http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 The Inishlacken Project Sat, 06 Sep 2008 05:16:19 +0100 a-n rss generator a-n The Artists Information Company and contributors edit@a-n.co.uk technical@a-n.co.uk http://sites.a-n.co.uk/img/logo.gif http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 An impulsive visit to the west coast of Ireland led to staying overnight in the coastal town of Roundstone, west of Galway. Standing on the edge of small mooring dock overlooking the Atlantic Ocean it was possible to see a group of three islands some 1200 metres away, two accessed by a roadway but the last of which was totally separated from the mainland. Fascinated and inspired by the Irish landscape and its people I find my mind wandering off to notions of chartering a boat to visit the island, spending time there allowing the terrain to permeate into my thoughts and inspire and influence my work. The following day, before leaving to return to England, I noticed an open door underneath a sign proclaiming ‘Artists Studio’. Of course I went inside – its what you do if you are an artist on holiday – and was confronted by several paintings of rich colour and texture. A brief conversation ensued; the artist and I talked of making work, the difference in our gallery and funding systems, the lot of artists in general. Upon leaving I wrote a short message in the visitors book including my email addresses. Wind forward a few days and I am back in the UK and my curiosity in the island is still aroused. I discover through the net that the island is called Inishlacken and that it has no electricity, roads and only one habitable dwelling with running water and a generator. One search informs me that this property is in fact for sale (price on application), the estate agents site includes some breathtaking photographs of the terrain. The next time I log on to my email there is a message from a name I recognise - it is the artist from Roundstone. Her email contains an invitation to participate in something called The Inishlacken Project. Several artists will spend time on the island to gather inspiration and ideas over a week in June, would I like to be one of them? My excitment is immediate and hastily checking my diary, I realise that, as luck would have it, I have nothing written into the week of the project. Inishlacken here I come!... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 An email arrives with more detailed information about the project. It has been written by the organiser, Rosie, whose studio sits in the centre of Roundstone, the mainland town closest to the island. Since 2001, artists have been spending several days each year on Inishlacken, talking, exchanging views, making work, walking the island, listening to local archaeologists talking about the island, giving readings of poetry and prose plus holding exhibitions in Roundstone and Belfast. In previous years, artists have spent days on Inishlacken, returning to the mainland at nightfall. 2007 will be different; we will be staying during the entire project on the island in the last remaining house that is habitable (also including the shed as an extension to the sleeping arrangements!). Ireland has a grand literary heritage, artists and writers have visited Inishlacken for generations. In the 1950’s James Dillon, Gerard Campbell and James McIntyre spent a summer there writing and illustrating the now rare book Three Men on an Island and it is in respect of this that the project was conceived. I will need a tent and waterproof clothing (after all, this is Ireland), good walking boots and a resolve to leave behind my home comforts. It is suggested that I read several books prior to the project. Three Men on an Island is at the top of the list so I consult the local library and Amazon and neither can offer a copy. In the end it is through a rare book search that I find only one copy in the UK and one in the US – at the lavish price of £52 or 200 dollars! Nevertheless I reach deep into my pocket and order the UK copy. I am beginning to get to know this island from afar and starting to mull over the potential for this trip. Right now I have a lot of work on, mostly administrative, and I need to ensure my head is in the right place before I leave England. Over time, you get to know your shortcomings, one of mine is not to allow myself enough quiet moments to think and consider. I have decided to do a long, contemplative walk the day before I leave and then travel to Ireland in advance of the starting date and spend a couple of days in Roundstone THINKING!... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 The book has arrived!A brown paper wrapped parcel, bigger than I had expected and left outside the door by our local postman. Underneath the first wrapper is another layer of bubble wrap and inside this a further covering of thin white tissue. Three Men on an Island has a navy blue glossy dust jacket with a watercolour illustration on the front, title and author names. Inside, there is a combination of text with pen and ink line drawings, watercolours and oil paintings reproduced onto very heavy off-white paper. As I am flicking through the pages, my eagerness is rewarded with illustrations that are of their time, depicting life on Inishlacken in the 1950’s.Now I know what my spare time this afternoon is for, reading about the island and trying to understand and connect with experiences of three other creative people.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 I am amazed to write that I am three quarters through the book already. It’s quite a light read interspersed with illustrations in the form of paintings and drawings and the odd photograph. The author recounts a simple life, yet with the battle for survival against the land and elements. He speaks of the importance of community and of what it is to be part of the landscape. There are also some useful clues for the trip – the rocky terrain means hammering in tent pegs is impossible and guy ropes need to be weighted by rocks. The wind and sea can swell up and produce cold wet weather at a moments notice, trips to the mainland in a rowing boat are therefore not for the faint hearted. I now find myself packing a suitcase, carefully considering what I should take to Inishlacken and what I should leave behind. I have no idea what I might make whilst I am there; it’s possible I might not make anything at all. This makes the decision of what to take with me quite tricky. Shall I take drawing materials? Or will it be a camera? The 15kg weight allowance prevents too much luggage; in the end the decision is one I cannot make since my possessions are judged by their weight not personal or artistic value. Pretty much everything is ready now and I am counting down the hours to the flight. It occurs to me that the limited electricity supply on the island may make charging electrical items difficult and so at the last minute I leave my video camera behind. Besides, I want to experience the island in a real way, tangible and raw.