I made a conscious decision this year to not enter any gallery, entrance fee, ‘competition’ type exhibitions. I felt that I wasn’t getting anything out of them, I was producing work for them that I wouldn’t normally make and having it hung in a way that I didn’t want it hung.
I wanted to concentrate on developing a line of work that encompasses the transitional state of the physical journey I am making.
All well and good.
Then, when I was leaving work last night, I bumped into someone I hadn’t seen in a while. He expressed concern – asking if I was still making any work as he hadn’t seen anything of mine in any of the above mentioned exhibitions.
I was quite taken aback, as I felt that I had not only produced more work and had achieved more this year than I’d ever done …. but was seen as a bit of a failure as apparently, the measure of ‘success’ is gauged by a visibility in these ‘Opens’?
Is this really the case?
Things are starting to move at the centre now , due to the intervention of Naomi Horlock – an art educator who I’ve worked with on several occasions and who had initially introduced me to LDT. She is very good at drumming up support and getting loads of people involved in things.
I only found out about her involvement when I just queried the amount of activity on LDT’s facebook page. Almost since it was set up ( whenever that was) no news was posted, it was all very blah and forgettable. Then suddenly over the weekend, a pile of information started appearing, such as the great food in the cafe …AND a big family event that will happen on 5 August.
This is fantastic news and It makes me feel that I’m now looking forward to not only working on some activities, but will actually be able to talk to lots of people about my work.
Speaking of face book….
Another event was quickly arranged by artist Birgit Deubner , to support the job cuts at Tate Liverpool. https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/242364512448441 There had been a lot of press activity over the last few days about the cuts, which seems weird as we’d all known about it for months. I even mentioned it in my ‘ funding for international travel and exchange’ blog quite a while ago.
I was working yesterday ( again on overtime) so I was able to watch the activity from the front desk…
It is great that people came out to support us, especially as we had such horrendous weather yesterday… but will the powers that be turn round and say – oh sorry – we decided not to cut your funding? I doubt it.
Had a nice day at the centre yesterday with Carolyn. With the Library being closed, it was predictably very quiet, but then, we were warned about that.
I wonder how other residencies fare ? Looking through some of the blogs, artists tend to talk about their work and how it is going – which is good, but I’m curious to know how many people actually visit residencies hosted in art centres and studios?
Does it matter if no one visits?
I’ve taken leave this week from my job .
I’d spend the last couple of weeks writing lists, so here I am – two days into my break, still catching up with the many things that I’d put aside.
I also wanted to work through a few ideas for future projects – away from people. Despite having a studio space at the centre, I needed the comfort of familiar surroundings to ‘problem solve’.
Although I usually go there on a Monday, Carolyn : http://www.carolynshepherd.co.uk/Carolyn_Shepherd/Artists_News.html
asked if she could come with me this week. She was only available on a Wednesday, so I was happy for the change in routine. The problem with changing my working pattern though is that the library is closed on a Wednesday, and I rely on those visitors to pop into the studio .
I don’t know who uses the centre on a Wednesday, so this will be an experience.
So, in the last few days I’ve had a quick scan of what has been happening in the outside world. I’d bought a copy of the Big Issue, to read up on Emily Speed’s interview – but obviously I’d bought the wrong one. Maybe that was last weeks?
Never mind, I’ve read up on the shortlist for the Northern Art Prize instead. http://www.northernartprize.org.uk/2011-prize/shortlist/leo-fitzmaurice-1
Like many artists in the North west, Leo worked at Tate Liverpool for a short while. ( along with Emily Speed and many more, too numerous to mention..) It was a surprise to see his name – not because I didn’t think he was good enough – far from it!! It was just that he was such a nice ‘low key’ sort of guy and apart from seeing some of his work at the Bluecoat last year, I don’t think I’d seen his work anywhere else.
( maybe that says more about me – not getting out and about enough though!)
But there you go…. maybe the a-n advice mentioned in my last blog was actually worth taking note of.
I’ve just been reading the ‘Trade off’ survey as published in a-n : http://t.co/8Q3Feq5 in which it states that ‘galleries don’t like artists approaching them’.
Athough it is meant to be about ‘Commercial’ galleries, It made me wonder how many other galleries feel the same?
I can partly emphasise with some of them as after working in an arts institution for so long, I know that an endless stream of hopefuls do turn up with their portfolios and expect to be seen. But it is a little worrying that it is no longer a ‘done’ thing.
Q How do you prefer artists to approach your gallery (if at all)? A “It is not a method we use for finding artists.”…. “We don’t really. We never say no to an email with images but we have never taken on an artist that has approached us.” ….”Artists should only approach a gallery if they have been recommended. Don’t bombard/cold call/turn up; galleries don’t like artists approaching them.”
It gets even more worrying….
Do you think it is helpful for artists to have their own portfolio-based websites? “Sometimes, yes. But I’d warn against advertising/flaunting it.
Oh no!! I’ve just scanned through the pages of twitter and face book and noted how many artists have given their web pages a plug. So is that wrong?
Does that also mean that we should shun publicity?
I find the article ( although fascinating) particularly disturbing, as I’ve been working at this centre which gets virtually no visitors at all. Although not a gallery, It was me that approached them with my portfolio etc… and it’s me that has given my work constant plugs. I want people to come..to see the work…to join in…and for other artists to use the space.
But now I’m thinking – should I have just sat quietly in the studio and not told anyone and hope that someone will find me?
Feel a bit depressed now : (
