I have been really busy this week finishing off the academic work required for the course, the hand-in deadline being tomorrow. I have been busy writing reviews, making up exhibition proposals and working on my artist website (big and small), business plans, cvs and the like. It is a relief to post it all off for submission and get back to the painting. I have been busy.
I have had 2 tutorials this week, one with the visiting artist as posted earlier and one with the lecturer on wednesday. Both are of the opinion that the text are the hot areas. I have ordered 6 A3 size mdf boards from woodworking to work on a number of samples next week.
Also discussed was my earlier experimentation with sanding down the paint and I got some really helpful advise on how to improve this as I was struggling. Basically, I do need a proper sander so I need to source one of these during the weekend. Being more sophisticated with the painterly process will be really important if the intended forthcoming text paintings are to have any real power.
I have just found out that my proposal for The Artist and The City exhibition at the Potteries museum has been successful so I have a meeting with them at the museum next week to run over a few things. I am really delighted to have this opportunity.
Today’s paintings are one test piece using text only and the start of another union jack/figure/the naked truth image.
I have loads to say about these paintings and the progress to far but will keep that until I have done another days work tomorrow. I am looking forward to getting into the studio tomorrow and working on the face.
A good day
Today we had an artist talk with Miranda Whall who lectures fine art at Aberystwyth. She discussed her current project called “Passage” and showed us a 22 minute film of the work. I was interested in her comments about collaboration in its may forms from the sound technician to the various people she had been in contact with as part of the project.
The film itself as it stands is a 4 screen affair that overall is calming, looking at a sense of place and reflective. French is spoken and I did struggle to translate it apart from the odd word. The language and sound used seems to have equal privilege to the images shown. The uplifting piece ends in darkness and a distressing dance vocal. She described later that this element of the work was a 95 year old Tai lady who practiced KHAW, that is to sing poetry.
She then talked about her folder sheet as a way of presenting the work and how all the images and ideas came together. The workings at such a direct level which are mini works in their own behalf, are always far more interesting than the finished piece as it is the journey itself that gives the greatest journey.
I had a tutorial afterwards with her. Her comments about the work I still need to digest further but in simple terms, it was the strap lines that she was interested in and not the painting.
I have also been looking more at Judith Butler as I need to back up some of my reasoning in my longer artist statement at 750 works with critical value. I have found a marvelous quote from her that I will use as an introduction. I felt that I have only just started on my understanding of Butler and I know I will be revising the library again for her. The book by Moya Lloyd which explains the reasoning behind her words is really helpful in simplifying what is a high brow text.
I have submitted this week my first proposal as part of an exhibition at the Potteries museum, Stoke on Trent as part of The Artist and The City show which is currently on within the Museum and in conjunction with Airspace Gallery.
I find out next week if my proposal has been accepted. I have learned a lot about presenting yourself in a professional way and tailoring the proposal to the needs of the agency promoting the work. I will be delighted if I get accepted for this project as it will mean I will have something fresh to think about over the Christmas period as the resultant painting would need to be submitted to the museum on the 5th of January. We shall see.
I have had this book for a while and in terms of writing an artist statement and getting more sophisticated with my vocabulary it has been the best read so far. It is not an art book but a critical review of the legacy of feminism and the issues of our present day post feminism culture. It talks about in an articulate way the various issues I am looking at. The introduction is most certainly the best but I was disappointed with chapter 2 on magazines as I thought this would directly address my key area but sadly not. Its more about magazines in its widest sense and not womens lifestyle magazines.
But well worth the read and I know my artist statement and reasoning will be far better for it. Extensive notes taken which I know I will go back to time and time again.
I have had my recent 3 images up in the exhibition area for testing since thursday. The general opinion seems to be that they like the addition of the woman within the work but that equally not to give up on the text only pieces. The student response is that the union jack as a base is well received but I think the lecturers are somewhat more worried about its use given its various connotations. I feel strongly given my current line of inquiry that it is something I want to keep working with for now but I do have to acknowledge its political content. I have built my reasoning for using such iconic images into my artist statement to explain my thought process.
I want to create another similar image but this time addressing some of the failings of the ‘get your coat’ piece. This time I will use the strap line THE BARE TRUTH and have an image of the woman with a naked shoulder. That in itself will play with the concept but I want to try instead of using REVIEW or ON SALE NOW and use the #heforshe campaign.
I want to use a black and white portraiture image and add red lips to allude to the sexualisation of british culture.
Today, as our visiting speaker we had the gallerist Ceri Hand. She explained her background and the development of her career in detail. It was interesting to see all the twists and turns as she has worked for Grisedale Arts, FACT, METAL, had her own gallery in Liverpool and London and now is working with the Contemporary Arts Society dealing with large scale public art works and she discussed a few of our her current projects.
She heavily underlined best practice in terms of presenting yourself and how the relationship between gallerist and artist can be to a mutual advantage.
I took lots of contacts and in terms of professionalism needed to progress there was great advice given.
Its a curious one this one, Elle have just released in their December ‘Feminist’ Issue so in the context of making sure my line of inquiry is responsive to current political and social climate I felt I needed to read this. Also, its a fantastic coincidence that the very magazines I have been critiquing as partly responsible for the sexualisation of society; consumerism hunger and sound bite issues of the 21st century are exactly the vehicle for promoting the fact that feminist issues in 2014 are still relevant today to young women.
In all fairness, the words that should perhaps be used now are EQUALITY as Feminism as a word still carries connotations of negativity to women especially where it is confused with being anti-feminine. And so it is with some irony that the cover advertises the contents as Feminism and also ‘new bags shoes and jewellery’. And despite starting the debate on page 193 and finishing at page 231 they make a strong but current and sensitive report on the current political landscape. Key points:
Emma Watson is now the UN Women Good Will ambassador and it follows her recent speach to the UN.
Pay difference – recent report (Folio society 19%?)
‘This is what a feminist looks like’ campaign featuring prominent men wearing the t-shirt (RRP £45 each)
Rebranding from Feminism to Equality may be an easier sell
Reference to #Im not a feminist recent trend on twitter.
#heforshe campaign now launched by Emily Watson as an agent for change to persuade men to engage in feminism,..arguing that in the past the message has been misdirected at women only and the need to readdress the balance to allow for change.
Perhaps more disturbing is the apathy from women from survey results ….unaware of the issues?
Promotion of female politicians views and not their shoes
So in summary, it may be a little light reading for your coffee table but as something that is current and thought provoking to an audience that is interested primarily in the feminine, it has to be applauded. Well done ELLE and it also confirms my area of research is really strong and current.