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 The flight into Shannon was spectacular.  The decent is over water with the green 'fingers' of the two peninsulars either side. There are distant views of hills and mountains and the flight takes you over several islands. An early arrival meant the morning sun was trying to break through cloud as the 'plane lost altitude, white frothy puffs covering the wings punctured by shafts of sunlight.  Nevertheless as we land it starts raining,  no surprise there, and I am worried that I should have packed more waterproof clothing. One thing always strikes me when I visit this emerald Isle. Its the soft lyrical Irish voices. In the street, in this cafe, wherever, for me there is an immediate  feeling of ease and security that the spoken language promotes. It is both the phraseology, the rythmn and the lilt. My mother was born in Dublin but left Ireland to live in England when she was in her early twenties. Something in these voices trigger memories of childhood - a happy time.  I have been thinking that it may be difficult to access the net once I am on Inishlacken and so I have devised a 'blog system' on which you, the reader. will have to trust that I am honouring. I will write my blog each morning (and maybe evening too) into my sketchbook and transcribe this whenever I can access a computer. I am hoping I can visit the mainland at some point during the period on the island so that may give me a chance to upload recent writings. I promise there will be no retrospective editing! Now off to catch a bus to complete the final leg of the journey. I am going to Clifden but have been told to ask the bus driver to stop at the canal stage where I need to alight and hopefully meet one of the other artists to travel the last stage by car.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 Yesterday's drive to Clifden was spectacular; sweeping hills give way to mountains and lakes. The circuitous route followed the Inagh valley along a twisty winding road, often perilously close to the water's edge. Rosie met me at Clifden. She is a painter and the project's curator. Her home and studio is in the middle of Roundstone, the mainland town, and it is open to the public during the summer months.  Originally from Belfast, she was invited to do a residency in Roundstone seven years ago and stayed. This place has that effect on you, once here the outside world fades into insignificance and you are absorbed into the slow pace of life. The landscape draws you into its world, enveloping you in the cycle of life, into seasons and  the natural world, of people and their place on earth.I am preparing everything now for the trip tomorrow. Right now the rain is pouring down heavily and from the window, I can see the main town street is a river and people are running to their cars or houses for shelter. I hope it ceases before the boat trip. A trawler will take all the equipment, food and the like followed by a curragh, (a small four person boat). The Atlantic will be a force to be reckoned with if this turbulent weather stays overnight.  Its likely I wont be able to write again for a few days. But I will be recording and documenting everything for the next time.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 Just tried to upload images but unfortunatly the PC's here need the Canon software, which I didn't bring with me. So written descriptions will have to suffice until I reach home again, sorry!... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 It's strange to write this from my house back in England, but this is the first occasion I have had to update the blog since my time on Inishlacken. Arrived on the island after a calm crossing to the island on Big Pat’s curragh. Three of us made up the advance guard and we set-to, lighting fires in the two buildings we had use of – the schoolhouse and Finklater’s cottage. My first impression of the island was a silver sanded beach with rocky outcrops on either side. The land rises up to the water tower on the horizon and dotted to the south and north are ruins of stone cottages, last inhabited over 45 years ago. After unloading the boat, the equipment and supplies need to be transported to the cottage where food will be prepared. This necessitates a walk of approx half a mile, not easy with suitcases, 5 litre water carriers and heavy blocks of Irish peat for the fires. We make several journeys and finally, when all is completed, I seek out my accommodation – known as The Shed. I am sharing with Kate, a composer of Australian nationality but currently living in Holland. The Shed is a bit damp and smells strongly of sheep dung. I put my sleeping bag out and try to make it seem like home. After four hours or so, the rest of the artists arrive, this time in a larger trawler that anchors in deeper water off the harbour wall. The curragh is used as a floating taxi to bring people to the beach where they wade onto the shore. More provisions (including copious amounts of wine and beer) are carried across boggy soil, rocks, over and around rock pools and sand. Finally we are settled in and have some time to make a first exploration of the island.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 The first entry in my next blog reads ‘Thai Curry cooked by Una. Delicious, food tastes better on an island after a day of outdoor activity.’ [Food will be an important part of the project since not only will it sustain us but also the evening meal will be a point of communication for everyone at a particular point in the day. We all fall into the routine of eating at 8pm seated around the table (and around the edges of the room since space is not plentiful in the cottage) when the day’s activities are shared and discussed.] Next blog entry – written 22nd June , 2.50pm I have just spent the morning drawing and painting. Every piece I did was unsuccessful, weak and poorly observed. I am pleased that I walked to the far side of the island where my embarrassment is hidden from the other artists. If I think rationally, it is many years since I have painted and drawn in this way, in response to the landscape. My drawings are usually referenced by the action of drawing together with the physical limitations my body imposes. Equally my drawings are usually big (approx 1.5 x 5+metres) and I am now trying to contain marks in an A5 sketchbook and a pad of A3 cartridge paper. I am cheered up by the weather. It is fine today, a slight coastal breeze and plenty of sun. There are oystercatchers flying overhead - one female setting up a piercing cry since her nest is close to where I am passing by. The sea is as blue as the paint in my palette. Later in the evening I have found that I am not the only one to be experiencing dissatisfaction with their work. At the end of the day, others are voicing similar experiences so I have decided that I will read, walk, learn and listen rather than attempting to make work. After all there is no requirement to produce an outcome from this experience.