Some Questions/Answers From My Interview Yesterday.

I spent the best part of yesterday being interviewed about art, the arts, my art, teaching art etc. I am sure you get the picture. It was a real eye opener, it really got me thinking about so many different things.

So I thought that it might be interesting to you to read about a few of them.

Why is it important for you to curate exhibitions?

I think that when artists give me their work to hang I am essentially taking on the same role as a visitor to the gallery. I'll explain, I have no connection to the work, I am 100% objective and I have one goal in mind and that is that I want to make the work look as good as it possibly can. The last bit obviously does not apply to visitors. Editing is also key, as an artist myself I know how hard it can be to select your 'best pieces'. This is largely due to your attachment to the work, you feel that the whole story cannot be told without every single piece of work produced. What is important to remember that unless you escort every visitor to your exhibition around explaining about the connections they will just have to make up there own minds and make their own connections or not.
I also know the space and have twenty plus years of experience.
By curating an exhibition I may be rejoicing in difference as opposed to looking for similarities. In my head the other word that I think when hanging is 'flow'. It is a delicate balance and one I have been honing since owning the gallery. My rule of thumb is the old adage 'Less is more'.

What drives you to produce art?

This is always a challenging question, but throughout the interview it actually started to clarify in my mind. I make art because it makes me feel better to do so, I have things that I want to say that I don't went say verbally but visually. I do see it as a form of therapy for myself, I like to set myself challenges and push myself out my self imposed comfort zones. I want to engage in a dialogue with the viewer using art. Ultimately, I have had art in my life for longer than reading, writing and maybe even speech. (I'd have to ask my parents about that.) I cannot imagine life without it.

What is your own work about?

DEATH is the thing that most people seem to think my work is about. Because I use skulls, bones, wings etc. It is not about that at all, in fact it is the opposite. I feel like I am repurposing, things that would otherwise just be the evidence of life at some point buried in the ground can be transformed into something beautiful once more and therefore have a second life.  Not in the same way Damien Hirst did with his diamond skull. In a more subtle way. I am fascinated by the structures that lie beneath the skin and muscle. It's an age old fascination for many artists but I hope that I am doing it in a way that is unique to me.

Fire and Ice - Sharon James

When was the last time someone asked you 'What was the last book you read or what are you reading at the moment?'

I have to say that this question really was quite thought provoking. Why? Because I cannot remember the last time someone asked me that. Bear in mind that I have told you before I am an avid reader, depending on my workload I can read two books a week. This then got me to thinking about how I used to enter someones house that I didn't know. I would always scan their bookshelves looking for titles that assure me that they read similar books to me, I would also look at the CD collection and video/dvds. All of these visual indicators would give me a good idea about common ground that I shared with whoever. Also give me ideas about new books, films or music that I might like.
Now with the iPod, Kindle and Netflix all of those visual clues are not necessarily going to be on display. It is going to be even more important to start asking more questions.
When did people stop asking? I have to say that I do know a lot of people who don't read. Do I need to join a book group? Why isn't reading cool?