Residencies
Residencies are probably my absolute favourite way to create an artwork. The act of listening, watching, creating and discussing completed images in real time with people present thrills me and inspires me. My brain fires on all sorts of levels, touching me with theology, social justice and creativity. I simply adore it.
What happens is that I am asked to do a commission from an organisation or a group of people. I’m told what the event is and asked if I can attend to engage, to create and to reflect back to the group gathered. It may be a conference or workshop, a transition moment; and could be large or huge or small. I’ve worked for days over a United Reformed General Assembly or Synod meeting, or for a few hours at a workshop, or for a year or so over a transition time for a church union. I arrive on site (physical or digital), and I set out my materials. I may work at a table at the back of a room, or from an ad-hoc painting studio in a large open area, or at my huge studio computer with my digital art program. As I set out my supplies, I watch and listen. The images begin to arrive and I catch them as I can. At each pause point, usually the end of a session or a break in the day, I try to take a photo of each point. The event finally concludes, and I stop. Of course I know when the event is supposed to stop, so I try to time what I’m doing with when I know I need to finish. This helps me know how to use my paper, canvas or digital art board and how much I may be able to fit in. But I finish then and there. Taking it away for another day removes what inspired me and I just can’t do it.
This is the core of my residency work; intuiting what the group of people is saying and meaning, watching people move and relate to each other, seeing the relationships they build with others, checking my interpretation with them, then making the committed artwork. I love it.
I hope you enjoy seeing the results on these pages. If you want to ask me to come along and do this for you, please ask. The internet makes the world very small and who knows, a physical trip to you may be just what we both need.
The Church at Carrs Lane: Tabernacle
2013
URC General Assembly:
Living Water
2012