I am excited and petrified. I heard this week that I have been short listed for something I really want to do. This is wonderful. However, I have to do a 15 minute presentation as part of the final selection process and this fact, when I read it, filled me with fear!
I have calmed down a bit since then. I have no problem with speaking in public or in engaging with discussion in public. It is a different matter when it comes to expressing my own ideas, work and working practice. The presentation will be the opportunity to begin the clarifying of my own thought process and ideas relating to my own work. If I am successful; this opportunity will open up new pathways and opportunities. I have been aware for some time that I have reached the point with my practice where I would really benefit from some engagement with serious academic thinking and interaction with other practitioners.
Engaging with debate and ideas is an important part of being an artist as is visiting galleries and museums to see exhibitions. I was excited by the discussion I joined at The Tetley in June of this year with artists discussing their work showing in the gallery space. Recently, I have booked a place on two seminars, one is a day exploring the issues of contemporary artists in rural contexts, the other a few hours next week, in Wakefield run by Axis is called Artist Validate Thyself and will explore issues of how artists are validated by other artists and peers, how they are often misrepresented by galleries and other issues. I am looking forward to them both as an opportunity to engage fully for some brief hours with the business of being an artist after a month of working hard for the anti fracking cause.
I finished a couple of books. I was thoroughly absorbed by the process; the ideas, imagery and text are an extension of my current work; placing them into a three dimensional book form is something I will continue with when I can. The books are currently residing in a gallery in Staithes.
I have selected work for an upcoming solo show in York; it is an experimental series of paintings I did based on the process of painting itself and using the colours and textures of the passing seasons as another time based reference. It is a relief not to have to worry about what I will be showing and I think they will look great installed in against the newly painted grey walls of the space. The paintings comprise one piece, which I would not break up by selling a single painting from the series of twelve. I had giclee prints made of each painting, something I would not normally do, so I hope I sell some!
So, after this weekend, which is mostly dedicated to the fight against fracking, I will be taking some time out to concentrate on my own work and development. I am looking forward to it.
