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We have been working on our plans for the development of Core Gallery’s DIY educate programme. As an artist put it ‘ the sh** they dont teach you at art school…’
http://www.coregallery.co.uk/diy-educate/

Busy too with exhibitions I have work in: ING Discerning Eye and the Lynn Painters Stainers Prize that I was also selected for ( me and Prince Charles work in the same room- not sure if thats good or bad….think it may be bad somehow although they were harmless watercolours and sure they sold whereas I dont think my works have…) Then again Annabel Tilley and Graham Crowley were also there so that balances that one out….

Also in the last couple of weeks there has been the wonderful, strange and macarbre exhibition Psychometry at Core Gallery , curated by Nick Kaplony.
http://www.coregallery.co.uk/psychometry/
We had a fantastic artists talk on Saturday , the artists are so interesting in explaining their works. Peter Jones as well was a delight to meet, his strange Monkeys and Lambs have captivated me the entire 3 weeks they have been here, looming and leering and somehow very charming at the same time ! Peter is a charmer, a walking encyclopedia of contemporary art. He told me as well as terrible story of an unscrupulous gallery that ran away with the money from his art! Left me fuming, which leads me onto another event about artist’s lack of rights and the ability for us to be trampled upon by galleries etc with no safety net.

This and amongst many other reasons I have also decided to put myself forward to be nominated to the AIR council. Trying to measure whether I can balance this role if I were nominated with my role as artist, gallerist, creative practitioner etc. At the same time my passion ruled all those concerns out.

Emily Speed an AIR member , 1 0f 3 who has nominated me had this to say about why I may be good at fighting for your rights. I think I would be good too. I am pretty determined.

‘ Rosalind is a tireless, open-minded and enthusiastic person, both in her own practice and in her capacity as Manager at Core Gallery. Her ability to empathise with fellow artists and a particular talent for presenting a balanced view and understanding all aspects of a given situation would be valuable assets to the AIR council. I wholeheartedly support her nomination’

We are delighted to be hosting an AIR Activist Event at Core Gallery as well on the 8th December , read all about it here

As well as writing my campaign I have also been organising Relay, our final show of the year at Core Gallery, 42 artists…ouch! I am still hunting down our artists for their info for the show !
Jane Boyer, our Core Gallery associate member is arriving from France today too. Jane has been so invaluable and I look forward to buying her a well deserved supper this evening as a small thank you for her amazing organisation skills.
You can read more Jane and her practice here:
Anyway, Relay , its going to be fantastic, really exciting collaborations going on. Opening Friday , Read more about our lists of artists etc here. Image courtesy of Peter Jones ( top )


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Hurrah, a-n is out and my letter is published!There is another interesting letter there and a scary one from the RA…. I hope I have given the argument about open submissions a slightly different insight. I guess I shall find out! – Be gentle guys!

www.a-n.co.uk/publications/a-n_magazine/iss…

On another note, this week we are having a meeting with our trustees to discuss future plans for Core Gallery. Jane Boyer, our new associate Gallery Member

www.a-n.co.uk/p/643588

has been an utter life saviour writing up our case for sustainabilty and with us structuring a business plan.

At this stage our future depends on a change in our structure, 2 trustees living in Somerset and not doing anything trusteelike yet wishing to retain control over us is not an ideal situation to allow us to grow.We have to gently persuade them that everything we have achieved in the last few months at Core is good and not scarily high brow and exclusive ( which it isnt)

Essentially we uphold their original objectives: to create a supportive and educational environment for artists.

Our plan is DIY educate. You can read more about it here…seeds are growing: http://coregallery.co.uk/diy-educate/

A surprise supporter of Core was a previous studio member who accused us of becoming corporate who congratulated me on Friday for the sterling job we have been doing!

also a supporting statement from studio member Arnold

‘ The positive impact the various Core Gallery activities had in my practice are very tangible and easy to measure. Through the shows and events happening here, I have now met various artists I would never met otherwise, who in turn are now aware of my existence opening a wide range of new possibilities. The Core Gallery programme of exhibitions, talks, etc., has attracted a very wide public, including a much younger audience than what we normally had. The open studios weekend during the last Deptford X was a fantastic success, with amazing attendance. I even sold some work to a complete stranger, something that has never happened before.

I believe the existence of the Core Gallery in our studios together with its promotion strategyhas brought us in sync with what is happening in Deptford and the local and national arts scene…’



We need more control and more support in the Core Gallery which means a change in structure which they will possibly stand against…or not, who knows. Keep your fingers and toes crossed for us. My heart is quaking.


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