ARTISTS TALKING

Jane Watt interviewed Jo Roberts about her residency at Grizedale and subsequent work Jo's Journeys.

Jane Watt: Describe your past and current work and practice.

Jo Roberts: I finished my MA in fine art six years ago. My practice gradually evolved through sculpture to installations, to site specific work, to becoming increasingly interested in people and places and their interaction as well as my role within that. My work is now firmly grounded in socially engaged practice and the dynamics between process and product.

JW: Did you put together a proposal for the residency or were you invited to make work there?

JR: I responded to an advertisement in [a-n] MAGAZINE to apply for residencies. In January 2001 I was fortunate to be offered one. Firstly I went off to do my research and development. It came at a crucial time, as I was able to go right back to the beginning to question my practice as an artist. Being given the freedom and time to do this was invaluable. As a direct result of this, in May 2001, I started calling myself a Commentariographer – a word last used in 1576.

The development of Jo's Journeys took some time. From April to June 2002 I worked with BBC Radio Cumbria. I did four journeys - south, west, east and north from Grizedale, each lasting a week; each day I did a live broadcast. The journeys were a metaphor for life's journey how you head off in a general direction and then start going to the right or left. I talked to people I met along the way about their journeys. I used audio recordings, digital photos, drawings. It resulted in a book, map and audio CD.

JW:What were the highs and lows of the residency?

JR: It was just fantastic. The highs were the freedom to do the work, meet other artists there and to work with great staff. The lows were the same as in any project: fear of failure! It was hard work and difficult at times for a variety of reasons, for example, I didn't have a car. But all in all it was a profound and unique experience and I'm delighted to be carrying on working with Grizedale Arts doing a further project called the Grizedale Roadshow.

JW: How did it compare to your other residencies?

JR: I don't think that you can compare Grizedale, it is a totally unique experience.

JW: Have any new work or opportunities resulted directly or indirectly from your residency at Grizedale?

JR: Probably everything that I'm doing! When I was being interviewed for one project that I subsequently got, I asked them why they had wanted to see my work. Apparently they had been following the project on the BBC website and wanted to know more.

JW: What advice would you give other artists who are thinking of undertaking a residency there?

Jo: Be proactive and prepared to take risks.