Mum died peacefully at home on Monday. I have to borrow words to say how I feel, but nothing articulates how much it hurts. She was a devoted mum and grandmother and I already miss her.
Since she was diagnosed with cancer for the 3rd tiime last November. I have been out of the swim – I literally dropped everything. I've never been a multi-tasker, so I knew I had to concentrate on mum. I'm glad I did.
Meanwhile back at the studios the support has been amazing. The artists have quietly got on with managing day-to-day affairs, allowing me time and space for a very private journey.
Whilst I have not been around, seeds sown in the early days of HMS have borne fruit. I learned today I have been nominated for memebership on a Art and Design Industrial Liaison Committee. My work has also been selected for a curated show in Bracknell. So all the graft is being recognised when I least expected it.
I'm worried. I have become disconnected from my own practice and I'm bothered that HMS will disappear off the radar. Mum has deteriorated rapidly this week and I need to support her.
We have two industrial heaters at the studio which are maintained by the Factory Company. One of them hasn't been working properly since Dec when I reported the problem. Fortunately the artists have been patient, but we could have done without it.
A group of HMS artists are taking part in a Derbyshire wide open studios in May. It means the Erewash will be represented this year. Whilst I'm not taking part it is nice for others to take the initiative.
Harrington Mill Studio Group bank account has also been set up and I won't even be a signatory. This is healthy and the first step to forming a charity or a CIC.
Perhaps I'm not as worried after all :)
I'm pleased to be starting a shiny new year. The tail-end of 2008 was pants. It started with the dog incident in September and ended with a series of unfortunate events. My mum is still seriously ill and I spent a chunk of Boxing Day at A&E. (I have just seen the nurse to have the wound dressed). My computer was spectacularly damaged last week so I am blogging with a go-faster machine. Not all bad news – the insurers coughed up and I had backed up most of my stuff a few weeks ago.
My lack of input at the studios means HMS has gone beige. I am not disappointed. I don't think it was humanly possible to continue at that pace. The good thing is that HMS is full and viable and can tick along without a huge imput. The bad news is I haven't been able to get in much to make work. But despite everything I feel positive… which is always good :)
More bad news… some of the most established studios in Nottingham look like closing. I was a member of Oldknows Studio Group for many years and I understand the group cannot renew their existing lease.
The landlord needs to upgrade the listed building. These improvements are expensive and significant rent increases are the pipeline. I also understand the units will be smaller. As an artist and studio provider (who also needs to balance the books) I can see the issues from both perspectives: the landlord needs to finance an upgrade which the artists can't afford to pay.
I will always be indebted to Oldknows which provided a model for HMS. In particular, I liked the open plan lay-out, the informal mentoring and the open studio events – good reasons for investing bucket loads of time into HMS.
I am gutted. Southwell Artspace is closing. 6 artists will be 'homeless' and Southwell will lose a jewel of a gallery. The usual story – not enough funding. I will miss the exciting exhibitions, the lovely people who run it and the artists too
Various people have asked me how I intend to develop HMS… as if I have ambitions to become a chain. This is a compliment I suppose, but BIG is soo last decade. My ambition is to remain sef-sufficient – only relying on funding for icing on the cake. The thought of setting up more spaces does not fill me with joy.
Those who encourage me to expand think my motivation for doing so might be financial gain. HA HA HA!
