hello world. andrew here from the meanwhile space in derby, a part of the on going work by eaststreet projects in derby.
before we get too far into the project a quick mention of how a meanwhile space might become let at anytime. that is in fact what happened with our residency and i came into it knowing the time in the space was going to be limited.
i still wanted to make use of the space as for me coming into it at a time when i needed some time to play and reflect about where my practice and i am.
meeting liz and tom in the space last week has set in motion a short period of research. we are in a huge amount of space with limited furniture and limited time.
it’s highlighted for me how unconnected i feel. in time this can change.
to begin with i’ve been struck by the window that over looks the spot – an area of the city centre in derby.
after shooting the impromptu footage i returned with the intention of filming myself looking out at the spot. the result of which is this sketch 17_7_21
i came into this residency in the back of completing a project that had lasted for 4.5 years. as i discussed with tom and liz, the completion of it had left me with many feelings that i have been working through.
my initial reactions to the meanwhile space as it stood on the first day was around the bringing in of stuff. i take a moment to reflect now – i think i made a snap decision to limit the amount of stuff i would take into the space. this decision might well prove to be a difficult one. after all what resources am i going to use to create something ?
i do have to share with you that this summer i do feel very adrift from what my practice is, i live with a feeling of being lost.
despite the difficulties i acknowledge the window and the ability to carry resources in with me has given me a starting point.
i have a connection to a community in york and one arm of that community has a website – a safe space – to express what it is like to be living with multiple complex needs in york at this time. a poem has been published there and i’ve brought the notion of responding in some way to it into the residency. here are a couple of short clips of my reading of the poem and sketch ideas for some visual accompaniment. i’ll be honest with you – it’s not working for me at the moment but had to try it to find that out for myself.
in a short residency it seems important to move through ideas – or at least try out ideas quickly. i have done the sitting and allowing myself to get bores idea that was my very first idea of what to do. it has led me to note somethings to try.
at the back of my mind i’m sitting with how and why i want to work. i’ve shared with the eaststreet team where i am and look forward to going through some sessions to help me.
i am sitting with a feeling that makes me feel quite uncomfortable. that feeling is a teetering one. teetering on the edge of wether i am an artist at all. i have lost sight of what i make for me, what really gets me going. i write that – sat at a solitary table knowing full well that when i’m in the presence of other people my outlook on life is a whole lot different.
something to try in the residency will be to send invitations to connect with groups in derby. my being with others feels an important aspect of what i do. thats at a personal level, what i can try to explore within the residency is how that works in a professional capacity.
so taking the lead from the above image, i’m going to try considering what i’m doing in a different way. i am going to accept that i made a decision to resist taking lots of furniture and resources into the space and this is largely based on i don’t have a well established network in derby with whom i could use this with. i am of course thinking of such activities as a camerados event.
to help me for possible future residencies i am going to begin reaching out to groups in derby and the one in the forefront of my mind is big local allenton. now i’ve written that i can think of another group – i heard of being set up – need to find out if it has made it to fruition.
i’ve enjoyed the mindful near meditative aspect of sitting and looking at the world through the big window. i have an observational work in mind complete with an idea of a timelapse to try.
the residency so far is giving me the opprtunity to consider things, do things and be reflective about it. the reflectiveness is these early days is being a little dark and i acknowledge that. as long as i hold my nerve, keep doing and responding from that doing i think this is going to be a benefical period – at a time when i really do need it.
