open studios and printmaking access update

First open studios finished - and for a first year not too bad. Got some good contacts, possible commission and sales and heard about Green Door - open access print studio which has just been set up by Anna Johnson. I'm going to exhibit in the gallery next month - I think the open studios and print studio will both be really good for Derby.

Exhibition Wishlist

Eva Hesse - Drawings at the Drawing Center, New York
Eva Hesse - Sculptures at the Jewish Museum, New York
Drawing Inspirations, Abbot Hall, Kendal
Since 2000: Printing Now at MoMA, New York

Display

I've been thinking about displaying work - really don't like the idea of framing drawings - somehow makes them seem too 'finished'. I think I need to tape or stick directly to wall or just pile on floor?. I'm also thinking about doing fold/ crumple/ twist without any marks - implicit gesture and touch?

Touch and trace

I'm currently doing some drawings based on touch (pinch and punch above). Trying to get a sense of the mark left behind by a touch or gesture ( - a gesture which incorporates contact of some sort). I am aware that because I just love the whole activity of drawing - the making a mark on a surface - I have to be careful it doesn't tip into self indulgence. I was thinking about this yesterday and decided that, whatever else drawing is, it definately plays an important role for me in exploration and ordering of thought processes. In this series of drawings it also makes me aware of the physical nature of the 'touch' - the amount of pressure or intensity of the mark made is replicated (or even re-experienced?) through the pencil on paper.

British Art Show in Nottingham

The British Art Show will be opening in Nottingham on the 21st April - I'm going to the symposium 'location, location, location' at the Bonnington lecture theatre, ending with the opening of the show. As well as it sounding really interesting it is definately part of my 'get out of the studio and mix with people' strategy. I've decided I really need to start meeting other artists - it can be very isolating working from a studio at home. Derby 'art scene' does seem to centre around Derby Uni graduates - although I'm not sure this is true or just my perception as a non-graduate of Derby who has been practising for a long while....I was hoping that the open studios would be a way of meeting other artists in the city but although it's a step in the right direction, it definately won't be the case this year! I think I need to take more responsibility for becoming involved - although I'm really not sure that I fit in...

Darts - open studios in Derby

Darts - open studios in Derby

Darts - open studios in Derbyshire will be running for the first time over the bank holiday weekends during May and June. Only 70 odd artists participating - but it is the first year. Really suprised that only a couple of artists from Banks' Mill Studios are taking part. I would have thought that the whole space would have been opened. In fact only about 4 of us in total from the city centre! Hopefully it will become an annual event and more artists will get involved next year.