Post Grad, Pre Artist?

The second half of this weekend.

Off to Southend on Sea to set up the books from my Degree Show into the CoExist Gallery space.

5 hours of driving straight after the full day at Sheffield was pretty exhausting.

Julie had already arrived and was setting up her work, Met Amy McKenny and identified the space I could use, fabulous building and they have done wonders with it in such a short space of time.

Not having the piano anymore meant the work would have a whole new feel to it, I have retitled it ‘Concerto in C Minor’. Did not want to stay with the ‘avenue’ effect either so we played around a bit until happy.

The piece works really well in the space, perhaps even better than at the Williamson, I think I prefr it without the piano at least.

I like the way the books are on the floor not raised on plinths in some sort of monumental manifestation, that suited so well when heading towards the finale of the piano but in the new space they work better down so low. I like that people can now wander through the books, very close, the breeze from their bodies as they pass makes each one flutter slightly, that is exactly what I wanted when I first made the piece.

Julie Dodd’s work also looks great, 50+ books that have so much scope to continue, I can see 100+ at another exhibition space then 200+ somewhere else as if the forest of books is self seeding and growing, defying the odds.

METALs Chalkwell Hall is amazing too, I felt really priviledged to have stayed there. So many beautiful works of art within the house itself and the setting was fantastic, we arrived in darkness so to wake up and see the view over the Thames Estuary out of the icy window was just awe inspiring – sometimes I do wish I could paint landscapes……just now and again.

Wish I could return for the PV on Thursday, got a glimpse at some of the other work in the exhibition and could see the beginnings of a really great show.

Such a busy week last week, it was difficult to find my feet.

Sheffield on Friday and set up for the OutofOffice exhibition in The Electric Works, thanks to Rich Taylor, Annie and Danny for inviting me.

It was a steep learning curve for me this exhibition as the artists were invited to react to the space, I hadn’t been able to get to Sheffield due to work commitments so didn’t know the space, instead I decided to map my journey to the space.

Spent weeks getting the right A-Z pages to match up and then drove (well, as a passenger) the journey. Realised that doodling at 50 miles an hour is very difficult so also stopped periodically to doodle key images along the route.

First journey we got snowed out at Glossop, Snake Pass was well and truly closed.

Second journey was a success though, The Electric Works building was closed at the weekends so I had to make do with peering through windows.

I also took a lot of photographs of the journey and filled the gaps in by drawing some of those images too.

Then I decided 3days before that I needed a 3D element so spent 3 very late nights making tiny model houses and pylons and even a Metropolitan Cathedral out of A-Z pages.

Went to set up with 2 friends, then we had a lovely lunch and wander around the Sheffield Millenium Gallery until the PV.

It was a rally well attended evening, I wasn’t sure how many would turn up, especially as it was in an Office building rather than a gallery but was very pleasantly suprised.

Overheard some really positive comments, loved that people got up very close to check it out and even overheard that someone is planning a charity walk of that route this year…..they will be shattered!!

The other work in the exhibiton was very well curated, I particularly like Tom Railton’s ‘Exercise in Drawing’, very unexpected as you see nothing until quite close up and Railton has outlined pre exisitng shapes that suddenly make you take notice of something that is usually so mundane.

Had to put an adendum to my statement saying:

“Mapping used with the knowledge and permission of Geographers’ A-Z Map

Co Ltd. (c)Crown Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.”

but I don’t mind that at all, I was really grateful to the A-Z people for helping me through the copyright issue. People did comment about it – one person had thought there would be no way I would get permission and was genuinely pleased to hear that they had been so helpful.

I don’t see the point in trying to be sneaky about things, always best to be upfront and ask permission, nothing comes back to bite you on the bottom then :)

Crazy Busy – loving it – I finished the Sheffield artwork, just have to get there tomorrow and set it up, have added a 3D element so it may take a few hours to set up now but I’m sure it will be done in time.

2 Friends coming with me to help out and enjoy the PV.

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Then Saturday driving down to Southend to set up show number 2 – ‘A Set of Odd Volumes’ http://www.coexist.org.uk/

Julie Dodd and her husband have borrowed a van and are driving all my books down for me on Friday – I have such great friends.

All very exciting.

AND… I get to stay in the METAL artists house in Southend which looks amazing.

Last but not least, I have hopefully identified my site for my MA project, an amazing local nature reserve and butterfly park that is under threat of closure. If they can manage to stay open they are really keen for me to work with them and I have so many ideas that could all lead to a really interesting year.

Right 1.30am – very tired after 3 x 2am finishes making A-Z houses and pylons, so I am going to try and sleep Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

I have been a busy bee – trying to sort out work for an exhibition in Sheffield. OutofOffice arts are presenting a group exhibition in The Electric Works, Sheffield and I have been asked to join them which was a big thrill.So as I didn’t know Sheffield at all I thought my piece could be about finding my way there, what I discover en-route. I’ve bought/found a few relevant A-Z books and have mapped my route page by page, doodling as I go. Has been quite an experience, you notice all kinds of things that you might ordinarily just drive past, also the drawings are literally doodles which is far more free than my old illustrating style and very liberating. Moving so fast the doodles have to stay squiggly doodles, some are completely unrecognisable as objects but I really like that – add some secrecy to the project.
Then also I have to try and get my Degree show work down to Southend on Sea (in one piece – well 10 actually but…) for another group exhibition of book art. Very exciting yet stressful as I have to hire a van – more expense but it sounds like such a great exhibition I can’t complain too much. Plus there are two of us going which makes it a bit easier.
Today I was asked to take part in another possible exhibition in the summer in Liverpool and I have made some contacts to aid me in my MA study based in Wirral. It’s all go….

I seem to be too busy to come on here which is disappointing.

Anyway – I have been emailing with the possibility of showing some work into an exhibition in Sheffield and have some ideas that they may be interested in, finalising ideas this week to post off. Quite excited about it.

Off to Bristol tomorrow to the Arnolfini then to an Ixia seminar Thursday – Public Art needs Time Limits, it sounds fascinating and I’m really looking forward to it.

Will be using tomorrow evening to try and work on my presentations for Uni, be good to have some space to myself, no kids to worry about. Just one evening of being able to work without worry.

Oh and I didn’t win the Eco Art prize, not surprised that Ilsa Parry won for her Sworth light, it was lovely and she is a more well known commercial designer, never thought it would go to a graduate for one minute.

The dinner was quite bizarre, a really interesting experience but maybe not for me – all so formal, lots of speeches. Beautiful setting though. The announcement of the winner was a complete mess, the chair announced the wrong winner and she had to go up in front of 500 guests to collect her prize only to be told he’d made a mistake and it was a different winner. It was really dreadful, so glad I didn’t win after that to be completely honest and I truly hope the person involved gets a HUGE apology.