Xymphora have been resident curators for 2 months, but intially only David Steans was physically working in Standing Room. Theo was communicating from Japan, Paul was emailing from Berlin and Hardeep was working in Leeds. They all came together on Thursday with work which related to their new cultures and experiences. The show represented a great energetic and youthful contribution to the event.( I bought a pair of Paul Smith's ink drawings).
The launch on Friday was a bit slow off the mark and I was feeling anxious. After a promising start when a few people arrived early, there was a lull. The mayor was punctual and Flore was performing 'Self-Embroidery'…but where were the guests?
They were stuck on the M1 and Derby Road and the A50.
Anyway, the party got going about 6.45pm and we soon ran out of glasses. And the enormous buffet that Sarah had prepared had disappeared too!
There were so many positive comment about Flore's work and a gallery has invited her to work with their archive collection of photographs. I am so pleased.
From the two open studio events I have also secured a couple of shows, sold work and also had some positive leads for publishing my book. All good.
I moved stuff into my home studio last Friday with only 10 minutes to spare before the rest of Southwell artists arrived for drinks and nibbles. I've been working all hours cleaning, decorating, lugging, moving, staining, typing, drilling etc etc to get the place looking organised and safe. After builders had taken root for several weeks this proved to be a challenge.
It went fantastically well. I have learned a lot being part of a well organised and marketed event. SOS (Southwell Open Studios) charge £3 per person for a weekend ticket and I was dubious in the current climate, whether people would pay. All donations went to the sightsavers charity, but I still wondered whether it would affect attendance.
I don't know how many came, but there was a constant stream all weekend with some serious bulges. I even managed to sell some work… and there are other opportunities which have arisen too.
Now, all is on for our event at HMS this Friday. I managed to dish out loads of invites at SOS so I may see some familiar faces this weekend :) Back to cleaning, drilling, filling………….
I'm OK, the hospital have sgned me off.
The last bits of stair will be fitted tomorrow, just in time for the Southwell Open Studios at the weekend. Then it will be time to focus on HMS open studios next weekend.
David Manley will be showing 'New Paintings' in the Exhibition Space (Nov 6th -29th) so we have to promote that too.
HMS is also doing 'Cheese' for Xmas. We are having a themed Christmas group show, with a party of course. 24 art works will be revealed in the form of an advent calendar on the internet, each day – on the run up to Christmas. We will have a PV and work will be for sale.
I don't really have the time to write this but I had such an extraordinary day yesterday. Sooky, a Korean artist and writer, who had participated in the WLTM event, recently asked me to pen a few words about an up-and-coming photographer who I admired for an article she was writing. I suggested Maggy Milner, who is doing an MA at Derby University. I wasn't sure she fulfilled the criteria as she is an experienced, well respected artist, but her recent show at Pickfords House has been well received (see http://www.metro.co.uk/metrolife/article.html?Milner_reveals_the_casualness_of_war&in_article_id=315510&in_page_id=246)
…and I love her work.
Anyway, Sooky came to see me yesterday with the publication. It is a really glossy beatiful Korean photography magazine 'Photonet'. Maggy hadn't answered her emails and requests for photgraphs for the article…and the deadline was approaching (15th Oct). I realised I need to contact Maggy asap. I called on my way home and she was delighted for the exposure. Phew! Anyway, Sooky also photographed me by work for the same article.
Also, she lives in Long Eaton, after previously living in Sweden for a few years. She was involved wih a studio group there and wondered if HMS might consider some sort of exchange. Wow!
10 days to go and my house is a building site. I have to be realistic: my home will be 'work in progess' when the Southwell Open Studios take place. At least the stairs are well on the way and provide a much better access than the loft ladder.
We are also busy with the other Open Studios at HMS at the end of the month. It's amazing what you can achieve for a tenner. That's how much each artist has contributed towards the event. This will pay for 1100 invites and a 6ft x 2ft banner which we will stick outside the building. The money left over will go in the bank. Bruton Knowles are sponsors and will be paying for the buffet and drinks at the preview evening on the 24th. Erewash Council are sorting a banner for the island just a few hundred yards away, so I am hopeful of a good turn-out.
People have been ringing me for the past 2 days. Apparently, the local news reported that £3,000,000 lottery funding is available to small businesses in Long Eaton, specifically the Lace Mills. Imagine what we could do with some serious money when we can achieve so much on a shoestring?
My appointment for the results is looming next week.
