ARTISTS TALKING

# 48 [24 November 2008]

I thought a few images of the performance at A Foundation in Liverpool might be interesting . 

In the event I managed to complete 51 greetings over the course of the day and as a result know have 51 new friends from Liverpool. All the greetings resulted in interesting conversation with visitors to the gallery, some taking quite an fascinating discursive journey into the area of public and private space, personal comfort zones and the nature of relating to our fellow human beings.

The gallery space  is sizeable, there are several large areas for showing work most on an industrial scale. Perhaps because of this, there were four exhibitions showing  - Bloomberg New Contemporaries, Artists Anonymous and the photographs of Manual Vasson plus the Fantasy project showing Eastern artists. Here are some images of some of the greetings. 

# 47 [21 November 2008]

Today I am about to leave for Liverpool as I will be performing at A Foundation on Saturday 22nd November. Trying to ensure I have not forgotten everything I need for the performance and also making sure it all fits into one suitcase. 

The work is called 100 GREETINGS and is based on the simple act of greeting our fellow human beings. The piece will last for as long as it takes to make 100 greetings - potentially all day. 

Quite apprehensive at the moment, which is unusual as I normally look forward to live pieces. Still, they say adrenalin and nerves always result in a better performance so maybe its a good sign.

# 46 [11 November 2008]

Flights now booked so it's off to the States in mid January! I am now thinking I must get down to writing the outline for my lecture since I know that time will slip by very quickly.

 On another issue entirely, I went to a symposium at the University of the West of England in Bristol at the weekend entitled All Over the Place. It accompanied the opening of a drawing show of the same name in which there were pieces by several of the speakers at the symposium. What I found interesting was the tendency for the symposium title to be explored in relation to landscape rather than the wider interpretation of place. Of course the particular interests of some artists was landscape and this came through strongly in their talks. Nevertheless it seemed to me that place was frequently taken as the grand 'Caspar David Freidrich type' location. For me, equally relevant works are those of Idris Khan and Bernd and Hilla Becher, that do not use the 18th Century landscape idyll as the way to explore place. 

If I can venture about my work in the same paragraph as the above artists, the sitting room drawings are for me very much about place, even though these are as far removed from rolling hills and crashing waves as can be. 

# 45 [5 November 2008]

I have just logged onto Artists' Talking and realised my blog was selected by Inez Schrader as the blogger's choice - thanks Inez! And just to reassure you, video clips of the work from the first Inishlacken residency will be on my website soon so they can be seen without the need to travel to Ireland or the States. 

Today I have been booking flights to America for the opening of the show at Redhouse Arts Centre and to deliver a lecture at SUNY - the State University of New York.  I am hoping to spend some time in New York city looking at galleries and maybe making some contacts there. It seems logical to make the most of the trip in every way possible. 

 The Inishlacken drawings are progressing, albeit slowly so nothing to see yet, but in order that visual withdrawal doesn't set in, here is another sitting room drawing.

# 44 [4 November 2008]

Now back at home in Suffolk and working on some drawings started on Inishlacken. This time around I only spent two days on the island - the weather dictated proceedings and safety concerns about sailing to and from Inishlacken severely curtailed  the experience. Nevertheless, the company of Mick O'Dea, Cian Donnelly and Phil Hession with Rosie of course made for some interesting discussions. 

 I made several walks around Roundstone on the mainland, mostly in the rain but all informative to my experiences of Ireland and Irish life. As a result I am now drawing madly - from maps of Inishlacken dating from the 1890's, from memories of walking the island and from impressions gleaned of Irish life along the way.

None of these images are completed yet so to make my blog more visually exciting, here is a recent drawing from a series entitled Sitting Rooms III, pencil drawings made from estate agents websites. It obviously has no relation whatsoever to Inishlacken!

# 43 [13 October 2008]

Yet another long period of time has passed since I last made a post to this blog. Its been a busy few months that have passed quickly, so much so that I am amazed my last post was back in June!

 Last week I returned to Inishlacken island. Rosie invited me to take part in the 2008 residency and whilst I was initially unsure I did agree - the right decision as it turned out. I had some misgivings mainly because I did not want to tarnish my first experience of the island and was concerned that to return would only serve to diminish the first visit - this time I would have pre-conditioned expectations. In the event, I made the decision that to return would be to re-experience and re-evaluate the island. Yes, my perspective would be conditioned, but my responses could only build on what had gone before. In fact I do now believe it was necessary to return to truly understand what had happened first time around. 

There were three other artists this time plus myself and Rosie, painter and curator of the project. Two were from Belfast and one from Dublin. A painter, a video artist and a painter/drawer/performance artist. So quite a different 'feel' to things this time coupled with the difficult weather which dictated the amount of time spent on the island. 

So having now started the project blog up again I will take the next few occasions to relay the second Inishlacken experience. Speak to you soon!

# 42 [17 June 2008]

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.

# 41 [7 March 2008]

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. 

# 40 [19 February 2008]

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. 

# 39 [11 February 2008]

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!