ARTISTS TALKING

# 1 [13 April 2007]

This is a bit of an odd one. Usually, like most artists, we choose where we want to work and deal with ideas that we are specifically interested in. Here, as a group, we've all been asked to respond to a particular location. The foundling museum is a wierd little museum housing a collection of Hogarths (and other paintings), a load of memorabilia associated with Coram's Foundling Hospital, a collection of manuscripts relating to Handel and a couple of recreated 18th century rooms. My own work uses ideas associated with chance and play so I've just got to think of something to do now. Should be fun.

Shameless self publicity bit

www.rotagavin.blogspot.com

www.protestfilm.blogspot.com

www.axisweb.org/artist/
alexpearl

# 2 [14 April 2007]

I've just recieved the Artists Brief from Commissions East which is quite useful. it lays out the aims of the commission as giving me the opportunity to

create new work

develop my profile out of the region

attract attention from the arts media

introduce new audiences to my work

the timeline has reminded me that I have to have initial ideas ready by 8th May and the work has to be in situ by 26th September

We had a very useful and slightly scary tour by the museum's curator Rhian Harris. The place is packed with stuff and sentiment (which I found quite interesting) But my initial ideas mainly revolved around defacing the guide book & perhaps reintroducing some play into the space.

We also had a photocall on the stairs at which I singularly failed to hold my stomach in.

# 3 [15 April 2007]

Ok I've got three initial ideas to pitch to the steering group, actually i've got lots of ideas but many are terrible and others will probably be chucked because of bad taste.

I'm about to start a residency/exhibition in Bury St Edmunds which involves making films from bad thoughts and this is colouring a lot of my thinking at the moment. The show is called Joking Aside and I'm showing several films about death involving. matches, balloons, blutack and alka seltzer tablets. The show opens on 5th May & I'm trying to get ahead of myself & sort everything out.

Anyway, the three ideas (so far)

1. I was intrigued by a series of sentimental victorian paintings in the committee room which showed key moments in the passage of a foundling through the 'Hospital'. I thought i would quite like to produce an opera of sorts using lolipop sticks and Handel's Foundling Anthem which is held in the museum. I would also quite like to do a live performance/fundraiser in one of the C18 rooms. I imagine myself behind a screen with the lolipops projected behind me accompanied by a string quartet.

2. I am thinking quite generally about bringing play into the museum which is currently inhabited by more senior citizens. I want to make a series of short video pieces throughout the museum using wandering toys, a slinky on the stairs (where, the guidebook tells us, a child died sliding down the banisters) I am also minded of magic tricks from my childhood. The paper bag & invisible ball, the snapping/mending matchstick etc.

3. I have many automatic cameras which can be allowed to wander filming at random. I wondered about using these to make a portrait of the current governors which could then be donated to the gallery in the tradition of its Hogarths etc.

The curator has apparently been appointed but we are to be kept in the dark until the right moment. When her identity is revealed I should be able to discuss these with her and begin to think about the thorny issue of siting the works.

# 4 [27 April 2007]

The curator has been appointed. Her name is Gill Hedley. She is an independent curator best known as the Director of the Contemporary Art Society from 1993 to 2006. Before that she worked for the British Council organising exhibitions of British artists abroad - from ‘YBAs’ to established names such as Francis Bacon in Moscow and Richard Hamilton at the Venice Biennale. She is currently on the Board of Spike Island in Bristol and is a member of the International Association of Art Critics. We are planning to meet up on 8th May at 'Joking Aside' in Bury st Edmunds Gallery to talk things over.

# 5 [5 May 2007]

I'm just back from the opening of Joking Aside. Had a lovely time. The curator Craig Ashley got a comic in for the opening. I cracked up as his jokes about paedophilia and intimate shaving fell flat on the genteel audience. I'm sure this was exactly as intended as the show was, at least partly, about the breakdown of comedy.

# 6 [8 May 2007]

I had a meeting today with the curator Gill Hedley. She came to Joking Aside and had a look round. Because of her high powered reputation, I had managed to build it up into a very nerve wracking experience but luckily she was very approachable and easy to talk to. We had a chat about my ideas for the project. She seemed keen on all of them but was especially interested in the video portrait of the governers as it seemed to resonate with Coram's & Hogarth's initial purpose in setting up the Foundling museum. We also discussed my aspirations for the project as a whole; sales, further commissions, attracting critical attention, galleries etc. Specifically i am interested in using the commission to attract interest from some London galleries. I am suitably enthused by the project now although I'm sure there will be may problems ahead especially with siting the finished works (I do love being pessimistic)

Anyway my residency for the Bury Festival is about to begin officially so I jumped the gun a bit by going through one of the Bad Thoughts ballots boxes which is sited in the gallery. Here's one of them:

"Sometimes I'm pleased that my father died because I know if was still here we'd fall out constantly because I'm nothing like what he would have wanted me to be."

# 7 [23 May 2007]

Just back from three gruelling days doing a filmmaking workshop with 75 12 year olds (25/day). We managed to make 18 films and a comic (pictured) about the bad thoughts they have. These thoughts were, in the main, about their utter hatred of their siblings. To be honest I used to see the workshops associated with council galleries as a sort of penance that artists have to perform when they show. But I really enjoyed it. Throughout there was an exchange of ideas and the inspiration for the photos used in the comic came from one of the kids. I might do some more workshop with school children (but only after a little rest). I must start thinking more about the foundling commission now, I've had approval for my ideas & I might be doing some sort of lenticular portrait of the trustees.

