Art From London Markets, a-n feature

TAKING ADVICE FROM GRAYSON PERRY @OPENARTSPACES @PLASTICP1 @NORTHENDROAD
Taking the advice of Grayson Perry to take every opportunity that comes along sometimes leaves me feeling a bit exhausted and disenchanted…and then…

Sometimes when you are just wondering if it was worth taking an opportunity, something unexpected comes out of it that makes you realise that maybe it was.

So over the last few years I have applied for a number of open submissions, to get into some and be refused for others, oftentimes refused for ones I realllyyyyyy wanted, and that can be disheartening. However in the back of my mind I have had the above Grayson Perry advice, and little by little things begin to build. This week I have been lucky enough to be offered opportunities rather than seeking them out. I have been offered a small solo show in a private space, to commence this summer, tomorrow I will be going to see the venue, which sits on the River Thames close to Fulham Palace. This offer came as a result of participating in Open Art Spaces, and I had been disappointed by the footfall, but then there was that one person. And the result gives me the opportunity to bring all my river and transatlantic works together in a meaningful context.

I also received an invitation to participate in a Chelsea based art fair Parallax, and will be spending the rest of the day filling in forms for that.

An open submission also lead to my delight at my acceptance to artist collective Plastic Propaganda, which in turn has lead to more exhibiting opportunities and participation in next weeks symposium and having my work as the poster piece for the next show. So slowly slowly seeds that have been planted are starting to peek up through the surface, and all the hard work gives me the chance to raise my profile and grow. And with this comes the sense that I am freeing up in what I produce. So after a period of wondering if I was mistaken, a few small things come together that are heartening and give me the energy to persist. Not so much to persist in making which has its own intrinsic satisfaction: Rather to go on taking every opportunity, and making opportunities.

While in SW6 tomorrow I will pop along to North End Road Market to keep my promise about tracking food prices in a post Brexit context.