Between the 11th – 28th of March, I will be undertaking a residency at Wolverhampton Art Gallery and making work in response to its collections. The work will be developed from the Victorian, Georgian and Geology Collections.
Today is my last day, I am gutted that the journey has gone so quickly, but I am excited that it is the start of a new piece of work.
Here is an section of the story that I wrote for the new piece of work:
Dr Bird is standing in the middle of his boat eating cake and points southeast towards Dudley, whilst simultaneously looking from a rudimentary telescope at a tall white wall! Every so often he shouts the words “Polar Bear” then closes his eyes as if a sleep and re-opens then to shout the words “Polar Bear” again. This infrequent outburst is alarming and untimely. Faces of onlookers become even more puzzled and hesitant. Unsure on what is about to happen next the room falls silent from the laughter and conversation that filled the high ceilings a moments before. This excitement and curiosity is expected when attending one of Dr Birds events. Amongst the guests in the room are Thomas Bantock (Mayor), Mary Bantock, Dr Fossil, Dr Fraser, and the artist John Fullwood. All have come to see what preposterous event Dr Bird has concocted this time.
Upon entry the guests are given a French menu, indicating what delicious cake is served. Towards the end of menu, reads the following:
A vision has been impelled upon me by a force beyond anything that we know. This journey has already started; a journey that will end with either catastrophic consequences or with extraordinary significance. A vision given to me by fairer voice, telling me to seek new riches in the surrounding areas, “You will find areas of outstanding beauty; beauty that you can only ever imagine in oil paintings captured by the finest and steadiest hands” she whispers. “Travel towards the southeast where amongst an ancient Silurian reef lays a Golden Fossil that bears the name of a Calymene Blumenbacii. Beware it is guarded by a man eating Polar Bear. To the west you will find the Devil himself. You must look to confront him, as he will look to turn your soul from within. Ensure to bring back samples of his ash. The last and final visit will be to the north; your homeland. Greeted with wealth and luxury your eyes will wonder, but do not give into its lure or you will be trapped by the lady in red, for it is a trick to deceive you. Go forth, baring a line to the north-west, where you will find a witch next to a Silent Pool[i]. Give her the ash of the Devil and Golden Fossil and she will bring you eternal happiness. Do all this and I will no longer haunt you.[ii]
The screams of “Polar Bear” break the concentration of thought once more. The stories are dismissed as no more than a myth or a story that Dr Bird has embellished.
[i] In reference to Doxey’s Pool at the Roaches, Joseph Deville Vickers Painting entitled ‘The Silent Pool’ painted in 1895
[ii] Taken from Stories relating to Bilston’s next exhibition, entitled Once Upon Time in the Midlands, stories gathered by Dave Reeves
27th/03/2013
Today, I am visited by Deborah Robinson from New Art Gallery Walsall, in order to discuss how I think the residence has gone. I also saw this as a chance to show her my previous work and also discuss my ideas for the project. I was keen to tell her and Jane Morrow, (who was also present) that I wanted to develop a new piece of work around all the research that I have been given.
I present them with a draft copy of my story.
I stated that this residency is now the start of the journey, although the end of the residency is tomorrow.
I felt that it was important to gain support from the gallery and in order to help move the project forward and when I start to put together a timetable after I leave.
Deborah seemed really impressed with my work and liked my ideas for my new piece of work. This was very encouraging and I am started to get excited about the piece of work.
After Deborah and Jane leave I start to finish my story and think about the drawings that could be presented alongside.
I decided to produce three drawings based on the story. On my way home I later start to think about what the drawing could be and run up some mock drawings from the computer.
26th/03/2013
On Tuesday I come into the gallery with the idea of writing a story based on the information that I have received, and for this story to act as a narrative for a performance piece that could be carried out at a later date.
So I take to the task of writing a story based on all my research, and I refuel my self with some of the gallery’s cake. Amazing!
I start to write about a Victorian Geologist, Bontist and Mountaineer who existed about the same time of Thomas and Mary Bantock and Dr Fraser.
I like the way in which the story is going and continue to develop over period of the day.
25th/03/2013
Today (Monday) I have started to put together a narrative for my work and plan what I need to do in order to make the work happen.
I wanted to bring together all the information that I have been given in order to make a performance piece, like my previous works. This time I wanted to included lots of reference points to my personal history, the city’s history and also bring in reference to the people that have helped me on this journey so far, like Dr Fossil.
I want to try and bring justice the information that I have received in such high hopes. Lets hope I can succeed.
With this pressure mounting, I start to become a little bit confused as to what I going to do. I pause. Think and pause again. Remembering that am due to do an interview for the gallery’s promotional material. I quickly run to see Linda and Charli and undergo a light grilling and filming.
After the interview my thoughts become slight clearer, as if looking at a puddle that has formed in silt, and then drained to a pool.
I start to pencil and in rough ideas and go home thinking about storyboards and drawings.
23/03/2013
Saturday was the day of the public talk, it was also the day that winter had decided to come back. Just when you thought spring had arrived, winter arrives in all its glory, covering fields in white blankets.
My trip to Stafford and home consisted of snow drifts as high as the hedge row, with many of my local roads cut off.
Despite the weather I managed to make my way to Wolverhampton and start to deliver my talk with Jane Morrow.
All the preparations for the talk went well and we were well prepared for an exciting conversation surround my research so far. I was also intrigued to the feedback. Though this never came, as I think most people decided to go sledging or make a snowman.
The afternoon consisted of a trip to Liverpool to the Bluecoat Gallery in order to discuss technical arrangements for my up and coming performance Constant Gardener on the 13th April.
