Diary of a Foundling Artist

I’ve just recieved the Artists Brief from Commissions East which is quite useful. it lays out the aims of the commission as giving me the opportunity to

create new work

develop my profile out of the region

attract attention from the arts media

introduce new audiences to my work

the timeline has reminded me that I have to have initial ideas ready by 8th May and the work has to be in situ by 26th September

We had a very useful and slightly scary tour by the museum’s curator Rhian Harris. The place is packed with stuff and sentiment (which I found quite interesting) But my initial ideas mainly revolved around defacing the guide book & perhaps reintroducing some play into the space.

We also had a photocall on the stairs at which I singularly failed to hold my stomach in.

This is a bit of an odd one. Usually, like most artists, we choose where we want to work and deal with ideas that we are specifically interested in. Here, as a group, we've all been asked to respond to a particular location. The foundling museum is a wierd little museum housing a collection of Hogarths (and other paintings), a load of memorabilia associated with Coram's Foundling Hospital, a collection of manuscripts relating to Handel and a couple of recreated 18th century rooms. My own work uses ideas associated with chance and play so I've just got to think of something to do now. Should be fun.

Shameless self publicity bit

www.rotagavin.blogspot.com

www.protestfilm.blogspot.com

www.axisweb.org/artist/
alexpearl