After a couple of years of dire artistic unemployment, I got a job. And not just any old job, but one with the glorious title of ‘Artist Ranger’, and which involves working in an excellent little museum – a trove of museological wonders tucked away in the heart of Suffolk. Part of a project called ‘Happening on the High Street’, my role includes – in my mind, at least – introducing new audiences to the collections and events taking place here in Ipswich.

 

More to the point, this museum is right next door to my former art school, and this art school is now the museum’s gallery space. My studio is now in Colchester, and I must admit I’ve not been back to the old school much in the last few decades. Recently, however, this museum service has joined with the one in Colchester, becoming ‘Colchester and Ipswich Museums’ – an unusual move, given that the two towns, while geographically close, are in different counties. But for me, there is a sense of rightness in coming back to where (creatively, at least) it all began.

Part of my job is to assist with the gallery programme – which involves both working with other artists, and rummaging through the museum stores. Given my love of collections and taxonomies – as well as art and artists – it’s a truly fantastic opportunity on many levels, and my intention is to use this blog to both document my progress, and the ongoing happenings in both museum and gallery. More to follow!


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