This week I am off work and preparing for my next performance at Gallery Jangva in Helsinki, Finland. I go in two weeks time and with a lot of personal stuff going on in my life I am struggling to get the simplest things done. My biggest challenges have been organising my travel as Easy Jet no longer fly from Manchester to Helsinki. I have now got this sorted although it is costing me more money, as I have to fly from London to get the best deal. My next task is to send a life size cardboard cut-out of myself to the gallery. When I originally had the piece made I could have had it constructed to fold down although I didnt like the visible crease across the centre. Now I am regretting not doing this, as it would have made it easier and cheaper to post. After the car not starting this morning and then walking into town with this unusually large object the post office then inform me that it is too big to post. I was furious, as I had been to the post office the previous week to get a quote with the specific dimensions, which at the time seemed possible to send. I guess one out of two isn’t bad and I am considering folding the cardboard cut-out myself just to get it out there. Hindsight is great although I never thought I would be taking Miss Eventé abroad. When I arrive in Helsinki the next day myself and Anna will be going to her summerhouse out in the forest. We plan to make some work together although it’s hard to think what without actually being there. I want to promote my performance and the event at Gallery Jangva and I am thinking of ideas for different mini public performances.
Walk the streets with cardboard cut-out
Try and recreate pose in the same costume
Music plays as I walk/dance (music on mobile)
Hand out gift bags with show details
Direction cards of scenery, which is not there
Rehearse/mark out performance in silence in busy public spaces with notice advertising dates of actual performance
I had an opportunity at work to contribute to the team meeting and give a short presentation. My section of the presentation was about the brand, overcoming objectives, key words, and key service. For me the first thing I always think of is that I don’t want people to be bored and for the team to go away with at least one thing which I decided would be the message ‘WE ARE THE BRAND’. Last week as I was preparing for it I just thought it was extra work to do, however the more I was putting into the presentation I thought this was an opportunity to record and reflect on this work being a type of everyday ‘performance’. Although on this occasion I was playing myself instead of an invented character. To keep the presentation interesting I wanted the first activity to be interactive and to get the key message across as early as possible. I asked the group a question:
When you walk into the store what do you think best represents the brand?
I wanted the group to really think beyond the bags and the dog and start thinking about us, the team as best representing the brand. The responses were as expected such as the dog, the look of the store, the bags, and British design. Although there was one person who gave me the answer I was looking for, so gold star for them. At the end of the activity I could then introduce the idea that ‘WE ARE THE BRAND’ and we reflect this in the way we meet and greet people, be knowledgeable about the product and serve the customer. The dog is a big part of our branding and I used the bags to show how the logo has changed and is uniquely designed to each bag. To continue some interactivity I hid an image of the leather dog tag that read ‘Missing Dog’ and asked my colleague to grab the bag for me, see what was inside and show it to the group. I thought this would be a different way of introducing this section. Some of our customers are still very attached to the older leather style dog tag. However, we can still overcome this objective by offering one and sell that bag.
Key service is always meeting and greeting the customer and informing them that all the bags come in all sizes and all the colours. This sounds like such a simple statement, however if we do not tell the customer this they leave assuming we didn’t have the shape/colour bag they were looking for, sale lost. Generally customers appreciate being given this information as it helps them make an informed choice. If a customer needs more help it is up to us to ask open questions to find out exactly what they are looking for. At the end of the presentation I then stated to the group that I really wanted them to take away this message, then I took my top off revealing a white t-shirt, which read:
WE ARE THE BRAND WOOF
Post Open Studio went well although I was a little disappointed with the turn out. For me it was a good opportunity to have a space and try something I might not of had the confidence to propose to do anywhere else. This was one of the rare occasions that I showed video documentation from three performances Departures, The Evente and Emergency Balloon Drop. In the damp, dark studio I hung up the outfits from each performance and showed a sculptural piece. I bought some outdoor colourful lights and my intention was to create a doorway shape and place a sign that reads: Take a trip to the stars; please ask at the information desk for more details. However when I actually opened up the box of lights I liked how they were displayed and decided to keep them so and placed the sign on the inside top lid. I got positive feedback and people seemed to take the time to watch the videos. One person said that he felt more comfortable watching the video although could appreciate the uncomfortable nature of the performance. He commented further that he would not know how to take it if he was actually at the live performance. For me I love that in a live situation the audience are not sure how to feel about what they are seeing. Although I am happy to discover that video can offer a little distance between the work and the spectator which allows a space for people to reflect on the work. This has got me thinking about using more video documentation with objects and re-performing actions. Another visitor who is familiar with my practice kept getting confused with what she had seen on YouTube or in actual person. She said she felt that she was really there at a performance when in fact she was not.
Feeling a little pissed off with myself for not writing my blog until now. I have been working full time in the shop for the past two weeks, which has left me little time to think/make/do my work. We had a meeting last week at the studio to discuss our open studio exhibition, which I really struggled with. I find it difficult to be around lots of artists, feeling tired and a bit down on my own work. To keep my practice going requires a certain energy that I am lacking with doing extra hours in the shop. For the first time in a long time I am questioning carrying on with my work. Does it really matter if one artist stopped their practice? I am feeling inadequate right now, and I feel bad for not having more to show. Most of the artists in the studios make tangible, art objects unlike myself and I cant help but feel like I’m doing something wrong in my practice, although I don’t know any other way of working. The studio for me has been a clean, focused thinking space not for the public to come and have a gawp at me. After my brief freak out I considered showing in other spaces and decided to use the basement currently occupied by a photographer. In the studio it has a large hanging roll of photographic backing paper and floor lights which looks like a mini film set. I was originally going to show one video although after re-visiting the space I think it needs more. My plan is to show three videos of performance documentation and hang up the performance wardrobe from each piece. I like the juxtaposition of the video documentation and clothes hanging in the damp, dark, dead space.
Open Studio, Mirabel Studios
Saturday 9th July 3-8pm & Sunday 10th July 12-5pm
14-20 Mirabel Street, Manchester M3 1PJ
www.mirabelstudios.co.uk
