Exploring new contexts

Fantastic chat with Vikki from Northampton Uni yesterday. I’ve definately got to the point where I need a sounding block, but actually vocalising coherently and not as a babble is hard at the mo. I have so many ideas and avenues that I’m finding it hard to focus and work out what fits in, and works. She has suggested I write down my Values, for myself, my family, my community, the wider community, and the world, and then see what fits. Love this idea.

I’m playing with pattern and reflections- the accidental is always appealing. Away in Falmouth for a week, so not making for that time, research in my pocket though.

The Artsfest piece has generated a new community arts project- Story Hats. I’ll be working with a group of children and adults with learning difficulties, making individual hat and a walk-in hat (probably like a wigwam) , ace.

Yahoo! At last have been paid for the Artsfest Installation, got taxed , which they are going to repay, so not completely smooth, but going in the right direction.

Can’t believe I finally have this funding set in place, and am still fighting, but this time its against TIME.

I feel like I spent the entire last year writing, editing, re drafting, editing, writing about what I intended to do, what I needed, and why, and I’m really struggling to fit it all in.

The paperwork side of things was a huge mountain, which I have persevered at, and am on top of, for the next 5 minutes, but my constant time checking:school drop off, pick up, meeting planning, teaching, chase my tail, is unending….

Really, really wanted to enter a piece into the Rugby open, and Leicester open, as a guage for new work for me to see how I felt about them. I have two weeks… Not sure how my husband will feel about me taking boxes of materials to Falmouth on holiday next week. He’ll be fine. Not sure they will even fit in the car on top of the everything and the kitchen sink packing mentality usually in force. Need to get as much done this week as possible.

A ps to start with- these posts will not always be so long..

Finally, after a year of writing, and editing, so many times, the large enveloped arrived, confirmation of the grant from the Arts Council. Since then (beginning of September) I haven’t stopped.

The driving force has been the children going to nursery and school and I finally have time in my studio to work, but so many ideas have come and gone, my works evolved so much in my head and not in reality, its such a stumbling block.

My intentions are to have a huge intake of stimulus, to sort through it, apply what I chose, experiment, analysis and then re-launch… sounds grand in text, I have to deliver now.

From my work being gallery and retail driven I want to explore the idea of working in a more space-responsive and installation type manner.

I have no idea how this will look.

I also have too many ideas of ways to go and have, have, have to focus…

Working on the Artsfest installation for the Heart of England Gallery Consortium was a great midway point, inbetween visits. It went so well, a great confidence boost for my ideas.

So far I’ve been to Fabrica in Brighton for the end of John Grades cocolithophores Elephant Garden installation. so so fabulous. Huge water soluble hanging structures that we all went inside, around and watched and drew. The we walked with them through the streets at 8 in the morning to the sea and watched them disperse. This was a wonderful experience, and prompted loads of questions.

Since then I have visited the Hub and Bending the Line, Yorkshire Sculpture Park and John Randal and James Lee Byars, The Harley and the Age of Experence, the Millenium Gallery and Spectacular Craft, The CAA and the Revivalists, and The V and A and Telling Tales…. A lot to sort through.

Next week its Origin, Freize and then Origin again.

Actually, I’ve been berating myself for not having acheived enough this month, and really, that doesn’t sound too bad.

Spectacular Craft with its sheer scale and intricacy has left a huge impression. One particular piece by Based Upon in The Revivalists show, and then the whole V and A visit have been very thought provoking.

Particularly the wrought iron work on floor 2 of the V and A. A lot of them are like drawings hanging in the air, with shadows giving a fairy tale , or spellbound quality. my ideas are expanding right now.