Eureka
Always read the fine print; the smaller details in the contract/obligation about the opportunity e.g. artist residency.
Nothing is expected. The choice of candidates are those that can talk, discuss and exchange the premise of one’s practice, its significance to the contemporary day, and its future. In short, what is expected to be gained out of the opportunity and what can actually happen.
In the example of the ever fleeting Graduate Artist-in-Residency programme at Airspace Gallery, it is important to note that it is called the Graduate Artist Residency meaning that is open to Graduates and it is an Artist Residency. Nowhere, not even in the opportunity description, does it outline that the artist that is accepted and the work they produce need be themed or structured around anything from the Gallery’s town of Stoke-on-Trent to its reputation with pottery.
It is not called the Graduate Artist with a Pottery Flare Making Work Based Around Stoke-on-Trent Residency for a reason: because it is none specific to anything but being available to graduates. And the environment Airspace Gallery presents to a graduate not of the ‘City with Six Towns’ is warming and educational. One can only imagine how the local Graduate Resident Artist must be feeling…
This residency has presented an opportunity to reflect in a relaxing environment, like a moon colony: unfamiliar but homely.
Therefore, conclusions can already be drawn to confirm that the majority of work featured in still upcoming Debut Solo Exhibition of this author in late January 2013 will carry the same ‘values’ and ‘trademarks’ of previous work (i.e. University) with a new audience and passion that will display a visual growth. Meanwhile, it may still be early days to propose that some of the new work featured in the Debut Solo will stand-out for reasons ascertaining to imagery (i.e. Post #11 Possible Paintings).
Nevertheless, time away from the hustle-and-bustle of the busy South neighbouring London has presented time to isolate key interests in practice and retain the individuality and unique vision that was nurtured back at University.
After-all, when asked “if you could be anyone else in the world, who would you be?” the correct answer is always: “yourself”.
