I’ve just sent off the final papers for the NAN bursary report and it was only then I realised that I’d missed things out. Damn! You think you’ve covered everything and then as soon as you press the send button – BAM – another memory about the visit pops back in.
We’ve only been back two weeks, but it feels much longer. I was looking at a Small Projects posting on face book about the new artist they are now exhibiting, and I felt a pang of jealousy. It feels like the dust hasn’t quite settled since we were there.
So what have I done since getting back? I’ve been to work…. more meetings have now gone on at Tate about the cuts. Yes, they will be made. They are reviewing each department, one at a time – starting with front of house – the most short staffed and the lowest paid. Decisions to be made in April.
Work wise ( the other type) for me… I made the most of the good weather last weekend and started casting some resin pieces. Even working outside, it made me feel wheezy. I wanted to do more, but I suppose I will just work with the weather again.
I’d also seen a rusty old Motor bike on the fields where I walk my dog, so decided to drag that up ( with a lot of help!) No idea what to do with it yet, but I felt really excited about working with something different – something that also fits in with my present work about travel.
Well… I was excited – until I received an email this morning from METAL. They are advertising the next Liverpool art prize – and there, staring me in the face was an image of a rusty old bike exhibited in a gallery space. Grrr…
Richard Profitt – I’m watching you!! http://richardproffitt.blogspot.com/
It’s been a strange week in work. ( Tate, that is ) It’s been a week of not being able to get hold of anyone in the management team…. of seeing an extraordinary email from a union rep… and finally – yesterday, a hint of what was to come.
No official word yet – only a quick correspondence from someone who attended the union meeting last night : ‘Everyone will receive letters shortly, announcing that there will be working groups to look at flexible working hours and staffing levels’.
Mixed reactions from the staff… some are mortified at the prospect of either losing their jobs or having hours cut considerably, some seemed relieved…almost as if it’s a chance to move away and start somewhere afresh. We would after all, probably be financially better off working at Tesco.
I was sent an image today of my wings – from one of the students that came to see our work in Small Projects.
They were picking the wings off the floor to study and although I said they could take them away to photograph, I wasn’t sure if I would get a response.
It’s nice that people want to keep in touch and to be part of mywork. I think it was also the boost I needed to get myself in gear again.
It will probably be a few more days before I sit down and fully assess our experiences in Tromso. I’m still adjusting…
The journey back was yet again a full days travel – from leaving Small Projects at 09.30, to arriving at home just before midnight. Flying from Gatwick added 5 hours to the journey, which at the time prompted me to ask -. Would I go via there again?
It would depend on funding I suppose.
I had to go back to work yesterday… and now I have to prepare for a children’s workshop on Sunday. Ho Hum… yes – we lead different lives…
I’d prepared a PowerPoint presentation before I left the UK, but it was mainly about the Tate (as requested) and how the group started up etc.
I wasn’t really expecting to talk too much about the work I had brought with me, as I could do that in the gallery space.
A quick change of plan though, meant that I spent the afternoon trying to add a few images from my web page to the PowerPoint, while not only struggling with the Norwegian keyboard – but also with an apple Mac that I’d never used before either.
After explaining our association with Tate and how we work as a group, I started on how I had got to my present work, using images from a recent children’s workshop I’d run to explain the process.
This lead to a show of hands. Why did I do workshops? Why are they for children? Why do I work in an office? Why aren’t I just an artist?
