6/ SUMMARY: JOURNEYING FORWARD
Our day in the studio was the first step towards what hopes to develop into a longer term collaborative partnership. Linda’s response to the day had shown that she was happy to work with me in this new environment, obviously enjoying the interactive process of developing artwork together. This certainly felt like the closest I had come to achieving a balanced, equal partnership with a learning disabled artist. The studio day had been an important part of the ‘selection’ process, empowering Linda to ‘choose’ through direct experience.
Earlier in this process, it had been important for me to meet many learning disabled artists, with the opportunity to learn more about their artistic development from their artist tutors, who showed both a care and understanding in helping them to further their professional practice.
Siobhan had given me a valuable insight into Linda’s daily routine, understanding how her background might influence communication, expectations and behaviour. The success of these initial stages also rested upon the support of the staff at Linda’s residential home. Siobhan’s role as pastoral care worker bridged the gap that can so often hinder an opportunity like this, with transport or carers failing to materialize on the day. While the residential staff member that accompanied Linda to the studio knew little about the activities proposed, it was important that they were there to attend to Linda’s personal care needs, leaving Siobhan and myself to focus on her social or creative needs, helping to maintain a balanced collaborative partnership.
Each collaboration is of course unique in it’s own right. The experience and skills of the individuals involved, and the environment they inhabit, both socially and creatively will influence the process of initiating a working partnership. While some non-disabled and learning disabled artists are able to get to know each other over a number of years, most professional collaborations operate within a fixed timescale. If learning disabled artists are to be accepted as professional artists in their own right, I believe that it is important to be able to collaborate on the same basis.
In looking to the future, there are of course many issues that will need further consideration when developing this collaborative partnership. How will working towards a specific exhibition or commission change the dynamics of this working relationship? How will I maintain a good level of interaction throughout the process to ensure that this continues to be a balanced partnership? Inevitably there will be times when we assume different creative roles, but surely this is the case with any collaborative relationship. The most important part of collaboration for me is communication with the ability to remain flexible, dealing with issues as they arise. Collaboration opens up a new and exciting potential, introducing an element of risk. It creates an unknown chemistry that can breath life into the creative process. I felt that my experience of working with Linda touched upon the very essence of this dynamic process. It has shown me how two artist’s perception of the physical world can come together, revealing something new to them both. Where words were no longer a viable method of communication, interaction was everything. This experience has raised my levels of awareness both in term of the nature of my own creative input as well as building a greater sensitivity towards the input of my collaborative partner.
As Linda left the studio that day I was able to at least say thank you with one of the very few Makaton words I know. I was happy that she understood.