http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 Papertrails Residency Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:30:05 +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/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 Although this is the first day of my one year project it already feels as if the journey has already been quite long. 'Papertrails' is a self initiated project and because of the need to find funding, has already generated a fairly sizable papertrail of its own. It is difficult to believe that i have actually reached this point.For a background on the project go to www.papertrails.org.uk ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 The first couple of weeks have gone by in a blur of activity. there are so many things competing for my time, from admin to moving my equipment into the studio. There is a launch event on Thursday 22nd February to which many of the potential participants have been invited. I am struck by how much good will this project has generated and how much interest. I am already taking bookings for studio workshops in June. For Thursday I am going to show all my preparatory work and ideas for the project. Only two weeks into 'Papertrails' I obviously can't show much fully resolved work. Although I am interested by how my ideas have moved and changed now that I am actually engaged in the project. Where I originally envisaged scattering light catching ephemeral elements forming lines and enclosures, I now find I am intensely interested in the colours of the land itself. Joking with Bettina from artsagenda the other day I said "Never mind 'Papertrails', at the moment mud trails is more it." ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 The Official Launch of the project went really well. There were lots of people from the Deputy Mayor Cllr Dane, the Director and trustees of the Arts Trust, the Arts Development Officer, other artists and curators to the vicar and many local people. I was really pleased to see and hear people's enthusiasm. Alison Clarke,Visual Arts Officer for Surrey was very encouraging about the work and the developing project. Teachers from Hurst Park School came along and said how keen they are about their involvement in Papertrails next month.On Saturday there was the first Open Day (other than drop-in days on Fridays) and again I was pleased by the reactions of visitors. Again lots of people came along and seemed so interested. A comment I heard fairly often was 'Fantastic something like this is happening in Elmbridge.'  I have been overwhelmed by the general level of enthusiasm. I could have offered three times as many school days as I have and many of the workshop places for adults are already booked even though they are in June. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 Today, being Monday is admin day. My project website has developed an interesting problem which is that I can't upload images to it. The main reason for having a webite being of course to show how the project is going. Its going to be an interesting day!This afternoon I am visiting Hurst Park School who are basing their art week on the Papertrails project. I am looking forward to the week but we need to sort out some of the practical, organisational side of the art week. Claire Barwell, the visual arts co-ordinator has seen quite a lot of my work but the other teachers will need to be shown a little more about the project. As my website is playing up I am going to have to show them some of my older work. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 Today I am preparing for next week's work at a school. I am wishing I had asked for funding for another artist to help with this aspect of the project. I suppose I had never thought that it would be seized upon so eagerly by schools when I was making the applications. Still the teachers seem very involved and I'm sure everything will go well. I like to get the organisation and logistics very well organised so that I can concentrate on the creative side of things when it comes to it. Yesterday when I met the staff again to discuss arrangements for the week we looked at images to use as starting points, things like leaves and seed pods to examine structure.For the rest of the day I am going to work on papermaking. I am making a 'book' over the course of the year. One page for each day of the residency and I need to prepare some more paper. On Friday a friend, Noel is coming over to the studio at St George's Church to show me some bookbinding techniques. A skill I never thought I would need. This year I seem to be learning new skills every week! ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 A beautiful looking day, sunny and clear. Unfortunately it was one of those days when everything seems to conspire to trip one up. On Fridays I am 'in residence' in the church, it's when people can drop in and see what I am up to but today my son was ill and I hadn't arranged any contingency cover. So no plan 'B'. I also had to get materials over to the school where I am doing some workshops so I had to rearrange everything. A day full of 'doing stuff' rather than making work. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 Looking at yesterday's post again I thought that it wasn't really like that. In fact yesterday was also a day when I met interesting people, had a good day with my son (who is feeling better today) and made my first tentative steps towards learning a bookbinding technique. Thank you Noel. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 First day of Art Week at school. Lovely people and a huge amount of enthusiasm and creativity. When do people stop being open to colour and the joy of making things? I am always amazed that generally life as an adult is so predictable and colourless and that the capacity for the oppposite is more generally the rule for children. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 Art Week at Hurst Park Primary went very well and was an encouraging start to the month. It was lovely to see the children responding to the project and enjoying themselves as well. I have had some really interesting comments from them too. Though one of the best things was finding out that class three had been writing poems about their creations.I had thought at the begining of the week that my role would be mainly as an enabler rather than in this context making my own creative responses but I have found the whole process so interesting that I have started developing some work, 'Traces' as a response to the landscapes that were developed during the week. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 I went to London this morning to meet Kevin Graal who I am hoping to involve in the project. Kevin is a storyteller. One of my starting points for Papertrails was not just the quotidian reality of the actual landscape however beautiful that is but the landscape of the imagination.'The woods' from stories, where the journey into them can be the first step on a quest and you will never be sure what you will find.The forest that the children made at Hurst Park school last week in response to Papertrails reminded me of these stories and made me even more interested in involving Kevin. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 In some indefinable way this week has been extremely busy. Yet I can't work out what I have been so busy doing. I suppose it's one of those periods when you do a little of many things rather a great deal of one thing. So I have been having meetings, researching things, making maquettes, having ideas, moving work, making paper, staining it, trying to remember the bookbinding knot I was using before Art Week and catching up with paperwork (the other kind of paperwork!). Looking at that list makes me feel better althogh I still have a feeling of dissatisfaction. I really want to spend some time on a peice of work and concentrate on it rather than having to flit from one thing to another.On Monday I am going out on a walk with some friends who walk their dogs on the commons everyday. I have asked if they can follow their usual route through the woodland and pick up eight things from along the way (or make note of eight textures or sounds) to produce the first bit in a fairly large peice of work 'sampling' people's experience of the commons. I want to ask all sorts of different groups to participate. If you are reading this and are from Elmbridge and want to participate, get in touch via the project website. