A full on making experience.
A duel with sods law
and an army of construction workers watching to see what art is and what was all the fuss about that needed protection from the rain.
As for the arena, it was not ready, it arrived a day late and the builders could not release enough man power to errect it. Combat took place in the open air. It did not rain. The whole site complex is cordened off from the public and it was a hi viz, hard hat, steel toe at all times set up.
Sods law bowled me a few googlies, like the mosaic did’nt fit the hole made for it, and the screed was rather sandy. The whole working area was actually like working on a sandy beach. But generally speaking it went very well.
In fact I have really enjoyed the builders, they were very keen to see what art is? I am really pleased I was’nt tying ribbons in trees or something cos they would have had very strong views on that. But they were all very complimentary and I can honestly say I did not recieve one negative comment. Jaws dropped when I explained the time and process required. They totally got the whole craft thing and wanted to know how it was done. They wanted explanations as to what they were seeing or what the narrative was. They went on to make a protective cover for the mosaic, so I figured they were as proud of it as I was. They were fun and I enjoyed their company.
I think construction workers are probably good indicators for the views of the general public on matters ‘art’.
History you see, it is the mortar which glues people and communities together!
