Planning ahead
Since finishing my MA in Fine Art at Liverpool John Moores University I am trying to plan ahead what projects and opportunities to apply for. I recently started a part-time job at Radleys at the Trafford centre for some regular money and to simply work in the ‘real’ world, which gives me balance in my life. I had really underestimated how working sporadically on arts education projects was stressing me out not being able to manage my finances from one month to the next, although now I feel I have a bit more control over the books. I enjoy the retail experience and find it fascinating watching and interacting with the customer and the product, which I see as a kind of dance/performance. I didn’t get selected for Hazard this year, which I was bit disappointed about although I was aware that the work I proposed didn’t exactly fit the theme of the event. I have just submitted an application for a three week residency at The Royal Standard in Liverpool which I am really excited about as it will offer the time, space and support to develop a project which I specifically want to realise in Liverpool. Fingers crossed for this one if you are interested in applying follow the link below:
http://www.the-royal-standard.com/events/
I had a meeting with Phil Davenport last week to discuss ideas for our two-week residency at The Chinese Arts Centre in November, 2010. Phil had also participated in the residency at the 501 Artspace in Chongqing and this opportunity is a chance for us both to develop some new work in response to our experience of working in China. We discussed two ideas the first was to have a loose theme called ‘Translation’ and we would individually make work and collaborate on a piece together. Our second idea was to collaborate on one piece a tour of the gallery that incorporates references to money and food, which were the two main influences on us from the trip. The gallery is an unusual space that houses a living and bedroom area, which is built into the gallery and is accessible by a ladder. There is a door in the opposing wall, which opens into an oddly shaped small storeroom. The gallery has another entrance from the street a door made of glass allowing a window into the gallery space.
Although my residency finished in February at the 501 Artspace I am still feeling the influence and inspiration the trip has had on my work, which I want to continue to document until it comes to a natural end.
