TUESDAY – TALK ABOUT THE WORK
Last night was the Discussion Event organised this time in conjunction with Claremont Studios' Talk About The Work. We held it downstairs in the Pine Gallery in the dark.
We had wine and Under Ground cake (made with ground almonds and chocolate) and people looked at the work, drew on the blackboards.
Each of us posed some questions and showed a short set of slides.
My title 'Dead or Alive' raised questions about the purpose of my practice – seeking animation, and setting up enlivening experiences, and the sharp surprise of how deadening the experience of working under ground has been. How quickly I had urgent need to spend time over ground in the air and sun like a plant. And raised too the purpose of participation by viewers, sparked by our Drawing in the Dark event and I questioned whether this enhances the experience of looking at art, engages viewers or only entertains.
YESTERDAY
Yes the Open Day for UNDER GROUND and Big Draw event Drawing in the Dark have happened. Plenty of people came tramping down the wooden stairs into the dark. Each collected a torch and looked, examined, drew on the boards or the wall. Batteries had to be changed, drawings blutaked to the wall. We talked to everyone.
At 5pm the torches were turned off. We left everything and closed the door.
Today is a day away from the gallery, to recoup and prepare for the Talk about the Work discussion tomorrow night. Lots of questions are circling in my head; about the work, about people's responses; about participation.
Adding finishing touches now. This week has passed so quickly, yet I'm pleased we've both made strides with new work – in 5 days! It will be great to photograph all of the parts of our installation in the dark.
Big Draw day tomorrow – Drawing In The Dark.
FRIDAY
It's been a black bird day. Sewing, stuffing, hanging. I brought 4 bags of meadow hay back from my lunchtime outing. Getting the bird to stand up took all our ingenuity. There she stands with her shining eye.
The work is taking shape – much to manage tomorrow, last day before we open for drawing and showing on Sunday afternoon.
THURSDAY
Painted roots all day. Not radical. Walked out in the sun to buy fishing line. Nailed the roots to the wall – very satisfying.