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 Blog written on 22nd June at 8pm. I have now spent almost two days on the island and am getting used to the routine that nature has imposed upon everyone. We are bound by the hours of light and the rhythm of the sea. Our choice of clothes is inextricably linked to the elements – there are few places to shelter if you are walking the island. Its good when rain falls since this means we can use the rainwater to boil and wash dishes or even wash ourselves.  Wind direction and tides dictates whether the boat can moor in the harbour or near the beach.  The sea affects our diet – Big Pat has just brought forty mackerel caught in his nets on his way to Inishlacken from the mainland. Surprisingly all networks on our mobile phones seem to have a signal, so until my battery runs down I still feel connected to family and the world outside the island. There are artists from many disciplines here – a photographer, composer, writer, several painters, two printmakers, sculpture and installation artists and myself, performance and lens based work. Holland, Germany, Australia, England and Ireland are represented and there is much discussion and comparison of the different arts systems in each country.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 Blog written 22nd June, 9pm I have realised I have not updated the blog about my work, so from slow beginnings, my thoughts are beginning to move forward. Here they are.. I am beginning at last to fill my sketchbook with some ideas and information that might have potential. I am intrigued that the island has no burial ground and no church has ever stood here. Regular church worship was dictated by the skill of the boatmen fighting the elements to cross the water. The dead were taken by boat for burial on the mainland. I have been reading a book by Tim Robinson that details the life, traditions and geography of Connemara and this has thrown up useful facts. Rosie has patiently answered my questions about the islanders - I am becoming fascinated by the life they lived and what led to the demise of their community. I think all this information might lead into a piece of work, but I am not sure yet what form this might take.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 Blog written 23rd June, 10am Woke up late, probably something to do with the wine and the good craic last night. Strangely I feel very rested. After clearing up the evenings debris I have decided to walk the south side of the island and search for the Holy Well that is mentioned in Tim Robinson's book 'Connemara, Listen to the Wind'. "It can be found on the south side flagstone rocks that project out to sea in a shoulder shape. Look for a small hole approx 6 inches in diameter and a couple of feet deep. The Well appears to have been truncated since the top layer of rock has sheared off into the waves, making it shallower than in the past" The author has dedicated an entire chapter to Inishlacken and the arts project - he speaks of "painters hunkered down amongst the rocky outcrops sheltering from the wind". I like the term hunkered - it is so descriptive and very exocative of the need to get into a sheltered position to protect oneself from the elements when on the island. The book includes very useful information about the history of the island. It was owned by two families - the Boughtons and the Macreadys - of these two, there are now only Boughtons left - no longer in Ireland but in America. The book details many geographical features, much of them named after someone or something. Other features have names that have grown out of folklore or legend. Today the slow-burn ideas for work are gathering pace. Memorial is a word that is recurring in my thoughts, there has to be some way to visibly mark the islanders. I am thinking about survival and what the essentials are for a community to thrive. Food, warmth/shelter, an active economy, a sense of community, the ability to pursue ones beliefs. This is the beginning of a list in my sketchbook which will no doubt grow. The thriving community of Inishlacken numbered almost 200 in its heyday. I may make some work looking at the demise of the community, either a hommage to or a mark of the past. I think the conditions for survival of a community will bring another layer to anything I make.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 One of the problems of retrospective blogging is that the dates can get confused. And it is no surprise this has happened in my busy and currently rather disorganized life. This entry was in fact written on 22nd June and precedes the last three entries. More people have arrived today, Mo, Jemima and Siobhan. Talk is about the project next year and artists who are on Rosie's wish list to invite next year. Went swimming – very cold water – Rosie and Phillip came too and we swam and talked about the Venice Biennale (Rosie went to Venice just before the project started). The opening of the English Pavillion and Tracey Emin’s speech, her desperate attempt never to grow up but to remain disruptive, controversial. Does she need to do this anymore? I read a press article (or was it something on the television?) that stated she was now part of the establishment. Maybe she still feels the need to grab the headline and kick over the traces lest she lose her appeal to the press and publicity to boot. I’ve thought a lot today about work and the differences here to my everyday life back in England. The most liberating aspect is not being at the mercy of the mobile phone or computer. It has been three days and I feel free! I am running on leisurely Irish time. The practical work has been done at a steady pace and in the company of like-minded people. This makes me question the tendency for life to be so instant and frantic. Deadlines need to be met but at what expense? Does true creativity flourish in a climate of peace and tranquil thought and reflection? Can it truly be manifest from an environment of pressure and brinkmanship?... