I’ve just spent a bit of time reviewing whose blogs I’ve been reading here and why. The “threads” of my title seems apt. I am drawn to those who have similar thoughts, rather than those who work in similar materials to me, or have similar outcomes. This shouldn’t surprise me.
My thoughts range across the ideas of collaboration, philosophy, isolation, my online presence, and just how to manage being an artist without bankrupting myself.
here’s the list:
(in no particular order)
Jane Boyer – Working in Isolation
Nicola Dale – The Collaborator
Tamarin Norwood – What the Matter is
Julie Dodd – Day to Day Life
Hayley Harrison – Something’s Happening
I notice they are all women.
Is that merely coincidence?
A question… would any of you artists and musicians be interested in retreating to my shed, placed in beautiful surroundings, in order to make art, think, write, play?
This is a general, as well as specific query. At the moment merely market research. I’m interested in your thoughts…
I’m having a small operation on Wednesday. Afterwards I have this vision that I will be able to use my recovery time to catch up on the reading: “Noddy Understands Deleuze” and so on, see earlier post. I also think I’m going to spend Tuesday machining stuff together, so I’m able to sit and hand sew later.
In reality, I suspect I will do little reading, and will probably spend my time doing some hand quilting for fun instead.
I have no will power!
I’d like to ask a question. What’s wrong with obviousness?
The way I work is, I think, akin to play. I have an idea, or find some materials or one thing suggests another. I work with textiles mainly, so I get out the scissors, pins, needle and thread or sewing machine. I then construct things, I might write or embroider some text on a piece of clothing. Recently I embroidered some text I’d written about how I’m feeling a bit ragged lately, and perhaps in need of repair. I stitched it onto a worn out petticoat. I alluded to the underneath-ness of it, covered with a respectable-ness. I quite like it… but it is obvious. I find myself thinking I could be more obtuse. I could make my audience work a little harder perhaps.
But in making one part of an audience work harder, you lose some of the others who are drawn in by the accessibility of the work. I want to keep these people. I like them.
I seem to remember at the beginning of all this I wrote that I would mention the music that I was listening to…
I love to listen to music while I work and think. Music has always inspired me (and musicians themselves more recently). It has the power to reflect my mood, and often change it.
Making the shed last year for Dan Whitehouse to perform in was a turning point. Music became a part of my work, the collaboration an impetus for change.
This year’s Life and Other Art exhibition sees not just Dan perform, but a variety of other musicians, singers and songwriters over the whole weekend. I’m proud that my shed can provide a small travelling venue for these talented people who deserve a much larger audience.
Come along if you can!
Please visit…
www.elenathomas.co.uk/events
for more information about the event held by The Coach House Life Drawing Group and Rebellious Quilters
www.dan-whitehouse.com
www.robertlanemusic.blogspot.com
Dan and Rob are performing at Life and Other Art in July, others I’m listening to at the moment are:
www.stylusboy.co.uk
www.wearevillagers.com
www.themiserablerich.co.uk
www.iamkloot.com
www.fleetfoxes.com
