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 : (
Out of curiosity, I’ve just looked at the list of top ten blogs from last month and found that mine is up there ( number 4 ) How bizarre. Thrilling though…and of course I’m really pleased that people are actually reading this.
Feel under enormous pressure now to write something interesting, but I can’t actually think of anything. I’m still trying to juggle working in my paid job 5 days a week ( when there is overtime) and be at the centre the other two. This makes me understandably a little brain dead.
So other than just trying to stay awake, what have I been doing? I had some professional shots of my work done over the weekend, by my good friend and photographer, Terry Hayes. It made such a difference to get some decent shots – they just look fabulous. I updated my webpage with them last night.
Apart from that, I’m still trying to get to grips with twitter. I’ll thank another artist while I’m here – Julie Dodd : www.juliedodd.co.uk who has been retweeting my tweets ( as she has a lot more followers than me!) I have spotted a few opportunities on twitter that I probably would have missed if I’d had the inclination to go and search for them, so perhaps it may be worth doing after all. We’ll see.
Bit of an odd day at the centre today. I didn’t get there till quite late as I’d taken my car for its MOT this morning and had to get the bus over .
The bus stopped at the housing estate, which seemed totally deserted. Walking down to the building, I only saw two people ( who actually worked at the centre ) sitting outside enjoying the sun. Inside, I got the keys to my room and had a chat with another member of staff . Someone had called in to see me in the week, but didn’t leave a message.
Some of my boats had flopped over in the heat, so I had to spend some time propping them up again.
No one at all came in………….. no idea where the kids were today. I asked the woman on reception where she thought everyone was today, but she just shrugged and said ‘Perhaps it’s because it’s so nice out?’
So that’s what working in a community centre is like.