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 Blog entry for 24th June This evening my first piece of work was created; it is the first in a planned series of four entitled Memorial to the Islanders. Thinking about life (and death) on Inishlacken, the need to take the dead to the mainland by boat for their last blessings and burial and all this at the mercy of the weather, typifies the routine imposed onto life here by the elements. The Irish are known for their religious beliefs, looking from the outside for those of us from other cultures, sometimes it can seem more like religious fervor. So I am left wondering what impact a death must have had on this small close-knit community. Although any life that is lost is a tragedy to the Inishlacken Islanders it must have been a keenly felt loss. Not just because the religious rituals could not take place here but also because the size, efficiency and viability of the community would be less strong with the loss just one person. Memorial to the Islanders I began as a private work but ended as one involving the whole Inishlacken community. My intention to make 200 paper boats (one for each islander) became a shared task and by 3.30 in the afternoon, without any coercion on my part, pretty much everyone was around the table in Finklater’s Cottage folding, pulling and teasing paper boats from torn sketchbook sheets. Mo, Siobhan, Emma, Jenny, Sean, Kate, Phil set up an industrious boat-making factory with an average work rate of three boats per minute. In a short time we had made 160, and to my sadness also ran out of paper. To mitigate this two sheets of larger watercolour paper was used to make a flagship and rear guard vessel, big enough to have carried the remaining 40 of the population. Today is also St John’s Day, celebrated across Ireland and linked to the longest day but also a Catholic observance. Fires are lit along the coastline and this evening several could be seen from here, glowing along the mainland and the coast of Inishnee island. Today’s windy weather with some showers gave way, as if ordered, to a warm, dry evening so by 11.30pm being outside in the fading light was a pleasant experience As the light was lost and the moon assumed control, the flaming boats were launched by their makers into a large rock pool whose shape bore a loose resemblance to Inishlacken. Against the darkening sky the flames illuminated the pool and surrounding area as Kate played the Bodrhan in a solemn rhythmic beat. People stopped talking and stood still, watching.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 More images of Memorial I... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 Blog written 25th June early morning I have woken feeling bright, energetic and full of excited anticipation for making. What is it about being an artist that revives the soul and invigorates the mind and body? Is it because of the inherent need to create? Are artists responding to their genetic code? Or is it because artists choose to listen to their inner creative voice more than others? And by responding to a subconscious desire we automatically feel fulfilled and enriched? After seeing a large pile of sheep fleeces abandoned and wet alongside one of the island tracks I started thinking about the commerciality of living and the need for currency in order to exist. Islanders here led a simple life and yet still maintained (and needed) a trading relationship with the mainland. At its most potent, the economy on Inishlacken thrived. The fish, wool and boat building industry [today the word 'industry' implies big business unlike on Inishlacken, which would have been small] provided much needed commodities. But now, as in many parts of the world today, fish are caught only when quota's allow, boat building is not a viable business and the fleece of a sheep is worthless. These thoughts form the basis for Memorial to the Islanders II, a performance piece incorporating the fleeces from the sheep of Inishlacken. Rosie and Una agree to film and shoot stills and the performance is scheduled for later in the day. The weather is wonderful, hot and sunny with a light breeze - perfect. Phil warns me to watch out for ticks in the fleece. It's not advice I relish although I am grateful to him never the less. The piece goes off ok, its hard to tell when you are the performer. Una seems pleased with the view through the video lens. I will wait until I return home to Suffolk to pass judgment. The video editing will give me ample chance to analyze every second! We sunbathe afterwards and chat and I feel the skin on my arms begin to burn. The sand is white and the sea an amazing blue, more reminiscent of the Mediterranean than the Atlantic. This is truly an idyllic place on a day like today.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 Blog written 25th June, mid afternoon Good conversation has been had today. This may be becaue I was happy(ish) with the work I made and so I am feeling positive, but I also think everyone is really settled into the island routine now, and people are feeling more confident and relaxed with each other.Funding systems are a favourite topic, the comparison between England and other nations. Also the benefit of space to think. On a more basic note we all agree we are beginning to smell. Washing in the sea does help but not everyone is happy to brave the cold water. I have sympathy for the more recently arrived artists who are trapped in the small cottage each evening with those of us who have been here a few days! More work ideas are flooding my mind and I have two further pieces that I think I will make. These too will be memorials. Tomorrow I will walk to the highest spot of the island up by the old water tower and remains of the windmill and make a cairn.Both a symbol of achievement - as in walkers reaching a summit - but also as a symbol of existence, seen from all sides of the island. Throughout Irish history, cenotaphs and cairns have been made as memorials to the lost. Although many of these have elaborate celtic decoration, some are simple . They hold an eloquence of meaning by direct statement. Although memorials can have both Pagan or religious roots, for me in simple terms, they mark the spot and it is this aspect that I wish to honour. Rosie and I have talked about the possibility of an exchange between Ireland and England. My studio is situated in a coastal area and there are some similarities between Roundstone and home. I think this is something that I should pursue once back in England.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 Note to recent retrospective blogs. I was hoping that by writing these blogs once I was back at home, they would keep alive the memory of my Inishlacken adventure. In fact the reverse is happening and each one seems only to serve to remove the experience further into the depths of my mind. If you look at the dates, my entries are getting further and further apart - a sign of everyday life making a takeover bid inside my head. I can identify with those who never return either physically or metaphorically to a place once left. I am wondering if this approach keeps the memory pure, unadulterated and unfettered by present happenings that absorb the mind.