Just spent two days back in the UK that I filled even to my limits! I was busy, to understate, rushing at full speed from one appointment to the next.
The reason I flew back was for a public art commission interview, which went as well as could be expected, but I won’t know until next week, as all the proposals will now be presented to the residents on the relevant housing estate. So I’ve put that to one side, with so many other things on my plate. That took up all of Thursday, travelling to and from Bedfordshire. So, moving on…
Friday the first appointment was with a journalist from Absolute Magazine, a local Brighton rag, who are doing a column about me and The Ceramic House for the May issue. So I gave her a tour of the house (I’m well versed in this now) and chatted about the upcoming exhibition. She didn’t realise what a big deal the Danish show is going to be – well, she’s one of the people who will be spreading the news to everyone – so I filled her of course!
I then hopped on a bus and just arrived at my next meeting on the dot at Brighton University, where I gave a presentation to a group of ceramics 2nd year students. It had been advertised to the performance students too, but none turned up. The ceramics and performance departments have invited two of the artists exhibiting in my show to give talks. I thought it would be a stronger collaboration and good experience for the students to offer them the opportunity to get involved in the project. There were about six students who seemed keen, so hopefully I will acquire some help in the studio with workshop preparations, then in the house hanging the show, producing the interpretation material and pricing, assisting on the open days/private view in the house and The Tile Shop, assisting the performance artist, documenting, running workshops, etc. There is a lot to think about!
Then I popped into my studio to ensure all is well with my sub-letter and to collect some tiles ordered by a client in Copenhagen. And straight off again to my next meeting with my graphic designer, who has been working on my new logo and flyer for the show. We decided on colour schemes and discussed the catalogue, which finally looks as if it will happen on schedule. It has been a bit hairy trying to find a writer with knowledge of the contemporary Danish ceramic scene with such short notice. Since meeting with my curatorial mentor just before leaving for Denmark, we have been on the hunt for someone suitable and available and I am very relieved to say I got a positive response two days ago. So we have all the copy and print deadlines in the diary now for the catalogue and the flyer.
Then I jumped back on a bus and arrived home two minutes before a knock on the door signalled the arrival of my first customer for the Danish ceramics. This woman has just been to Norway, where she purchased some of Helle Hansen’s work. Regretting not buying more, she googled and found The Ceramic House as the only UK provider – what perfect timing! Not only did she buy three of Helle’s pieces, but also one of Anne Nielsen’s, all of which I had brought back especially. Now that’s pretty good going, six weeks before we even open!
Last thing to do before jumping on that plane was to pack up a box of Annette Bugansky’s work and a huge pile of my tiles for my painter friend who has a small gallery in Copenhagen and is also creating her own installation of my tiles in her garden. It’s all been delivered now and I’m writing this on the train going back to Guldagergård. Switch headspace again…!
