From the Inside World to the Outside World.

The possibility of opening up my own gallery space after university is becoming more of an option as of late. Discussing it with different people and it is seeming to be quite a good idea. Better than just working and doing bits of art here and there. If I’m going to do something I would rather try my hardest to put my all into it. I’ll probably struggle along for a good while but I’m surrounded by people that will help me in any way possible which gives me a lot of confidence.

So, I have a phone number about a possible space to let in Afflecks Palace where I work. Its a small shop space on the ground floor and could make for a good space to start off. The corridor will attract the people going into Afflecks so it will be noticed. Maybe if I had somewehere like that I could move into a bigger space if it works out.

There are so many different ways i could involve the community and earn a living from doing this as well. I suppose it might end up being a little similar to some of the things Nexus Art Cafe does in the Northern Quarter – but the things I will do will relate to my own personal studio work in community based performance pieces, as well as getting the community more involed with art, and giving creatives around Manchester another space and way to develope their own practice, exhibit, tlak and get to know other artists etc.

So this turned out to be a massive head rant on everything I have been thinking about today But its good to get it out. I’ll keep looking at possible ways of making this all happen – funding form some kind of arts project even? Who knows. This is all very scary because its not going to be structured university anymore – but when you start thinking about it you realise just how many possibilities there are if you just put your mind and heart into doing it. Wish me luck.

Dissertation has to be done in less than a month. Completely done. Currentely having a cup of tea to wind down from the huge freak out I have been having about this. Obviously I haven’t been doing the productive thing by actually writing more of it – instead I have managed to buy a new rat, clean the house and nap a little.

I think the worst thing is not having a tutoiral yet. This is obviously pretty bad but I am quite pleased at the amount I have learnt and written about with out any kind of supervision. I feel sorry for my boyfriend having to listen to my constant rants about it all! I’m just glad that what I am writing about actually excites me and links into my studio work completely.

Im writing about the emergence of a new spiritual in contemporary art. I believe spirituality is being used more frequently at the moment but it is different to how it has been used in the past. The essay focuses a lot on Marina Abramovic and the use of ritual in her performances, and I am alos looking into the way science is being used in conjunction with spirituality instead of opposite to it. Marc Quinn seemed to be a good artist to look at however I have managed to write much more on Abramovics work than his. I’m unsure on where to go from here and whether I should find another artist more solid than Quinn to write about?

If any one reads this post and has any ideas on how the hell I can pul this off then please let me know. All feedback is very welcomed!

So I need to figure out how and when I am going to film this video piece. i keep going on about it expcting it to happen, when it needs to be planned. My tutor told me thats one of my problems – I need to MANIFEST my ideas. Manifest Manifest Manifest. I need to get on it.

Today I have work but then after that I am coming home, tidying my room and getting on it. I also need a new yearly wall planner. I heel lost without one for the new year!!

Here are some photos of my most current pieces of work, from and exhibition held at Manchester School of Art. The piece consists of 110 porcelain vessels (I like to call them vessels) spread out onto 11 shelves from floor to ceiling (or floor to top of the board!). The number of 110 is not currentely important in an obvious manner but kind of relates to the amount of time to make them. They in themselves are objects that embody the process of making which is why i call them vessels. The process of making them was in itself very ritualistic, especially as this was realised during hte making and not before hand. At first I simply wanted to explore using porcelain as a material and subsequentely fell in love with it, but accidentally I came across a process which I am hoping to turn into a video piece within the next week. I like the use of ceramics and the possibilities it has and hope to keep using it, as well as keeping up the drawing/painting/doodling and using found images and collage.

p.s. sorry about the images being the wrong way around – I’m not sure how to fix it!

‘A blog detailing the transition from the inside world to the outside world’…

The blog description says it all really – I have 5 months until the end of university and this small numer is starting to scare me a little. I’ve got ideas of what I want to do afterwards but I have no idea of how to go about them or what opportunities may arise in the next couple of months, if any (get used to the pessimism). Hopefully with the help of this blog and the company of my little rat Onyx I will stay a little sane. Wish me luck – touch wood.