ARTISTS TALKING

# 250 [18 March 2011]

So, we had to postpone our trip to Japan (supposed to be yesterday) for obvious reasons. We will hopefully be going in September instead. I am just about getting my head around the fact and coming down from the mass of anticipation and stress that has been the last week. I hadn't realised how much you gear up for a trip like this, plus I have been completely distracted and glued to the news since the earthquake, to see what was unfolding there. It's heartbreaking to watch and I hope they can make a swift recovery.

http://www.redcross.org.uk/Donate-Now/Make-a-singl...

A bit like when my Swiss trip was cancelled in December, I feel like I have been given the gift of time, especially as I seem to have agreed to a number of extra YSP-curricular projects by accident. Whoops.

I have two unexpected weeks to work so I will be reading the books I saved for holiday - all art related. So this will be like, well, doing actual research rather than stealing 10 mins reading on trains and before bed. I have already completely failed at not being online, but I shall endeavor to chill out my computer usage. While in London I made a quick stop at Muji (I know, pathetic attempt to do something Japanese) and bought notepaper and coloured pens. This is to encourage writing by hand, preferably outside. First book is 'A Short History of Decay' by E.M.Cioran. I can see my work becoming even more bleak. Best make sure I waddle and wear funny outfits in my performaces to counteract that!

See also - go for more walks - I think it was Ballard who had twice daily, 40-min constitutionals in Shepperton where he lived.

Also wanted to flag up some interesting reading. My artist's statement needs a bit of tlc and this article has given me a swift kick up the arse: http://www.frieze.com/issue/article/please_release...

How is your statement looking at the moment?

# 249 [17 March 2011]

I AM NOT IN JAPAN.

# 248 [3 March 2011]

Lots of work and illness is to blame for my lack of posting recently. But, throat is pretty much recovered now and probably meant I had a good, if slightly painful, break from things. It was nice to get some extra sleep at least!

This time in two weeks I shall be boarding a plane for Tokyo - and I am so ridiculously excited that I am having mini-palpitations just writing that. I am going to attempt to go the whole time (18 days) without using the internet, unless it is to look up holiday things. I will probably fail, but I am getting really sick of computers and the weird, unhealthy habits I am developing. I check everything way too often and I am starting to feel RSI in my right hand and wrist. The way I internet also seems to make more work for myself somehow too.

I've had some interesting conversations on twitter about this - with some very helpful suggestions coming my way about efficiency and happy-making strategies. These include the Pomodoro method - based on tomato-shaped kitchen timers. You use 25 minute-timed periods to work on specific tasks, taking 5 minute breaks in between. After 3 pomodoros you have a longer break. I'm sure there's more to it, but I don't intend to buy a book to find out. I tried it yesterday and I was much more productive than normal. Another one was to check email and social media only 3/4 times a day: 10am, 12.30, 3pm and 7.30pm. I didn't stick to that AT ALL. Oops.

We had a power cut for a day on Monday, so I did some writing by hand and realised how out of practise I am! I had a veritable claw by the end. Not great. Must do more.

So yep, time for a much needed break and chance to change my routine. I will be coming back to what seems like a mountain of work too, so I feel like it's double-important to clear the decks somehow.

Before I go, I have a bit of lecturing to do and will be speaking at this event on 12th March.

https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=15036154835...

Modes of Practice in an Age of Austerity

Delivered by Artists Emily Speed, Rich White and Anna Francis.

How do we survive the cuts without sacrificing or compromising our practice, ethics and professionalism?
Modes of Practice in an Age of Austerity is an event for artists and other creative practitioners to explore and discuss strategies for survival in a time where cuts threaten to obliterate the art world in the U.K. and beyond.

Really looking forward to seeing what comes out of it - will keep you posted.

# 247 [14 February 2011]

I have been out and about the last week or two, with feeble internet access and lots of work to do. So there is lots to say after some really interesting conversations and blog reading, but today I am trying to catch up, so it will have to be a mini-post.

For now, have a look at this blog on the joys of free internships:

http://fuckyeahfreeinterns.tumblr.com/

Seems topical after the Tories Black and White party saw an auction of some of the most prestigious internships. For example, Lot 14 was two weeks at Tatler magazine. It went for £4,000.Apologies that the link takes you to the Daily Mail.

http://bit.ly/emibVu

# 246 [4 February 2011]

Speaking of surveys, here's another for AIR members of a-n, looking at the future of art education.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CB7XS8D

The more answers, the stronger the results that come out of it. If you need a little more persuading to speak out on the issue of cuts to the arts, then this is a good article:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2011/feb...

# 245 [4 February 2011]

Making a Living are currently contributing to the Longhouse blog and discussing issues around art education, professional development and that old favourite - getting paid. 

http://www.longhouse.uk.com/blog/category/blog/mak...

They also have a survey, which personally I find a little tricky when it's just yes/no answer; there are so many nuances to these things and it makes me feel like I am misrepresenting myself. But do fill this in art folks:

http://www.longhouse.uk.com/blog/category/blog/mak...

