I need to make a public statement about my clever and generous partner, to balance some of the criticism about his approach to domesticity. (not that he gives a damn when I write about that – he’s very comfortable with his approach to ‘dirt-blindness’). Anyway, back to hte point before I start moaning again.
He stayed up with me last night until very late, helping design the flyer for ‘Inside Out’. He didn’t complain and was very patient, despite having an early start and a long day in London ahead of him.
He has guided me through all the technical/production aspects of this piece (video projections are one of his specialities). His name isn’t even on the flyer, yet he’s booked a day off work to help set up on the day.
Now isn’t he just mint?! Every artist needs one.
www.lightnightleeds.co.uk – event number 164
I am totally happy – all day – guaranteed. The thrills and spills of being an artist. After two days of agitating, and obsessively checking and refreshing my emails I got a response from AIR Gallery in New York…
‘Your work has been selected for
inclusion in the Mother/mother- exhibition.
Mother/mother- began as a labor of love, to find work by artists
willing to embrace their dual roles of parent and artist, who proudly
let parenting inform and expand their work. There were over 300 submissions, many
of which were strong.
I am thrilled to have the opportunity to include your work in the show. Specific
details about the work selected, loan contracts, drop-off/delivery
dates, etc will follow very shortly.’
I hadn’t dared to mention my application in previous posts, I wanted to keep it private – public disappointment is really uncomfortable.
feel a bit guilty when partner gets home from a long day of work to chaos, no dinner, no food in cupboards, and a list of demands (from me) relating to the benefits of short throw projector lenses over normal lenses. He’s gone in search of fish n chips.
Then I remember – I’ve also had a long day’s work whilst simultaneously persuading younger daughter to write birthday thank you letters/ tidy up after herself and ferry older daughter to horses and back and wash three sets of bedding (to eliminate threadworm eggs). it rained on the washing. I forgot to go to physio and my head hurts.
so – enough of the guilt. fish n chips are arriving – hurrah
Can’t sleep – and when I do I’m troubled by giant dream parasites. Might be something to do with the fact that I’ve just dosed the family with worming tablets and am working my way through washing all bedlinen, towels, bathmats, nighties. If it’s not that it’s nits I suppose. Or the fleas from the neighbours cat. Kids and pets = yuk.
I’l try to think about happy things instead. My piece for Leeds Light Night is coming along nicely – it’s called ‘Inside Out’. I’ve just written the blurb for the brochure, as follows:
‘Inside Out’ a site specific installation by Rachel Howfield (www.rachelhowfield.net)
For one night only, this new work, made specially for Light Night, offers a playful look at the notion that ‘you are what you wear’.
Satisfy your voyeuristic tendencies, and spend some time loitering on the street to watch video projections or peeking into changing cubicles to see an intriguing installation.
Drop in any time between 5pm and 9pm on 9th October 2009 – Ace Clothing, Boar Lane, Leeds
