The estate is grim, and i often leave there at the end of the day feeling exhausted both by the hard work and the building itself. Its filthy, every day the lift stinks of urine and if i choose to take the stairs I’m greeted by a pile of week old vomit…nice alternative to pee sometimes! Just the other day however I was greeted by a pleasant surprise.
I made a visit to my next door flat and was stunned, it was like stepping into a palace!(perhaps the contrast with its surroundings elevates its grandeur) but this flat was immaculate. Every inch of it was cared for and this even though its a small thing, stood out like a sore thumb and gave me hope!
Its sad that the communal areas of this state are so filthy but what makes more of an impression on me is that someone living in this place would make such an effort to create a beautiful place to live. Feels a bit like a beam of sunshine in the grottiest most miserable place.
Come visit and you will understand!
http://www.marketestateproject.com/
Its been another busy week and after a few days where i felt like i was banging my head against a brick wall I finally felt like i could see what I wanted. That doesnt really make working out how to get there much easier, but it certainly helps to have a sense of direction.
I had a few friends come and help out a little and that made a world of difference. Handing over even some of the smaller jobs allows a bit more space to focus on the main task at hand. I had a small production line going and felt a warm glow of pride at all their fine work and willingness to help!
The second phase is harder than the first and this week has all been prep for the big stuff. I feel like I’ve still got to really bite the bullet and dive in with the new section of instalation and I hope I have the courage to do that tomorrow!
Another day on site and I have almost completed the first phase of the installation.
No matter how much planning i do there will always be something that doesnt happen quite right. I secretly enjoy the challenge that sets me. The frustration of something not quite working and then the intense focus required to make it succeed.
I feel like I have been waiting the past 6 months for something like this to give me that sense of focus. Deadlines are great for focusing your mind intently.
I feel as though I am completely alert, ready to problem solve and step up to the challenge of the task i’ve set myself. It will work but will take a lot of effort to get there.
Tomorrow I may not have this optimism the cold does wear you down afte a while.
All my materials are in the flat and I have begun the preparation of the first section of the wall. carefully peeling back the wonderfully dated wallpaper and beginning to chip away at the surface.
The excitement of whats to come battles against the freezing cold and all work grinds to a stop as my hands become numb and the light begins to fade.
This week there are more artists on site and its exciting to meet them all and hear about their projects.
The organisers are also very enthusiastic and happy to see that after all the hard months of prep the creativity is growing!
The project at the Market Estate is beginning to get underway and even with a month still to go before the opening there is already excitement in the air!
Higgins, the contracting company, is sponsoring the event and has agreed to donate some scrap materials to some of the artists. So the other day I spent a good few hours scavenging bits of wood and tubing from the local building site.
With enough materials gathered and still not a penny spent, I got to see my space for the first time. As it was quite a spectacular day the flat seemed surprisingly inviting with light streaming in through every window. It’s an odd space however and it feels strange to sit in a home that has only very recently been vacated. The few things left behind are like ghostly threads to someone’s story. A photograph of a young girl, yellowed lace curtains, a missing button and a £25 dept on the electricity meter.
A few days later, but this time without the sunshine, I spent some hours drawing in the space. Working out ideas for the positioning of the sculpture is harder than I expected if i’m going to appease the worries of the councils’ Health and Safety advisors.