# 244 [3 February 2011]

Last political post for the day - probably - before I explode.An article by Claire Bishop that is well worth a read:

Con-Demmed to the Bleakest of Futures: Report from the UK

http://www.e-flux.com/journal/view/209

# 243 [3 February 2011]

Liverpool Council has written a letter to the Prime Minister, explaining their reasons for pulling out of the Big Society. Liverpool was one of four pilot areas for the scheme.

Joe Anderson, council leader tells David Cameron that the government’s cuts have seriously undermined the ability of community organisations to improve the quality of life of residents.

His letter concludes: "How can the City Council support the Big Society and its aim to help communities do more for themselves when we will have to cut the lifeline to hundreds of these vital and worthwhile groups?

"I have therefore come to the conclusion that Liverpool City Council can no longer support the "Big Society" initiative, as a direct consequence of your funding decisions."

Last week the council announced that 1,500 workers will be made redundant as a result of it having to cut £91m from its budget. Try as I might, I cannot help but see the harsh cuts to some of the poorest councils (and the increase to some of the wealthiest areas) as being based on an ideology (from the Conservatives) that has absolutely nothing to do with real need or fairness. Good on the council for stating the obvious, that they cannot put money into new schemes or even maintain current ones when they are facing such massive cuts.

Read More

Independent: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/liverpool-pulls-out-of-big-society-drive-2203407.html

Liverpool Echo: http://bit.ly/hlxd5R

In a completly microcosmic way, this should totally be applied by artists. If your work/project is set up to fail through lack of funding or poor support, then you need to say so, to explain all of the areas that are lacking and the reasons that it cannot succeed. Pipe up.

# 242 [3 February 2011]

I laughed out loud when I saw that Lord Wei (Big Society Tsar) is cutting his voluntary role from 3 days per week to 2 days. The guardian say Wei has told friends he is cutting his hours to allow him to earn more money and "have more of a life".

NO SHIT. If someone in a position of privilege (although not as wealthy as say, David Cameron) is finding it difficult to maintain voluntary work alongside making a living, then perhaps they may be able to empathise better with the common man. Probably not. We had an interesting conversation in the pub last night about the implications of Prime Minister being a voluntary role, or one that just paid a median wage. We concluded that with all the perks and property, it would still be an incredible well rewarded position.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/feb/01/big...

On BBC2 last night: 'Who gets the best jobs'

With the current government's plans for education I can only imagine that the elitist system of internships and working for free is going to get worse. The programme looks at who is getting into the best professions and how.

"Britain is a less equal society than at any time since World War One. In Who Gets the Best Jobs, Richard Bilton investigates access to the professions - and finds that the best jobs are being snapped up by an increasingly small gene pool of privileged, well-connected families.

Getting a good degree matters more than ever - and those from low income families can no longer easily work their way up from the bottom without the qualifications, contacts and social skills that their more fortunate counterparts make full use of."

It's available until Feb 16th on iplayer here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00yb5kv/Who_...

# 241 [30 January 2011]

New Yoik blog.

I am back. It was incredibly snowy - they've had something like 50 inches this month. I really had the most amazing time and met some great people.

Tha reason I was invited was to take part in a panel for a seminar on artists' books. This was because my book 'Unfolding Architecture' is in an exhibition by Women's Studio Workshop (the publishers) at the Grolier Club in New York. http://www.grolierclub.org/

http://www.wsworkshop.org/

This was the most bizarre pairing in many ways - a DIY space set up in 1974 by four women showing in a stuffy (but beautiful) private club for fine book binding. It was also very pink inside. But I felt like this was WSW getting appreciated for the incredible work they've been doing over the years. Judging by all the people that came to the seminar, they have many fans.

So I was on the panel, and I managed not to blush or stutter too much. When asked what I had taken with me from my residency at WSW, I replied that their generous funding, support and proper provision for artists during the residency I did had made me really question the conditons that artist often accept. I went on to mention this blog and the fact that I hope to advocate better conditions. This kind of dominated the questions afterwards, further proof for me of how much people want to engage in the discussion around money and value. There were jokes after too, oh careful, she'll want paying. They were just jokes too, but I always want to stress that it is not just about money, it is about value. They may be linked, but to make sure I get paid is not the point - it is about getting better across the board. It is about how artist are valued in society. The current government couldn't be doing much more to make the arts appear disposable. Galleries and institutions are used to paying in 'exposure' and CV fodder. It is much more than money.

In that vein, on Friday morning I met with the group WAGE in one of their apartments in Brooklyn. Aside from the adorable 'pocket', a teeny lap dog, I really enjoyed meeting this incredibly intelligent and active group. I am profiling them in the March issue of a-n so will say more there, but please look at their website. http://www.wageforwork.com/wage.html

I have still to listen back to the transcript as my tax return took precedence today, but I am looking forward to that tomorrow.

The trip has led to several other aquaintences, some have emailed, purchased my book, invited me on visits and one of the artists in the panel interviewed me for her artist' book website on Thursday. It astounds me how much can happen in a few days and how many connections spring from an event like this. I started a diagram some time ago about how work has led to more work, but it got into a mess beacuse so much crossed over. Maybe I shall try on a smaller scale and see how that looks!

p.s. I've just read a great entry about artists from Rosalind Davis (see VALUE above). She says "Use your influence to create change. Dont isolate yourselves. Give back.....be part of something more than yourselves."

innit.

http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/sing...