Monday 5 January 2015

Looking out and about

Being a selected New Opportunities Award artist for the New Expressions programme has been great. Given the national spread of the programme, I could have felt quite disconnected, especially as Bridport is in itself relatively isolated, and beyond the rail network. But the managing team addressed the geographical issue and clearly made it a priority to support participants to meet, network and share experiences with each other, with organisations, and with the public. I know that the original brains behind the programme all live in the south west region, and travel extensively to keep the ever growing beasty on track. So it's really helpful to have their understanding of the costs and challenges of travel filtering into how I can make the most of the NOA. It takes me a couple of hours to arrive in Bristol, via car and train. I'd love to leave the car behind but its just not practical when the nearest rail station is 25 minutes drive away. So I was up with the early birds last June for the first New Expressions meeting, but nowhere near as early as delegates from the north of England. Respect to them. Our hosts at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery were warmly hospitable, and Susie's discipline of the three minute presentation bell was very entertaining, even if it did make the heart pump a little faster. Hearing ideas, interests and the creative drive behind them was a joy, and although I probably won't get to experience all the other commissions first hand, I'd really like to, and will where possible. So I felt informed and networked from the off, and the inspiration continued, broadened and deepened during our supported visit to the Folkestone Triennial last October. The visual arts triennial has been funded in Folkestone, by a private patron, as an instrument of community regeneration. This focus means any artist commissioned via the main programme, or via the sister fringe festival, has to engage with the communities directly, transparently and robustly. The, vital, team behind the delivery are knowledgable enough to be confident in their selection of ambitious and surprising artists who have brought amazing and thoughtful ideas to fruition in a variety of locations. Local people were employed in 2014 to steward the large public works, and those in disused shops. Their knowledge and interest in discussing the artist's ideas, really enhanced my conversations and depth of experience as a visitor. In my curatorial work and projects with young people over the past ten years I've banged on and on about having some dialogue with gallery visitors, partially as an intervention on the alienating potential of 'artspeak'but mostly as a way to enjoy a human connection. Gallery visitors can be quite vehement in their opinions, particularly when an exhibition does not appeal, but if stewards have been trained to a professional standard they don't tend to take strongly expressed opinions too personally, and can add information which sometimes changes minds. We were encouraged to talk to curators, each other, members of the Contemporary Art Society and the public. So I did. In fact, I missed a great visit to Wilkos because I was discussing art with a local young family. Folkestone is witnessing the reality of people risking their lives and liberty to arrive in this country via the English Channel, and the theme of 'Lookout' encapsulated the historic, present and ongoing need to look at things from different perspectives. I challenged myself by going up in a lift that gave me a superb view of Folkestone and its salty horizon. The lift was powered by a wind turbine and neighboured a sheltered housing complex. As part of the commission, the elderly residents gained some CCTV and their landlord repainted the building. A modest but meaningful and very tangible step towards regeneration that didn't compromise the artist's concept or ambition. I like a bit of win/win, and I loved the fact that neighbours of all ages queud up with us to ride the lift, even the schoolboy who counted out every metre we rose up, as my fingers gripped tighter and whiter. Have a Lookout for yourself... http://www.folkestonetriennial.org.uk/about-the-folkestone-triennial/theme/ I probably won't write again for a while as I'll be out in Bridport with the Knot Booth, gathering people's knots, and then using them in the commission which will be launched at Bridport Museum at the second Ropewalk Fair 10 May this year. Come and say hello if you're in the area...or drop in on another New Expressions commission and tell me all about it...