www.chapelartsstudios.co.uk

Had a quick trip to Salisbury Arts centre this evening to have a look at their new external lighting system.

Working in a cemetary comes, quite rightly, with it’s own set of challenges. A lot of them overlap.

First off the mark, we have Security. Always a good one this, as artists tend not to like being attacked. Can’t say much about the general public, but, speaking as an artist, I know I’m not fond of the idea. We also have the questions of Urban Sensitivity, Public Awareness, and of course that old chestnut which I am particularly fond of, Access.

The Test Valley Arts Foundation has already secured an extremely helpful sum from the police towards the Security fund. What we have been thinking is that a decent lighting system could illuminate the building, not be too intrusive to an area of great emotional importance, provide safer access to and from the Chapel Arts studio, as well as help to deter attacks and/or interference from any undesirables.

Such a system would also have a wider benefit to the local area as the cemetary links a number of housing areas. To have any degree of lighting installed is a welcome advantage to those crossing in darkness.

So the rub is, we’re trying to bring together various pots of financial assistance. These are aimed at making the local area safer, but at the same time will make our wonderful studio better seen and more secure.

While speaking to the director of the Salisbury Arts Centre, he explained that although there were, initially, a great number of concerns raised about the introduction of his sunken spotlights, the biggest problem of all was simply mis-communication. Councillors, local support groups, ecological organisations etc were accidentally translating the explanation into something that was quite different from the proposal itself. Once that was realised, and the proposal rephrased, the problems evaporated of their own accord.

Their lights work, everyone is happy with them, and we want some too. We’ll see how it goes…

Today was the day!

I am now the proud owner of a set of keys!

After all the waiting and building snag-list sorting, I at last have access to this fantastic building. Had an introductory meeting with some councillors and potential sponsors at the Chapel Arts studios as well. Seem like a very decent bunch, and once again I have come away feeling nothing but encouragement from the people I am dealing with during this residency.

Left them to go Andover Sound (106.4FM!) and gave my first radio interview. Goodness knows what it’ll sound like, as I tend to hate the sound of my voice when it’s played back. I think this is a common thing, is it not?

Now back at our flat, having moved in the first of the studio stuff, including a makeshift table and chair set. Actually it’s our garden furniture, but who’s worried right now? I’ve put the word out and hopefully something will appear. Deck chairs can only be sat on for so long!

So for now it’s time to sit back with a cup of tea, as the move is finally over. The house is only full of house stuff, the bathroom is ours once again, and the New Keys are safely in the key pot. Feeling completely battered by all the events this last fortnight, and who knows, maybe one of these days I’ll be able to graduate from waffle onto something more coherent! For now, I’ll just keep checking-in and reporting for duty.

A few days later, and the dust has started to settle. Examining the nature of a community based residency, and its requirements, we decided to uproot, and move right into the heart of Andover. I think it’s important to be as close to the studios as possible. This has already proved really useful, as the public duties are starting to rack up. It’s a post quite unlike anything I’ve had before, and although the amount of fresh un-trodden ground is quite daunting, the support I’m getting from the folk at Test Valley Arts Foundation is very uplifting! I’ve attended the opening of a schools community arts project, met with the senior arts officer to discuss programmes, and have a slot at the next Café Culture event in a couple of weeks. Tomorrow I’m meeting a collection of councillors and Important People who could make a big difference in the next 12 months if their support is elicited. Then on Saturday we’re off to Salisbury to check out their external lighting systems.

Due to various building snags, I’ve yet to actually gain the keys to the studios (although that joyous part is imminent). Nevertheless, the sense of involvement within the Andover community is growing rapidly. Press releases, radio interviews, mayoral meetings…all these things convey a sense of sincerity from Test Valley Arts, and add to my excitement of being part of a project that gains potential everyday.

“It ain’t about how HARD you can hit, it’s about how hard you can GET hit, and still keep going!” so sayeth Mr. Balboa. It is my dark and guilty secret that, once in a while, when the house is empty, and the beer is gone, I’ll sneak out, and rent a Rocky film. What can I say? Sorry.
But did I speak too soon about the stars in the last post? My bike has just been stolen from outside the gallery I work in. Not normally such a bad thing, really. I’ve got added context though!
For a start I’m a disabled artist, who gets around on a groovy prosthetic leg. Anything longer than trip to the kitchen, though and I’m stuffed. So I’m glued to my bike. Or was. These ‘people’ have effectively immobilised me. Nice.
Which is pretty much the icing on the cake for this last 8 weeks. Starting when we had to cancel our wedding 24 hours before zero hour, as my father-in-law-to-be was rushed in for some emergency surgery on a brain tumour. (recovery is going well) Then, coming back from a ‘honeymoon’ spent in hospital waiting rooms, I was made redundant on my first day back. Next day, found out my mum has cancer. She’s just had her tumour removed, thankfully with great success. Next up, my dad is going in for open-heart surgery in a couple of weeks, before his valves collapse completely. Last week a slight infection resulted in me having a tooth extracted, which failed to heal properly. We’re trying to move house closer to the Chapel residency, but have run out of dosh, and now my bloody bike has been stolen.
“And why do we fall down, Master Bruce?”
“So we can learn how to pick ourselves up, Alfred”
True enough, and this is what I feel my installation work has prepared me for. I try hard to look at the bigger picture. To see things in terms of process, and explore the contingent nature of things. That along with working with a medium imbued with the tendency to get itself damaged, destroyed and interfered with by outside influence every five minutes, has indeed effectively prepared me to roll with the blows.
I have to be very grateful for that, because sometimes, they just don’t seem to stop!

Suck it in. Keep going. Get in that studio and make the most of what will be a great year.(eventually)

Good news refreshes a thirsty man! Heard the happy tidings that I’ve been accepted on to this years AA2A residency scheme. I’ll be busying like a busy thing in the workshops down there, in the very near (and very busy) future.

The two residencies dovetail perfectly. l have had a video installation project on the back-burner for a couple of years now, due to a lack of resources to make some special equipment for it. Now, with this AA2A award, I’ll be able to make the frames, and then, get this, make the work in my new shiny studio. How cool is that? It feels great. I’ve had no studio for the last year, ‘cos times is hard, but it feels like the stars are beginning to align once more.

Or so I like to hope…