There are too many things in the studio that have been untouched for too long. I want to spend some consolidated time there to take care of this/them.
To this end I wonder if I should apply for an exhibition period at the gallery in the studio building. Having seen how good the most recent shows there have looked I am both inspired and intimidated. It has been a while since I had a solo exhibition and the challenge might be exactly what I need to make me prioritise and focus on my own work. The gallery is not quite a traditional white cube as one wall is entirely glazed and looks out over a major dual carriage way and elevated train lines towards a large industrial area nor, however, is it somewhere that presents immediate stimulus for creating something site-specific. It is interesting to begin to think about how I might respond to this space, to this possibility.
As a member of the group that works with the gallery bookings it feels odd to consider booking it for myself. On the other hand I am a member of the group because I am interested in having a dynamic and interesting programme of exhibitions and activities. Perhaps my sense of awkwardness steams from a concern that I might not achieve my own ambitions for what a good exhibition should be. Booking a period in April would give me six months to figure out what to do.
Another option would be to invite another artist to show with me and to present a two person show. Who would I like to show with? Or perhaps more interestingly who do I think might want to show with me? Already this questions makes me very aware that I feel out of touch with my potential peer group. Do I have the nerve to contact a more established artist and ask if they are interested or if they might lend a work? If I open up that possibility then who might I choose to approach? If nothing else this is certainly an interesting exercise!
Yesterday I was on an artist’s/architect’s walk as part of the course that I am doing at Mejan Arc. It reminded me of being a collaborator in Nic Sandiland’s Ambler project ‘Frozen Progress’, thirteen years ago. During the devising process we walked due north for eight hours guided by tiny compasses – the kind from inexpensive Christmas crackers. We did this exercise twice, once starting from the Royal Geographic Society in west London, and a second time from a site in north England selected by throwing a dart at a map of the UK. Remembering these and other experiences from that project is giving me clues about how I might develop my work for the course.