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 Today was very cold. I was working at Cardinal Newman School on an Art / Environmental day with Simon James, the Elmbridge Countryside Liaison Officer. Plans for the day had to be slightly altered to allow for the fact that it was too cold to be outside for long so drawings were very perfunctory . The clipboards were away on a trip with another group of children and the first group came out without pencils anyway! However the children made some good work and seemed interested in the ideas they were introduced to.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 Again this week has been full of, as Gabrielle put in her blog, (Exeter Studios) 'stuff' rather than work. Today I decided that deadlines were just going to have to slip. I needed to make something and not post rationalise something or propose something or evaluate something. Just get on and do something. It's my 'artist in residence' Friday anyway so I was in the studio in the church but I had actually taken in the laptop to do some typing! Instead I made some work. It felt like playtime. I found myself thinking that it would be fun to do this more often. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 Started on some new work today which I have been planning for a while but have just not had the opportunity to actually put into practice. It was wonderful to make a start. When I am planning work I think about it for a long while. make endless drawings and notes but try not to look directly at it as if the idea is going to run away if it notices I am watching. This month has been very busy. I have been working at primary schools across the borough introducing them to some of the ideas underlying my project. It has occasionally been frustrating not being able to carry out work that I have been planning but I have also found it illuminating. Its also very good to be with people who are purely enjoying the act of making. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 On Thursday I went to the AIR Open Dialogue event at Fabrica which was interesting for all sorts of reasons not least being able to match names and faces of people whose projects have become familiar through the a-n blogs. The main discussion centred around 'support'. The desirability and need for support in all its forms, financial and emotional countered by the need to be 'off balance', and not too comfortable. There was a fair amount of doom laden talk about how we have never had it so good and also some gentle reminders about how lucky we are to have a subsidised art sector at all by comparison with say Italy.I always get incredibly frustrated when I hear discussions about how artists need contact and a forum to be in touch with other artists because it seems to me that the forum is there. It's where the discussion is being held. I suppose I am a very direct sort of person. If there is a need for something I want to say 'Ok lets organize it now!' Probably why I have been on so many committees in the past!Earlier in the day I had gone to see Alice Maher's 'Natural Artifice' at Brighton Museum and Art Gallery. I really liked this exhibition. There are so many people in different ways dealing with this meeting place between Culture and Nature and I found her approach very enticing. After that I dodged the pouring rain and met up with Bettina Linstrum from artagenda who is my mentor for the Papertrails project. She had given me much good and calm advice when I was applying for my Grant from ACE and now was in the same boat having just made an application. So we had a nice cup of tea.Back home afterwards and it was time to finish putting up the exhibition of school's work related to the 'Papertrails' residency. I have mixed feelings about this show. I know most people will view it (if they come along at all) as just jolly kids stuff or even more cynically as a bit of box ticking on my part but I know how much of an effect (particularly with the week-long School residency) the opportunity to work like that had on the children participating. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 I'm catching up with the events of the last few days at the moment. The schools exhibition is up and is being visited by proud children bringing parents and grandparents and reasonably large numbers of other people. I am working on a children's trail through the woodland with the countryside people on Wednesday and needing some inspiration went out there again on Saturday where we photographed 'the perfect tree' amongst other things. Today I ran a papermaking workshop for a lovely group of ladies although we got slightly sidetracked by the arrival of tea and biscuits it reminded me of what I am enjoying about this project which is the opportunity to meet all sorts of people. The community aspect is important. The news about the cuts to Grants for the Arts made me reflect on my luck at having gained one but also made me think about all the people who are having a day out or learning something or feeling a sense of acheivement because of my grant. I hope the people who make these decisions about funding realise that art isn't just about new buildings or blockbuster shows it's also about small things that may change people's ideas about themselves. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 On Wednesday I worked with Simon and Hamish, countryside officers, on a childrens activity day. We made some paper and went out pond dipping and then came back to work on some sculptures and bind their paper sheets together to make a book. It was a very full day. It seemed slightly tangental to the project despite involving papermaking I suppose because there was little time to think about why we were doing what we were doing. Note to self for next time! However, the children had a good time and we all learnt a lot. I now know a great deal more about mini-beasts! ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 Easter has been a wonderful opportunity to draw breath and think about things. Betina, who is mentoring me said that I should assess progress, look at my original aims and work out if I am deviating from them or indeed if I would like to change them. Real people taking part in projects tend to have a way of doing things in unexpected ways. Liking one thing and not another, taking things in an unexpectedly wonderful direction which throws the planning out completely! ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 Contemplating the week ahead I am aiming to redress the balance of the project which until now has been fairly heavily weighted towards working with other people either in workshops at the studio and schools or out in the landscape. This week I am intending to complete some more work based on 'stories'. The stories I am thinking about are the different ways we can describe the same place or the different filters through which we view somewhere. Working with other people and gaining insight into how they see the landscape has been very valuable and now I find this feeding into my work. The main overlapping, sometimes contradictory ways that people view the woods and commons can be summarised as: unspoiled, untouched nature, managed land, landscape which tells us about our past, recreational space, green belt, something to be preserved, something to be used. There is also the woods of our imagination where anything could happen. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 Spent much of yesterday despite my best intentions, phoning and emailing. I had to finalize some project dates for the Summer and sort out some publicity. I have realized since the begining of the project just how useful a curator or administrator would be. There is a danger that at the end of the year I will have learnt an awful lot about admin and press releases and how to programme in eductional elements and not have been able to make as much of the work that I really want to. The next couple of weeks I am going to devote to my work which is after all the core of the project. www.papertrails.org.uk ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 I have been out in the woods planning work and taking photos. The light is wonderful and just being in the open is so uplifting. Tomorrow I'll be at the studio at St George's Church which I also find uplifting though in a rather different way. Calmly uplifting if that not a contradiction in terms. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 The opportunity to spend time in the studio at the church has been very productive. While their work is still at the church I have been working on some peices based on the wonderful shadows cast by the forest of sculptures made by one of the school groups. I am putting these together with other shadows and traces from the woods and also from St George's. Today there were quite a few visitors and it was good to show people the work in progress and talk to them about it. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 The last couple of weeks have been mainly devoted to organising materials and events for the next period of work out in the landscape. There have been rather frustrating points where the snags implicit in a project with several partner organisation have emerged, mainly in terms of clear communications but these seem to be clearing. Today I took back most of the schools work which left the space empty. it was sad in some ways particulrly as today three people visited the studio specifically to see their work but it was wonderful to reclaim my space.It was interesting to see some of the new work I have been working on in a clear area. I spent quite a while this afternoon just looking and assessing things. I love working at St George's Church. It is a very calming place.In June I have an exhibition which marks an important stage through the project and I need to not just to prepare the work but also sort much of the publicity and admin. The two activities are difficult to resolve because they both demand a great deal of time and attention. But all I want to do at the moment is make work. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 Admin day comes round again. It's one of those times when despite really wanting to make some work I also really, really need to do some filing, sorting and emailing. Actually I feel as if admin week is what is needed at present!On the positive side though, I am looking forward to starting on a piece that will be temporarily sited on Littleworth Common in the woods. The armature is being made, I hope this week. I am going to be working on some smaller companion pieces too so in the next couple of days I will be making a start on them. www.papertrails.org.uk ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 Its so interesting to watch everyones projects developing and evolving on this site. You can't help but get involved with the stresses and elations and worries that emerge from the blogs.I felt a huge sense of relief that the video installation at Morning Lane went so well and I compare my church (St George's, in Esher) with the one that Imogen Bardwell's project, Festial, is set in. I would love to visit the projects in reality as well as through this site.My own project is gearing up into a period of making work which I always find frightening as well as exciting. Its that balance between allowing possible disaster or being too controlling. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 After the bank holiday on Monday, unfortunately today becomes admin day. Having one dedicated day of the week for admin is a very good idea, 'Thanks Bettina', but it is my least favourite day of the week. The weather always seems to be better and brilliant ideas about my work drift unasked into my head but have to be ignored until the next day when they don't seem so good! However, good things seem to be happening at present and order is being established over the events still to be finalized for the project. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 Today all plans for the day had to be rewritten as some problems emerged. However it did make me realize that generally things have been going very smoothly, so as long as things can be resolved I'll be back on track. Tomorrow I am going to Woking to Surrey County Arts who are being very kind and letting me send out some of my flyers with one of their mailings. On Friday and Saturday there are open days at St George's and I am running drop-in workshops in papermaking. If there aren't too many people I will be making some of the elements I need for a piece out in the landscape and if there are loads of visitors they will be helping me! ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 Thursdays envelope stuffing was fine and went quicker than I had expected fueled by homemade apple cake and coffee at Surrey Arts. Thanks everyone! On the way home though I got soaked to the skin (ironic for an art project which is based outside, to get wet on the day in an office.) On Friday to my huge relief some missing artwork from the schools exhibition was found in another classroom within the same school. It must have been taken there by mistake after I had delivered their work back to school. So now back to the project! ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 To me its a bit of an irony that in the month when my blog might receive more attention than usual because it was in printed form in a-n, nothing much seems to be happening in my project. This isn't entirely true, there is much behind the scenes sorting of materials and making of work. Much of my work is made up of large numbers of nearly identical pieces and although I find the process of making them satisfying and indeed almost meditative I find it hard to believe that other people will enjoy reading about it. Its one of those repetitive tasks like darning or cleaning which feels good for the soul but would be boring to watch someone else doing. There is also the little problem of the weather. Working ouside in the landscape with paper and paperpulp in a downpour would probably be very entertaining to watch but ultimately unproductive. So picture me calmly , meditatively making small handmade paper sheets and pages and shapes, casting paper over other forms in my calm studio in the north aisle of the church all the while keeping a weather eye out for a bit of a dry spell. Meanwhile my enforced period of work indoors at the church is seriously threatening to divert me away from landscape in the outside sense and into a different sort of landscape entirely. The church itself is a fascinating building with all sorts of stories attached to it. On one side of the church is the Newcastle Pew; a secuded and separate balcony pew where the gentry or indeed royalty sat with their attendants. Its a white painted area which is by contrast with the rest of the church, filled with light yet seems melancholy and unused. I find this solitary, lost space very interesting and have been making some more work which seems to fit there better than in the main church. I know I will find myself making other things for that space. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 At last some let-up from the rain. I went into the woods at Littleworth Common today. Everything was so lush and almost underwater feeling. The air seemed green because the sky is so overcast and any light is filtered through so much growth. Even with the low light levels I was able to get some photographs and make a small start on my 'Way-marker' pieces. Just feeling my way back into the work. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 Beautiful weather and so I was able to get outside and make some work. I also caught up with Bettina (from artsagenda) who is mentoring me and being sensible and calming at times when I feel far from it. I think we worked out that I was about a week and a half adrift but otherwise things are fine! ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 Back on track now. Invitations for the private view of my 'Work in Progress' exhibition at St George's on 7th June are on their way out. When I decided to put this event into the calendar some time last autumn I had no idea of course that this was going to be bung right in the middle of a period of work and therefore at a point when one could do without a hiatus but it will also be useful to take stock and assess things. I think I could do a lifetime of work here in this situation and one of the hardest things is deciding which avenues to follow and which are siren voices luring me off course. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 What an incredibly busy week it has been! I feel as if I havent had time to draw breath let alone write anything. The trouble with doing a project like this is that as well as 'being' the artist you are also everything else as well. I am learning so much about the whole process but sometimes I just long to be able to get on with the main core work. However if I had had the choice I would have got someone else to do things like the education work and I would really have lost out on a valuable and uplifting experience. It does make putting up an exhibition difficult though. An exhibition of a project like Papertrails which has a fairly large outreach and community aspect is incomplete without reflecting that work. I have sometimes envied other bloggers who are engaged on projects where they can focus on one aspect and develop it thoroughly wheras I sometimes feel as if I am being pulled in all directions. But when I look at the whole project rather than just my 'work' I feel rather differently. In the first three months of Papertrails I worked with 355 people and had over 125 visitors to my studio. One group of children wrote poems about the work they did as a result of the project and I have had such good feedback. It has been a good thing. So those elements have to be reflected in the exhibition as well as what might be more narrowly described as my 'work'. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 The Private View is tomorrow. If anyone is in Esher at 6pm do drop in. It has been a fairly busy day today preparing for Thursday. The work is up, most of the info is ready. I just feel that I want a holiday! Or at least to go and see some inspiring work or make some work myself. Next project I want to be able to concentrate a little more on the central issues and spend less time working out how to get 1500 two colour leaflets designed and printed by the 15th for minimal cost while also devising and organising five days of workshops. I sneaked out and took some photos today in the woods. It was absolutely wonderful. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 The private view went well. Lots of people and lots of interest in the project. The remaining places on the papermaking day on June 15th were booked and now there is a reserve list. So I am organizing a day in September.The event was useful to me as it made me stand back and see what I had done so far. Often it is difficult while you are working to see how it is going. People were very encouraging and it was lovely to see the the building full of life and activity, which I suppose is part of the remit of the residency. I printed out my blog from the project website and made a timeline of it to show the development of work and ideas (not necessarily in that order!). One of my aims in embarking on this project was to open up this process and move the emphasis from the end result. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 So busy I can't think at the moment. There have been lot of visitors and I am in the thick of workshops; both planning and carrying them out. Good fun if exhausting. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 Since the beginning of the Exhibition / Open Studio on the 4th June there seem to have been streams of people visiting, workshops being run and new contacts being made. There have been lots of local visitors, many of them asking for workshops (so I have programmed some more in), teachers asking if their schools can be involved in some way and just people wanting to have a look at the artist in her natural habitat. So one of the requirements of the residency, that it brings people to St George's Church seems to be being fulfilled. I have really enjoyed the whole process too. There have been some visitors from further afield. One of whom was fellow blogger Roz Cran who dropped in on a papermaking workshop enroute to a cousin's house. We were looking at basic papermaking techniques and then embossing paper with words from flagstones around the church. Roz left me with two enigmatic scraps, one labeled 'Hope' and the other 'Sorrow'. I think one of her aims had been to talk about how a residency works in the context of a church but things were too busy to have much of a discussion. Another time maybe. Other visitors from Brighton were Amy Turton and Edith Eyo from Arts Council SE who braved the wilds of Esher. It was good to actually meet them in the flesh as it were. It will make me feel much more in real communication when I send off my next update or evaluation. Bettina Linstrum my wonderful mentor from Arts Agenda also came up to give me some very sensible advice which so far I have been far too busy to put into action!There have been four workshops apart from the one Roz attended and each in their own way has been a really good experience for me. I hope everyone who came along enjoyed them as much as I did. They were such a lovely bunch of people. Or 'bunches' I suppose and I am very glad to have spent time with them. Some lovely work too. Each person who comes to a workshop leaves me a page or more for a 'book' which is growing fairly fast at present. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 The enjoyable but extremely busy period of doing workshops is drawing to a close for a time at least. I love running workshops, being immersed in a process of working with other people and seeing where their creatitivity leads them but I am also looking forward to being able to focus again on my own work. Looking back at the last couple of weeks. There have been some really good moments. The school workshops were held within the school buildings which is a shame because they weren't able to make work about a specific place. Instead we focused on materials and process using coloured paper pulp to form elements within one large piece of work.I really enjoyed the adults workshops at St George's. There were some nice thoughtful responses to the materials and the building and it was good to meet everyone who came along. It was great to meet Roz, I just wish there had been more time to talk because as she said we are working in parallel or at least with linked interests and within the same small virtual community. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 OK, back to the rest of the project. Right now I am working on a couple of things. On the Saturday 14th July I am working in the woodlands with I hope help from local people. Given the foul weather that we are all enjoying there may be limited numbers, but those brave enough to come along will be helping to make work along the length of a path. If the weather is good we may be casting paper onto the ground to take back to the studio. The other thing I am preparing for is a story trail in August. I am working with storyteller Kevin Graal who will walk through the woods and tell one of the stories which has formed the basis of my 'Story Tree' work. It seems a long time off but isn't! www.papertrails.org.uk ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 This was supposd to be a studio day but turned into an 'installing artwork at a school' day instead. It's amazing how long things like that can take. Still, looks good. I hope the children feel proud of their work. Tomorrow I am doing something at a slight tanget to the project. Ages ago I got in touch with 'The Making' who do educational projects with schools etc (nice website; www.themaking.org.uk) to ask if there were any opportunities to shadow artists running workshops. This was before I started spending my whole existence running workshops! However they got back in touch recently to say "yes", so this weekend I'm going to be doing whatever they want and having a look at how a bigger organisation takes on the kind of thing I have been doing a lot of recently. Which should be very interesting. Back to the ivory tower on Monday. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 What an interesting weekend! I have been at West Dean with 'The Making' shadowing artists running workshops at the Garden and Art event. There was also a series of seminars and talks by artists and makers inspired by nature. I managed to attend Junko Mori's talk and also later to assist on her workshop. It was good to meet Cas Holmes and I was able to help on a few of her workshops too. The event was very well run and in such a beautiful setting that even the constant rain failed to dampen people's enthusiasm. 'The Making' are an interesting organization initiating and delivering good quality art and craft educational workshops and projects. It was very interesting for me to compare what they do with what I have been doing. I have to say that I was heartened by the experience as it confirmed that I am on the right lines. In addition to the professional development side of things it was good to meet everyone involved and work alongside them. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 I am working at St George's Chuch today. After all the educational / outreach stuff I am really looking forward to just carrying out some of my work which after all is what it is supposed to be about! The weather is making me have to reconsider some of the work I had proposed. Rather than thinking that there will be a time when I can trace lacy, meandering, hovering marks across the landscape I am going to have to face up to the fact that mud and water and damage / change will have to be part of the work. Which luckily enough I am excited by. However I have a feeling of responsibility to my local funders who probably still have an image of the work that doesn't encompass mud pies! ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 Of course glorious sunshine follows my decision to make work responding to the ghastly weather, rain and mud! Too late now, my work has taken on a decidedly earthbound approach. I have been pouring paper pulp on the ground to form sheets marked and patinated by the soil. At the weekend I am working on some large 'drawings' on Littleworth Common making temporary marks on the landscape using either torn paper strips or paper pulp. It will largely be decided by the weather which one gets carried out. its publicisised as a 'Help make art day' and anyone can join in. I predict that there will either be so few people involved that nothing happens or so many that we run out of materials straight away! ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 This afternoon I have been walking in Littleworth Common sorting out where the work on Saturday is going to take place exactly. It is supposed to be dry then but today the mosquitoes were out in force and I worry that we will get eaten alive at the weekend. However it helped to sort out in my mind where we will be and to a certain extent what we will be doing. I've got to put up some more notices before Saturday directing people to a meeting place. I want to concentrate on directly forming paper by casting it onto the ground but I am also aiming to carry out some of my original proposals; weather permitting. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 Today was a good day. It was billed as a 'Help make art day' open to the local community. There were very few who actually wanted to join in but a number of interested people. In fact the largest group turned up as we packed away having used everything up. It was beautiful light and no rain for a change and it was one of those times when you feel that the work is almost making itself. Although that ignores all the preparation and thinking and planning in favour of a kind of serendipity which isn't the whole truth. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 On Sunday we went to Kettle's Yard to catch the Edmund de Waal exhibition. It was the last day. I've just been so busy I haven't managed to get along before. I really like his work. I have one of his pots although to have just one is to miss the point a little as he deals with accumulations of objects. Repetition and modulation are materials just as much as the clay. In the middle of a period of so many competing demands / voices it was wonderful to see something which was so calm and pared down. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 I'm in the middle of making and planning work for a story trail in August and I am conscious that I am not reporting back as often as I might. Right now I feel that I need to look at things and read things and just be open to things before I do any more creative work for a few days. So there might be a pause before my next blog entry. But it doesn't mean that nothing is happening! ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 The work and planning for the storytrail is mainly in place now. All it depends on now is good weather and people wanting to take part! Which isn't certain at all. However, onward! I am looking forward to seeing some of the work on a bigger scale across the woods and that will be happening whatever the weather. Over the last few days I have been looking at other types of landscape as I have been visiting family. So it will also be good to return to working in the lush Surrey woodland.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 Well I thought that things might go awry with the Storytrail and they have. Is it a case of too many elements involved or just that people are on holiday? Anyway there are not enough people signed up to attend so the day is being postponed. I think its better to do this now rather than panic on the day, especially as so many other people are involved. Thanks to everyone at Elmbridge Borough Council who have put in time on this. We are going for dignified retreat rather than being put to rout.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 Today was a much more encouraging one. I am working with children on an Elmbridge Borough Council holiday scheme as part of the Papertrails project. With the weather we have been having I imagined that we would be stuck indoors at the base improvising, however we were out all day and had fun making trails through the woods.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 I'm spending the next few days catching up with things and assessing progress. Postponing the storywalk while being disapointing because I am not able to realize a larger scale installation right now is also a huge relief as it gives one the time to take stock. I am very much looking forward to moving forward on the 'books' I am making with community help at the St George's Church studio. Work during the summer has been rather disrupted by trips and planning for events although I am very pleased with the trails made with Elmbridge children through the woods at West End, Esher.