Took my dad out to Margate on Sunday for his upcoming birthday and enjoyed cupcakes in the sun, followed by a visit to Turner Contemporary. The irony of it being Mothering Sunday is not lost on me!
Today I’ve been stuck behind the computer again – reporting on Watermark, DAD’s recently completed documentary feature and project by the same name: http://www.dadonline.eu/node/5
I got through to the final round of a selection process for a show in London; disappointed not to make the final selection but encouraged nonetheless, so with the reporting done and the arrival of a new roll of paper I can get into the studio tomorrow.
I’ve just joined Rise Art – another web based site for artists to upload profiles etc but also for people who want to buy art or even rent it. Makes me wonder though a bit about the number of different sites i am on and the time I now need to spend on updating them all. Think I should just pick two and stick to those as well as blogging, tweeting and updating my own website otherwise there really will be no time to actually make any work.
I was recently interviewed by a sociology research student interested in work and identity. Really interesting to read the transcription of what I actually said!I like the idea of linking identity to work as well as all those other components of identity such as gender and personality.
Glorious day – I ummed and ahed about doing the front garden or going to the studio and opted for the studio. Took the dog with me who was no doubt a bit fed up but he had had a good run in the morning.
Played with installing my drawing as a floor work.
Networks and networking – there are so many of them. Do we need another network; what is specific about all the different networks. I seem to be in a world composed of networks within networks. Yesterday DAD organised a networking event over brunch at Turner Contemporary in partnership with the National Federation of Artist Studio Providers to guage interest in a Southeast Kent studio providers network. We couldn’t have had a better day or a lovelier setting. And with no empty seats at the table, there does seem to be a definite level of interest.
One of the many interesting points made was that Kent does not have the empty industrial building stock to set up large studio complexes – we are limited here by the existing architecture which results in relatively small studio groups, each with its own operational model: not for profit, commercial, mixed commercial and not for profit …. some providing CPD support and so on.
After the event, Joanna and I went to look at the Turner and the Elements exhibition in the main galleries. There were some stunning paintings – especially those where the horizon disappears and sea and sky are one.
In the afternoon we did some shopping – and stopped for a drink. I was feeling pretty much conferenced out!
Lots happening all of a sudden: Bunting Forever is getting big and I’ve been asked to register it as a Line the streets project for London 2012.
http://www.dadonline.eu/node/332
Thanks to a professional press release and marketing document the project profile has become sharper and better defined and we’re getting the response we want. There is a lesson in there somewhere. If any of you reading this are occasional knitters, please do get involved. It is fun.
DAD is also gearing up for next week’s public preview of Watermark, a 90-minute feature documentary about a former paper mill in Dover.
What else? Oh yes, went to a Kent Economic Board creative sector consultation event which was pretty dire though the good thing perhaps is that it brought subsidised and non-subsidised organisations/companies together. Dire because yet again delegates were treated as passive absorbers of mainly dull information and given hardly any time for the supposed main purpose of the event which is to be consulted and to make a meaningful contribution.
And, have managed to walk the dog and get to the the studio again.
