ARTISTS TALKING

# 48 [9 April 2008]

The point of this blog was to talk about setting up studios, but as we have been in Harrington Mills for a year now, I think it is time to close this blog.

I have just returned from an amazing networking visit to Lille and it seems a perfect note to end on :)

# 47 [30 March 2008]

"A man with a van and a passion for Dracula," was one of the suggestions floated for getting Sarah and David's work to Transylvania. Just one of the conversations we had whilst setting up for Sarah's PV on Friday night. Not a huge turn-out ... but we had timed it with the preview of the student postcard show in Derby. However, there were some unexpected guests which is always a nice surprise.


I was really pleased when 3 people wandered into the studios on Saturday for Sarah's talk (about the processes and ideas behind her paintings).  One of them pulled out a press-cutting from the local paper, the result of my press-release... though I hadn't realised it had been printed. More people arrived including an artist from London who was v impressed by the set-up and the informal talks. All v satisfying.

Despite a few technical hitches Sarah managed to deliver a really interesting talk. She had competition at one stage because, even though Andy's lace machines were silent, he tuned into radio 2 half-way through the discussion.  

We were debating whether it would be good to combine the talk and the PV together. Or maybe spread the events out a bit more?

The Standing Room residency is all v exciting and apparently artists are turning up next week to film. There is much interest in my cupboard.

# 46 [22 March 2008]

One of the benefits we offer at HMS is a web page. I ask artists to send info by email and I format it for the website and upload. But I am human and invariably miss bits and make the wrong links... so I ask artists to to proof read their own work. I've just finished a second attempt at Sheila's this afternoon, so fingers-crossed.

http://www.harringtonmillstudios.co.uk/artists/sheilap.htm

I've been to 4 meetings this week. The first was connected with Standing Room. we've decided to go down the CICs route which is less bureacratic than a charity.

Another meeting involved programming in a show for an artist in the exhibition space which is now getting booked up, though we do have to firm up with dates.
A meeting in Matlock with various organisations in Derbyshire took up most of Tuesday afternoon - discussing the £25m government funding for 0-19yr olds for arts and culture outside school. Not sure if I made much of an impression ....I'm a bit rubbish at making myself heard when there are 50 people in the room.

And lastly, there was a meeting to discuss events in Southwell where I am a member of another group of artists. Now down to some drawing...

# 45 [13 March 2008]

Andy Beale manufacturers lace on the floor above. He makes miles of narrow gauge lace and knicker elastic. Wall-to-wall machinery. I mention this because we got a good deal on the property as he also creates decibels. The noise varies depending on what machine is being used. It rotates around the studios - from a soft purr in the vacinity of the loos to the bone-shaking heavy metal above my space, Fortunately the latter is infrequent and I've only witnessed it half a dozen times since moving in last year.

When Andy is busy he tends to use the monster machines in the early hours because all these decibels require maxi kilawatts of energy which is cheaper before 7am.
Generally though, it compares with noise from air con units and sounds almost womb-like.
Anyway, the noise was enough to put off most punters when it was on the market... but not artists. Excepting the occasional thrashing machine, the space offers great accomodation.  I do warn artists who look round (especially at the weekend) but it hasn't put anyone off, and no one has left. I've brought this up because I am regularly asked why the space is affordable.

We will be covering a yard and a half of agenda tomorrow when four of us will be discussing the framework for Standing Room. Kat has done loads of research into different structures which will be good for funding. We don't think we will be able to cover everything in one session, but it will be a good start. I'm the secretary which I find a bit scary.

We have sorted out a date for Sarah Key's PV and she is also giving a talk.
See www.harringtonmillstudios.co.uk for details

# 44 [10 March 2008]

Just been discussing next years graduate residency with the ADO from Erewash Council. The pot which funded Polly's space has diminished, but apparently this doesn't mean the money can't come from another purse. Also there are a few hoops to jump through in terms of evaluation and public benefit etc. Fair enough because this is public money.

We have a waiting list so support from the council is not quite so critical this year, though I have to say, the partnership helps to raise the profile of HMS... and I'm sure we also tick a few boxes in relation to Arts and Culture in the borough too. The successful applicant works in the community, so the public have the benefit of working with a professional artist. All good!

The residency poses a slight problem for the beneficiary. A year comes round very quickly and the artist maybe left homeless at the end of the term. Even if they are prioritised on the waiting list, the timing may be rubbish.

Anyway, we are meeting in a few weeks when funding will be clearer, to discuss all these issues.

# 43 [5 March 2008]

It only took a few hours to hang Sarah's exhibition yesterday but the space has been transformed. The optical illusion of some of the pieces tested our judgement at times - but we were both v happy with the end result. These paintings formed part of Sarah's recent doctorate show at Loughborough University. Apparently the next stop is Transylvania! (My photos don't do the work justice but offer a snapshot of the exhibition). We've just got to organise a PV now.

I had a second stab at the web workshop which I missed yesterday. Although I set up the HMS website, I also recognise I have only scratched the surface. Lori showed us how much free stuff is available on the web and how we can park images and videos onto free sites and link them to our own.

# 42 [3 March 2008]

Jessie has left photos of the Artquest visit in my space. Loads of them. It was a great reminder of the sociable and v interesting evening we had at the beginning of Feb.

