Everyone I have met in the States to date has been most welcoming apart from the over officious customs officers. I am comfortably settled into a very spacious apartment called The Loft which is right next door to the Redhouse Arts Centre. I have spent today finding my way around Syracuse on foot – through several inches of snow – and also saw the exhibition. It looks different here – much smaller and more compact. The Inishlacken spirit shines out from the works – one is reminded of the island so vividly at every glance. Tomorrow is a radio interview and then a gallery talk to the public followed on Friday by the lecture at SUNY (State University of New York). I am looking forward to the latter very much – it will be interesting to see how the HE system works over here in comparison to England. The image with this post is the view from the window of the Loft.
Off tomorrow very early to the States. Everything is pretty much ready and I am keen to get going. Wondering what the work will look like in another culture and how the Americans will react to it.
Coincidentally the inauguration of Barrack Obama is the day I arrive in Syracuse so I imagine everyone there will have their mind occupied
Trying to clear up so many things before leaving… its a bit hectic.
Next blog from the USA.
Working today on finalising the arrangements for my forthcoming trip to America for the opening of the show in Redhouse Arts Centre. It will be held in the Joan Lukas Rothenberg Gallery and is titled Inishlacken; the last parish. 23 artists are exhibiting, each selected from the last years' residencies on the island.
The flights are booked – tickets arrived in the post today – and I am about to confirm accommodation bookings. I have almost finished writing the lecture that I will deliver to students at State University of New York (SUNY) and burnt several extra copies of the four films that are included in the show.
I plan to spend the first four days in Syracuse, where Redhouse is situated, and then travel to New York to spend three days exploring somewhere I have not visited before. This part of the trip will be with Rosie and we intend to take in some galleries whilst in the BIG APPLE.
Three images for you to view here – one of dear Inishlacken. one taken near my home in Suffolk, England and the third is of New York. They say comparison is odious, so I am happy to settle for difference!
I have just read my last post and, well, I survived! In fact the evening of 100 Greetings in Norwich was unexpectedly mild and my cold abated slightly so all went well. There was a great deal of support from Outpost Gallery – a small crew of supporters and photographers followed me around the designated area of the market, snapping greetings as they went. Haven't got the photos yet, but will post them on the blog when they arrive.
There was a marked difference between the people of Norwich and Liverpool. The famous northern warmth certainly outshone the Norfolk reserve, however this must be understood in the light of the nature of the audience. In Liverpool I was greeting people who had already chosen to visit a gallery and were expecting an 'art experience' – in Norwich people were desperately trying to get their Christmas shopping done and my intervention was either a pleasant diversion or an outright nuisance. The Norfolk responses were markedly polarized. Nevertheless, I made another 38 friends, bringing the total number of greetings to 89 – only 11 left to make the hundred.
Since writing this and my previous post Christmas has come and gone and I have had some good family time. I have also been able to get into the studio which has resulted in some new drawings.
So, belated Happy Christmas and Happy New Year to all Bloggers!
Tomorrow is the second performance of 100 Greetings and I have a cough cold and am shivering. It does not augur well and I admit I am not looking forward to performing in the freezing night air of Norwich. The forecast does not cheer me up – it predicts below zero temperatures so I am pinning my hopes on the warmth of reception I hope to receive from the Norwich community.
I have at least managed to do some applications and much overdue admin work today – backing up all my files and sorting imagery. And have made some strides forward with a project I am planning in collaboration with friend and fellow artist Helen Rousseau. So some new things appearing on the horizon.
If I am still alive I will report back on the second outing of 100 Greetings!