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 Blog written on Inishlacken dated 25th June 2007 Very tired. Extremely windy outside and choppy sea. Wondering if the boat will get here ok as several people are leaving; only five of us will remain. Had planned to make the third memorial piece today but it requires the lighting of candles outdoors so may have to wait until the wind drops. I have placed the candles in their positions ready for action just in case. Last nights meal was delicious. Padriag (I think that is his name) caught around 30 mackerel in his nets on the way over from the mainland and these were gutted and cooked on the open fire by Eamon. Accompanied by garlic potatoes and washed down with red wine , delicious. There was much music too. Irish folk songs and tales from Eamon egged on by Siobhan and music from Kate, the Australian composer who currently lives in Holland. Its a small world. I found out that Rosie's sister works at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge in the Speech Therapy department - the exact place where I spent two years on a residency in 2004.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 Blog written 25th June 2007, late afternoon The majority of the artists have left - a boat came at 1.30 to collect them and it is possible that the remaining few of us will also leave tonight as the wind shows no sign of abating. This is a day earlier than planned. Understandably Rosie knows the risks that the weather presents and the very real possibility of being trapped on the island when supplies have run out. Some have flights to catch tomorrow evening. In the short lull between boats I have managed to make the final memorial piece (IV). This is a releif as I had planned to make it tomorrow on the last day here but our premature departure has dictated different plans. I decided to place the cairn on the highest part of the island, visible from east, west and north. Using stone dotted around the hill leading up to the site I hope the piece is both reminiscent of a walker's mark to signify reaching a hilltop but also references the Irish Celtic tradition of cairns or cenotaphs as memorials to the lost. Mine is (and by neccesity) simple - unlike those that sport heavily decorative work such as found on the Aran Islands. The third memorial (Candles) is now impossible to perform. Too much wind and no longer a dark evening as a backdrop to the piece. Its not a problem though - it gives me a reason to return here.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 Blog written just before leaving the island It is strange to be leaving. I have grown accustomed to the pace and way of life here. The relaince on nature and natural cycles of light, dark, wind, rain which become the order by which life is dictated. So quickly one falls into a different pattern of living. Now I am wondering how easy it will be to slip back into the world at home with emails, phones, modern stressful living, flushing loos, and plentiful water. Because we are leaving a day early I will have some time to spend on the mainland, to acclimatise back into civilisation.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 Blog written 26th June, 9.50am Woke up this morning in the cottage in Roundstone feeling very hot. The central heating system seems over zealous! I have become acclimatised to island life and sleeping in a draughty shed. Strangely although my shower last night was unbelievably fantastic, refreshing and cleansing, I am now yearning for the very REALNESS of the island and the way I felt so vital and alive there in spite of the basic facilities and lack of water. Thoughts of lying awake, hunkered down in my sleeping bag, wind and rain circulating the shed outside have become memories and as such a great loss, the result of which is an overwhelming, engulfing sadness. On waking I read several pages of the book by Tim Robinson, Connemara, Listen to the Wind. It contains many references and uses the Irish language, which has its roots in Celtic and/or North African language. Of couse it was the english around 1200 that chose to impose the anglicised versions of Gaelic onto this country - evidence of empire building? At that time it was punishable to use the Irish version of place names.Yet here today in Connemara the accents are broad and the native tongue frequently heard. Young people now learn Irish at school and teachers are expected to be fluent enough to teach using the traditional tongue.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 Blog written 26th June 2007 from Roundstone on the mainlandSo now I am writing fom the rocks to the edge of shell beach looking across the sea toward Inishlacken. I can see the beach, the schoolhouse, Finklater's cottage, the harbour and Deer Island beyond.How do I feel? A little sad yet full of resolve to learn from my experience and determined to try to keep a little of Inishlacken with me wherever I am. I would like to be able to reproduce the feeling of total immersion in my work and the thinking processes that lead to ideas and making. Of course I have made resolutions like this before after period of intense activity (with varied success) but this time will be DIFFERENT! I have reached some decisions however, and having had uninterrupted time to consider I feel very secure in them. So here goes.....I am not going to make an application to do a PhD for at least a couple more yearsI intend to make more applications to do more residencies now that the children are older and I can actually get awayI am going to market my work more aggressively, being less timid and fussy and allowing work in progress, failures and, you never know, successes to be seen.I am going to do more walkingI will spend more time lookingI will spend more time drawingI will read more - and instead of buying tomes through amazon on visual communication or philosophy (and then never quite finishing them) I will read a variety of things, novels, poetry, essays, etc.There, I have now written this down for all to see and so it is a bit of a statement, a weight watchers/alcoholics anonymous declaration. I am not sure how long I will keep this blog live but I guess my final item on the list should be to return to this text and re-read it to strengthen my resolve.Flying home tomorrow. The next entry will be from England and back in blog realtime.