tutorial and lecture

Today has hopefully helped me to get started on my project.  A tutorial with Nick provided suggestions as to how I can move forwards. 

It seems I was wrong to have thought my presentation had been received negatively.  A combination of misunderstanding and my ever present self-doubt.  I have had an uncomfortable week of inward thinking but onward, onward...

to Les's pop up exhibition.  The way the exhibits interpreted the pleating, folding and smocking was enlightening.  The scale, use of paper and limited use of colour made it timeless - contemporary yet archival, crisp and fragile in my eyes. 

Then to the lecture by Les which described the timeline of the project - from an  observation of a painting, to an interest, to wanting to know more, to finding museums who would cooperate, to applying for funds, to finding the essence of the project, the making of things, to exhibiting, educating and everything else in between.  It was particularly useful to see the way his curiosity translated and defined the theme of the project - and how long it took.  Mostly I learnt to look for clues in the everyday.

Luckily I visited the exhibition before the lecture.  I would have liked to see it again but it was being taken down immediately.

interesting research

looking back over the past week

Listened to the second of the Reith lectures written and delivered by Grayson Perry.  This week he discussed the idea that 'anything can be art'.  Looking at various examples - from Duchamp's urinal to Leeds students' hoax art project for their final show - they displayed air tickets, postcards and souvenirs suggesting they had spent the £1K grant for the exhibition on a holiday (they hadn't).  He touched on the craft v. art debate, snobbery, context (gallery display - Duchamp used a plinth for his urinal), photography, limited editions, performance, made by an 'artist) and so on.  Thought provoking and entertaining.

I spent a lot of time working on the Learning Agreement and a PowerPoint presentation which explains the development of the project.  I thought I had sorted it out.

On Thursday I presented the PowerPoint but it was met with negativity.  I need to rethink the whole project but I have other commitments and time is short.  

I attended the History Rising Study Day at Norwich Castle and the Outpost Gallery which was about curation.  Interesting.

I attended the Print and Dye induction - which I have done twice before - but it is useful revision.

Polly Binns

Yesterday Polly Binns gave a talk entitled

A Personal View

Polly subtitled it 'or how I understand myself'

She described her work as being autobiographical - a culmination of her life, age, education, opportunities, career etc.  This was particularly relevant to me because I have described my current project as autobiographical. Polly is the same age as me but with totally different life experiences.  She described the changes which have happened over her lifetime in the study of textiles, the vocabulary of textiles, her practice and her collaborations over the years.  She is inspired by the natural world which she observes on her walks, she likes to use grid formations.  Overall, her message was that we are unique and that our work will be unique as a result.

Fabulous Fashionistas

I have just looked at a Channel 4 programme called Fabulous Fashionistas.  It is about six women with an average age of 80.  None of them are trying to look young, they are stylish and fun and redefine the ageing process.  I found the programme to be energising and enjoyable.  Journalist Michele Hanson disagrees... she says that they are women who have always enjoyed being flamboyant and that other older people have a right to be dull because they have always been dull.  Nothing whatsoever to do with age. 

I enjoyed the Reith Lecture (1/4) called Democracy has Bad Taste which was broadcast yesterday....always agreeable to listen to Grayson Perry.  He spoke about quality in art and who decides it is good.  He spoke about the 'validation process' which includes fellow artists, agents, curators, serious critics, collectors, dealers and galleries.  It was engaging and enlightening - and irreverent.

Speaking as an older woman