I’ve finally started to get going again – at the worst time! Exams have begun and i’m so busy at the school, but the Easter holiday ignited my making flame, and i’ve started being alot more creative. Alongside some image based work i’ve begun, i’m also finishing off the commision i did during my residency at Froebel College last summer – see my other Blog “Gifts and Occupations”. AND curating an exhibition in a deserted school building here in York – see www.oPennHouse.blogspot.com
For the latter, i really want to produce some site specific work and have come up with an idea which is still technically a little out of my reach. But its exciting! I have a half-term holiday the week before and plan a little camp out, to really get into it without the distraction of school.
I’ve been thinking alot about my future and career plan, where things are headed. I’m really enjoying the community arts aspect of my life up here and have just been commisioned to produce a piece of work for a care home, with residents and the wider community contributing to this through workshops i’ll be leading. Workshops are something i’ve just started too, i ran a “Sculptural Textiles” workshop through a gallery i’ve been exhibiting with up here (something i was told was unlikely to happen…) which went well, and i’m running a series of varied arts workshops through school, for parents and staff. Its great fun, and i really am enjoying this aspect – if only i had more time to do my own work! On the subject of which, with all this thinking, i have decided that as i am staying on at the school for a second year as Resident Artist, i need to focus and prioritise my work here – reducing my boarding duties and learning to say no to huge irrelevant projects – allowing more time for my work. I need to utilise the next year as a platform for what i do next, while finishing my PGCE at such a lovely school. The activities and workshops i run at the school can be taken beyond and prepare me for 2011 – whether i end up as a community artist, another resident artist, a part time teacher, a freelance workshop leader/ artist – who knows…..
In the mean time… i’m looking forward to some freer time in the summer!
