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.
