Still in chaos but beginning to emerge. Lots of DAD stuff going on, some of it still too early to report on publicly but, we’ve got through to interview panel for a film project we want to do, which is exciting. More on this later, if we are successful.
Went to the opening of the Hayward’s new show “Walking in my Mind” yesterday and spent time looking and trying to take in the experience despite all the other people there. I may be doing some tour guiding, an opportunity that has come up through Central St Martins. It will be good to do the training, whatever happens. I’ve never had to lead a group of 50 people round a show before. Not sure how I am going to talk about the show – many pieces examine ideas of the brain as being made up of component parts, as information storage and processing systems, systems of connected wires; all to some extent try to represent what is going on inside the artist’s head.
I’m not sure about the show: some of the work seems almost too literal; some of the connections with mindscape seem forced; and I’d have liked to see Yayoi Kusama’s work take up much more space. Maybe there are just too many artists and not enough space to really immerse oneself in any of the pieces.
Total chaos at the moment. I am moving back into my house with dog, cats, partner and we are trying to get straight as fast as possible. I am trying to work – have had some orders for translations, including a 24-page fund prospectus, am doing more funding applications for DAD with Joanna and trying to keep enthusiastic despite a recent unsuccessful bid (always disheartening but as Joanna says "nothing good ever gets lost").
I went to the "Wild Flower" event in Margate on Thursday organised by the University for the Creative Arts – I'd been drafted in as notetaker and worked with Peter Liversidge to discuss the "artists perspective" on audience engagement/development. Basically the artist doesn't really care but everyone else does or has to. From a DAD point of view, we have to, so it was quite useful to think about what it means to engage an audience and how to evaluate it – development and enrichment of (children's) vocabulary is one way for example. It was quite nice to get another of Peter's gin glasses. Quite a fun day even if long and hard to assess the use of. However, the final report might give us some juicy catchphrases.
After lunch we were all supposed to sow wildflower seeds in Margate – very biblical. With a twist though – because as the biologist and gardener pointed out – it is in the infertile, poor soil that the seeds have the best chance of flourishing. But then of course fertile ground in the bible probably doesn't necessarily mean fertile as in enriched with nutrients but fertile as in willing to accept new ideas.
I've been doing lots of DAD stuff so haven't had much time for the studio. Apart from chasing the accountant to send or supposedly resend the letter signing off our project accounts so I can get a report off to the Arts Council, I've been writing a bid for a new film project, together with codirector Joanna, of course. We've had to put together an education programme which at first seemed like box-ticking but the way we are developing it actually should be quite exciting. Another DAD project is getting into gear and we will be working with Sharon Haward as well as French photographer Pierre-Yves Brest and we are also waiting to hear whether our Open Weekend project will get the go-ahead.
As there was no class this week I did manage a stint in the studio yesterday and although the studio situation is not ideal, at least it is somewhere to work away from the house. That said, I work at home too.
I am also trying to finalise my study proposal and am finding it hard to contextualise my work. I suppose it is a question of finding a 'lineage' – to whom, why, how, does my work relate?
