawings by using a multipage document of colour thumbnail images, measurements and prices. Firstly, the thumbnails were resized to suit the document e-mailed ahead, and as a printed out format to travel with the exhibition for the physical check on delivery at the gallery. However, also, for my own future reference I will also include with the online consignment list larger file images for catalogue and any marketing media.
Sometimes plans can be unraveled by ambition and inexperience, but this is valuable experience and learning.
During my previous exhibition in Hull at Queen’s House my challenge and aim was to present a visual and audio landscape of the tenfoots I know from experience. I collated three hundred of my photographs taken over a four year period, these documenting my many walks throughout Hull’s tenfoots. By using the PowerPoint I compiled the finished film, or so I thought, only to discover that the PowerPoint required transformation from an MP3 to MP4 format. This film played throughout the Sites Unseen show on a digital TV screen. I commissioned local Hull musician, Graham Graham Beck, to create ‘The Sound of the Tenfoots’. This sound piece was influenced and took inspiration from both my artwork, paintings and photography and the tenfoot soundscape. In Queens’s House the film and audio played out separately on a digital screen whilst the audio played from a CD player. My limited technical experience was outmatched by the extent of my plans! I sought advice from many quarters. In the end this was resolved by the endeavours of both Sue Butler and Graham Graham Beck bringing Graham’s sound piece and my film together. This can be viewed in its entirety on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wdKESiF0LQ&t=111s and will be on view at future exhibitions.
Meanwhile, back in the studio I continue to make best use my two year funding. To recap, I received my Arts Council England grant in January 2018, as well as funding the time, materials and logistics for five exhibitions, it also enables continuing professional artistic mentoring from Newcastle based artist Narbi Price.
In October Narbi will once again visit Hull for his next assessment of my new work, this spurred on after our last meeting during my month in residence at Queen’s House throughout June this year. Narbi encouraged my work to take on a larger scale and by employing Ampersand boards instead of my usual gesso prepared MDF.
So with my order of new Ampersand boards delivered I tentatively approached the flawless white expanse of these boards. I initially to tested out new ideas, techniques and compositions on oil paper. An interesting test in itself as I found the oil paper to prove appealing by way of texture and the way it holds the paint, be it in washes or opaquely applied. I look forward to our continuing conversation and new challenges that are thrown into the mix.
In August BBC TV journalist Victoria Holland visited me in the studio visit to interview me for our local BBC Look North as part of an article regarding the history and culture of Hull’s Tenfoots. Word has got round Hull that I am the Tenfoot artist in residence.
