Semantics is a fine thing. Sorting out those who are attending a ‘private view’, from those who are coming to a ‘preview’ from amongst the majority interested enough to make it to the ‘opening’ of an exhibition, is one of the displacement activities that I use to occupy the more agonising examples that I have been to.
That said, there is a real value in getting loads of people to turn up to something as odd as sharing a tight proximity with a thing that has become partly obscured by the proximity of loads of people.
It gives everyone plenty to talk about and provides one of the few social occasions left that doesn’t cost a small fortune, or involve a major change of life for someone involved.
On second thoughts, it probably does cost a small fortune, but not for the participants. See how well arts funding directly serves communities?
This gathering was a good one – most people that I spoke to came away energised by it, including one of the ‘doormen’ (that are now required at City Centre events) who seemed to have unexpectedly acquired the equivalent of an NVQ in sculpture during the course of the evening and seemed committed to taking it further.
I went home.