A busy day ahead tomorrow. We are hanging Sarah Key's work in the exhibition area. It will be good to see the space active again. With hindsight Sheila's work came down too soon (the end of December) and there has been nothing in the space since. What a waste! We are starting to get a programme together, but there are still a few gaps... will need to push it a bit more.

A workshop is also taking place tomorrow at HMS. All to do with computers and the web. A shame I will miss it, but I have a couple of meetings after hanging the show.

# 41 [1 March 2008]

I recently extended the phone cable from my space to a more convenient central location. Unfortunately, I didn't test the extension - which proved to be faulty. So a morning which could have been spent painting, was wasted on a futile task. But you learn - I tested the new wire before snaking it round the partitions.

On to something more rewarding. Standing Room is turning emerald. Sam, Apexa and Hannah are creating a mock film set and I can't wait to see the next episode. www.standingroom.org 
Apparently a 'cast'  of artists will be coming to HMS next week. There is a real buzz.

Had an email from Christopher Parkes who has just given a talk at Staffs Uni. He mentioned Standing Room and how the residency at HMS has helped his practice. The experience has been so positive for both parties.

Kat is managing Standing Room from a distance and is currently sorting out a committee to run it. Though Kat has done the lion's share, we have both suffered from burn-out. Spreading the load will definitely help. Four of us are meeting in a couple of weeks to work out a structure to administer and develop the space. Kat has sorted loads of documentation to sift through. It all looks a bit daunting.

Some good news. I have been awarded a place on the NAN research and networking visit to Lille. I still can't believe it as HMS hasn't been going a year yet.

# 40 [11 February 2008]

I’m on top of most of the dross, but there is still stuff I should have dealt with weeks ago.  Like the telephone.  The easiest access for BT was in my space. My intention was to extend the connection over three other workspaces to a mid-point near the entrance to HMS.  Unfortunately the job is a tad more tedious now because artists have moved more gear into their spaces.  Although the line is for incoming calls only and broadband, it will make life easier for everyone once it’s done. No excuse really.

Onto something a little more rewarding - the residency of Christopher Parkes.  

There is always a pang when a show comes down, and this was true when Christopher’s residency in Standing Room ended last Friday.  His miniature landscapes in response to the Allotment show had undergone a series of changes, both controlled and organic.  During the last two months I had looked forward to seeing the various stages of reconfiguration and observed both the minutiae and the drama on a regular basis. 

Christopher’s first landscape in the prescribed Allotment show format of a 15 inch square was contained in a pristine white box. A discarded tape lay inside.  By the launch of the Allotment exhibition in mid December, there was little hint of change, but as if on cue for the Christmas celebrations, a lush green swathe of young shoots appeared -  despite the seasonal cold weather. When much of the show moved to the Town Hall, Christopher chose to use remnants of the exhibition, the hooks, the screws and the various fixings as part of the installation.

 The original ‘plot’ was moved due south-west and nearer to the window where the plants continued to thrive. Two unpainted boxes also formed part of the new composition. Nestled amongst the shoots in the middle container were numerous small red metal rods, peering like periscopes in different directions, directing the viewer to the matrix of fixings on the wall.  Drama in mid January occurred when a schism in the earth revealed the base - a natural disaster on a miniscule scale.

The third box contained ivy and a figurine of a cat – thus encouraging the viewer to look closer and from a different perspective. Over time, I imagine the climber would extend well beyond the boundaries of Standing Room and into the rest of HMS! 

There was also a fourth ‘plot’: a burial mound with a childlike toy in the form of a grim reaper lay at the head of the pile.
see www.standingroom.org
 It makes all the dross worthwhile. 

# 39 [5 February 2008]

I was excited, but also nervous yesterday about the Artelier presentation by Nick Kaplony at HMS. It’s like hosting a party and wondering if anyone is going to turn up... only worse because Nick was on his way from London and I felt responsible.  Stupid I know, because artists were bound to be drawn to this exciting project facilitating connections all over the world for free  The website http://www.artquest.org.uk/artelier/' will be launched next month detailing how artists can become members. It was described a bit like a dating agency for artists and arts organisations where exchanges of creativity, resources, studios, galleries, accommodation etc can be facilitated ... and on an international scale.

Anyway, we laid out the medley of chairs including fold-up, garden chairs, stools and of course the donkey easel. 40 seats in all.  We stocked up with wine and nibbles and I picked up Nick from the train station. The new road works and the rush hour traffic highlighted the distance from Nottingham which took longer than normal. Would the artists travel to Long Eaton?

No worries. It was bums on all seats – with standing room for late-comers. Representatives from Southwell Artspace, Banks Mill, some newly formed studios and a few established groups from Nottingham came.  We had MA students from Derby, Bianca from Creative Launchpad and a few curators too.

The atmosphere was relaxed and the talk generated loads of questions. HMS artists were as always, helpful, with plenty of offers to pour wine and clear up.

 A seasoned form-filler who was used to producing figures for funders to crunch, asked me if everyone had signed in. I had intended to be organised this time, but was enjoying the occasion too much to get the visitors' book out. Jess has photographed and videoed the event so we do have a visual record.