From June to here…
Since finishing up and graduating from university a few things have happened.
One: I had an exhibition at Gallery North, Newcastle. This was part of the Woon Foundation Painting and Sculpture Prize – I received a judges’ discretionary prize.
Two: I worked a fair bit – non student life=more expensive
Three: I applied and was accepted as a key member to a new artist collective 2|1|4|1; we just had our first annual members’ show.
Four: I had got some money in a bursary before leaving university and have used this towards a residency which I applied for in Iceland – which is where I am now . . .
The difference between student life and life as a practicing artist after graduation is, needless to say, vastly different. It is clear that to have any kind of sustainable practice, it requires not just the means to do so, but the strong willpower and determination to continue doing something which is indeed rewarding but can also be daunting and equally frustrating.
The reason I applied to be part of the collective 2|1|4|1, was that the manifesto seemed to be about the things I am concerned about – the need for wider interaction with peers, possibilities to collaborate, contribute and to help with the time between graduation and a sustained and developed professional practice.
Already just being part of this wider network has opened my eyes to a number of things and I feel and hope it will be a two way thing about what I can get out of and put into the collective. We are a group of hard working focussed individuals which will be the key to the collectives’ success.
I was fortunate to find a residency with space in September which I was successful in applying to. It seems as if these kinds of things are really competitive, and not just the opportunities with funding. I am aware that is one area of my practice which needs attention. There is a special language and way of applying for these kinds of things and it is something which I need to get better at.
For now though, to Iceland. After spending a few days in Reykjavik, I have now been at the residency space for almost one week. Just getting here was something special. There was two ways to come, and I chose the quickest by flying. However, the bus to the town I am staying in took almost as long as the flight, with me the only passenger on the three times daily bus up and along the coast, through a tunnel and out into the fjord.
It is a fantastic contrast to daily life being here, without so many of the distractions of city life (internet aside), the little village settled in between huge mountains and the fjord. Being here for just one month has made me acutely aware of how short and long a time that is. The need to make the most of the experience whilst balancing just being is important to me.
However, I am disappointed that I didn´t take the time before to plan what I intended to do here, or to have an idea of outcome. On the other hand, sometimes being away and having a concentrated period of time for ones practice is enough to make planning irrelevant and perhaps unnecessary, it is something which will naturally come out of being here and working.
So far, the realities of living here and daily life have been picked up and I have already made a number of visual records both in sketchbook and camera. I have explored some of the area around by running through it, walking around and looking. For me it’s important to document to experience in a number of ways to be able to further develop the material later or back home when the residency is finished. I originally thought to just do a lot of research material but I would really like to use the time to develop some ideas I already have into something more resolved before I return.
