ARTISTS TALKING

# 20 [2 December 2009]

Looking forward to tomorrow. Jonathan Parsons, the ARC co-ordinator in Portsmouth is coming to dispense wisdom, and engage in discussion. It’ll be a good chance to put forward all the studio development ideas I’ve been formulating, and test them against a critical perspective.

I have my first progress report meeting next month on the 12^th, so I’m treating that as a deadline for putting the package together. Hopefully by the end of tomorrow’s session I’ll have an effective plan of action.

And as things are looking right now, a lot of phone calls to make. The funding seminar at last weeks NFASP conference suggested putting aside at least 20% of your time on funding based activities.  Reckon it’ll be a bit higher than that for these next few weeks. But if we build it right, the work load will be less in the long run. Or so I’m hoping.

# 19 [2 December 2009]

Whoops, I can’t find the instructions for the heating system. It’s cold in here! Suppose that makes it all the more authentic though. Freezing artist in old building, cold breath-clouds spiralling up into the even colder ceiling.

Fret not though. Michael is back tomorrow, and he can work the machine.

The future is bright.

The future is toasty.

# 18 [30 November 2009]

Enham in Southampton left me knackered. Re-united again with my sometimes-partner in things arty, Jon Adams, we were speakers at a pilot session for the Dada Exchange programme we are involved with. Usually it serves to provide a mentoring service for artists who have or have had some experience of disability in their lives.  It’s a fantastic programme, and all the advisors have benefited probably as much as the clients. I didn’t know it would be like that when I signed up for it, but I’m all the better for it.

This pilot scheme is for non-adults living in the socially marginalised fringes of today. Our task was to introduce ourselves and give brief but (hopefully) motivating talks about how they could possibly benefit from such a scheme. Yes, it’s art, but it’s also a mentored path that can help these young people get a bit of self esteem back into their lives.

The second part of the session was were Jon and I led a workshop each. I think he was by far the more sensible of us two, and had them actually making stuff, responding to text from books. For mine, I had them involved with a site-responsive installation drawing with the furniture. Giving these young ‘uns the freedom to pull the room apart, up-end furniture,  pile chairs up, and rip up some books (specially provided) was quite an experience for all concerned. Energy levels went through the roof, and control was walking a fine line on more than one occasion!  But as we swapped groups over and repeated the session, it seems the furniture drawing had a significant affect on them. The drawings they made in Jon’s session turned out to be a lot more inventive and unimpeded than those of the first group who ran the exercise cold.

Comments ran from Weird, Boring and Pointless to Fantastic, Unexpected and Exciting. I think we can do more of this. But bloody hell, it was hard work!  

# 17 [30 November 2009]

The Future Jobs Fund is looking to be possible addition to the Chapel Arts studio programme. I had a good chat with those people today, and they think the ideas are  (a) good and (b) stand a high chance of acceptance. If we can get a series of 6 month roll-over residencies in the chapel, with each successive unemployed artist placed into a local school or college, we could reach out to literally thousands of people. It’s a big step-up from a workshop teaching a dozen or so locals how-to-do.

The blog I read the other day by Emily Speed has added a lot of impetus to this plan. When she asked about the difference between an artist initiated public-art project and a public-art project, I think she touched on a very relevant issue for what I’m hoping to do here.

Getting even so much as an early stage endorsement from the Future Jobs Fund people is very encouraging .

# 16 [30 November 2009]

Interview at the Walsall Gallery went pretty well. Fantastic building. Beautiful floor. Jon and I had a tough pitch to make though. Building a residency programme that has it’s origin on a responsive footing leaves the field of play completely open. We literally don’t know what we’ll be finding.

But that’s how we want it.

The last couple of years have seen us collaborate on an increasing number of projects that involve coming blind to a situation, and creating a site specific response. An unexplored site is an uncertain thing, but an unexplored population is even more so. Who knows what they’re going to do? All we know is that we will use what we find as a starting point and let it grow form there. We both find that exhilarating, scary as hell, but also a way of preventing us from imposing too much of ourselves onto the initial stages of the work.. 

Working like that, we get more of a call-and-response situation, and something that stays fresh throughout. But, like I said, it does make it very hard to pitch. How do you propose something that you have no plan for? We opted for a discussion on our previous working methods, and the ethics for doing such work..

As it happens, we didn’t get the commission, which was a big shame. We both feel this is an exciting project and I guess we’ll just have to take it elsewhere! Onwards and upwards. The Occasional Collective will appear again.

# 15 [22 November 2009]

My phone has just  broken. Lost all of my numbers and contacts.

Mustn't think bad thoughts of the phone. It wasn't doing it to spite me, in the middle of one of the busiest weeks I've had, but I still find it hard not to feel agrieved by the wretched piece of stupid, inert machinery.

Where's the wine?

# 14 [22 November 2009]

The studios are OPEN!

A splendid sunny day. All the right people were here. Had a lot of short conversations over the two-hour frantic meet, greet and eat. Pleased to say that the first, tentative, exploratory shoots of project-plan-litmus-testing turn out trumps. Or should that be 'up'? Turned 'up' trumps? Hm. Too busy to care really. It went trumpy, 'nuff said.

