In the event, I think the Triptych symposium went rather well. This was in part helped by Anna Green's calm questioning and a strange comfort that I was able to draw from the drawings on the wall. We stood either side of the three wall mounted pieces to deliver our dialogue, referring to each as we progressed through a series of points and quotes.
Over time I have realised that the only way to progress is to challenge oneself, however uncomfortable it may seem at the time. I listened to the radio the other day and heard a voice proclaiming that without tackling challenges head on there is potential for a growing sense of self doubt. Left unchecked, this can become totally limiting.Hopefully the symposim will keep my doubt at bay for a while at least.
American ramifications continue as I am starting to prepare a proposal requested by the Redhouse Gallery. There are several stories around the sighting of a redhouse ghost and I have been asked to suggest some ideas for a semi permanent work based around this subject. The Redhouse building is three stories high and has some interesting nooks and crannies so there's plenty of opportunity for some artistic apparitions. I'll keep you posted on developments
It has slowly been filtering into my mind that I should be more disciplined in my approach to life and in particular my art practice. Making decisions driven by research interests and artistic integrity seem so difficult to make sometimes when the nagging voice reminds me that I need to do a shop at Sainsbury's or the builders need paying.
For the past few years, in effect I have combined several practices – a community one, a visual arts and performance practice and a teaching role. Of course portfolio careers are the norm for a large majority of artists but there are times when a purity of direction is longed for. Even when it is in ones own hands to direct things in that way it seems interminably hard to actually DO IT.
Enough of my ranting… heard Rosie on the radio today – Galway FM taking about the Redhouse show – it was good and it seems the exhibition continues to draw in a good number of visitors.
I am concerned right now about getting ready for a show in Norwich that opens on Monday 16th Feb. It is called Triptych and is a project initiated and maintained by several HE's – Norwich University College of the Arts, Dublin University, Loughborough and more. The show is based around drawing and will include a seminar on the Thursday (19th) with several of the artists in the show speaking about their work and research. I will be speaking with the theorist Anna Green and we will discuss and converse around my drawings and her reading of them within a framework of theorists such as Freud, de Certau and others.
I am mildly apprehensive and wish I were better read.
I am not sure why but it seems difficult to write today. The US has been compartmentalized already into the memory section of my brain so the events of the past few days have got jumbled up.
The lecture at SUNY Cortland went well – lecturers and students attended plus the public . There were some good questions and some of the students had looked at my website in advance of the lecture which brought some thoughtful comments forward.
Just before leaving Syracuse I was given a copy of the radio interview on disk and learnt that the gallery would like to purchase the four Inishlacken videos for their collection. Very useful to have some extra dollars to use in New York.
Caught a flight from Syracuse to New York so yet more security checks . Finally arrived at the hotel/hostel where I had booked a bed in the 'Fabuloso' room – shared with five other people and with fresh bed linen and a towel. This was an upgrade from the Auberge option – 10 people and no towel! I was quite taken by the hotel website and the fact that they have an artist residency programme but not really prepared fully for the implications of a hostel room…
