Busy day!
The great thing is, it’s half term week, so haven’t got to go into work tomorrow, so I can mull things over immediately instead of putting my brain on hold for 48hrs.
Had a short first meeting about final show and catalogue… crikey!
Then a series of student seminars, always the risk of these being a bit patchy, but there but for the grace of God go I, so we listen patiently and clap appreciatively, even though inside occasionally we groan. However, it was interesting to hear one of the speakers talking about anonymous blogging. She has done this since her BA, and is now thinking about “coming out”. She seems scared about this, and guards her anonymity feverishly. I, however, am thinking about starting another blog, elsewhere, under a pseudonym, in order to say all the other stuff I feel too risky to say here. That terrifies me so much I probably won’t do it. I fear the flood gates, once opened, will reveal the madness within, in a way that is uncontrolled, unedited, and not at all respectable.
I suspect that eventually I will end up doing some sort of performance, as some sort of alternative persona. I can see the merits, but can also see the perils. I don’t think I’m ready for it yet. But thinking about it is a useful exercise that gives me a certain insight. I shall start with the removal of personal pronouns, and see where that takes me first. Baby steps.
Had a post-assessment tutorial, very useful. Thought about my development as an artist over last 5 yrs, and the direction that my work might go in from here. Onwards and upwards hopefully!
Earlier in the week, Julie Dodd sent me a link to the work of artist Miriam Schaer who has embroidered text onto baby dresses. At first I was thinking that this was similar to my work, but it is not. Any more than an artist that puts paint onto canvas with brushes is like any other artist that uses the same material process. The technique is not the same, the message is not the same, the aesthetic is not the same. It just interested me that we fell into the trap of thinking that it might be, when we wouldn’t do it with 2 painters.
http://handeyemagazine.com/content/baby-not-board
I found myself thinking I had more in common with the designer of a Morrison’s babygro who emblazoned “Help I’m being kidnapped these are not my real parents” onto the garment. The Sun and various child protection organisations are in uproar. I don’t think I’d put my baby in it, but if it was in a gallery, I would find myself considering it very seriously, but would also see it as something that had humour.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4108037/…
Am I just a bit sick?