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 Back into the normal routine now, its been several months since I left the island. I have so far managed to stick to quite a few of my resolutions, in particular the reading, drawing, looking and walking. I have made some new work and am still distilling the Inishlacken experience. I have to write a proposal for the forthcoming show in Galway Arts Centre that will showcase all the artists who have been on the island over the past eight years. At least I think this is correct. Rethinking it, I guess not ALL of the artists will show work. My proposal is late - it was requested three weeks ago - but I have only made a tentative start to date and knowing my way of working this is because the ideas are not yet fully formed in my head and like all good things they will happen when they are ready and cannot be forced. Am I making excuses? probably ...Could I write the proposal now? Yes, but it would not be as detailed as I would like. Should I get on with it instead of writing this Blog? YES... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 Its in the postFar from being one of those excuses you hear when people are late with a delivery or payment, today this statement means that I have cleared some of the backlog of paperwork, completed my Galway proposal and as a result have a clear head. Strangely the proposal came all in a rush together with a fully formed idea for another application I have made to a festival called TULCA - which also takes place in Galway. The next stage is, of course, the waiting to see how ideas are received. I dont think about things too much once they have gone off in the post, I am out of control then, nothing to do so might as well get on with other things.I spoke at the AIR event in Colchester on Monday PM. Alex Pearl, another [an] blogger also talked about his future plans as did David Kefford. They had interesting things to say. We had all been asked to speak about 'Key issues for our practice in the future' and there was a lot of overlap in the three presentations. It seemed we all knew that networking was important (although some did not like the term networking) and that we needed to find our own way to work effectively. I like to be in my studio and also out and about whereas David spends as much time as poss in his studio and Alex prefers to work from home and uses the web proactively to raise the profile of his work. By the way Alex, if you read this please correct anything!The audience were really involved, it helped the evening discussion flow. In fact I think it could have gone on a lot longer as people had so much to say. The next thing on my agenda is a solo show I have in early October in Saffron Walden Essex. I am showing some new work - very different to anything I have done before, so there are a few nerves creeping in as the date of installation gets closer.I am planning to show some drawings. They are quite large, about 1.5 mts x up to 5 mts. Its strange really because I feel more nervous about showing these than doing a live performance piece. I guess it all about what you are used to... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 Rosie has received my proposal for the February show. She is happy so I send it off to the gallery curator. The proposal contains a couple of ideas, well, three to be more precise so I am hoping the gallery director of Galway Arts Centre will relate to at least one of them. Writing it has made me realise that there are many potential works that could develop as a result of my Inishlacken trip. I have arranged to return to the island in mid october to complete the third memorial piece that was curtailed by the weather. This time my husband will accompany me. He'll stay on the mainland while I am on the island and then we can spend a day afterwards exploring Roundstone.The proof invitation arrived in the post today for the Saffron Walden show. It looks ok but I wish I was better versed in typography and graphic design then I might feel more confident in making a judgement. Nevertheless I make some suggestions and edits and return it. It will be my public face when it gets sent out so fingers crossed I have made the right decisions.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 Its a few days since I last wrote an entry to this blog and I find myself preparing for the return visit to inishlacken. In between packing bags and making sure I have the right camera equipment with me, I have been planning the artists forum that I am holding in Suffolk as part of a project supported by a NAN bursary. It is going to take the form of a 'Mad Artists Tea Party' and have some references to Alice in Wonderland. Subject to a conversation with Rebecca Weaver, the arts officer from Ipswich Council I am hoping it will be held in the centre of Ipswich in the Town Hall Galleries in October. Its open to all artists living in Suffolk, so if you are one of them you will be very welcome. More details to follow..... Back to the suitcase and the mounting excitiment at the prospect of visiting Ireland again. Will this trip shatter or enhance my memories? I will only be on Inishlacken for one day and in ireland for just three days altogether. I am anticipating a very different landscape with the autumn weather. Less swimming this time, more fleeces and gloves!... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 This is a postscript really. Just thought I would add an image of one of the drawings I am going to put in the show in Saffron Walden next week.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 A lot seems to have happened since the last post. I have installed the show in Saffron Walden and the PV was last Friday evening. To show the power of [an] blogging, artist Gordon Flemmons, another blogger, heard about the show from this blog and came along to the PV. I found it a very useful experience taking to everyone there. There were some taxing questions asked - it made me really consider the resolution I have for the work when giving my answers. Inishalcken is still special. The second visit did not dispel the strong memories only served to enhance them. We were fortunate with the weather - it was bright clear and warm. This was particularly good news as the memorial piece that I was completing took place at nightfall over a period of two hours. Caroline, Rosie. Paul and I stood motionless and silent for some time watching the piece in a contemplative atmosphere. The last candle extinguished itself after a long battle with life almost one and a half hours after it was lit. Now my attention must turn to video editing all the material I have accumulated from Inishlacken and then making editorial and critical decisions to produce a coherent body of work for the February show.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 Another image from the show in Saffron Walden. The building was once used as an overflow for the water tower close by. The water was stored in separate divided sections and entered the building through porthole shaped openings in the roof. More about Inishlacken work soon... