Since I last posted on here I have been busily working on organising the fund-raising show.
So far I have been compileing lists of artists, designers, and illustrators to ask to contribute to the show. These include tutors at the university, visiting artists who have given talks to our MA group, artists that I know, artists that I would like to contact, and famous Bristolians! The list is becoming longer and longer. Via twitter I have managed to promote it a little, and several artists who follow me have said they will take part, which is wonderful, and generous of them! If you are reading this and are interested in taking part, do contact me, and I can give you an address to send the work. The only pre- requisite is that it is 6x4inches. (postcard size) with you name hidden on the back.
If anyone out there is organising a similar fundraising show I would love to know – and would be more than happy to contribute a piece. So again, just contact me via this.
So far the plan is to hold the exhibition at Motorcade/Flashparade, which is an exciting emerging gallery in Bristol, run in part by my friend Julie Mccalden who is also on the course. It is a lovely space and has a real buzz about it.
I now have a meeting at Spike Island to discuss the dreaded evaluation document, but also to see the show there which I have heard is very good.
I wanted to write a post about the benefits of using social media as a way to publicize yourself as an artist. I am not particularly gifted when it comes to using computers, but I find social media as a simple and fun (and slightly addictive) way to promote yourself.
I have had a twitter account for almost two years now, but have only really started using it in the last few months. Before that I really didn’t understand it, but I then made the decision to use the site to really only talk about my art, and the ‘art world’ in general. By focusing my ‘tweets’ in this way, I have found it a really useful tool in which to promote not only my own work, but the work of other artists that I find interesting. Follow me (!) @BuffyDismorr
Another social media site I use is Facebook. I spend far too long procrastinating on the site, but I have also found it really useful for my work. I set up a group for the MA class, where we can message each other easily, sharing ideas and posting links and videos. Facebook has also been great for plugging our group shows, by setting up events for them and putting them on our walls.
Lastly – I have found (as seen here!) blogging a great way in which to share and talk about my art. I never really expect many people to read my blogs, but I find it useful nonetheless, nostly as a way to organise my process within my practice.
And – the best thing about using social media is that it is almost always free!
Our MA year are beginning to think about ways to fundraise for the end of year show. I have come up with the idea of having a RCA ‘Secrets’ style exhibition in which to raise money. We would recruit artists to kindly send us postcard sized pieces of work, which people would buy for a set price, not knowing who it was buy until seeing the signature on the back. Julie Mccalden, who is in her 2nd year of the MA, but also helps to run Motorcade/Flashparade gallery in Bristol has said that we could possible hold the event there – which would be amazing!
I think generating publicity for the show (and for this money I feel will be rather vital!) will be integral in getting a buzz around the event. I know the BA Fine Arters have been fundraising for this for months – hence why we need to get a move on!
Exciting news for me – Some images of my work are to be included in the next issue of the Garageland mag, which Transition Gallery in London produces. Very excited about being included in that! The images shown are some being used in the publicated, from my piece ‘The New Girl, I.’ (2011).
Today I have been doing work on the dreaded ‘evaluation document’ that will be marked alongside the grad show at the end of the academic year. It is a 6000 word illustrated essay discussing our practice. I have been researching Richard Prince and his love of collecting.
Collections seem to feature in many artists lives, and filter into their work. In my own work I produce small scale paintings, which are gridded together in the form of a collection. My paintings explore women from the past in different types of institutions, be it the asylum, the school, or even the institution of marriage.
As well as my work exploring collections, I am also facinated with the past. My first degree was in History and Archaeology at the University of Exeter. As LP Hartley said: “The past is a foreign country – they do things differently there.”It is this sense of ‘the other’ that I find intriguing.
I had my first session at uni after the Christmas break yesterday, and one of the topics discussed was being on a fine art MA, and making ourselves more ‘visible’ in the art world, through social media, networking, and helping each other out, by writing reviews of each others shows etc. This blog seems like the perfect place in which to discuss the pinnacle of my course- the grad show!
Although the show is not till June, I have begun thinking about it in terms of where to hold it, and how to raise the funds in which to put on a successful show. These will be discussed in this blog in the coming months.
Another topic discussed on the blog will be my own practice, and my continuing development as an artist, and my plans for after the course ends.
