So, it’s the last month of the studio space/working access part of my residency. The solo shows of the 4 Muse Gallery a.i.r’s start next month. Mine will be from the 21st Nov-8th Dec.
It’s tough to know whether you’ve interacted with any experience as fully and effectively as you might have wished to, especially when there’s no visible president available; the artists who’ve gone before me re. this position, seem largely invisible.
Certainly the few people I’ve met with in the venue (from all walks of life) I’ve striven to be as open with as feasible. As I’ve already said on here by nature I’m an artist’s garret type, a loner. I can get lost in the world of recorded stories/books which I listen too whilst drawing + the processes of my own thinking. Nevertheless of course I will want as many people as possible to see the exhibition.
Certainly I know now that after drawing imagery from inside myself at home I can then bring it in to be worked upon whilst others are around; and I don’t believe that the end result of this appears mechanical. Besides there must be mechanical aspects as regards the production of any creative work and in themselves they can be engaging and surprising as well as alienating. Sometimes something mechanical helps those who would be engaged to recognise themselves in the process, life is full of necessarily mechanical moments.
Proust described the visual artist as a visual philosopher and it’s important, I believe, that any artist’s audience gain a sense of this whenever possible. If only so that the full spectrum of art’s potential is of evident to as many people as possible. Also that art itself is not limited by outer perceptions/preconceptions of its purpose/ambition. Certainly some of the discussions I’ve had with visitors have seemed to intrigue them and have intrigued me. Now the build up begins for my solo show; hopefully the work itself will speak effectively and with confidence. Thus I begin seriously to seek to encourage interest, to consider gallery representation and to work toward sales. As well, of course, as just keeping on making work!