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 Friday, Saturday and today I have been at St George's Church. It has been a combination of 'Heritage Weekend', Surrey Cyclists Saturday and my usual open studio on Fridays. So lots of visitors and lots of contributions towards the Elmbridge 'Book' that I have been working on. It is very interesting talking to the studio visitors. You can never predict who is going to make a real connection with the work and who isn't. I have also been thinking and making plans about what I will be working on after this project is over. There are still five months to go if one includes this month but because much of the originally planned work with local people has already happened it feels as if time is flying by.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 I am gearing up to "The Big Draw" on 13 October here at St George's. I hope the day works as well as as it could. Its almost impossible to anticipate which events will be eagerly seized upon by people and which will find no takers. I think people just get too busy. Anyway before that I am having a talk with my mentor, Bettina, tomorrow in Brighton with the aim of looking at where this year could lead. Also I'll be reporting back on the various events that have happened since June when we met last.In terms of work, I am becoming very interested in the route of a stream that runs through Arbrook Woods and want to do something in relation to it. I find it very difficult balancing planning ahead and working now. When I try to do both I find myself doing neither very well. Which is where Bettina comes in!... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 Today being Monday is 'admin day'. I am sorting out some of the things for 'The Big Draw' and emailing all the people I need to email and writing all the stuff I need to write. Hence the blog entry! However whenever it is an admin day I always really want to make something. At the moment the rolls of paper next to my table seem really interesting. I have been mulling over the idea of working with cylinder shapes and I keep finding my eyes drifting over to them!Last week was a mix of different things, some studio work, some meetings and some organizational stuff. Thursday was overall a good day. My meeting with Bettina was great. As part of my grant application to The Arts Council back in October last year, I had asked for funding towards mentoring for the organizational side of the project. Artsagenda (www.artsagenda.co.uk) (and Bettina, specifically,) had been suggested to me, probably because they usually deal with art in relation to a particular place or setting. I would really recommend them. Bettina has been a very positive and calming influence which is handy when you are dealing with a project like this one which can be influencd by so many things entirely outside of your control. On Thursday as usual she helped me to focus and prioritize things and the chaos of conflicting and competing things to do settled into a calm and acquiescent list. However out in the real world British Rail was doing its usual thing and I was half an hour late to my meeting and the return journey took at least two hours longer than it should have. On Friday I was 'in residence' and as usual had a few visitors some of whom were people who had been in before and wanted to check on progress. The church was being organized for an evening piano recital on Saturday. Chairs and tables were bing moved round and there was an air of bustle. It was enjoyable to see the preparations and to attend an event there that had nothing to do with me. I could have my glass of wine and chat to people and listen to beautiful music with no lurking thoughts about what I should have done.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 Reading the other blogs reminds me that I haven't written for a long while. There is so much to do at the moment that there seems little time to actually write about it. This week I am sending out the last press releases to the local papers about the 'Big Draw' event at St George's Church on 13 October, ordering materials for a new landscape piece and actually assisting another artist on her community art project. Back when she asked me to help, October seemed very empty, there seemed plenty of time to just have a stint of being employed for three days! Outside in the landscape the weather is changing and I am very much looking forward to working with the new light and new colours. Back to mud I suppose! www.papertrails.org.uk... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 I have been too busy to update the blog until now. Its a strange irony that being 'an artist' involves so much stuff that you would think was the opposite of art. Yes, admin day (or rather admin week) rolls round again! I have been applying for things, evaluating things and publicising things for what seems an eternity (in fact only a few days). looking back at my last entry I was just off to work on a fellow artist's project for a few days. That was a very enjoyable experience, being creative, making things and not worrying about anything else. 'The Big Draw' at St George's Church was also a good experience although I did have to sort out publicity and contend with the effects of the postal strike on my mail-out. I involved a couple of other artists, Claire Rye (who will be following me as artist in residence at the church) and her friend Tom who were both brilliant and helped inspire all sorts of creativity from the people who joined us for the day. I had decided that I wasn't going to impose my view of 'drawing' on people, instead they could draw however they wanted as long as they responded to the building and the setting. We suggested some starting points and off they went! Interestingly enough a lot of people homed-in on the writing in the building and on the grave stones. In a churchyard of course, the same words appear frequently but it doesn't stop them being evocative.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 The fantastic weather today has made it impossible not to feel uplifted. I have been concentrating over the last few days on papermaking and although I really enjoy the physical processes of making work it felt like a real treat to just walk and look at things. Its hard to resist the simple beauty of light on the trees and I took lots of photos. Even if it doesn't seem at the time to be connected to a specific peice of work, days like today always feed back into the work somewhere. My walk was actually for another purpose than just being there. I was on my way to catch a train to Woking where the Lightbox was running an artist advice day with Paul Stanley (their new arc advisor). I wanted to chat about some ideas for next year and also to make some connections with people there. The Lightbox is a lovely building and potentially a great resource for artists in this part of the South East. Paul was really helpful and got me to focus on my priorities for the next few years. All I have to do now is stay focussed and carry these things out! I've just read Alex Pearl's comment about us bloggers all being in our own little worlds, which made me smile (in recognition not derision, I hasten to add). There is something about writing about your project as it develops which makes you examine things and mull over things which wouldn't necessarily be given that kind of attention normally. Its all in that uneasy area betwen diary and publication. however I feel quite a strong interest in and connection to the other projects unfolding. So perhaps it isnt all quite as unconnected as it might seem.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 Radio silence doen't mean that my project has ended, rather that it has moved on to a period of concentrated work. I am aiming to complete some pieces before December although my working space at St George's has been partly taken over by people selling Christmas cards. They probably wonder what on earth I am doing and I am finding it hard to work with people constantly 'there'. However, it will all work out and one of the benefits of their presence is that the heating is on! ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 I'm getting a fair amount of work made. I am dividing my time between making hundreds of tiny hand-cast paper fragments and researching opportunities, meeting people, visiting exhibitions and helping other people with their projects. The paper fragments are set on pins and will end up accumulated together as part of a larger piece of work but are rather monotonous to make. I have also been finding more stories related to the commons. During the year I have been collecting stories, which seem to have a connection to the woods (either these specific woods or the idea of ‘woods’), from Elmbridge people. Some are factual accounts some are reminiscences and some are fairy stories. I have then been installing the stories back into the landscape. At first it was very difficult to find contributions from people but there is a growing theme now.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 Its one of those funny weeks when things go right and things go wrong and sort of balance each other out. I had been invited to take part in a project next year which I have just discovered is not going ahead, probably because of funding and on the same day I find that a proposal for another project has been accepted. Meanwhile I am still making innumerable (or at least it feels like it!) little paper shreds on pins.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 I have been working in St George's Church over the last few days. My artist in residence role has been slightly overwhelmed by the arrival of 'Cards for Good Causes' at the church. I think you would have to be very determined indeed to find where I am working, tucked away in the north aisle behind abundant displays of Christmas cards. Meanwhile, I am finishing off a few strands of work and determining how best to present them for the final exhibition here in January. I am also working on a 'Tree Dressing' in the churchyard. This was programmed into the events but has become marooned from its accompanying workshop which has been moved to February! In the absence of community input at this point I am using words from the flagstones and gravestones to temporarily adorn a tree in the churchyard. Many of these words were picked out by participants to use at the Big Draw back in October.People have asked me how I feel, working here surrounded by 'dead people'. It isn't something I have worried about; obviously the past makes itself felt here but if there is a spirit of the place I feel that it is a benevolent one. The words I am taking to use reflect this feeling. The word 'memory' is found on the gravestones fairly frequently and has an unintentional poignancy as it fades away but there are also phrases like 'tender love' and instructions to 'follow me', reassurances that 'joy cometh' and only a few admonitions to 'repent'! On reflection, I suppose I am working with the community on this piece of work, its just a community from the past. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 Well, gales and rain notwithstanding, the tree in the churchyard now sports a lexicon (though without the definitions) of words from St George's. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 I have been very bogged down in sorting out the printing of invitations for the concluding exhibitions for the residency. As always I wish that just when one needs to get on with finishing off work (ie artwork) one didn't have to instead concentrate on press releases and postcards. However the images and text are all sorted out and will be with the printers on Monday and they assure me that they can get it done before Christmas. Looking at some of the other blogs there seems to be heartening news. The 'tripe installation' in France which looked as if everything was going wrong looks delicately spectacular, the two studio groups have just had or or are soon going to have exhibitions which prove the merit of their endeavours. And 'Festial' as always, just made it's deadline so I am hoping that a bit of this positiveness goes my way too!It occurs to me that in our different experiences we are all learning so much during the course of our projects. it would be good to sit down with some of the other bloggers and compare notes. Perhaps my next project should be just that.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 I went out today early while it was still misty and very frosty. I was aiming to get some photos of the text of one of the stories that have been sent to me. Its a rather poignant story which I found tricky to use because I didn't want to illustrate it, just depict the text. I think the images I have taken are alright. I'll post them up when I have decided on which to use. It was hard to judge when nature by itself was doing so much better.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 I'm on the home stretch now in terms of this project. My final exhibitions for Papertrails open on 17 Jan with the PV on Saturday 19 January. It seems to be coming together. There is more work to be done on some of the larger pieces I am making for the show but at the moment it is looking as I would like it to. As ever there are things that I would like to handle differently. I would like to show less work with more space around it to allow it to breathe but I know part of the point of this show is to demonstrate the range of work and the number of ways that local people were involved so an empty space with one large piece of work in a pool of light isn't how it can be. I had a lovely Christmas without feeling that my roles of artist and mum were in conflict. That is the way I would like next year to be too. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 The concluding exhibitions of the residency are nearly here. Deadlines are looming and stress is building. With a project which has lasted a whole year I find myself still rushing to finish things. However I am looking forward to seeing how the work looks together. I feel encouraged that after all this time I am excited by the project and that I am still having new ideas although I am trying to restrain myself from thinking that I can or should add to the body of work at this point!I am still making small elements for the wall installation and so have boxes full of tiny shreds of paper set on pins. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 Today I am assembling the last few pieces of work for the exhibition. Some of the pieces are ones that are added to daily and will only really be finished at the end of the residency. There is one in particular, a book which is growing, one page at a time over the twelve months. However, I'm a bit behind with sewing the pages together. Eventually it will be bound using coptic binding which looks a bit like blanket stitch and works with loose single sheets rather than folded ones. The pages have been coloured with sampled pigments from wherever I have been working that day so some are coloured with clay from the commons and others with dust from the church. Its an earthy version of a book of days and is a sort of opposite to one I have been making with local people. That book is white and embossed and made to catch the light. I call these peices 'books' however unbook-like they appear because I don't know what else to call them but really they are sculptures whose form is being generated by the process by which they are being made.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 Its been ages since I had time to write an entry. There hasn'tbeen time to reflect on progress (or the lack of it). I can't remember an exhibition that has been such hard work to sort out. Partly, I suppose that's because I have done so much work this year and there is only a limited space to show it. The exhibition has had to be an overview of the year rather than a distillation. I know that once I have had time to think about things I will be able to resolve how I am going to use / present the work in the future. In the last couple of weeks there have been a ridiculous number of things out of my control that have gone wrong; to the point that when I opened the second pot of white paint that I was using for the screen in my space and found that it was blue, I just laughed. The private view is tomorrow between 12 and 3pm. Note to self: artist initiated projects are brilliant, liberating opportunities which allow you step outside your box but they are also a lot of hard work!... