This degree show lark is slow going. I put up work, then I take it down again as it isn't straight. I put it up and take it down again to put in another position. I continue doing work that may not even be included in the show. It's all good fun.
Thanks to our Head of Art at Derby Uni – Scott Green. He pointed out that my paintings were too low which affected how they viewed. I must admit that I had a bit of skepticism, but moved them anyway. I hold my hand up and say. Scott, you were right, I didn't think it would make that much difference.
The exhibition area is slowly starting to change, more people are in working, the spaces are all secure, work is going up on the walls and panic is starting to set in. We have to get our work completed this week-end. Our assessment starts on Tuesday morning until Thursday morning when we are allowed back in to tidy up and make last minute adjustments then Friday is the big day.
It's strange, when I think of the degree show I must admit that it is with a mix of emotions, nervousness, excitement, sadness and a touch of fear. It is the end of an era, but the start of something new. Our walking reins will be cut free and we will be off into the big wide world. Whether it is with faltering steps or a mad gallop remains to be seen. What is certain is that I will miss the university, the group, the structure and the safety net that these provide, but I am ready to leave. I need to leave, to recharge my creative batteries, to wander free, unfettered and unrestricted, to make my own mistakes and not to have to worry about trivialities like grades, critiques or even conceptualising every damn thing I make…..for a little while anyway, until I grab the next safety net that comes along
With all my paintings finished I can now concentrate on the display of them. I spent 3 hours cutting my small paintings to a common size. It was utterly tedious but was a necessity. In the timeframe I only managed to trim around 40 so I have another 60 to do for this show but another 100 for the future.
I've been struggling to find some mounting board for my panoramic landscapes. I need a length of 130cm and noone seems to have anuthing larger tha 96cm. I may yet have to join two boards together.
I have been amazed by the lack of activity in our exhibition area over the last few days. There has only been a small handfull of students working throughout Thursday and Friday. It scares me that i have so much to so, why don't the majority of my colleagues? maybe i'm just not as organised as them.
I met with my wonderful friend Carol today who has a Gallery in Derby (THE PRIDE PARK GALLERY) It's a wonderful space and has a great atmosphere. She has recently set up this gallery and is starting to have solo shows over the summer period. These should be great events with opening nights on the last Friday of each Month (I will be showing my work in August so the opening night will be at the end of July) There is some really interesting work at the moment so if you are passing the area pop in and see Carol, she is a lovely woman who will give you a warm welcome. I'm sure she would be interested to look at your work for the future. If you are looking to purchase some contemporary art then Pride Park Gallery is certainly worth a visit
The address is Pride Park Gallery, 4 Brunel Parkway, Pride Park, Just off roundabout 3, Derby.
Today I finished all my paintings for the show (Let's hope they dry in time)
It is such a relief to have finally completed the work that I am using. That's not to say that I am ready to rock and roll. In fact I have an enormous amount of work still to do, but that is all about displaying the work.
The big question now is where do I store all my materials and equipment? I have absolutely no room at home, no studio to move in to and in around 10 days time, no space at university!
I havejust over 1 week until assessment so I think from now on it's going to be busy, busy every day.
Good Luck to students who are having their shows in the next few days!
It really feels like I am making progress now. The last 2 weeks have been frustrating, it involved a lot of waiting but finally we got all the materials and equipment we needed. We all have our spaces and we can all get on with painting the walls, making alterations and displaying the work.
I feel like I've got ahead of my schedule. My walls are secure, painted and ready. I have put my large paintings securely onto the walls and I will take the next few days painting back into them again.
I had to drive over to Nottingham yesterday to pick up some hand made frames from a framer that had been recommended. The frames are great but the journey there and backk is a complete nightmare. This has to be the worst city to drive in. I have driven around London many times, Birmingham, Sheffield, lots of cities and never really have much of a problem. But every time I drive to Nottingham I get lost, get stuck on one way systems, stuck in traffic jams, get people with road rage. Oh it's such a horrendous place to drive. Although it is a beautiful city.
I've still neglected my journals, I am just not finding the time to work in them much. I have lots of stuff to go in them but just need the time to put it all together.
There just seems to be a million and one things to do before the show.
With this beautiful weather I'm finding it quite hard to get motivated. I was in Uni on Friday and the space moved on leaps and bounds. My helpers (and a few others who were at a lose end) helped me get the space sorted ready for us to paint on Monday. I am hoping that I will only need a couple of coats and fingers crossed I can start putting the paintings up so I can work back into them.
We still haven't got the any wood or paint but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they arrive early monday.
The mood in the studios is quite tense at the moment. Students are worried that there has been so little progress, hopefully this week will be better.
We had the opening event for the 2nd Postcard show on Saturday at the Brewhouse, Burton upon Trent. It was really dissapointing, there was only a very small turnout, we sold some but not as well as we hoped for. I think the weather was probably mainly responsible for that. It was hot and sweaty and nobody wants to be indoors when it's beautiful outside.
I had another dissappointment yesterday too. I received a rejection letter from the John Moores painting prize. This hurt more than the New Contemporaries rejection. I was more happier with the painting that I submitted and thought I might get through to the second round at least. Alas it wasn't to be. At least by the time I finish Uni I will be hardened to rejections. I'm still waiting to hear from the Northern Design prize.
