Research, research, research; and the blog gets going
It has been too long since I wrote my blog! But here goes…I’ll explain what I’ve been doing recently…
Over the last few weeks I have found new ways to do the research needed for my biggest project to date, and this has been aided mainly by watching The_Interval’s online platform by Work Show Grow. I’ve listened to their artist’s talks, learned new skills and even taken part in Pilates for the first time! The two main highlights for me were the talks by Jessica Fairbrother, and Mishka Henner. Jessa in her use of fabulously beautiful embroidery; and Mishka’s stunning use of images found online. Both of these talks opened my mind up to new ways of working, and I was able to solve the major problem of not being able to go out to shoot the photos I needed.
Then last weekend I attended an inspiring research workshop by Work Show Grow’s Natasha Caruana. This was just the boot that I needed, and I was able to then think more coherently about what I needed to do next.
Work in Progress, (incomplete) working title The Cobb, April 2020
Project #1
Chosen to be part of the Photo Oxford 2020 festival, this work is based around a ‘found’ 1920s photo album which documents the travel of two young women and their friends along the Dorset coast and Jersey. Preliminary genealogy research had identified some people and places in the album, and I was going to visit and rephotograph some of the locations, then make resultant photomontage art work.
Of course, I can’t do that right now, but I am excited by the alternative methods I’m working with instead. I’m making the work I wanted to, without leaving home, exploring the concepts of found photography online, as well as my usual eBay source. And I have folders of research on my laptop, as well as a sketchbook for ideas - thanks to the workshop last weekend.
Work in Progress, working title Blot#3
Project #2
To be included in Northants Open Studios 2020, this was always going to be work I could make at home, but over the last few weeks I’ve been thinking of creative ideas to make it more interesting. The day before lockdown was Mother’s day as well as my birthday. My family gave me beautiful flowers, which I kept for as long as possible - and then photographed them as they started to wilt and die. The next process includes photomontage with vintage blotting paper which has been used for decades to press flowers - the outlines, stains and folds of the paper clearly visible. Finally, the third dimension is embroidery (I have embroidered photos before, I also love Julie Cockburn’s work) , as well as other tactile collage effects. I am using a hard backed sketchbook that I made myself to record ideas for this project.
A little context
Although I have been extremely fortunate to still have an income in these strange times, my artistic plans went out the window after the coronavirus outbreak struck. Lockdown came within days of me submitting two funding proposals, both of which had taken me weeks to complete (I need to get quicker!) Out of the two, one is on hold, and the other won’t be considered, as organisations refocus their funding capacities towards artists who have been financially disadvantaged by the situation - which is totally the right thing to do.
This summer and autumn I was going to be taking part in four exhibitions: the two mentioned above, a solo show of Hub in St. Petersburg, Florida: and a group show in Cornwall. at this time I don’t know whether they will go ahead, or be postponed. My feeling is that they’ll happen next year instead. Thats OK - I can cope with that.