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 Just downloaded the rest of the images taken in the gallery in Saffron Walden. It seems to help to look at the show through photos as it distances me from the work and I can look more objectively. I intend to return to the gallery at the end of the show and try to assess the work anew, having spent three weeks away from it. Heres another image....... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 Writing this blog has gradually become quite an important part of my practice, so much so that it feels strange when I don't post an entry on a regular basis. The Inishlacken Project has entered a quiet phase and there is no news relating to it that I can post for the moment. All of which leaves me with withdrawal symptoms and the question of whether I should carry on regardless of subject here on this blog or think about starting a parallel one that is more general. If there IS anybody out there who has a view on this please email....caroline.wright6@btopenworld.com. Last night I held a mad artists tea party as part of the NAN ReVIEW bursary that I received a few months ago. Rebecca Weaver offered the Town Hall Gallery in Ipswich as a venue and it provided the perfect setting for a slightly kitch arrangement of objects and food and drink on a large table. Artists from Suffolk listened to a presentation by Sue Jones (curator of the Whitstable Biennial) and then engaged in general discussion with each other and Sue. Lots of sweet sticky cakes were eaten and copius amounts of tea were drunk. People seemed to enjoy themselves. Was it useful? I spotted lots of addresses being swopped, so maybe it was...... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 I've had some work selected for TULCA, a city wide festival in Galway Ireland. Last week we (my husband Paul and I) had fun packaging up four neon pieces and transporting them gingerly to Art Moves in London where after unloading them, our car promptly broke down. A few hours later and thanks to an efficient AA man we managed to get going again with the advice not to stop the engine until we reached home and call out our local garage the next day. The neon will be shown in a large open building (1 - 5 Merchants Road). I have seen photos and it seems to have some interesting architectural features, wide stairs, large windows, alcoves. It will be interesting to see how the work is hung. The festival theme "If we accept that we are strangers to ourselves then there are no strangers, only others like ourselves" by Julia Kristeva is a fascinating choice for a show of international and national work and I am keen to see how the many artists have responded to it when I go over for the opening on 9th November. Tomorrow I will go to take down the drawings in the Saffron Walden show. The exhibition period has gone quickly. Looking forward to seeing the work again having had some distance on it.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 The drawings from the Saffron Walden show are now safely packed away in my studio and I have some reasonable photos of the work in my archive. There seems to be a brief interlude in my usually hectic life so I have been using this to organise my project archive and generally keep up with some overdue admin. I have also been doing some reading - currently I am looking at a book by Peig Sayers ('An old woman's reflections') who lived on the Blasket islands of the west coast of Ireland. The islanders were evacuated after the second world war - until then they had lived an unchanged life for centuries. There was a rich oral tradition of story telling and poetry, keeping the legends of the islands alive. Peig Sayers' stories capture the simple life of a community who came vibrantly alive when an evening of storytelling, music and words took place. I am sure this information will influence my editing of the films made on Inishlacken.  In the last couple of days three possible projects have emerged. Its a bit like buses they all come at once! They are all in the early stages of discussion and may or may not progress further but it is comforting to be in a position where I am working with this number of potential projects. By the law of averages at least one might come to fruition.  It often surprises me how things link up and communications cause things to happen. One contact I have recently made was through my son who is studying architecture at Kingston University in London. He was attending a lecture given by his Head of Department  only to hear her talking about Japan and the tea ceremony - something I have made several pieces of work about. Thoughtfully he managed to speak to the lecturer and has put us in touch. We are planning to meet in December.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 I am now back from Galway; I visited the opening of TULCA. The visit was interesting not least because I met so many fascinating people, writers, artists, makers, curators and people working within the arts field. There were about 150 people at the opening, rather more than you might get at most English openings unless you are in London. An opera singer 'sang' the show open and there were speeches by curatorial advisors to the project and the Galways arts officer. I was very pleased with the siting of my work - the curators had placed the neon in the window of the building facing out onto the street. This was the perfect place and reflected totally the notions within which the work was made - one of message vividness to the wider community. (There is more about the neon work on my website www.carolinewright.com if anyone is interested in more info). There were many works in the show and 70 artists in the whole of TULCA - the programme combines seminars, shows, performances, music, social occasions and site specific work around the city. There is more info on www.myspace.com/TULCAI met one gentleman at the TULCA private view and he revealed that in this blog I do not often explain the connections clearly enough for the reader who does not have access to the information I hold in my head. One case in point is the last posts' reference to the tea ceremony and my son's course leader at Kingston, who has written on Japan and the tea ceremony. When I was visited Japan last year on a residency, I made several films about tea drinking and the tea ceremony (these partly inspired my recent mad artists tea party event). The neon work shown for TULCA drew together all the issues I had explored in film, using the four principles of the tea ceremony and the bright neon language of the young. The new generation in Japan are rejecting the tea ceremony tradition, in time it will die out. Hence the possible meeting with my son's course leader to discuss a common interest in all things Japanese together with the ever present possibility of new ideas and work is something I am looking forward to.In Galway I met with Rosie and we talked further about the Inishlacken project. The opening date has been set for 31st January 2008 and I was able to meet with the Galway Arts Centre curator, Maeve Mulrennan to talk about my ideas briefly.So all in all a productive visit especially as I was only there for 24 hours. It was only marred by a terrible flight home with loss of cabin pressure, oxygen masks, emergency decent, an unconcious passenger, fire engines and my life passing before me for what seemed like an eternity. Thankfully all was ok apart from one passenger but it has taken me a while to recover. