I spent the eleventh day at the Museo preparing my talk and presentation for the following evening.
On the twelfth day I was introduced to Iván Sánchez, a Mexican guitarist and sound artist. Iván had been commissioned by the museum to make a sound installation for one of the prison cells. The work explores the literary universe of Leonora Carrington, using various instruments and a child’s voice to create a very piece.
In the evening we both presented our artistic research to the staff of the Museo and Centro de las Artes. In addition to this audience were a few members of the public.
My presentation contained a brief introduction about my professional background, Well Projects* and also my involvement in the Despacito Art School** in Cliftonville. I then expanded upon a few recent examples of artistic works followed by my research into Leonorra Carrington. My presentation was followed by a small group discussion (including Centro de las Artes Director Laura Elena González Sánchez and Museo Leonora Carrington Director Antonio Garcia Acosta) about the literary works of Leonora focusing on Down Below in particular.
* Well Projects is an artist-led organisation that operates as a flexible events space and supports a public programme. Inhabiting a small shop-front in Margate, Well projects looks to the water well for direction, as an interstice in a location, as a reservoir and as a place to gather. Well Projects works with artists and practitioners to present a varied programme of reading groups, film screenings, performances, workshops and exhibitions.
** Despacito Art School is run by art tutors Heather Tait and myself, together with OSE*** Associates Coral Brookes, Katie Fiore, Una Hamilton Helle and Sarah Karen. It is a hands-on place to learn about art, craft and functional object-making. Despacito is open to young people aged 7 to 12, who live in and around Cliftonville West.
*** Open School East is a space for artistic learning that is free, experimental, collaborative and brings together diverse voices. They provide tuition and studio space to emerging artists, run learning activities for young people and adults, commission artists to develop participatory projects, and produce and host cultural events and social activities for and with everyone.
