A year up north as a Resident Artist

The oPenn House exhibition proved rather a success – the intrigue of the house (being an old Rowntree residence) was a big advantage in that it brought people from miles around. I had brilliant feedback, and the atmosphere on the day was powerful. I wallpapered the entrance and asked people to leave their comments on the way out and i had some lovely messages. This was my first proper curatorial project, and i have to say i rather enjoyed it. However, i had also created much of the art in the house, and perhaps that is why?!

I opened the show for just one day due to stewarding issues and school commitments, but did take a couple of tours around but as some of the digital works had had to come down, the magic and atmosphere was somewhat lost, and i’m glad that we were a one day wonder – it adds more intrigue and discussion!

The School is winding down for the year now, and its all go… just one week left before i start my summer – not holidays – my plan is to really crack on with some work and make the most of the space!

I’ve finally started to get going again – at the worst time! Exams have begun and i’m so busy at the school, but the Easter holiday ignited my making flame, and i’ve started being alot more creative. Alongside some image based work i’ve begun, i’m also finishing off the commision i did during my residency at Froebel College last summer – see my other Blog “Gifts and Occupations”. AND curating an exhibition in a deserted school building here in York – see www.oPennHouse.blogspot.com

For the latter, i really want to produce some site specific work and have come up with an idea which is still technically a little out of my reach. But its exciting! I have a half-term holiday the week before and plan a little camp out, to really get into it without the distraction of school.

I’ve been thinking alot about my future and career plan, where things are headed. I’m really enjoying the community arts aspect of my life up here and have just been commisioned to produce a piece of work for a care home, with residents and the wider community contributing to this through workshops i’ll be leading. Workshops are something i’ve just started too, i ran a “Sculptural Textiles” workshop through a gallery i’ve been exhibiting with up here (something i was told was unlikely to happen…) which went well, and i’m running a series of varied arts workshops through school, for parents and staff. Its great fun, and i really am enjoying this aspect – if only i had more time to do my own work! On the subject of which, with all this thinking, i have decided that as i am staying on at the school for a second year as Resident Artist, i need to focus and prioritise my work here – reducing my boarding duties and learning to say no to huge irrelevant projects – allowing more time for my work. I need to utilise the next year as a platform for what i do next, while finishing my PGCE at such a lovely school. The activities and workshops i run at the school can be taken beyond and prepare me for 2011 – whether i end up as a community artist, another resident artist, a part time teacher, a freelance workshop leader/ artist – who knows…..

In the mean time… i’m looking forward to some freer time in the summer!

Its been months now. Well, i’ve baked bread, sewn a new dress, cooked dinner a few times, A smatter of creation, construction, but not quite the same. No physical, permanent release of emotion, energy, expression.

Whats wrong with me? My hands ache for the feel of the material. The cold metal, the warm wax, heavy hammer. My pores cry out for the connection that will ultimately hurt them. I feel anxious, agitated,. Something is brewing inside me and i need to facilitate its escape. Only part of me is resisting. Why? Is it fear? The fear of judgment, of failure. Fear of the words “waste of time” “whats the point”. Of misunderstanding and nonplussed bemusement. Surely there are more worthwhile things to be done. Cleaning out the cupboard under the stairs, going to the cinema, picking up some bread.

Its all on me. Its my choice. Soon the energy inside me will reach a limit and i will have no choice but to succumb to it. Take my tools from their box, open the tightly sealed, cold packets and lay it all out in front of me.

A pause. The first awkward touch, before familiarity takes hold. Like coming home. Suddenly all conscious thought is needless, only hands speak now.

Well, I’m writing this on the train back up north after a buzzing weekend in London. It’s only the second time I’ve been back since I moved away in September. Last time I couldn’t wait to be back on that train, and was cursing the crowded, manic city. But this time I came with an open mind, a huge list of places to go, people to see and galleries to visit, a compression of culture that I felt I lacked at times in York. So its been a crazy couple of days, I managed to get to the V&A (Decode was such a disappointment), the Serpentine, the NHM and its new Darwin wing, caught up with the RCA people, discovered the brilliant “Museum of Everything’ – well worth a visit, the Estorick Collections ‘action in image’, wandered the ICA, Andy Holden at Tate Britain AND parts of Tate Modern, Camden Arts Centre and I even climbed all 311 steps of Monument for a lovely view of the city. And that’s just the start.

I was beginning to feel as though I was sinking into a dreadfully depressing career crisis, doubting myself, my future etc. But talking it through today with an old friend (just one of the many who also seem to be entering their own career crises) made me realise a few things. Perseverance without desperation is the key, and its certainly too early to give up or sell out. I enjoy making more than anything in the world – the ideas are there, it’s just up to me to make them materialise. I have to sort out my priorities, but also bear in mind that there’s no huge rush. I have to stop comparing myself to my peers and take things as they come. I’m so lucky where I am at the moment, the enjoyment I get from being here, and I should savour the moment. I have 2 exhibitions coming up and so I am still officially an artist. I am. The easy bit is the ideas, the tricky bit is the making it happen. But I can do it. And I don’t, I’m sure I will still have enjoyed the process.

Famous artists, established and ‘successful’, know that whatever they make will be exhibited. It’s the ones who work away at home, producing pieces, or just stuff, who probably get the most enjoyment from it.

No more work with precious metals for me right now though. Credit crunch creation only for a while.

Well, i’ve been awfully rubbish at blogging. I know. But i’ve been so busy….

I finally got round to making some work, although i haven’t been able to finish the big projects that are on the list. I’m curating the staff art exhibition currently, so thats keeping me busy – its really interesting seeing what the other staff members, both within the art department, and throughout the rest of the school, are producing in their spare time. There really is some stunning work… i’m feeling the pressure as resident artist!

Life in school is still enjoyable although i’m getting so involved that i’m finding it hard to get on with my own projects. Living on site means that i’m always around to help out with one thing or another, and its so nice to be talking to the students about their work.

Went on a textiles course this weekend, as the department are keen to get me sorting out a 3D and textiles specialism… the course was help at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, so a great location – just a shame it rained the whole time. Got an opportunity to look through the Bretton Hall archives for art education though and they were really interesting. The weekend was split into 2 – constructed “textiles” on one day and manipulated fabric through stitch on the second. I enjoyed this one far more, and although the course was good from a teachers point of view, i felt it inspired me personally less as an artist. But that wasn’t the point i suppose! I have some interesting activities and projects up my sleeve now.

I know i should have expected it, coming to work in a school, but i really have fallen into the teaching trap. Not unhappily i should add, but a little tentative. I’ve started a PGCE part-time, as i found that even trying to get part time work in the local university was impossible without one – new regulations so a necessary qualification. Part time teaching while continuing my practice is my intention, though possibly not a secondary level – i’d far rather be in a workshop with 3D students, not that i don’t enjoy what i’m currently doing… I’ve been covering quite a few lessons due to sickness in the department, and although GCSE and A-Level are fine, i found some of the lower years quite challenging.

One thing this textiles course allowed me to do is talk to a group of art teachers with various backgrounds and experiences in a variety of schools. Some of the stories were quite scary, but i realised that i really must ensure my own practice is a priority, and that i should not take on anything full time in a permanent way. I am a maker and a teacher on the side. I am. My new years resolution will be to lock myself away for at least a solid day a week…