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 Its quiet now. No work to do relating to The Inishlacken Project.Here are some more images of other artists work in TULCA... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 Spending much of my time editing video at the moment and panicking about all I have to do before Christmas which frighteningly is now only 21 days away!The Inishlacken videos will be shown in Galway next year. There are three of them all relating to the island and I am considering showing them on small screens, set into the wall at head height. This way the viewer will have an intimate and personal view of the work. The only piece that I fear may not work as well in this format is Memorial to the Islanders III. This one is long - over an hour long in fact and is a subtle recording of Memorial iiI. It depicts the darkness falling as the candles burn until they extinguish themselves completely by which time the night sky is completely dark. Its a slow burn work and one you might need to return to from time to time so a large projection seems the best way for it to be seen. These different methods of display may prove tricky to pull off.I have also been mulling over some ideas for my drawings recently and tomorrow am going to experiemnt in my studio.Until then here are some more images from my Irish work. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 My regular blogging habit established last year has waned a bit in 2008. My last post refers to the work I was making for the show in Galway some seven weeks ago. It is now the end of January and the Galway show, entitled Inishlacken: a place apart, opened last night. The four memorial pieces all ended up on small screens as the longer projection became a shorter work during the editing process and the still image became a freeze frame video.  I am happy about this since I think the four pieces will work more successfully as one visual work rather than disjointed elements. My biggest regret was not being able to go to Ireland for the opening - a sacrifice due to the employed work I have at Norwich School of Art and Design. Nevertheless one consolation was that tonight I heard Rosie on the RTE radio 1 station (thanks to the wonder of live radio and broadband) and I understand the show was also featured on gaelic TV tonight. The best news of all however is that Rosie has invited me back to Inishlacken this coming May -I  can't wait!  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 I have just booked a flight to Galway and am off to see the show. Next Saturday I will be winging my way to Galway Arts Centre and a meeting with Rosie and Maeve Mulrennan, the gallery curator. I am keen to see the work in situ and also to see what the other island artists have produced for the show.In the meantime I have been writing some applications  for other projects and working on my proposal for a site specific commission in Eastbourne for the Towner Gallery. This is to take place on or near the beach area and will usher in the opening of the gallery in its new architect designed home. There are many different and interesting features of the town that might come into the work - at this stage I am collecting things rather as a hamster stores up its food to use later!... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 This time my trip to Galway thankfully did not involve an emergency landing after the short flight and I arrived full of anticipation to see the show. I have been thinking about what work all the Inishlacken artists have made and at last was able to find out. There were paintings, some large some smaller, oil and watercolour, ink drawings, etchings and abstract acrylic works. An installation of pebbles based on the Aran knitting pattern filled the floor of one gallery and a wonderful installation by composer Kate Moore  using her score made an interesting backdrop to my own work. The show was completed by an automated paper cut out sculpture by Louise Manifold.It was revealing to see how each artist had interpreted their island experience.  Although there were consistent themes there were also unusual translations and I learnt more about the island of Inishlacken.The visit was concluded with the excellent news from Rosie that  the show is now confirmed to tour to the States. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 So it is off the the States in January! Inishlacken - a place apart is to tour to The Redhouse Gallery in Syracuse. Those who are interested can see the gallery website at www.theredhouse.org. I am hopeful that I will be able to go to see the show and possibly use the trip to explore arts organisations and galleries in America. Syracuse also has a University and I will try to make some links here and to my part time job at Norwich School of Art and Design. In the meantime I am continuing to work on my Eastbourne commission - looking at sand, the sea, beach huts and a bandstand. Should be an interesting process. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697 Although this blog is framed around the Inishlacken Project, sometimes, blog-related things happen and in this case it has prompted me to write again after a gap of three months.  The project in Eastbourne, entitled Impossible Changeling,  is now complete. I covered the interior of a beach hut with gold leaf and also gilded 142 pebbles which were placed onto the beach at regular intervals during the show. I was lucky enough to spend several days in Eastbourne and this gave me an opportunity to chat with visitors to the show. It is always fascinating to be given an insight into the genuine responses of the public to a work, be this pleasure, disgust or indifference! I had several discussions with people, one man in particular who was initially sceptical eventually returned three times to the work. Another visitor was fellow blogger Judith Alder - she writes of her work and studio group. Our conversation on the beach at Eastbourne made both of us aware that we knew each others names but not until Judith returned home did she put two and two together and realise we were fellow bloggers.  It has made me understand just how far the blogging world can reach and how I have underused its potential.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/379697