Time is slipping away quickly in the run through Summer. I have not been doing much art recently. I have been earning a living to survive. Good news is that I have been preparing for a new performance in July, on the 7th for Ultra Cave, a show set up by a friend of mine. Reworking the press release for the 220 word limit on AN’s listing, it is finally up. It looks like a good show, however I have agreed to work too much this week: 65 hours. Too much, it is not productive for work. I have tried to work full time for two weeks, it is getting in the way of things and I do not have the co-ordination yet to work around 9 hour days. The work is completely unrelated to art as well. I think in future I will stick to working part time so that I can put more energy into art.
I am also disappointed that I have missed some amazing performances in London’s LIFT festival, I am too congested with the work that I need to by basic things like clothes and haircuts: I am putting everything into the coming months. Hopefully I will be able to take some space to concentrate, hopefully there will be a time where all of this work will pay off.
It is the middle of June, and the rain has finally settled after quietly falling outside. Inside I am hot, wearing two layers. Strange summer. Many events. Since the last blog I have met Fiona Baxter who is based at Farnham Maltings.
The topic of discussion: my practice. What am I thinking at this stage? Where do I stand, what do I want to do, where is my practice going? How do I fund its progress?
Experimental theatre and performances I have seen recently confused me, made me hungry to be part of a different scene. Speaking to Fiona made me realise the line between the gallery and the theatre – how do I collaborate choreography? I do not even know what to do. I have to be sure of my final work if I am to say that I want this or that money, but I am not sure where to begin and the deadlines are closing in. I have to focus.
Song Dong at the Barbican on my Birthday, a gift: humbling and potent. I will review in more depth at the weekend.
I won a non-arts related competition for which I used my writing. If we can write powerful stories we can make ourselves more successful. People want stories, Art is no exception.
I am currently reviewing my priorities. I need a plan. I do not know if I am ready to make something more like theatre. If I want to lie on the floor of a corridoor outside a gallery staring occasionally into space where is the audience? I have used art to leap into new ideas: I can’t play music, but I can still make musical performances. I feel like I am still on the corridor on the floor, outside everybody is waiting. My work takes time. The most important thing about my work is that it takes time.
