NEWS FROM THE BUDDIES
Sadly, officially our Buddy Group has ended now – how quickly it seemed to go. Next week Buddy Leader Anne Barrell and I will be meeting to evaluate the scheme. The official six week period ended with an entertaining evening when the Buddies gave a talk to around 30 Network members, telling us what the experience had been like for them.
Every Buddy pair was represented by at least one partner and it was great to see new work they had made during the 6 week period, see photographs of experiments, visits and expeditions and hear about the conversations they’d had (with an entertaining performance/reading by Clare Whistler based on e-mail conversations between herself and her buddy, Christine Binnie).
A feature of many people’s buddy experience was the effect that their buddy relationship acted as a catalyst, prompting action on things they’d been putting off. Sharon Haward cut her doll’s house in half (“it’s only taken me about 18 months to get around to doing this”) , Steph Grainger set up her blog (blog.stephaniegrainger.co.uk), Steve Croft “got away from the computer” and started transforming his digital collages into cut-and-stick-paper-and-paint collages on canvas. Of course some people had more productive experiences than others, but it will be interesting to see the long term effects of these relationships; no doubt some will fade, but others may flourish. I will look forward to following their progress and think we might need to have a buddy reunion soon so that we can all catch up with each other!
Another extract from Buddy Leader Anne Barrell’s weekly update to buddies:
” Week Four Already… Here’s a report from Clare Whistler, buddy with Christine Binnie, on their busy schedule: “We met again at the David Kefford talk, after a flurry of emails. It seems to have turned into a busy time right now, but I think we have already accepted that our ‘buddying’ will go on after the 6 weeks. There is progress though, Christine’s kiln is working and in general she feels that thinking about art has been more focused and present.
Before and after the first buddying meeting we sat on the beach and looked down the list made from our first ‘jumping over the fire’ May 1st meeting. We are finding many overlaps and many possible ‘makings’.
The definition and use of the word ‘artist’ and how we use it has had much discussion, as well some time spent thinking about Clare’s website, which has got a possible way forward planned, which would be a big step.
Christine is busy with the Art Car Boot Fair followed by Jevington Fete and Clare has a performance at Battersea Arts Centre next week. We hope that Christine will be able to visit Clare, with her mother at Bunces Barn in the next week or so.”
Steph Grainger and Felicity Truscott have set up a studio visit to follow on from a day of drawing they had at Pevensey Castle. Felicity has been working hard preparing for a show at The Black Shed Gallery. Steph is going to visit and see the work she is considering selecting for the show.
Jennie Walker and Victoria Bathurst have been continuing to support each other with email. Jennie found the David Kefford talk inspirational and her 1-2-1 on Thursday reinforced her process of making/drawing and painting. She has also completed her work ready for her Jerwood application.
Victoria Bathurst has spent a day at the V&A doing academic research for her Samuel Palmer walks. Her painting is on the back burner at the moment. Sometimes just thinking and planning, a period of refelection, can move your work forward.”
Last week the buddies had an informal and sociable evening in the pub. Anne writes, “Here are some pictures taken with my camera in the pub of Judy Martin’s work in progress on “We are already forgetting you”, and also some images from Judy’s buddy Steven Croft on this shared theme. Judy has started looking at the serial murders of women working as prostitutes in Ipswich and Steven’s work has been influenced by leaving his job.”
A NEW PHASE
I’m just about to enter a new and slightly unknown phase of activity with Blue Monkey Network. Part of our Grant For The Arts for 2013 included a sum of money to enable me to work with consultants to explore ideas about planning for a sustainable future and developing the Network. So far I’ve had some help with writing a brief for consultants and putting out a call for expressions of interest and proposals.
I was thrilled to come across Sarah who runs the artist-run space Meantime in Cheltenham – http://meantime.org.uk/. Sarah was kind enough to give me a valuable half hour of her time for a very interesting and enjoyable phone conversation in which we were able to compare notes about our organisations and about our very similar consultancy projects. She’s a little bit ahead of me having already advertised and selected a consultant and so she was able to give me some very useful advice about e.g. the value of having a selection panel to help with the selection process.
So I’m beginning to get the ads out there and have had my first enquiry. Now it’s a question of waiting to see what happens and who expresses an interest. I’m excited to see who might apply and what might come of it.
BLUE MONKEY LOVES DAVID KEFFORD!
Blue Monkey artist Anne Barrell writes, “I very much enjoyed the David Kefford talk at Towner on Wednesday. Part of what he talked about was the importance of artists support networks and about how through this you become connected to the wider art world. There was also discussion around making your own luck, talking to other artists and curators, networking and taking opportunities as they present themselves. The flipside to this was focusing on yourself as an artist – Quotes for this week: “It’s good to be embarrassed by your work“, “It’s good to touch the edges of the human condition” and “Drawing is a wonderful way for me to have a stream of consciousness- to get stuff out of my head“
Anne wasn’t the only artist who enjoyed meeting David. A total of 6 artists had 1-2-1 consultations with David about their practices. Without exception they all came away with very positive feelings – “encouraging supportive and valuable conversation“, “really enjoyed the 1 to 1 chat today – very thought provoking” and “he was very helpful and has enabled me to understand my work a lot better”. Thanks David!
Week Three News
Extracts from Buddy Leader, Anne Barrell’s weekly mail-out to the group.
It’s been great hearing what the buddies have been up to and some lovely ideas are coming forward.
Sarah Mulholland and Catherine Walsh have been sketching together down at the pier, creating lots of interest from the passing public and even being photographed. They have also been visiting several exhibitions and most importantly drinking coffee. This is a great way to exchange ideas.
Mike Tann and Victoria Albuquerque started off by visiting the Fiona Rae exhibition and then visiting each other’s studios. Mike says: “Victoria has suggested that we each spend a day or half a day at each other’s studios producing something following the work structure used by that person. This may not produce an end product but will give both of us more of an insight into how we both work and hopefully we will be able to take something away that will enrich our own practices. What that will then lead to we will have to wait and see. We are also in the back ground throwing around business ideas to promote our practices and art work but this will mainly be by email.”
Victoria says: “This week, Mike and I have been busy looking in greater depth at my work as an artist. Mike came over to my studio for a whole day. I had laid out a number of different mediums that I use to explore a new subject, and together we worked with these mediums exploring the same subject. The results were rewarding for both of us. I have attached a few photographs from the day. In return I will go to Mike’s studio next Friday and work with him on a number of different mediums including collage which is something I have never done and am keen to explore.”
This sounds a great way of really getting under the skin of the way the other person works and the key is keeping an open mind and seeing where it leads.
Victoria Bathurst and Jennie Walker have been keeping in contact by email. Victoria has been very busy with life….but she says “However I have been furthering my project to take people on Samuel Palmer walks in his “valley of vision” at Shoreham in Kent. He did his best and most original work during an 8 year stint there in his twenties and I hope to get the guided walks up and running by Mid June.” That’s nearly upon us Victoria, good luck with what sounds like a really lovely project.
