Becoming Part of Something

Group Crits

In the last couple of weeks I attended 2 group art crits (because I wasn’t busy enough with two exhibitions about to open !)

One was Engine Chat Chat set up by my studio mate Elizabeth Murton and a group of artist friends / colleagues from Goldsmiths. The other was with Matt Roberts Arts.

Both crits I found interesting. I found parts of it very challenging in that most of the artists speaking did not set out who they were and what they did and I need context and visuals ( which were not always available) as otherwise it was very abstract. With some people I could not understand what the heck they were doing and their explanations were muddled so I could not contribute so much.

It was obvious that some found it difficult to talk about their work- which is completely understandable . I have mentioned before that RCA makes you consistently talk about your work. I am talking unendingly about it – at exhibitions, artists talks, to students etc so it is luckily second nature. I know its not that way for a lot of artists Writing this blog as well has allowed more time to self reflect on processes and concepts too.

So back to these crits, some people didn’t seem to be able to stop rambling, with little energy or enthusiasm ……..and talked for 30 mins instead of 5-10 mins which became rather much…..

Small groups are much better ( there were 11ish at Matt Roberts, 7 at Engine chat chat, both lasted 3 hours! ) – maybe 5 people max to really get into the subjects.

The good idea about Engine Chat Chat in particular was that the idea was to come with a question to ask the group so that this becomes the debate rather than just introducing and talking about your practise. I think this is a good way to structure the crits…..

I did see some very interesting and thoughtful work however and across both groups similar themes came up. Confusion and doubt of what direction and how to move the work along came up consistently, fear, lack of confidence and time all were universal subjects.

I am grateful to Elizabeth and Matt for making these exchanges possible. Its needed I think , to keep engaged with people and create peer networks.

The most brilliant thing though was that on a couple of occasions where we discussed problems artists were facing you saw them light up as we made suggestions. You could see wild fire of thoughts crossing their faces. This is why I love to do these things. For moments when you see people light up…and you become part of something.

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The opening night was quite an event. Enver Gursev, an artist at our studios is a musician as well as an artist and he organised some great music and a performance piece. Two ladies, Luci Boccino and Denise Heinrich-lane http://www.myspace.com/ledonnedonnedonne did some beautiful abstract poetic performance art piece! It was brilliant and mad and created a great buzz. It emphasised the need to have something maybe apart from the 2d and 3d art happening in the main of the gallery on our private views to draw people in.……

The exhibition was pretty well attended – Cockpit arts had their open weekend and we were getting a lot of their audience popping in. Leyla was drawing them in off the streets, amazing lady! Despite numerous signage and leafleting and having listings on loads of websites, blogs, local newspapers it was a little quiet- although 200 people came so that is brilliant! ……..the gallery ideas were gathering momentum over the weekend too.

Quite a few pieces from our Fraction auction wall sold. Not enough as I would have liked. In fact I have ended up buying two pieces myself – i would buy a lot more if I could! I feel rather responsible that not everyone sold as as we set people the task. However I do know that they also enjoyed the task being set and we are now thinking how to sell them- a facebook page? A January auction…A corblimey art shop?

However, we still need to get more publicity for the studios somehow……so the good thing is that Greg Tallent from London Fringe came in to visit us about doing something as a collective in August. In a few minutes, Neil, Enver and I envisaged A Cor blimey boat, from Greenwich to central london, with flaming Japanese lanterns being thrown off it some kind of performance/ art thing going on, All sounds very fun and exciting….( Greg loves the name of our studios, ‘so London! ’He said. Harrumph say I…..scuppered )

After the exhibition finished we had a studio meeting to discuss the future and Core Gallery was unveiled ! Hurrah! People seemed interested and there will be some kind of gallery committee of us that will formalise and structure things and I guess start creating a programme of events. Neil mentioned the Chapman brothers may come and do something and I know a few guest curators I would like to get involved……Elizabeth is going to approach the curating dept at Goldsmiths….and maybe more stuff with the galleries and other studios in the area….exciting stuff.

Now, I have to read a lot of your blogs…..I am to choose one this month….how terrifying and fun! You guys are teaching me a lot….

we are part of something…..

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Fraction opened with aplomb and the exhibition is very strong. Talking to my fellow studio artists they say that Elizabeth , my studio mate and I who are amongst the new arrivals here have been told that we have come in with some great energy and organisation, that there is a feeling of productivity that had been missing here. Neil who helped with the concept of Fraction said the fact that people were forced to make new works for the show was motivating for everyone. For us, we are thrilled to have energised the space. We have lots of ideas of how we want to connect with people and the possibilites seem endless. We are all now discussing the possibilities of making the studios into a gallery space!

One of the things I need to bring up with our next meeting ( and I have to be brave to say this ) is that I really not a fan of our studio name ‘ cor blimey arts.’ I think it is a bit dated culturally specific ( our international artists may not understand the link ) and a bit cheesy……It was one of my doubting reasons before even getting the studio. I know that this may sound snobbish but I thought it did not sound serious enough…….apparently though this may not be easy to change with the trustees, so E and I have thought we could name the gallery space instead. We think Core Gallery. Then its linked into the title.

We are hoping to get guest curators, make links with other studios/ students/ organisations. Invite proposals, possibly curate and more! Its very exciting, this new chapter.

We are all going to become part of something.

Friday looms. Everything happens on Friday….

Fraction and our open studios as well as delivery of my new works to Julian.

I have created about 15 new works in the last few weeks. I don’t know how. I am beyond tired. ….hysterical laughter bubbles up quickly…..the tranquillity of making the works lies deeply though. …and the determination. Calming, keeping me alight.

The work for the exhibition I am Yours and Fraction has been an interesting journey. the intimacy of the sizes has invoked a reflection of a deeply changed emotional landscape for me. the works are more of a personal narrative, ….still purposefully using the buildings to illustrate these ideas that are more than me…..but the titles reflect upon this highly personal aspect. A jigsaw to put together

Artwork Titles;

The Journey Begins and Ends Here

Last Orders

The Winter Palace

The Watchtower

The Castle

The Martyr

Whittled

From Afar, From Afar

belong to nothing

belong to no-one

belong nowhere…..

Belong somewhere

Here lies my confession

Here I laid hope

Here I laid to rest

Out of the dust comes light and power

Thawed

I am Yours

I give to thee

In Deptford there is a huge hub of artist studios: Cor Blimey Arts, Creekside, APT, Artworks to name a few and we are all collected on this rather splendid artmap

www.deptfordartmap.com

Set up by Julia Alvarez of Bearspace who has been one of many pushing for the presence of Deptford on the art scene and has organised this map, tours of Deptford’s galleries and studios as well as a Last Friday openings in the galleries in the area. My, what a treasure trove.

We at CBA have been debating the merits of realigning the studio into a more of a permanent gallery space. Which is great and serious ! It would be profile building for the artists here and mean having constant exhibitions of our works or curated exhibitions. It can only be a good thing…..The only drawback is the organisation of it all which with everyone juggling other commitments is a challenge, things like- when would we open? who would curate/facilitate/invigilate/do press? Then again introduce this idea and people start bubbling away with plans and tap into exciting prospects and opportunities….they will be invigorated- I hope , I think…….

you learn an awful lot when you show your work and organise things. It is energising ( and exhausting!) plans are hatching….