My last blog entry marked the end of the Festial year in a strictly technical sense, but of course Festial hasn't finished at all. For one thing, I still have the last few copies of the Rogationtide Kalender to foist on some unsuspecting members of the public.
The residency at Gresham's school – achieved through this project as far as I can tell – is approaching fast. I will be in the school's art department every day (and as it's a public school it actually IS every day) for three weeks of September, followed by a day to set up a solo exhibition in their Nicholson Gallery, followed by a private view the following evening. Makes me tired/worried/nervous/excited just thinking about it! I will be teaching some Year 10 and Year 13 classes, as well as making a presentation about my work to sixth formers. When I first knew about this, I was in a complete panicky fuzz about the whole thing, but now I've worked out a lesson scheme and made my Powerpoint presentation things don't seem quite so daunting. Well, not quite.
There is still the small matter of a two-storey gallery space to fill singlehandedly. Although I'll have a space within the department to work on my own stuff in between times, realistically I need to have the majority of work ready before I start at the school at the beginning of September. Which doesn't give me long at all. And I have no funding or guidance or anything, so it's all in the lap of the gods, really. Although, I hasten to add, I do like a challenge.
Then there's promotion. Oh yes, promotion. Why didn't I think of that earlier?! So far, the only publicity for this exhibition is in the North Norfolk Arts Events Brochure and it gives the dates as a month later than they actually are. This information has been copied onto the What's On In The Arts page on the local council's website. Not a lot of use, then.
As usual, Trevor has calmed me down by sitting down with me with a pencil and paper. Many bullet points later, we have come up with an Action Plan. And so, the promotion starts here.
Imogen Ashwin
Closing the Circle: Ex Voto
Nicholson Gallery, Gresham's School, Holt, Norfolk
September 26 – October 17 2008
Private View Friday September 26, 6 – 8pm
Hope to see you there!
www.world-tree.co.uk/festial (in process of updating)