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 All the glitches and problems of the preceeding week resolved themselves at the eleventh hour (literally in this case as the private view started at noon!) and everything went well. Lots of people came to the opening and it was especially lovely to see people who had been involved in the project during the year. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 Since the private view I have been at the exhibition space at St George's Church six days a week. Partly to make the most of the last couple of weeks 'in residence' and partly because there isn't anyone else to mind the space while the exhibition is on. Unfortunately, though the church is full of atmosphere, history and inspiring detail it is rather short on internet acess so I have found it difficult to update the blog. A recap then over the last few days; the private view went really well, lots of people came and I was very encouraged. I was also pleased with the way the last pieces of work looked in the space. One of them, the one with thousands of cast paper fragments on pins caught the light in the way I had hoped it would. You are more aware of the mass of cast shadows than the construction. However, worryingly, considering how long it took to make, I have a huge compulsion to make another one, a bigger one this time!  The other new piece was an echo of my 'Storytree' series. I hung a large branch wrapped in one of the stories high in the nave of the church. I wanted to bring something from outside into the building and I was pleased with the way that the light strips of text illuminate the form. Its difficult to photograph though. On Tuesday I had a visit from a troop of 'Rainbows' and their leaders, mums and siblings of various ages. They were a lovely lot, very interested in what it was like to be an artist and very keen on being shown everything after which we did some big drawings on the floor and some of us got very grubby indeed!... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 Today my planning has gone awry. My son has had tonsillitis all week and I have managed to juggle things to cover my time at St George's but today I can't. I have had to put up a notice and close the exhibition for the day. Another problem with running a project as a one (wo)man band. However the cold weather has meant that there weren't streams of visitors anyway and it does mean that I will be able to catch up with my emails and starting to put together all the information for the final (dread word) evaluation.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 In theory my project has come to an end but evaluations are still to be done and some of the related work has drifted beyond the end of the residency. During February I am running an art workshop for children as part of the project and also there is an exhibition of some of the photographs of local participation and  of artworks, at the Civic Centre in Esher. I am really sad to leave my wonderful studio at St George's Church although it will be good to come to some kind of conclusion about the year. I met a fellow artist a couple of days ago who asked me if it had all gone as I had planned. That, I suppose is the big question. I think that the things that one hadn't planned or anticipated are probably the things that will ultimately seem most important. Looking back over the year it is meeting people that has made the most difference to me.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 Today I have started the process of final evaluation for the project, totting up figures etc yet enduring results of the year for me will be difficult to put into statistical form. Being able to work on a project for such a concentrated period of time has had a huge impact on my work and the way I work. It has been fantastic to be able to work without the usual constraints of space and time and I have very much enjoyed communicating my interest and enthusiasm to other people. Coming up this month are a couple of events which relate to the project. On the 19th is a children's workshop run with Elmbridge and later in the month at the Civic Centre in Esher there is an exhibition of photographs from the year. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 Until the last events connected with Papertrails have passed and my evaluation of the project both for ACE and for myself have been carried out I am continuing with this blog, however I keep finding things that don't fit into the heading of 'Papertrails residency' and aren't yet another distinct project. Perhaps I need to start a second blog!... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 Coming up as part of the project are a workshop with children on the 19th February and a last showing of work (photographs this time) at the Civic Centre in Esher. Elmbridge Borough Council have been very supportive of the project despite having a small budget for art and so it is good to show some of the documentation of Papertrails in their home as it were. Several of the Councillors have been frequent visitors to the studio at St George's Church and have been enthusiastic supporters of the project over the year as has Maggs Latter, the Arts Development Officer for Elmbridge.The other day I found out that instead of the 9 or ten children I expected to have signed up for the holiday workshop there were eleven on the waiting list beyond that, so there has been an element of restructuring going on to make things work with a full house.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 A lovely day with brilliant, bright, sunny weather so a good context for the last workshop of the Papertrails project. There were twenty-one 7 to 12 year-olds and three helpers as well as me. One was the Countryside Liaison officer and the others were from Elmbridge's children's holiday activity team. During the day we made sculpture and explored the West End Common at Esher. Activities included making things that responded to the environment. We made windmills, moblies and sun prints as well as having a go at papermaking.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 The last couple of weeks have been interesting. The project refuses to be finished. All sort of follow-on bits are appearing at the moment. Some work from the project has been sold in an exhibition in the US and other pieces are being shown in Esher and at Farnham Maltings in Surrey and the 'Storytree' strand of work is threatening to become another project of its own. During the summer it has been suggested that I work with a group of local people on some more stories to make a slightly less ephemeral, larger installation of this piece. When these things happen I'll update the blog but until then I am going to start a new blog to give form and voice to the rather less purposeful yet potentially extremely fruitful year ahead.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385 As a follow-up to this 'Papertrails' project I have been asked to make two further installations of the 'Storytrees', one using some of the as yet unused stories contributed by local people as a trail through the Elmbridge woods and the other in the courtyard at the Lightbox Gallery in Woking. I am intending to use stories from Woking for this group. There are four trees there which will work well as they will clearly be part of a group or series but it will be very different working in a courtyard rather than in the woodland. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/383385