Wednesday 25th
Tired, its starting to catch up with me. Spend the morning writing an application for Aspex open submission, Emergency 3. Will put this in next week as haven't finished by the time i have to leave (interruptions again!) to head to Brighton. Join the train at Fratton, its quite full so find seat and settle. Am mistaken by conductor for a Rail worker investigating the 'annoying whistle' in that particular carriage. Explain I'm not and talk about AP. Trouble is after he has gone there is an 'annoying whistle' all be it intermittent that i hadn't noticed before. Now i do and it stands out… almost 'tinnitus' in its intrusive presence once noticed, ironic as this is one of the projects i am working on. (Pedantically i notice this noise is hovering around E whereas 'my tinnitus' is B flat )
Thankfully distracted, as i notice red and white granite stones newly laid between the lines from Nutbourne station on-wards. Later this is covered up by a very noisy child who insists on screaming, can't win….
Arrive in Brighton (with headache) and unusually promptly get lost looking for the Gallery, The Lighthouse. Embarrassingly i have to ring and soon find the gallery down near the ACE:SE office. I have come to meet with Dada South and to the showing of a new video work by Sabine Gruhn called 'Nonsense on stilts'. This was a 'go make' commission funded by ACE and commissioned by Dada South and the Lighthouse-Brighton. Catch up with all the Dada staff earlier and with ACE/ Art Plus staff and friends during the evening. The Installation showing is really moving and imaginative and this is followed by the artist talking about her work. Exciting and mainstream….
Informed during the evening that a 'major' gallery have kept one of my interventions on permanent show since i left it back in March. Excited, makes a change from them getting stolen, not that I mind that either. Catch last train home to Portsmouth, mostly uneventful although do chat with one passenger about his life 'journey'.
Tuesday 24th
Big day…. Have two 'interviews'. One is a presentation of Alternative platform to 2 senior managers of a rail company i wish to work with and for a 'Dada Exchange' position, both in London.
At least no rain and the train to East Croyden is relatively empty and quiet enabling me to Transfer the presentation into a 'memory journey' and sit back. Did a bit of writing first about last night but have only managed to make myself feel 'seasick', not a great start. Get to EC very early so take a look around. When i Lived in London i never managed to get down here. Checked out the warehouse-theater, SDC had had a production there the previous month. Soon time to present and am made very comfortable to do so and it goes very well. Will wait to hear……how we commence the collaboration.
Next head up to London bridge for the Dada Exchange interview which also seems to go well. Will not hear till next week though so more waiting. Dada South have always enabled me as an artist with 'complications' in all i have tried to achieve in the last 2yrs, without their understanding, presence and ACE:SE backing the south east would be 'colder' place for us 'complicated' people. Enabling doesn't mean 'doing it for you' nor 'holding my hand' its just 'confidence' and support. DADA Corks……
Dare to return via LB but train home full so i sit and 'people watch' guessing their stories……..Notice that there seems to be allot of yellow in this carriage, creating a slight 'interference noise' that intrudes slightly into the ideas and conversations i am planing.
Monday 23rd
Guess? Writing, spent Morning finishing a few illustrations for an application and printing out for Tuesday, then sealed the box containing them. had to leave it all out to go to a meeting bout an event i am planning later i the year. Find you get into something, a piece of work or a poem then you loose flow by having to stop midway. Prefer to spend all day on one thing rather than bits but thats getting rare….at the moment.
Spent evening discussing with 2 friends, a filmmaker and another artist how to begin a collaborative relationship for a new body of work i am evolving. Very exciting as the way we will work will influence the way we relate to each other and hence the outcomes. The 'journey and story' are the most important aspect at this stage and that is constantly changing shape. This documented experimentation will push contextual boundaries around 'written word, personal space and vulnerability' as well as being he basis for a series of new digital and 3D work. Lots of rain, Lots of wine, good food and intense conversations. Walked home buzzing with ideas, will write these down on the train tomorrow and talk with ACE and gallery later in week.
When i illustrated books, no one was readily interested how i did the work, the research, the roughs, just that the end product fitted the brief. I always felt this was a waste as i found the process the most interesting and exciting but drawing the final illustration the least. Now its 180 degrees turnaround and i prefer this, much more inspiring and creative. What or where is it going to lead too? Guess thats why i found 'fossil' hunting so stimulating, you never knew what was going to be 'uncovered' next. I try to weave that 'energy' in to my current work.
Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd
Both days a blur of writing the bursary applications, a document to present to a Rail company next week and preparing boxes, i cannot separate them… Was ok as the boxes dried outside in the sun. Watched a few films to break up the days and played about programming a few of the synthesisers i have, no reading involved…..
Actually had time to create today, felt good
had space so reflected on my 'journey'. I had been asked a few days before if i could change my past, would I? I dont think i would not really, it informs what i am and do, even the abuse….besides who knows? and does it matter?
What does matter is todays aniversary, is its the 2 years to the day since i first rang Arts Council Enland…
will have a drink…cheers SP…..
Friday 20th
Attended university graduation today and learnt the results of some of the students i had been working with. All really good so was pleased for them. Sorted out some items for a gallery submission with a senior technician in Biology. Spent some time explaining about the work and how dyslexia and genetics are entwined. Was time well spent and ordered.
Walked to Aspex to meet with Alex from 'explore', their out of gallery arts program. Sat in the 'ARC' room and had a chat. (It was a ARC session 2 and a bit years ago that pointed me in the direction of ACE….) Would i be interested in working for a day and installing an intervention on an allotment. Yep, proposed something and its sorted….. read about it on September 3rd.
Walked back with Alex from explore, again i now take every chance to chat with fellow artists and dream up future collaboration. Such a difference from self inflicted reclusive-ness…
