Simulacra And Simulations

Our exhibition went well in the end. We received a lot of positive feedback for our work, we inspired a few freshers coming to study in Lincoln, and I feel a sense of achievement now.

The best part was collaborating with Alice Lynch, who I contacted after I saw her blog on Artist’s Talking, and enabling her to exhibit work in Lincoln, which she appreciated. Stamford is a lovely town, I studied there for my A-levels in the days when Jamiroquai was thrown out of Oakham school… but the art scene there lacks a contemporary edge.

The gallery is relatively low cost compared to others, and artists are guaranteed an exhibition, as opposed to all the open submissions, where everyone pays a tenner but with no guarantee your work will be “chosen”. So I’m now going to focus on achieving funding for the group, whilst developing new projects.

My initial inquiries about Johnson Hospital are proving fruitful, so it’s starting to look as though that is a project worth pursuing further.

I received an email from the agent for the “owners” of the building (I use that term loosely ;-) ) interested in my proposal, so my next step will be to get in touch with him, and find out what we can do.

I’m in discussion with Apparatjik’s manager about collaborating with them, which will probably happen in 2013 now, and this requires funding.

I also hope to go to Oslo again some time soon.

Yesterday I wanted to take down work at the gallery, then spend the rest of the day relaxing. But the kids are being demanding, and a mirror was broken. The mirror is in my studio, so it gave me an idea for a new piece of Borges inspired sculpture.

So much has not gone quite to plan lately.

Last minute change of plans mean the show consists of five artists, and none of the people that initially showed their support.

We do have the work of Alice Lynch, and Beth Burr, both of whom are brilliant.

http://lincolnartistnetwork.blogspot.com/

I must stress, i consider myself no curator, but booking the gallery was a way to keep me focussed on creating new work amongst other things, to give me something to aim for, and with a lack of other paid opportunities in Lincoln, I have to do something, or I would never do anything at all.

It was affirming to speak to someone at the private view that knew about Borges.

The boys’ school has changed to an academy, so I’ve had to buy brand new uniform for both of them.

The kids are back at school, and aside from having caught a hideous cold at Grimsthorpe Festival over the Bank Holiday, I’m now getting on with work again. I applied for a couple of events over the months since my exhibition, neither of which were successful, although they have been successful in a way….. I have some very high profile artists that have agreed to come to Lincoln to collaborate with the LAN for the Digital Arts Festival. One of the organisers was quite excited by my proposal, but then told me that “all the artists have been chosen”.

So whilst instead this will now be very exciting for 2013, I’m left back at square one. The Digital Arts Festival will take place in October, and I will keep away from it, because I don’t need people rubbing my face in the fact that I wasn’t as successful as I’d have hoped.

I’ve been in the studio working on new work for “Fictions” exhibition next week at gallery at St. Martin’s. I’ve had a lot of interest from Lincoln based artists for this group show. But more recently I’ve lost motivation again, and ask myself why I don’t seem to get the support I need to get projects going, and why I seem to end up taking on too much for little reward.

I went to London to visit the Serpentine gallery for a research trip, and to attend a private view that ending up costing me far more than I’d like.

Blog: http://helend-blackbird.blogspot.com/

In other news, in my home town there’s an old Victorian hospital standing empty and abandoned, looking like something out of Edward Scissorhands. The hospital is where I was born and where my eldest son was born before a brand shiny new building was built just outside the town centre.

The old hospital was bequeathed to the town back in the days of philanthropy, but I can guess what will happen to it. Faceless developers will claim ownership of it and turn it into housing.

So I wrote to the local newspaper asking for information, and proposing that it would be a good opportunity to develop a body of artwork for an exhibition in the town. They printed this in the letters section, and I’m getting emails from local artists interested in the idea, offering support. So this will be another project I hope will develop into something.