ARTISTS TALKING

# 13 [30 May 2009]

Just 6 days to go . . .

We have discovered that the Harris Museum in Preston has a full size replica of the Door of Paradise, the eastern door of the Baptistry which faces the Duomo in Florence; a place of honour.  Ghiberti took 27 years to complete the beautiful goldsmithed and sculpted doors, and it is said that even Michelangelo said that they were "worthy of Paradise".

Nicola and I are meeting in the Harris this weekend to plan how we can bring together a simultaneous happening next Friday as she will be in Preston whilst Lisa and I are in Florence.

elated | excited | determined | proud

We are getting close to the date of departure now and I realise that I have focussed so completely on this part of the project that I have left behind ideas of what to do in Siena, which I will do alone.  These next few days really need concentrated thinking time for that too.

# 12 [28 May 2009]

8 days and counting . . . Thursday; where did all those other days go to?

I am now surrounded by books, paper, post-it notes - over 20 of them attached to various surfaces around my desk - and all reminding me of things I need to do, or remember; and most of them need sorting before I go.   I'm sure you can measure a person's stress level by the volume of paper around them.

I spent yesterday multi-tasking with work, children, art, football, shopping and feeding as well as becoming chief bird scarer after seeing 3 magpies cruelly raid the blue tits box and take off with a fledgling in the morning.  This morning one is back again; my fault for exposing so much of the tree when I gave it a haircut last month.

So this morning is practical stuff; look at all the ideas we have shared so far about what we might do in Florence (which the concentration is on for the moment) and think about what fits in with my visit timings. 

Lisa recommended Italo Calvino's Invisible Cities which I started at some early hour this morning and I am captivated with the idea of these overlapping, layered views of a city through the eyes of a traveller.   It's starting to give me more ideas for my visit too.

Nicola (our group is now three) is also going to be putting her suggestions into the pot so we are all feeling excited with ideas whilst being challenged with having enough time to give to the project. 

# 11 [25 May 2009]

I thought I ought to share with you the writer, Lisa McGarry who I have made contact with and have started discussions and ideas for collaboration. 

I was hooked in when I discovered her way of seeing and articulating place and spaces; the reflections and inspiration that come from exploring this city and the people who live & visit here through her book and website.

The book, 'The Piazza's of Florence', explores some of her favourite public spaces in Florence which captures the individual and very personal response, as well as bringing to life the movements of people through and in a space.

This makes me realise how fleeting a few hours will be; perhaps it's like the momentary beauty of studying a captured butterfly, recalled afterwards by colour, pattern, shape and delicacy after you have let it go to be free once again.

# 10 [24 May 2009]

I've been thinking; at what point where two or more people work together towards a shared outcome can that be defined as collaboration?

I recall from a management training course in my distant past that business teams can be said to go through these stages; forming, storming, norming, performing (and finally adjourning).   Is this similar to the process of collaboration in some ways?

Do the individuals who are collaborating have to have gone through similar stages together to truly describe their work as collaborative? 

And is there a leader in a collaboration? 

Could it be possible to have both a collaborative and individual practice?

Hmmm, food for thought.  Comments welcomed . . .

# 9 [22 May 2009]

phew; tired, reflective, elated

We have started discussions about collaboration in the last few days and have also started to give and share ideas which is great.  We are trying out Google Groups and Google Documents to share the information we find and it seems to be working, although early days yet.  At least we have a shared workspace where things are, which is incredibly valuable when you are working remotely from each other.

Had my first interview today for a creative project which sounds fabulous and will be intensively collaborative; everything's crossed for Tuesday . . .

# 8 [21 May 2009]

raining again; cleaning & cleansing

I have made contact with someone who lives in Florence and has a deep passion for places.  We have started to talk about the practical aspects of sharing ideas which is a great start.   I finally got round to putting some of my thoughts onto an e-mail at some unearthly hour this morning whilst no doubt most sensible people were tucked up in bed.   It feels good though; firstly to realise you have ideas and also to find time to articulate them.

I am hoping that another friend will also join us, if time will allow.

There's another interesting document on the public art online website about collaboration by David Patten.  It makes a good point that some people just don't make good collaborators, but I think the process of trying teaches you more about you, and how you prefer to operate.  It pushes the boundaries where we begin to feel uncomfortable; and that can only be a good thing.

# 7 [18 May 2009]

Still . . . silence

I have been researching in the last few days and found a new Tate Research Paper, Border Crossing by Felicity Allen which reflects on a Tate initiated partnership project called Nahnou-Together .  The project started in 2004 and continues today, exploring the shared learning and understanding between young people, artists, curators and educators who have collaborated in Palestine, Syria and London.

The paper reflects on the strength and distinction of the cultural differences between the groups and how those affected the stages of the project to date.  It is clear that the project shifts as time progresses; the increased sharing of knowledge and understanding underpins and develops collaborative success, and only comes with time. 

Allen also reflects on her own learning:

  one must focus on process rather than narrowly defined targets, and the process should refer to the knowledge gained about being prepared to fumble in the dark, to doubt and not to know, as well as to keep listening to theory and looking at practice to help reflection. This includes self-reflection.  

For me this seems to be a great starting point for any collaboration; being open to the process, to fumble, doubt, not know, and I feel critically important for me; to reflect.

In such a short timescale it seems impossible to believe that I can achieve true collaboration; perhaps I can hope to develop a good foundation on which to build for future projects.

# 6 [17 May 2009]

Sunday.

Rain drips drops fall

still; the silence of an inbox devoid of responses.   Re-think; more and more and more ideas needed, to find another approach, and fast, in between the daily challenges of living, creating, being.

speed is of the essence; the blue tits seem to understand with their productive to-ing and fro-ing to fill those tiny beaks which must be constantly open

the house I see in the tree

# 5 [14 May 2009]

I have a reply and I feel elated; someone is interested in working with me!    I know; early days, got to see how it goes, but this is exciting - finding someone who has similar interests in places and people as I have.

Despite the grim day and chilly breeze which wanders in through my open window every now and again I sense another small moment of achievement.

And so my thoughts now are these:

- How many people should I hope could get involved?  I think given the timescales and the challenges of sharing ideas then smaller is probably better - maybe 3 is a good number?

- What is the best form of communication? e-mail, shared blog, Google Groups/Docs, Skype?

- Does anyone else know the challenges and pitfalls we may face through this process?

- How best to seek and encourage feedback from other artists as this project continues

22 days, and counting . . .

# 4 [13 May 2009]

I have spent the day at work desparate to talk about my ideas for my Tuscany visit with someone.  It's so frustrating when everyone glazes over at the first mention of something creative or conceptual and would rather discuss output capacity or technical process change.

After tea we had a very short meeting at school about a forthcoming visit of exchange children from America (perhaps they could have posted the information and spared the 40 or so people the frustration of making the effort to turn up for 12 minutes talking through a document we had been given).   I have to say I am very excited about the visiting children, I am intrigued to see and hear their interpretation of where we live seen and experienced through them on their first trip to the UK.

This evening has been spent sending e-mails to people who I have managed to find via Google who are artists or art educators who work/live in Florence and Siena, whilst wondering how it is possible to make that initial contact with someone who may have a similar interest to you without sounding like you are a stalker.    The silence of nothing arriving in my inbox is making me feel uncomfortable; but they say that you need to be out of your comfort zone to extend yourself.

I have a new book which arrived from Amazon today: The Piazzas of Florence which is a wonderfully presented exploration of the 'squares' of Florence.  It already makes me feel guilty that I am only there for a few hours; yet that is part of the appeal of attempting this project; what can be done in a short timescale?

If anyone does have ideas that might help please let me know.