Today, I know what I am and where I’m going. I have a show ahead in Geneva. I love to make art – these are my certainties. A curator from Geneva, over for a funeral (long story) came to look at my work and liked it. We talked, talked about advice I’d had from all sources, about how I spent so much time tracking what other artists were up to (and I’m afraid that includes blogs).
Turn the computer off, she said, get into the studio and stay there, stop listening to everyone around you, do what you do best and I will exhibit your work in 2010.
And so I have, and she was right, the ideas are coming and I feel on track again. So I’m not going to spend a day travelling to the discussion on art and motherhood at the Whitechapel on Friday. I know it’s a hugely worthwhile event and Id love to be involved (although it’s timed to fall right over school pick up) but right now I need to work, and no amount of networking comes before that. As a mother of four I can explore till the cows come home how hard it is to balance time for the children and studio time but when it comes down to it time spent discussing could be time spent working. Don’t get me wrong I think it’s vital these discussions take place and I believe good will come of them but for me, right now, with four children, no family and husband rarely around, studio time has to take precedence.
