Every point in this journey through the R&D year, my return to systematic, studio based development, is underpinned with a constant shifting of position and thinking in regards to family, art, future and how I move forward with that combination.
I was really shaken but not surprised to read Rachel Howfields last post and will be interested to see where this crisis point has taken her – and wish her the best.
As for me, I have let the rope slacken a little. As the end of my funding for time (some aspects of the R&D funding are stretched to the end of the year) is just visible on the horizon I have taken up some offers for paid projects in the Autumn. Studio time will suffer but the hard work of starting the ball rolling research wise is over and I feel I can continue the momentum, even with fragmented time.
A studio visit from a good friend, a really talented maker, Clare Proctor, was just the medicine I needed and talking through the work so far with her has really given me resolve. Finding the right environment to set up and photograph installations is a priority, building a critical network is another and possibly even curating a show in an alternative venue is a third.
As parents, I think it’s just necessary to work to a more flexible timetable, developing quality work will take time, the question is, does the traditional gallery system have time for us or do we create a system that provides an environment that gives us that freedom.
