Time now for a bit of a break from politics… otherwise my head may explode!
So, instead, it is time for a yearly round up – just to get everything in perspective, take a deep breath, and remember that I have been working hard! It’s always easy to feel like there hasn’t been much achieved, so it’s good to put it into words.
What happened in 2010:
High points:
N.B. I have been nudged by my neice (very advanced and tweeting already at 7 months) to point out that her birth in May has made 2010 a stupendously happy and gurgling year. You can follow her here:
http://twitter.com/#!/MillicentBaby
I finished the YSP bursary (finally!) and published a book for the end of the residency.
I wasn’t entirely happy with the book if I’m honest, but it was a good lesson – books need a LOT of time, a bit better knowledge of Indesign and book design oh, and a better printer.
A Curriculum residency at A Foundation
Met some great great people. Didn’t make great work, but it kind of set me up for future work, which may be as important.
Being shortlisted for the Liverpool Art Prize. I didn’t win, but I got to exhibit in Metal (love the building) alongside some really great artists.
Exhibiting in Milan with a very creative and supportive curator. Being invited to a group show in Lausanne as a direct result from this show. Loved doing the email interview with L.A. based curator Ciara Ennis too.
Cardboard Folly – I have wanted to publish an artists book with other artists’ work for a few years now, so it was great to get issue 1 done and exhibtited at the Bluecoat. I also got to know Emma Gregory better through this, always a good thing.
CUBE open – sold some work for the first time ever.
Applying for less things and getting offered more work without solicitation. LOVE this.
Spreading out into two studio space at The Royal Standard – this feels like a real work space and it works.
AIR Activism
Lots of travel.
Low Points:
Too much travel, too much driving.
Still not even making minimum wage, yet working most days.
Falling out with my usual printer and now I still need to find a new one. This was very upsetting and makes future book works a bit tricky. But perhaps I will find someone better, someone who really understands the difference between MATT and SATIN. It’s not the same ok?
CUBEopen – having work thrown away.
Not blogging as much.
Not getting to my studio enough.
Cardboard Folly – just wasn’t able to make this as gloriously as I pictured. Not enough money or time.
Not getting a couple of residencies I really wanted. There were other things I didn’t get, but for these I got very almost to the end of the application process, so it felt like a blimmin tease. I was almost booking plane tickets, let’s put it that way.
Doing Artists’ Book Fairs. Apart from meeting other artists, these have started to feel like a drain on both finances, confidence and energy.
Two car crashes.
The new government.
Family bereavements, ensuing probate paperwork nightmares and the incredibly sad loss of a 33 year old friend to cancer. These things are massive levellers and a much-needed reminder to appreciate every moment with loved ones.
To look forward to in 2011:
Going back to Japan (it’s 7 years now since I left my job there). Words cannot express how insanely excited I am about this.
The next Cardboard Folly.
My first solo show at YSP (I know, I do go on about this, but my head is saturated with it) next July.
Not to look forward to in 2011:
Being a walking art bomb/stress monkey in the lead-up to my first solo show, possibly resulting in divorce.
Yup, I think that’s it. Good and bad sides to everything pretty much, but I totally think the good outweighs the bad. Forgive the self-indulgence, but you should try a list too.
22.12.10 – p.s. My Husband has just threatened my wall chart with magenta crayon, so I would like to also say what an awesome, supportive and positive force he is in my life. I mean that, regardless of his childish behaviour ;D
