Artists Talking. Yes. It really is all about the conversation for me.
I can make stuff, always have, but it’s the conversation that makes it real.
Having my work hung in the foyer is great. Better than I thought. I’ve had conversations with all sorts of people that I wouldn’t normally, about the work. Lecturers I don’t usually chat to, librarians, technicians, security people, cleaners, students I’ve never met before, visitors, nervous people waiting for interviews. Each has a different take on these gently twirling “children”. Some think they are cute, some that they are very disturbing, some interpret different “children” in different ways, some they think are being handled aggressively (by handled, I refer to the embroidered hand marks I have made on them all), violently, being abused: others are being loved and cared for.
I wonder afterwards, how much of the person has been revealed by them telling me what they think is going on.
The conversations remove layers, get down to the nitty gritty, help you articulate your thoughts. Only talking to artists is no good though, you have to talk to all sorts of people.
Making yourself talk to people can help solve problems. Sometimes you don’t know there is a problem till you start trying to explain yourself.
Arguing with Bo every week has been brilliant. He’s so good at that “throw in a hand grenade” comment that blows the doors off your idea. Then I argue back and bluster about and go “yeah, but…” but at the end of it I have clarity, and can communicate. In this very blog post I am stealing his words, but they are good words, so I don’t care, and I’m hoping he won’t. To communicate with others is what’s required. To articulate my thoughts is needed. To not be able to do these things causes some sort of emotional halt.
