For the Raison D'Etre Theatre Company's play Taliswoman, based on the life of Artemisia, I have been given the Allegory of Painting to interpret. I could use a piece of work I've already made, but the urge to make something new is strong, so using some of the symbolism, the golden mask pendant, the loose strands of hair and the colours of her dress. Along with the story of her torture using the sibille around her fingers and her cries to Agostini of "Is this the ring you promised me?" I think I can make a new piece of work.
The work will be displayed in the Guildhall in Leicester in November alongside a symposium of artists and its my first work as an artist that is paying me. I've had paid work as a community artist, but not for my own work.
Sadlergate, Derby
Anglesey Walls, Llandona & Penmon, by John Piper
I was reminded of John Piper when visiting the New Walk Museum, they have one of his cottage paintings, and then I found this. I like to think about how he may have met my grandparents while out painting at Penmon or Llandona.
Bolsover Castle, Derbyshire
Harlech Castle, North Wales.
| 1. | not visible; not perceptible by the eye: invisible fluid. |
| 2. | withdrawn from or out of sight; hidden: an invisible seam. |
| 3. | not perceptible or discernible by the mind: invisible differences. |
| 4. | not ordinarily found in financial statements or reflected in statistics or a listing: Goodwill is an invisible asset to a business. |
| 5. | concealed from public knowledge. |
| 6. | an invisible thing or being. |
| 7. | the invisible, the unseen or spiritual world |
A long walk in the countryside, a stop off at the wooden house, a time for reverie at the view, and a disturbing signpost...
Advancements were made yesterday, the jungle was attacked before breakfast and great swathes were made into the deepest darkest areas. Light was allowed back in.
The hairy black supervisor barked instructions but refused to make the tea, which was not much help at all.
By 6pm, 12 bags had been ridden away and the lost tribe of pygmies had been evicted and sent down to the local housing office with our sincere apologies.
We made it to our destination...
The Richard Attenborough Centre
Lancaster Road, Leicester
18th July - 29th August 2009
Open daily except Sundays.
Having read some of the comments about volunteering, I decided to add a post about an exhibition I've been working on. It is a museums led exhibition but not held in a museum, its looking at identity, music and sport through fashion from 1989 and 2009, it celebrates the special olympics returning to Leicester after 20years of being in other venues.
I have been project support/community curator on this project which has involved talking to communities about their memories of 1989, recording these memories and collecting any items of clothing they have decided to loan. Its also had funding from the cultural olympiad as well as renaissance east midlands (I can't list all the funders, too many!) One of the aims of the project has been to target groups which would not normally visit a gallery.
This saturday was the community open day, and a coach full of visitors from Northampton arrived to spend 3 hours in a setting they are not necassarily comfortable with. They had a great time. They had a guided tour of the whole building, interactive parts of the exhibition, a mayors speech, felt making workshop (run by me, amazed that some of the kids didn't know where wool came from), ate their packed lunches and got back on the coach, happy that they had had a fun day out.
If only all experiences to galleries and museums could be so pleasant. If I have felt intimidated in galleries (I'll not mention being followed by a security guard in Newcastle museum & gallery) then I can't begin to imagine how someone daring to venture in for the first time would feel. Perhaps we need to start educating the museum & gallery assistants, invigilators and security staff that these big beautiful building belong to those communities who do not utilise them even thought they are funding them through public money.
I've enjoyed volunteering for this project, I've recieved good training, support and it has definately given me the confidence to applying for a project in Derbyshire (I'll keep you posted about that) I've made good contacts and I've made a whole new group of friends in my fellow volunteers, some of whom I'm going onto develop other ideas with.
Oh, and to finish off a really fun and exhilarating day, an email from Matt Roberts with the draft of the degrees issue of artartart, with a review of my degree show work, that I'm particularly pleased and proud of. Thank you Alan Armstrong, you completed my perfect day.
