Awake at night its being full of hope and yes I am struggling with my cold, anyone who says its nothing knows very little. My body is battling an infection and I have been feeding my body good things to boost my immunity. The nights are peppered with tissues and chill, it is hard to rest due to coughing and sneezing. I am getting better, having company from friends like Amanda, my dearest Adam have spurred me on to boost my mood and that lovely warm company has strengthened me and reinforced my resilience.
Talking about resilience, I now have some focus and direction for my work. The course I am developing for presentations will be something that I hope will strengthen and revitalise many peoples’ development and skills. Strongly believing in the fact that everyone has something to offer the world and we all have a spectrum of inspired and experienced gems of knowledge.
Campaigns are at the core of my work, I do strongly support education for all, and of course to develop skills and prospects. Certainly I have been enabled by my study and this is an important part of my development and opportunities. I can confidently say that without the Degree in Fine Art and the lecturers’ support when days occurred where I was unable to stay for a full class I would not have achieved what I have done so far.
Below is a link to a campaign which is a great cause for Students, and future Students and Alumni.
https://www.facebook.com/thestudentassembly
Opportunities don’t just happen, you find, act, network, create, develop, take risks, be diverse, accept everyone as they are, encourage others, keep positive people around you and most of all reach out and accept assistance. And of course, offer assistance!
They phoned to say I didn’t get selected for formal interview :(
Time for putting Plan B into place!!!
It’s 15 years since my breakdown in hospital it was so severe they were preparing a place for permanent hospitalisation. Yup totally achieved loads and on my own merit and great education and being sociable and working extra hard becos of my disability and in the face of prejudice and bullying
:) proud LaLa
They loved both presentations they particularly liked my theme of wings and the only thing they were marking me down in was not including in the exhibition exhibits from the museum – I did intend to, I just didn’t put it in my presentation and it was an oversight
I think I have now freedom to do whatever I want and it made me realise that I am professional and I can achieve so much more
As my former Psychiatric Nurse embroidered a saying for me of:
‘Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday, and all is well’
I am finding it difficult to sleep… the interview for the Artist Ranger at Ipswich Museum is today!!!
Thankfully my presentation is complete as best can be. It will be me they judge and will want me to do well.
Sian, a friend I met who was a nurse on the ward I was in 15 years ago was my interview preparation and feedback.
Using my iPad I timed my presentation, yeah under 10 minutes each!!!
Now I really must go to bed and get ready for an exciting day ahead…. glass of red is helping to settle me and my cold (had the cold for 5 weeks now!)
Well I will update tomorrow here
Hopefully I get called back for the formal interview on Wednesday!!!! fingers x
I have been applying for many things, my TSOMB was not selected for the SMITHS ROW Open 2015. It was disappointing and it was not comfortable, but, maybe there is a different place for my work to be shown that it will suit better for the context.
In many ways I am making some progress with my Fine Art practice and I will be organising a project for Research and Development through Arts Council Funding.
The other day I saw a grant application for an artist to get funding for mentoring, I have a great idea for people who could mentor me and it will be something I could combine with the R&D.
For my practice, I have wanted to focus in on my own practice and being self-motivated for funding and now I have a clear idea of my practice and possibilities any application I make will have a defined and positive direction.
Where will I go from here? …. will keep posted!!
An artist never gets a day off, I am full of cold and yet I have had a number of projects to deal with. Being self-employed means when I am ill I have to plan and utilise my time effectively. Number one having a cold is a set back, Number two having difficulties with my Bipolar in direct conflict with this cold. It is hard being disabled and yet it is something which can make you adapt and devise a strategy or two to make the most of time and opportunity.
Over the last few days I have struggled to work, having planned to go to my studio space on thursday which I had to abandon that plan, I had some important applications to make….
While looking after my niece in Yorkshire my sister gave me some advice crucial to applying for a job in Ipswich Museum as an Artist Ranger. Significantly while I was helping her she was helping me, giving me some confidence and faith in my application. The relevant skills to match the relevant specifications was an exciting and daunting task for me, but my sister was on hand. Then back in Ipswich suffering with terrible temperature and blocked nose feeling rough… I kept reminding myself to apply for things.
First application: SMITHS ROW. I submitted my application with according documents and images to specifications. The works I submitted were The Shirt Off My Back on stand, two framed prints of Bodies I and Bodies II.
Second application: JVA FVU the Jerwood Visual Arts, Film and Video Umbrella Awards. I submitted a proposal within the themes of the timing and concepts around my own practice. It was a spur of the moment inspired idea to apply, to just see how it is done and develop some confidence in my application procedures.
Third application: Artist Ranger, Ipswich Museum via Colchester Museums. This is a paid role and it is engaging the community and arts in the museums and linking up the different galleries/arts organisations with Arts events and projects and other artists. This is the big one, the one my sister helped me with to fill out the online application. Well I never, it kept crashing, this has happened before when I have applied online to Next (ironically my TSOMB is a Next shirt and it is on a Next hanger that I applied to SMITHS ROW Open!). So I had already copied and pasted things onto the notes page I have on my MacBook. It was very nerve-wracking and I now realise things coming to mind that I missed out like the volunteering I did for SPILL Festival for Pacitti Company. Well I shall have to accept that I have done all I can and wish for the best…..
So despite feeling rough I have been productive when I have been able to. And right now I am on a good turn feeling less bunged up and now feeling tired and yet pleased I have braved it and ‘APPLICATED’!!!
