Oval House prize

Now that I have nearly finished the grant application for ‘jography’ I realise that it has helped me to feel that it will happen even if I don’t get funding due to the momentum of the planning that is necessary just to fill the form. Also the form prompts you to think about other possible sources of money, local authorities, sports organisations and venues themselves. And even in difficult times support in kind can make a big difference to whether or not a project goes ahead. I have today made some images for the application with Steve, as I have learnt that having a strong image early on helps with being able to describe the piece and to sense the possible needs and shortcomings in your plans.

Today I have been trying to integrate running and art on a daily basis, so I have been on a run along the Thames from V22. I picked a great time as the dusk came on as I rounded the bend in the river at Rotherhithe, the full moon rose and hung above Canary Wharf for the remainder of my progress to Greenland dock and back to Southwark park and the studio. Two foxes like silent sleuths parted as I entered the park staying close to the food they had discovered while keeping an eye on me. I count that a good day.

It seems that my performance went down well with both the audience and staff at the Ovalhouse. I was praised on how I adapted my performance and preparation to the multi- user environment of the cafe area. It was good to have been able to be self motivated and not to need much support, other than in the press and publicity area. This somewhere I need to be more confident and proactive. I know I have a tendency to have doubts near to the realisation of work and shy away from seeking publicity, this is not good timing. With a look to the future Michael and I hatched out a plan and a name for my next performance ‘Jography’ examining the opposition of running and drawing. Hopefully in 2012 as the Olympic organisers try to combine art and sport it will be topical. It is a new and exacting experience to be filling in a grant application to the Arts Council, but it has helped me to make my plans more concrete.

All my performances of ‘007 v John Ridley’ at the Ovalhouse are over and as is usual after a big project, my body and mind are a little jaded. I had promised myself to do less running whilst I was performing, to leave me more energy, but of course I overdid it and I have a slight cold now. The reception was great, even on the quiet days people responded to my special secret messages, typing, Bond like forays into the cafe area and viewed my drawings and statement. Having a guaranteed audience of people coming to see the play and me at the Ovalhouse was a great relief, no pressure on supplying an audience every night. But I was pleased with how many did come on my private view night. As a play relies so heavily on it’s reviews, the press night was also very busy and a real buzz was apparent in the air. This taught me a valuable lesson, to be more pro active in the pursuit of press coverage.

The first night was not so easy and it was noticed that I had relaxed and improved by the third night. I was pleased to have done five performances as I changed the actions I performed and modified my pace according to the conditions each night. The accompanying drawings and explanation I think in the end did help viewers to get more out of the work, without over explaining and closing the work down. I have a final meeting with Michael Atavar tomorrow, so fingers crossed for the post -mortem and the future.

So now it is only a day till the first performance and I am heading over to the Oval house with the first of my props when I finish this blog. This morning I remembered (a bit too late) to contact the South London Press about ‘007 v John Ridley’ and just in time to make some A5 flyer’s to put out on the tables at the venue. I have been added to the Oval House website and the details have been finalised. There is no more rehearsal time and the art work has to go up as agreed to show some of my ‘process’.

This perhaps more than the actual performance is difficult for me. I am not sure if my drawings and lists will be seen as records of process or final artwork. Strange how the whole point of the prize is sidelined by exhibiting 2D art, something I have done 100 times before.

There has been some synchronicity, I found that on Ebay you can buy a ‘James Bond’ platinum lighter (£1,225) that has the name DuPont attached to it. This was the name of my fathers employer at the time of my confusion as to his real occupation, spy or sales manager.