A space for exchange
I want to set-up a show and tell style workshop at the 501 studio space as a way of sharing work and ideas. Newworknetwork recently held a workshop at the Wunderbar Festival in Newcastle called Tit 4 Tat, This 4 That, which looked fun and informal. Looking at the video clips from the day people were sharing all kinds of skills such as drumming, using the voice, making paper cranes to more unusual skills like how to balance an umbrella on one foot. One artist said that attending the workshop was “an opportunity to learn new skills from other artists.” Video clips from the Tit 4 Tat workshop can be seen on the Wunderbar website. (www.wunderbarfestival.co.uk/media?video_id=7758982).
Following on from Clare’s comments noted in my previous post she raised concerns about engaging with people in a foreign country which has got me thinking about socially engaged practice and what this actually means. In some ways my practice could be labelled as this, although I do shy away from this term as I feel it gives the impression that I want to solve peoples problems with an art project, which I don’t. Of course there are different levels of engagement and as my work develops I am starting to see two sides to my practice. On one hand I work with groups of people either initiating projects or developing pieces with my peers. On the other I like to question the rules of engagement with a more antagonistic approach towards the audience in my solo work.
Both sides seem opposed, although for me I need them both to understand what one is and what the other is not. Engaging with another person could be as subtle as a glance across a room, or a full on parade through the streets with floats and bunting. I do find it challenging putting my practice into words and I am finding writing this blog a good short format to structure my thought process. I found this page on the Live Art Development Agency website called, Can we talk about practice? By Barby Asante which I found a useful read (www.thisisliveart.co.uk/projects/small_talk/small_…).
