Our show was called 'Both Ends of Madness' exploring the human need to create as a kind of necessity, to the therapeutic benefits of creative making whether you are an artist or not. Our group are very dispersed internationally and it was lovely to catch up and meet new friends.
At the beginning of my trip I had a very much needed mentoring session with the outcome really suggestion that perhaps I should step back slightly and purposefully write a manifesto. Whilst I continue to make new work seemingly and continually in it's infancy, what really is my subject? And just as important, to help as a guideline, what is my end goal? We went from talking about Biosemiotics to silence, existentialism, the ephemeral, acts of intervention, process as meaning, the meaning behind making and ways to present 'slow' work. I have a lot to think about.
Our host where we are staying in Portugal has recommended the methodology of 'mind mapping' to clarify one's ideas, thoughts and feelings. I have brought the e Kindle version of 'The Ultimate Book of Mind Maps®' by Tony Buzan so we'll see how I get on unravelling my buzzing brain. Maybe I'll create some artworks out of this activity?
On this note I would like to share with you the work of Lucy Gresley, fellow member of the Plastic Propaganda group. If you go to her webpage under the section http://www.lucygresley.com/#!thinking/crpi , there is the wonderful 'Practice As Research Poster' 2015 which she has created (third image down). The title of this section of artworks is called 'Thinking'.
I tried to link up with a number of creative people whilst in the area. I had the pleasure of spending a morning with Hannah ten Doornkaat. An experienced artist and fellow twitterer, it was our first meeting. Hannah generously showed me round her studio, sharing her finished artworks, new ideas in progress, telling me about her exhibition activities, experiences of selling work, thoughts on what I could do, and generally the ups and downs of being an artist. This visit and our conversation was so nice for me as it is something I don't get to do often enough, thank you Hannah. Here is Hannah's website: http://www.tendoornkaat.co.uk/home
I also had a morning with designer and artist Mandy Munroe. We have known each other a few years and took great delight in talking all things quilts and knitting. These skills are perhaps on the peripheries of my practice at the moment but I wanted to pick Mandy's brains and her expertise to increase my knowledge and get my creative thoughts moving in a broader way. These are not technical terms for quilt making and I paraphrase by saying I have learnt "it's all about the square", how to use negative space, low loft and high loft wadding and how you can create "hills and valleys", to name a few. These expressions give me titles for ideas, even if not with quilting. Thank you for your time Mandy. Here is Mandy's blog: https://mandymunroe.wordpress.com
Continuing with sewing I did spend quite a bit of time in the top end designer shops whilst in London. I am no fashion guru at all, and this was partly for my own dress-making, but I wanted to look at the different fabrics, how they are matched together and construction. I deliberately didn't look at the prices but you can understand and appreciate the craftsmanship that has gone into many of the hand-sewn or hand-finished items, which seems to be the 'in' thing? The quality of many of the fabrics are like nothing I have ever worn and the inside of many garments was just as neat as the outside in terms of tailoring skills, unless the 'unfinished' look was part of the design. Thoughts about shape, form, construction, sculpture, texture, abound.
As for art exhibitions I visited many whilst in London, too many to list here. My highlights were Sergej Jensen 'Moneybags' at The White Cube where I had my "oh yes" moment and Piero Manzoni 'Achromes: Linea Infinita' at Mazzoleni Art Gallery. I was so pleased to see a collection of this artist's work in one place.
I also visited 'Conceptual Art in Britain 1964-1979' at Tate Britain and 'Electronic Superhighway 2016-1966' at the Whitechapel Gallery. I have been described as a conceptual artist in the past and I like conceptual art but perhaps not always the visuals. My visit to the Whitechapel Gallery was in question to what is my relationship with the internet? I joke here and say it is a love/hate relationship! I think actually my favourite work in this show was Allan Kaprow's 'Hello 1969' where he linked up people internationally via a live television broadcast, with everyone keep saying 'Hello??'. It seemed very much like an early form of our modern day Skype.
By the way, it seems to be popular at the moment to curate shows with their timeline going backwards rather than forwards.
Talking of the internet I do just want to add Alex Evans blog link. He is the artist I have just read about who has been to New York recently, and the internet becoming key to his practice:
https://www.a-n.co.uk/blogs/networks-in-new-york
I finish my blog with some images from our exhibition in London. There are 200+ images to choose from and I apologise to those people I have left out. You are all here on my computer at home. Thank you to Jez Giddings for taking our images. If you would like to know more about this artists group that I belong to, here is our website: http://www.plasticpropaganda.co.uk
Setting up.
Ready to go.
A brief interlude whilst mopping the floor.
A portion of my work in detail.
Opening night.
Opening night.
Glimpses of our guests on opening night, through my work.
Opening night.
Deep in conversation, opening night.
Deep in conversation, opening night.
Deep in conversation, opening night.
Setting up - detail of Anjula Crocker's work.
Extended line drawing - some of the work of Lucy Gresley.
And more of Lucy's work - using Mohair wool mmmmm!
Mohair detail.
Public Symposium night.
A still of John Butterworth's film.
Looking out onto the street.