# 8 [5 June 2007]

I'm waiting to place a phone call so I thought I'd do a quick update. The deadline for written up proposals is looming so I am currently trying to sort out costings for the two main works. Firstly for the Foundling Opera I want to use elements of Handel's Foundling Hospital Anthem so I am trying to get copyright permission from Decca records. One of my main problems is that I am phone phobic & try to do everything via email. The call I'm about to make is to 3D images who deal with lenticular cards etc. I'm hoping to make a large video lenticular portrait of the trustees of the Foundling museum & I'm hoping it won't eat my entire budget (£4000ish).

On a much smaller and less permanent scale I'm about to have some work in Demolition a show curated by Mercy in Site on Liverpool's Albert Dock (just off-tate). I'm producing some durational sculptures which are likely to be destroyed during the exhibition (see image)

# 9 [7 June 2007]

Had a really interesting chat with David Burder who owns the company which makes the video lenticular images I'm thinking of using. He actually invented the process and understandably is very keen on it being used to its full potential. He raised the "difference between art and science" and urged me to change my ideas, which has made me think. Anyway, this will be another interesting ball to keep in the air.

The deadline for the detailed proposal is fast approaching & I think I will concentrate on the Foundling Opera and the Lenticular portrait of the trustees almost to see how many people I can disappoint (in a positive way).

I also got an email from Catherine Butcher who is running the Escalator thing reminding me that I had been foolhardy enough to mention the possibility of performing a live version of the 'opera'. She had a couple of really exciting events in mind. One of which was part of King's Cross Create coinciding with the arrival of the Eurostar in November. I can't seem to make my mind up about anything at the moment so I sent the following reply.

"Hi Catherine
I definitely still want to make the piece but I must admit I'm getting cold feet about the idea of a live performance as I only have a very vague idea of how it might happen and I've never done anything like it before. Having said that the 'Arrivals' thing looks very interesting and mid to late Nov is not booked up. There's an infuriatingly uncertain answer for you. And yes, everything is going in the blog.
Alex :]"

# 10 [17 June 2007]

I'm rubbish at writing detailed proposals, the vague stuff is fine. I recently sent a proposal to a gallery for a solo show. They were really interested, pencilled me in for June 2008 and asked me for a more detailed proposal. I sent one in and I haven't heard anything since. I think they got their rubber out.

Anyway I've written up my detailed proposal for the Foundling Museum and sent it off. I've realised I've said I'll do rather a lot and that there won't be much money left for me at the end. Hey ho this was never meant to be a profit making exercise and I'll end up having to pay 22% tax on anything I do make (the curse of the working artist). In Ireland there is no tax on profits from art, I may move. There are more possible expenses on the horizon.

In the interests of openness here's what I sent off:

The Foundling Opera

Summary
A twenty-five minute colour film using lollypop sticks enacting an operatic fiction that imagines Coram and Hogarth’s setting up of the Foundling Hospital and the admittance of the first foundling. The film will be structured around Handel’s Foundling Anthem and will use elements of the music in the soundtrack (copyright permissions are being sought).

Site & Installation
Preferably large-scale projection with good sound possibly within the Handel space. This would involve mounting a projector either from the ceiling or opposite wall and mounting a screen or preparing a suitable projection surface (i.e. clearing & painting a wall white). The film would run throughout the exhibition at 10-minute intervals.
There will possibly also be one offsite live performance of the opera in early November (during ‘Arrivals’ part of Kings X Create timed to coincide with Eurostar launch). I have still to ascertain how feasible this is.

Equipment Rough costs
Dvd player £40
Projector & mount £800
Wall mounted screen (or suitable surface such as flat white wall) £100
Speakers with amp £100


Video Portrait of the Trustees.

Summary
To create a video portrait of the current trustees using low-level cameras mounted on wandering toys. The filming would be largely uncontrolled and would take place in the Picture gallery with the trustees gathered together but given no instruction. Filming will take no longer than 1 hour and the room would have to be closed to the public for the duration.

Site & Installation
Video portrait presented on a loop (could be split into three and presented as part of the existing video projection triptych or as a single screen projection). If a separate projection is used installation will be as Foundling Opera.

Equipment
Toys and radio transmitting cameras provided by artist

Lenticular Portrait of the Trustees.

Summary
A video lenticular image produced from 30 to 50 digital stills of the current trustees combined into one image. The stills will be taken during the shooting of the video portrait (above). The image will be 120x100 mounted on 3mm board (unframed) and will be donated to the Foundling Museum.

Site
To be installed on the stairs or similar site among other portraits.

Installation
This work will be delivered directly to the Foundling Museum by 3-D images Ltd where it will need to be fixed to the wall. (discussion with museum staff required)

Cost (including delivery)
£1200 (2 weeks processing)


Ancillary Works

Summary
A number (2-4) of small-scale video pieces based upon play and magic to be discretely placed around the museum. These will not be filmed in the museum.

Installation
Each will be presented on 7” wall mounted integrated dvd player tft monitors. They will need to be screwed to the wall near electrical sockets.

Cost
4 x £100 each



Estimated Total costs using existing triptych projection £2640
10% contingency £ 270

£2910