So, it’s all been very busy and rather frenetic recently. Almost unbelievable news about the funding which has given me such a boost but also means it’s all very serious now – such a responsibility! The residency at the Local Gallery was brilliant for raising awareness about the project as well as showcasing the work in progress. ‘Map-Me’ the mapping activity did the job of allowing people to really engage with the geography of the area on a surface which they could touch before they went to closely inspect the work itself. Interestingly, although I sited the ‘Map-Me’ map North to South and the work’s map is rotated by 45 degrees nobody seemed to have a problem repositioning themselves between one and the other.
Attached are images of the work so far with rather striking lighting at the Local Gallery and some details of small cut images from around N10 that I have put into the work.
Mapping Muswell – An N10 Paper Project is now Supported by The Arts Council for England and recieves Lottery funding! Hurrah!
Over the weekend I held the first residency for the project at the Local Gallery in Muswell Hill. Nesteling in the heart of Muswell Hill on a small street with studios and vintage shops this new gallery space specialises in supporting Local artists and their projects and so was very appropriate. We had a range of visitors of different ages and expectations and the result was an exciting and engaging mapping acitivity. As a trial for my longer residency at Muswell Hill Library in the summer it was very useful, and has given me something to reflect upon in terms of how I might improve the experience for visitors. The work itself is developing and thanks to some brilliant paper donations is becoming more reflective of the diverse community who live in N10.
As my resisidency approaches I realise that a commitment needs to be made.
So far I have been taping the work together. Just little bits of tacky masking tape holding the whole 180cm wide structure together. Every trip to the shed is an excercise in hope over experience!
Fortunately I have been lucky barring a few early mishaps and everything has remained pretty much where it should be but I’ll have to get the glue out soon.
My feelings about the project have plateaud a little too- it is a constant struggle to get the community involved and aware of the work. On the whole, people respond really favourably to the whole idea and then (understandably) wander off and forget all about it. That is one of the great hardships as far as I can see about being an artist: what is so incredibly important to you is merely a diversion for others.
Hoping tomorrow brings me renewed vigour!
Residency with the fabulous ‘Mapping Muswell An N10 Paper Project’ at the Local gallery 18th -20th May.
Taking paper from the house to the shed and back in this unrelenting rain is a challenge. As are the leaks in the shed roof: not a good combination with paper – could lead to mould.
The work itself is developing – certainly getting bigger and I feel now that some kind of rhythm is beginning to establish itself. It is still surprising to me how using a particular set of processes can allow me to produce work that I cannot wholly conceive before hand. As the work develops I am responding to it rather than directing it. There are some aspects which I influence – the direction of the light source, which areas to build up, what paper I choose and where I place it. Whilst some of the decisions are really quite instinctive others take more contemplation (the lighting for example) my overall feeling with the work is that it is almost in charge of me – I am just facilitating it’s making. The shape of the map is predetermined and the paper I receive is really just the luck of the drawer. This feels good to me, makes the process challenging and revelatory.
I recently (31st March) did a one day residency at Muswell Hill Library. Mainly it was an awareness generating day as the work is really only in its infancy, but I was there with the work, both working on it and chatting to people about the project. Overall a good experience, it’s interesting to see how people are drawn to maps, they really just can’t resist siting themselves in them. Looking forward to my next ‘proper’ residency at the Local Gallery, Avenue Mews, Muswell Hill, N10, from 18th-20th May.
