Tons of stuff going on. The curator of Mother/Mother, jennifer wroblewski, has put me in touch with two fascinating women – Sharon Thomas is an artist based in Scotland and also taking part in the show. myrel chernick is a curator, currently working on a book – check out http://www.myrelchernick.com/maternalmetaphors. I’m filming at ACE Clothes in Leeds this afternoon to gather footage for my installation ‘inside out’. I’m researching artists who are mothers for a curatorial proposal – some inspiring role models are coming to light. Might help challenge ignorant assumptions about what sort of art mothers make. Got a meeting booked at ACE to talk about APT-Artists Parents Talking. A load of new schools to work with as a creative agent. And my heads still spinning after an afternoon discussion at The Brunei Gallery in London with a group of anthropologists, curators, art historians. No wonder I’m not sleeping well!
me: look – all you have to do is stand in the changing room, with your jeans round your ankles for 10 minutes while I take some photos
older daughter: muuum. you are SO embarassing.
me: I’ll buy you a milk shake. Think of it like work placement – artist’s assistant.
older daughter: I do not want to be an artist mum.
me: Go on – it will be fun – a day out together.
Older daughter:I’ll do it if no-one’s looking. If anyone comes in the shop, don’t talk to me.
me: deal.
older daughter: humph
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