Got a few tasty leads to follow up the next few days. It's always worth talking to everyone. You just don't know who may have something new for you: that stray word, turn of phrase or blatant suggestion that could turn your plans on a sixpence or provide that vital ingredient you've been looking for. I've had a bit of all of those this last week. Think I will need to build some type of outlet for what is going on as it comes together.  Maybe a website is necessary. This blog is helping me keep a sense of continuity and reflection, but there's not the space to lay out all the excitement.

I'm hoping we're ging to evolve into a multi-facetted organisation that has it's core here, in my pointy chapel, but works out in satelite locations. Want to reach hundreds of people with this, not just few dozen here and there. It's all about vision, and having just enough stupidity to remain unafraid of what you're embarking upon!

Meanwhile, tonight involves some last minute prep for the last-stage interview at Walsall New Art Gallery tomorrow. Gonna be a busy week, this one...

# 13 [19 November 2009]

I started this blog only a few weeks ago. Seems like another life. Sitting behind a gallery desk, getting my bike stolen, and watching people fall ill. Struggling, hoping and living in a bedsit. Today’s NFASP conference, at the Toynbee centre in London, was another clear signpost to a brighter, happier, artier world. With the Chapel Arts studios having their official mayoral-opening tomorrow, Motivated Dave was in da house, and everything that everyone said was interesting. People spoke of ideas creating change, of funding possibilities, of tenancy agreements, of integrating with the community, of educational programmes, of diversity, of residencies and of studio collectives.  No such thing as too much. I’m so fired up I could soak myself in this stuff till my fingers go wrinkly.

All that and biscuits too! Mind you, I missed all the chocolate ones as I was too busy talking to a studio director about their aspiration of “raising the consciousness” of their home town through an ambitious outreach programme. I liked this lady.

In fact the only bit of the day that could have been disappointing turned out to be the best success. Five afternoon seminars. Choose one. I chose one. Turned out I knew the speaker, Katherine Anteney, (I liked her too),and had previously been part of the splendid aspace organisation and studio complex she was talking about. The work that Dan Crow, the director (who I like as well), has done these last nine years is nothing short of inspirational. He’s been flying an ever-expanding lone flag of creative talent in the city’s centre, and without him, Southampton would be a much poorer place.

Be that as it may, this was not the seminar of New and Unexplored and Unexpected territory that I was hoping for. Bummer. Though, seeing a slide of my work appear during the presentation was unexpected. As was one of the NFASP trustees approaching me about an exhibition he’s curating curate. He saw the slide of my work and would like to involve me.  “I can do that” I said, and if all goes well, I will.

For now, I best put all that to one side and get ready for tomorrow’s opening. Michael, my brilliant but over-worked and worn-out development officer has announced he’s got the red ribbon at last. Seven metres of it?! I had to laugh when he told me that. I mean, how big can two doors be? Are we wrapping the entire Chapel in the shiny stuff? But he’s bringing tables at 10, and collecting sandwiches at 11. Then it’s best bib and tucker with all hands on deck. Ruth, Michaels wife, and Louise, my almost-wife, will be there to help with the drinks, and a-talking we shall go.  

I’m going to remember tomorrow for a long time, I think. It’s not everyday that a best case scenario lands on your doorstep, so this is one to savour. With wine of course.  And a lot of thankyou’s.

# 12 [18 November 2009]

We’re off to London tomorrow. Not to see the queen this time, but to attend an annual conference of art-studio providers. I’m expecting to glean huge amounts of useful, practical and inspirational material form this day, and although I’m still typing well past my bedtime, I can’t seem to switch off from all the possibilities that are starting to show themselves with the Chapel Arts project. Each day uncovers something new. Another path to follow, a new lead. We now have a plethora of what-if’s .

For when I come back from the conference with yet another bag stuffed full of yet more of the plethoric what-if’s, I have got myself booked into an advice session. With so much to plan, (and most of it completely new ground for me)  I've chosen a very clever man called Jonathan. He’s an advisor for ARC in Portsmouth, and yea verily, he shall dispenseth of the wisdom. Or I’ll want my money back. Or at least the biscuits I intend to feed him.

Just a little over 24 hours to the opening now, and the non-stop info-gather and plan-hatching of the last couple of weeks is really coming together. We have a coalescing, I do believe!  

Speaking at last weeks Café Culture to a small, but well-listened audience, I began to see the studios at a genetic level. We have a wonderful opportunity to build something into existence, and the genes we provide it with will go a long way in determining the life-form that evolves over the next few months (and hopefully years).

What if the studios evolved into a base of operations? It’s beautifully formed, but too small to be a dedicated venue. I think what we have here, in viewing it as a base, is more of a creative think-tank: an ideas machine that people will come to, meet, speak, react and respond. This building needs to be an engine that churns out these ideas and inspiration, feeding the local community and drawing people in from a wider field.

So, the question is, what are the ingredients that will yield this rich harvest that is so desired?

Good question.

# 11 [17 November 2009]

It's here! The wait is over! The studios have a bright red settee, and it's a thing of comfort and beauty!