Flesh on the Bones of the Belfast Child

Just noticed I’ve been selected for artist of the week on Axis along with Claire Brewster – nice surprise,

http://www.axisweb.org/Directory.aspx?FT=&TYPE=2

Talking about Open submission shows – I like the bit of humour in the Crash Open instructions –

STEP TW0:

DELIVERY 16TH -19TH NOVEMBER

Successfully applicants will be ask to deliver their work to the gallery between the 16th – 19th November during 10-6pm.
Unsuccessful applicants will sulk for a bit, but go to Step Three!

(Step three being the opening party), made me smile!

Today I did something quite significant, – I did some work on waterproofing the outside of the studio for the long term. Up until now I have got it habitable but no more. Rollercoasting between confidence and crippling insecurity, I was never really sure if I could totally justify reinstating my exhibiting practice again on a permanent basis. Recently though I have felt that I am finally beginning to make the work I want to (well, almost) and some really encouraging comments from all sorts of sources have helped enormously.

As I waded throught the half made pieces of work inside, tripping over the blobs of wax on the floor and attempting (in vain) to find the staple gun (evidence that something really is happening in there), I realised at this point, I know now – I’m in it for the long haul!

I read Glenn Ibbitson’s article ‘RE.The great Open Submission swindle’ in this months a-n and wanted to shout Yes, Yes!, it’s about time someone flagged this up. With a gallery I won’t mention not far from me choosing 20 or so artists from almost a thousand enteries, just how can this be a sustainable structure to support emerging artists.

With a recent one raising the bar with a £32 entry fee, just how many times can an artist submit before they run out of cash completely. And yet, speaking to curators over the last year about this particular subject I’ve had the same response, ‘Emerging artists just have to do it, all the established names have’.

Yeah, right. It doesn’t have to be like this. I happily took part in a show where there was no entrance fee but a slightly heftier hanging fee once selected. All the artists selected helped out (it was an artist run show) and the money paid towards an excellent space and publicity. All happy. I guess 20 artists are no way going to generate the funding a thousand applications at £32 a pop will.

Anyway, as suggested in the article, along with another artist, we are looking to secure a space and exhibit our own show. This is gathering pace fast with some really encouraging meetings with Salisbury council and a fantastic space on offer. It’s seriously scary to think of the work involved but to be in control of the work, how it’s exhibited and promoted is really exciting. We’re looking to run a series of events and the show itself will have an interactive element relating to the space. Offers of help have come from some really respected professionals so we will certainly tap into them. Until we have firm confirmation and dates (probably early June 2011), I’m keeping schtum but we should have it all stitched up by early December.

My lovely camera has gone funny. I jinxed it. Last night I sat and distinctly thought – that camera the ACE grant paid for has been the most valuable contribution to my career (I’m going to change that word to practice – mmm) I’ve ever had, I actually said the words in my head and bang! – just as I’d formulated the thought, the camera buggered up.

Anyhow, got a nice email from an arts organisation in Oxford wanting to show my work in ‘Invasion of Privacy’, an art event taking over a terraced house in late October, so now I’m heading to Oxford to give the space the once over. A succession of sickly children has thwarted all plans recently but fingers crossed, they’re all back at school tomorrow and I’ll get there to check it out.

Met up with a friend this morning to focus our plans for taking over an exciting space in Salisbury next year to put on an exhibition and succession of events. Next Monday we are due to meet up with two pivotal town council people and we need to get the overall vision nailed down. I’m not going to jinx this one by mentioning the space before we’ve secured it but it has loads of potential, – next Monday, we should know more.