I would like to nominate myself for the most rediculously overstretched ACE funded R&D project embarked on as far as time goes. My original and neatly formed plan of nine months work has again been extended to now become a nineteen month project. The picture in my head of myself swooning about the studio producing swathes of work, travelling across the globe talking to curators and running engaging work within the community in nine months proved way too ambitious. In reality, newly gained diabetes (endless doctors appointments), a crazy, needy puppy foisted on me, an aging father getting up to all sorts of mischief and four children with their run of sleepovers, school fairs and roman toga days etc., made a bit of a dent in my time plan.
In my defence, I have more or less achieved these things, just not in the time anticipated. Juggling quite so many balls as it were, I am convinced, is not good for my brain. Yesterday I took an alzheimers test, and failed miserably. I am now, as my mother would have said – up to high dough worrying about it (Belfast people will understand me), although my husband assures me I have always been like this.
I note Rachel Howfield and I followed similar timescales in our R&D work but in slightly different directions.Where Rachel has combined her R&D work with exhibiting, I have intentionally pulled out of exhibiting this year to concentrate on other aspects of development within my practice. In reality I think we’ve both been running round like headless chickens. Either way, I’m sure Rachel will agree, the year has had a huge impact on our work and a bit of dog walking in the snow and Christmas relaxation by the fire can’t come soon enough!
