Project Me

Supermarket days 3, 4, and +1

It struck me the other morning that I feel similarly about Supermarket to how I feel about the studio association and about my time at Dartington – that I am at home there, that I am a part of the lovely, slightly awkward Supermarket family. I can not imagine not ’doing’ Supermarket. Quite simply I belong there.

Saturday’s Meetings programme went well and I am really pleased that the final meeting was the international Virtual Studio Group – complete with virtual participants – it was a fantastically welcoming, open, and generous gathering. I was invited to join the group and might well do so. I will be seeing them at Juxtapose where they are also participating.

Sunday morning I met with Pam and Cecile from Juxtapose. In a flash of inspiration(?) I remembered that there is a wonderful independent garden centre with a lovely café not too far from the fair venue and not too far from where Pam and Cecile were staying. We met there and some oh-ing and ah-ing at the the plants I was treated to a very nice brunch and we three shared a slice of delicious carrot cake – quite possibly the best that I have had in Sweden. Our conversation was wide ranging, inspiring, and affirming. We talked about our lives, about Supermarket, and about Juxtapose. It made me even more pleased and excited about being part of Juxtapose 2025. I really like how Pam and Cecile are thinking about what Juxtapose could be – the biannual gathering, they are striking the words art fair from the name, is just one aspect of their ambition to support the artist-run scene. I am really pleased to see the development of their critical engagement, and am truly flattered that they are are open with me about their ideas.

Not having meetings on Sunday is so good! It gives me a chance to see the stands – I am pretty much fully occupied with first Forum and then Meetings from the moment that most booths are finished … which is usually only moments before the Forum session beings. So Sunday is the first opportunity for me to see what’s going on. It is also very nice to have time to speak with all the meeting moderators and hosts, to thank them for their meeting and to hear how it was for them.

I also got to speak with both established Supermarket participants and some first timers. I would so dearly love to be able to follow-up on all the invitations to visit artists in Ireland, Tunisia, Istanbul, San Paulo, Mexico, Essex, Canada. I am definitely going to do my best to get to Frankfurt this summer where I will not only get to spend time with some brilliant artists and see their spaces but also celebrate Pride – such a generous invitation!

Day +1 is always a little melancholic. This year the firm that the temporary walls are hired from arrived super early and by the time John and I arrived, after our traditional ’posh coffee’, the venue bore little trace of what it had been just sixteen hours earlier. Our tasks on Monday are odd: sorting the recycling, rolling up and putting away the banners, de-constructing the information desk, packing up the office. One minute I am carrying a sofa to the loading bay, the next I am carrying a single visitors badge to the small box where we are collecting such things to re.use next year. Mid afternoon I say my goodbyes and head back to Uppsala physically and mentally exhausted … and happy.

Reflecting on the fair I have a great sense of care and generosity, there was general feeling of community … family? I saw a good deal of hugging, and even handshakes were affectionate –often the other hand gently grasping of the upper arm or shoulder. Perhaps this is how things were before Covid (my first year as Meetings Coordinator was 2020 – the year that Supermarket became Super Local so my knowledge of the fair before the pandemic is from another perspective), or … and … perhaps the world political and economic situation is making artists, at least those in the ’always already’ alternative and independent artist-run sector, even more caring and compassionate. It felt hopeful, and that is much needed right now.

Supermarket day 2

Another day of meetings – so many diverse and interesting conversations begin. I really hope that people make connections and find kindred spirits to maintain contact with.

At some point I received feedback that I should mention that I am a practicing artist when I do my briefest of introductions – the point is for the participants to present themselves, I am not a participant as such – so I mentioned it and people really seemed to appreciate it.

The meeting about neuro-difference made me wonder where I am on the autistic spectrum – the proposition was that all creatives are somewehere on the spectrum. Listening to the discussion I certainly recognised some traits though I have never thought of myself as autistic … perhaps when I have time I could learn more about it … and perhaps more about myself.

Supermarket day 1

Yesterday’s meetings (’Meetings’?) went well. Some where a little off topic … or perhaps rather the topic was the catalyst … starting point … for an unexpected direction. The meeting about working at the edges became something more overtly political than the moderator had anticipated. It was an incredibly interesting and thought provoking discussion demonstrating a breadth of realities, intentions, and ambitions of artists working through and across the dimensions both edges and also, implicitly, borders.

Sitting in meetings sets in motions thoughts around Glitter Ball – what and or how might it be … what can it be. Again the intersection of various dimensions shift and sparkle. How could GB organise residencies? Who could we collaborate with? What capacity does GB have? How … where … can GB exist between the concrete and the conceptual?

I am fascinated by the things that others artists are able to conjure … to make real.
What I can make real?

Supermarket day 0

Really enjoyed the Forum event, VIP Opening, and Open Evening. It’s great to see the booth finished and to hear the presentations from some of the exhibitors. I kind of wish that my fellow artist/collaborators for Juxtapose were here … mostly to be inspired by the range of approaches adopted by the booth. On the other hand it’s probably good that Glitter Ball finds its own way of doing things.

I have never closed out the opening evening before but somehow I was there until the end. This year I didn’t bring my running shoes so there’s no sense of having to get up and get out early every morning. I’m simply too tired and have too much to do … this morning I submitted my application (?) for the Uppländska salong – the triennial open organised by Uppsala Art Museum and the Uppland Art Association. I have sent the maximum of three works – one tie drape, a woven paper piece, and a wall mounted assemblage. I have the highest hopes for the assemblage being accepted – the tie drape will most likely (hopefully!) be recognised as having been shown in last year’s Spring Exhibition at Liljevalchs, to be honest I included it so as to remind the selectors that I was in that show! The paper weave is probably a bit too much for art association – if you know what you are looking at its not that hard to see glimpses of penis … and the materials listed includes ’vintage gay pornographic magazine’ … on the other hand the museum and guest curator might convince the association to include something queer.* The assemblage has, I think, the best chance of being selected – it’s whimsical, simple, thought provoking, and modest in size. Giving it the title ’poodle’ in parenthesis makes is accessible and playful. I would be delighted if it is accepted.

* I am very interested to see the exhibition, whether I am selected or not, to see how diverse a range of artists are included – I certainly have the impression that the majority of artists in Uppland are heterosexual and white, and that the majority of those working in the arts and sitting on boards of art associations are also heterosexual and white, and that they don’t know what to do with anything outside of their own sphere of experience – I am more than happy to be proved wrong!

Supermarket day -1

Nice calm day for me. A few more registrations for the Meetings – a couple are nearly full, others have yet to attract a registration. I don’t got around the booths and ask about interest in Meetings while the exhibitors are setting up – they have more than enough to be getting on with!

My visit to the charity shop to borrow some more chairs and a coffee table was fruitless. They don’t have sufficient stock to loan out more than the three sofas that were borrowed over the weekend. So the Meeting Room won’t be as cosy and eclectic as I had hoped.

I am both looking forward to and a little nervous about sitting on with every meeting. I am sure that after the first meeting it will feel natural and make sense. My ambition is to take care of the the ’housework’ – making it easier for the moderator/host to focus on the discussion.

It is amazing how quickly the time passes here. I can’t claim that it was a particularly productive day but things have been done, conversations had … and that is what it’s about.