This year has been wonderful for personal development, business progress with BloomInArt, funding applications, collaborations and involvement within the local community.
I struggle to blog but I have attached a few images to visually tell the story of my development this year.
Working freelance, co-directing a small arts organisation and having small children takes up all my time. It is daunting going into a new year with a million creative ideas but no solid projects in place and therefore no income is guaranteed. I have come to accept this is the way an artist life is. This year however, I exceeded all my expectations and on reflection have taken a big step forward, if you build it they will come!
The year began in a panic, questioning if BloomInArt should continue another year and my personal work was non existent. But the only way to make a change is to apply yourself and make it happen. I will take this mind set on again as 2017 begins.
So applying for artists briefs and creating ideas for our own arts projects began allowing our local community to engage with the arts and inspiring creativity. With a-n Bursary my personal work developed and my confidence to apply for exhibitions returned.
‘Cracks Of Love’ is my new body of work. This is still in development. Focusing on relationships, communication and the use of language both spoken and unspoken. Echoing intense experiences reflecting on personal relationships: the untouchable emotions, celebrating the comfortable silence and expressing the mental chaos. I am interested in the ‘ways that we make and remake ourselves by creating objects out of our lived experience’, writing to heal and turning scribbles, thoughts and nonsense into pieces of sculpture, as a way of escaping and taking control of the moment. I am addressing a part of my life though my work and I aim to raise awareness of PND, anxiety and depression.
I wish to continue my development with 3D modelling, 3D printing, Waterjet cutting and lampworking. These are skills that take time and patience to master. I have made contact with York College who have the equipment and expertise to further both CAD design and 3D printing. They have agreed this residency could be possible if I find ways to cover my costs and also share my skills with their Degree students.
In 2017 I aim to consolidate current ideas and build on existing work, develop technical skills, explore new collaborations and contexts and expand my creative network.
BloomInArt secured funding for several small projects and two major projects in 2016. Price of Place and Wintertide Festival collectively allowed 200 young people to partake in a creative project, develop skills in specialist art forms and achieve their arts award. Wintertide Festival, a local arts, music and film festival brought the visual arts to the streets of the Hartlepool Headland showcasing local creative talent and highlighting the story of this historical town. We are excited to build and develop this project year on year.
Please see the links for Facebook below to follow progress, this is where you will find more images and information which are uploaded on a regular basis.
https://www.facebook.com/bloominart/
https://www.facebook.com/RachelGrettonGlass/
