My studio is such a mess I've had to move into the big shared area to work. I'd get really wound up if the house was that chaotic, yet I'm very comfortable in my own personal disorder.
Anyway – here's the plan so far. I had to write on a big piece of brown paper, ideas jumping from APT and related ideas, to other projects, all within the context of how much time I have in the next 12months and how much i need to earn – trying to find ways to do things that are part of my art practice and have potential for bringing in some money. I don't want to find myself responsible for a project that doesn't interest me in the end, so I need to be clear what does interest me!
I think APT should begin linking people up through an online forum or something similar – the only criteria that you need to be a parent with caring responsibilities and a visual artist. The mini case studies on a-n have triggered a lot of interest so this could be something we expand on. There are the obvious possibilities of developing peer support, strategic advice, peer mentoring, information sharing. The barrier to participation might be that it's yet another 'thing to do online' when we're not blogging, twittering, updating axis, etc. Still – try it and see I reckon.
Ultimately I would like to raise funds for a sort of collaboration/ residency – members would apply to take part. It would take place over an extended period so artists could come and go according to their domestic commitments. Childcare would need to be tailored to each artists needs. I'd really love to revisit the Womanhouse project (feminist art programme, Calfiornia, 1971http://www.womanhouse.refugia.net/ ) – secure a house/flat for a couple of months and collaborate to develop site specific works throughout. There's a virtual womenhouse project, so there may be links to be made there; http://www.cmp.ucr.edu/education/programs/digitalstudio/studio_projects/webworks/womenhouse/default.html
Also potential to link with mothers and fathers collective in czekoslovakia, and I'm going to New York in the aumtum to meet with women artists linked with A.I.R Gallery.
I need to do more research, refine my ideas and assess the level of support for the idea, then look at fund raising, but I am interested in this. I really want to raise awareness of the challenges and inequalities we face, and the important contribution parents make as artists.
Ok. This was supposed to be a computer free studio day, so enough now.
I've been thinking and researching about what it means to be a parent and an artist, and what a collective would be like and what it's for.
Here's a quote from c2c gallery in Prague relating to a show in 2007 entitled 'What Would We Be Without Children' – work by Matky a Otcove/Mothers and Fathers Collective (founded in 2001 by Lenka Klodova and friends – google her if you don't know her work, she's very interesting)
In the permanent flow of daily chores and stress, generated by the family life, earning money and the art production, we tend to muse upon the unjust and undeserved state we are in. Considering this situation we think that we surely haven’t chosen it by our free will and so we wonder about the existence of a variety of alternatives determined by our better choices.
This exhibition is a sculptural visualization of one aspect of the problem. http://www.c2c.cz/?id=2078
Also – Susan Jones suggested a good name for the collective – APT = Artists Parents Talking. What do you all think? I'd also welcome any suggestions about how we might start communicating – an online forum perhaps, or other type of online group?
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Well! I have to admit I don't know where to start. I was going to talk about the incredibly interesting conversation I had recently with Valerie Bryson (google her – she's a feminist political theorist). She sent me her paper on time-use studies which is fascinating, and I'm chuffed to bits because she's agreed to write something for my artists book.
But now, I'm preoccupied by Andrew Bryants comment below, and can't quite focus. 'why have children?' I just don't know how to answer this – it seems a very intimate thing to ask, and although I suspect Andrew is posing it as a philosophical enquiry, I can only think of very personal responses, (not all of which are polite! I wonder if his friend told him to mind his own business before that conversation ended?)
I think the word 'selfish' may be part of the irritant, as I suspect that most parents will argue that parenting is rooted in self sacrifice and generosity to another person, whereas non-parents are inherently selfish as they can choose when – and when not – to put others first.
I should also qualify my slightly prickly first reaction, by saying I'm not in the least offended by the question, which is one well worth asking. Not one I can answer here though. Except to say that all of the happiest moments of my life have involved my children, and as they get older I love asking their opinions -refreshing insight, lateral and flexible thinking and honesty that is worth more than most adults I meet.
I've got plenty to say, but now I've actually sat down at the computer I really can't be bothered. It's been a long week, and I've worked on the computer all day.
Here's a rubbish joke instead.
How many artists does it take to change a light bulb? 10. 1 to change it and 9 other to reassure her that it looks good.
Here's another if you think you can take it.
How many gallery visitors does it take to change a light bulb? 2. one to do it, and one to say, 'huh my four year old could have done that'.
ps. Partner wants me to make it clear that if the 'him/her' blog happened to based on our conversation, that he didn't say that stuff about trainer loads, if he did it was slip of the tongue, and can I please change it because it makes him look like he's not very funny, when in reality he is hilariously witty.
humour is a very personal thing.
I've got an idea niggling away at me about setting up a collective / network for artists who are parents, with a view to organising a gathering of some sort (with childcare obviously) – some combination of a seminar / residency / peer network /meeting / exhibition /guest speakers/debate/ gallery visits / space for thought type of thing… might be something to talk to NAN about…
