moving on….

'Pigeon Story' is now installed and complete. The location until the end of December is 'Pigeon Hole', in Leominster, Herefordshire. A project curated by Anna Falcini (see her blog).

I am thrilled with the result, the installation went smoothly and seemed to naturally fit the space. I am proud to have my own solo (if micro) show at Pigeon Hole. I have found the whole process to be both positive and interesting, especially to share ideas and collaborate with another Artist turned curator.

As I mentioned in a previous post an exciting extention of the project for me is to have unexpected/unexpecting viewers. Anna has told me of people peeking in and reported of a written response she has recieved and is forwarding to me. Rather appropriate I feel as my new body of work is very much going to remain with the notion of sending and recieving…..

There is something very strange about some things you take part in being very blogable and others being not so much so. I have found it very difficult during this time of preparing work for 'Pigeon Hole' to find things to blog about. It has very much been a case of organising and reorganising work until I am happy that there is sufficient to tell the pigeon's story which incidentally is what I've decided to call the work because that is exactly what it is a 'Pigeon Story'.

I met up with Anna Falcini today at her project 'Pigeon Hole', in Leominster, to install the work. The space itself is wonderful and seems to naturally invite lookers in. The act of placing and positioning the work is quite different to the use of a gallery wall. I very much like the way that the whole act is on view, from me installing it, changing and tweeking it to the finished project being on view for passers by to glance at or take more notice of as they choose. There is no ideal captive audience as the work will very much be there for all to see.

It seems an age since I last left a post. Things are moving along slowly but surely. The frames are complete and look beautifully uniform and the images of the pigeon story are in the process of being selected. I initially anticipated using sixteen but am now narrowing down to ten as I don't want to over tell the tale. The nice thing about working from my studio space is that I can walk away from my selection and view again with fresh eyes on my return, make a few tweeks and start the refining process again. Time as always is precious as I seem to find myself working on different projects either personal or otherwise, Home of Metal is one that I am currently a volunteer for. The website is due to be launched this Saturday which is also the first of the events at Wolverhampton Art Gallery 10am-4.30pm. I will make the site name known if anyone is interested in a peek…..

Why is it that all the 'small' jobs seem to take so long to do? In preparation for the pigeon's epic story to be told I have spent what seems like hours (and probably is) preparing sixteen small frames. Tenderly sanding and then painting white with a beautiful farrow and ball emulsion. Coat number three may happen tomorrow after an in between sanding. I do begin to wonder if I become slightly transfixed with an end feeling of possible perfection in appearance…..

It is not in fact the frame that is the important factor but rather the content of which I am working on. Maybe the obsessive rendering is the cathartic bit that makes the brain cogs work to produce the content?

Over the last few days I have been imagining how my pigeons will look in the small shopfront, how they are going to appear to onlookers, how, in fact, can they convey the journey they have been on and what it represents? Added to the fact that I imagine the shop front to hold a rather 'bagpuss', come and claim me now I am fixed air with the inhabitants coming alive when no-one is looking and doing good, creates a rather interesting concept.

I have decided to use some images alongside the pigeons that can hopefully convey their antics and of course the artifacts that the original journeys turned up.

The whole revisiting of the work is proving to be rather interesting and is providing a catalyst for ideas and the need and desire for me to work. Just what I needed! I am also beginning (about time) to realise that a day not spent in my studio is not a waste. In essence the good things happen when I have popped into the studio for even the shortest amount of time. Look after the pennies……..