Collaboration1
took form on the night of the preview with the space being used as close to our intentions as it was possible on the Private View Evening 25.06.2010. As is usual with my work I end up right amongst the work taking the role of ‘director’. James Pepper pointed out the differences in the time scales relating to installation/private views etc that we each create our work. Rob Hunt’s decisions are made pre installation within the canvas, The majority of James’ decisions are made during installation within the set up of the work and mine are set up during both periods and then executed as close to the point of viewing as possible.
This variation of stages of creation filter into how the space is used with the ‘collaborative zone’ and how the over all exhibition comes together. Being in the middle of my performance under the disguise of photographer (which was not intentional but obvious that that is who people thought I was) was a fantastic position to be in. I heard honest and unedited reactions to the work and caught all of the discussion that our space prompted and housed. This room for discussion within our collaborative space is very important to us so I was glad to see that our piece ended up being the central gathering point for viewers. Unfortunately the curator of the show had decided that one of our central pieces that pulled the space for discussion together was to be taken out of the show. This piece was a gazebo with 3 chairs in a fantastic viewing point with a small collection of each of our pieces (samples) and some magazines. So we didn’t get to see it in action but we guessed from the response to the rest of our space that it would have worked.
People have been asking me about the benefits of being in a group or why be in a group? and I think usually if something seems like the less easy option it is probably the right one. We all just want to be challenged and to develop our ideas, thinking, working, considering outside of own constructed languages and restrictions.
There was an artist at the show at some point over the last week who made a comment about being uncertain about the decision to work in art gallery straight from finishing art school which if i was quicker off the mark I would have said that I work in an art gallery because I am interested in art and not just my own art. I feel the same is true of being in an art group- if I continued on my own path my influences would stay within my already marked out interests within the art world and I would circulate within the bubble I have created so far amongst the vast art world. Whereas being in a group gives you an immediate link to one or more artists outside of yourself and to make it a success you have to make engaging and communicating a priority. Being engaged is one of the most important things to me.
The experience of our first show together has really brought together what our shared interests are and has prompted our group name, which is now…
This or That Eagle
visit new URL for slide show of collaboration1:
http://thisorthateagle.blogspot.com/
email: [email protected] for futher info.
Background on current reading, theory and orientation of group name coming up…
