I am shattered. Why is life so very complex and energy sapping, requiring thought, planning and actions on several fronts almost all at once? I am yearning for a bit of time and space to simply get on with some work uninterrupted.
However; there have been some successes to do with all aspects of my life.
Success 1: My local council actually came out and called for a five year moratorium on fracking. Not legally binding, I know, but after all the hard work campaigning, it was a real lift. We still have a fight on our hands though.
Success 2: A couple of weeks ago, I learned that I had sold a drawing; one that was left at Priestleys at No. 36 Bootham, York after the group show in their White Room Gallery, last year. It has covered the cost of printing some cards for my current solo show there.
Success 3: Then, after over a week of waiting for an email, I was becoming despondent about my chances of gaining a place on the AA2A scheme at Teesside University. I had been shortlisted and delivered a poor presentation so wasn’t really expecting success. What a total surprise then, to learn via letter on a Saturday afternoon that I have been offered a place! OK, it is not one of the MIMA afilliated ones that I coveted, but it is still going to be brilliant to have the opportunity to develop some new works while using the facilities at the university and to talk to students. I am looking forward to beginning the process and being able to concentrate on my work for a day a week over there. The whole process will require me to reflect on my progress in a blog and I know that I will need to find some more time to continue the development in my own studio. While I am slightly worried about fitting this in with everything else that is happening in my life, I am relishing the challenge and opportunity. The induction meeting is next week, where I will meet two of the other three lucky participants and then it will be on with the work. My aim for the time spent there is to develop new work into three dimensional pieces, using my current concerns. I will make paintings, prints and books. I am becoming intrigued by the idea of small books that are held in the palm of a hand and unfold into almost sculptural form. Among other things. . .
During my prep for delivering the presentation I spent some time thinking hard about MIMA’s new plans for becoming a space that represents art as “useful”. I find this very interesting and agree with Alistair Hudson’s ethos that art should be a democratic, useful part of society. I have made a few notes about this and will blog about it later, when I can find them!
Success 4: Family stuff I won’t bore anyone with, involving considerable logistical planning and team work but still worth listing as it was a huge success!
Success 5: Solo show, Laminar Flow has been installed at The White Room gallery and looks great, although because I had to dash off for a week after I dropped the work off, placing it roughly where it should hang, I have only seen it via photographs. I’m off to York tomorrow to see it properly. http://www.priestleys-york.co.uk/category/gallery/
As I asked at the beginning, why must life be so crammed and complex sometimes? Listing these successes has helped me keep positive although I still feel a bit overwhelmed at all I have to fit in between now and April, when my AA2A placement ends. My new grandson will be born in February, which means I need to plan my time carefully and make the most of all the available hours I have for my work.
