It’s been a strange old week, one of those that seems to stretch back forever when you try and recall it but has flashed by while you lived it. That’s probably because I’ve been hunched over the computer for a greater part of it, working and printing the images for my book. I’ve just finished them but it has been a taxing process; computers and I share a natural antagonism – it always seems to take so much longer than anticipated to sort things out, not helped by my fairly rudimentary skills in Photoshop. Anyway, they’re done and now all I need to do is bind the book once I’ve sourced some leather and taken delivery of some photographic details of my paintings. All nice and easy…
I’ve also taken on the duty of VIP/Press invitations for our degree show. We have 2 private views, one press etc., one friends and family. The reason that prompted me to add even more to my workload was my connection with our main fundraiser, the art auction held under the auspices of R’s firm last March. If I hadn’t done so much work for that, I’d be all done and dusted by now. It raised just short of £4000, 1/3 of which we donated to charity, so was pretty successful. I was a little disappointed with the turnout on the night and have made notes for future reference but, along with other funds raised, we should have enough for our needs. Anyway, I want to make sure that all those who supported us get VIP invitations, the donors, the purchasers and the hosts so tomorrow’s job is mailing lists.
The degree show starts on June 7th, so after mailing lists, completing the book, collating and compiling a research dossier and generally finishing everything off for assessment on the 25th, it’s down to the nitty gritty of getting our spaces sorted out. I have bagged the gable end of the mezzanine floor, probably the only space suitable for a set of large paintings so I’m very fortunate that no-one else needed it. I think my main problem will be concealing the crumbling ceiling plaster – I don’t think I dare touch it in case it falls off! I’ve booked the electrician both for me and my fellow part-timers who are exhibiting in our ‘hut’, now euphemistically named the ‘outdoor studio’. It’s a shame I’m not with them but the ceilings are just too low in there for my largest painting so I’m mixed in with the full-timers – strange after such a long time together.
It will seem even stranger when all this pressure is off. After 6 years, I’ll probably drown in the free time. We’ve had a couple of talks on MA courses available locally – one Fine Art and one Curatorial Practice. I don’t know what I was expecting but I must confess to being more than a little surprised at their content. Perhaps our course is one that is unusual in its emphasis on both contextual/work links and independence of development, which is why the two courses described so far appear to be less challenging than I expected. I’ll just have to do some more research, I suppose.
Oh, yes, if anyone actually IS reading this, you’ll be glad to know that football is off the menu from now on – unless of course the management search gets very exciting. I can’t say that many Boro fans mourn the loss of Mr. McClaren, with one publicised exception he and they did not make happy bedfellows. Good luck to England, they’ll need it.
