ARTISTS TALKING
Visual art exhibitions and events with a platform for critical writing
Project blogs
Big Antarctic project
By: Anne Brodie
I was lucky enough to be chosen this year as one of the artists for the joint British Antarctic Survey (or BAS as its known) and Arts Council England fellowship to Antarctica. It all seems a long time ago since I first submitted my proposal. I saw the ad for applicants about this time last year in the a-n mag and thought how fantastic it would be to go but hey...... every artist and their dog must think the same what chance would I have? Obviously none at all if I didn't apply, so I did.
[enlarge]
My dog Bella who i'm going to miss....my family are all saying 'what about us?!!!!!'
# 1 [26 November 2006]
First posting! Only 4 days left before I leave for the Big Chill.....
It's going to take me 11 days to get from Heathrow to Rothera research station on the Antarctic penisula. I'm flying to Chile, then a couple of days in the Falklands before I board the James Clark Ross, one of the BAS research ships which will sail gently (lets hope!) through sea ice and past icebergs into Rothera. I'm going to try and make a posting here once a week.
I'm actually really knackered, its seems to have suddenly dawned on everyone that I'm not going to be around for the next couple of months and that they should have a party/getogether to say goodbye, maybe I should have organised one giant one myself instead of lots of little ones.....
I seem to have been packing and sorting out equipment for ages - cameras, microphones, camcorders, tripod, film etc, etc, there'll be no nipping out to Jessops once I'm there and for someone who's not naturally organised its been a tall order. I still don't know if I've packed enough film.........maybe I should take some infra red?
An unexpected part of this journey was the overnight stop off in Punta Arenas in Chile. My mum was born and brought up there, but died when I was 14. I had always intended to go to Chile one day and retrace a few steps but never been able to. I googled her old school and much to my amazement it's still there, I've only got one night so I'm not sure if I'll have the time to visit......