BREAKING THE BOUNDARIES
NOTES FROM MEETING HELD ON 24TH OCT 2011
JENNIFER’S BREAKING THE BOUNDARY
Jennifer’s work was featured in the Washington Post and can be accessed via her Blog site.
Jennifer explained that this particular project ‘Give and Take’ is continued theme to her work. She has created this idea of Give and Take before and the results from the previous exhibition she felt was an elegant piece of pro-active liaison between the public and her work. People were thoughtful on how they positioned their artefacts.
What surprised Jennifer in Washington D.C is how the general public seemed very much unprepared and they were pulling out any junk out of their bags! She felt that this time there was a the sense of the aftermath of a party, stuff was not positioned well so fell onto the floor, there was a feeling of a free for all and people can distracted from what they were being asked to do.
Jennifer with this instillation was being authentic about the perception of value on a utopian ideal way. The organic grid where her pieces were displayed fell apart due to the mess created by the general public. However Jennifer did acknowledge that she does not need to control the public experience of this particular piece of work.
There was a range of responses to her work which is once again reflected within her blog.
The wall where the work was placed became a vehicle for the public to place their ‘junk’ and what the general public seemed to leave behind the most is their business cards, is this a reflection of egotistical nature of the general public to promote themselves or was it a way to connect to another stranger?
Ego before common sense?
Jennifer asked the question ‘What should I do with these cards?
She feels at a loss at what to do with the business cards questioning whether to turn them into a piece of art. Or sell the information give? Email these individuals book them onto sex websites? Should she abuse the information given?
Jennifer wondered if she could turn them into a piece of art work that would be a published magazine.
I suggested looking at how Gilbert and George selected sex cards from around the area in London in which they live and from this their exhibition.
A variety of suggestions were made in regards with what to do with the business cards. Could Jennifer create a piece using the cards as the material – papier-mâché creation..
Or add the cards to the next exhibition, for the general public to continue exchanging their own personal identities but somehow adding a GPS system/tracking device to see where the cards actually go.
Jennifer commented that these cards seem to be disasporous (Sorry unable to spell!) The spreading of different cultures, people from other countries settling and still retaining their own cultures but also adapting to the new culture in which they live.
Jennifer has taken some fascination photographs of the ‘junk’ left behind which once again are featured on her blog site. The images taken have become an art form in themselves. With these pictures in mind Jennifer is thinking of creating a glossy magazine that continues this exhibition within a 2 dimensional piece of work.
Jennifer’s exhibition contrasted with another exhibition that was taking place at the same time were the artist’s involved gave away their pieces of work, and this asks the question what is the value of art? Because Jennifer was asking for something in return there seemed to be democratic sensibility about the exhibition ‘Give and Take’.
I then discussed my Breaking the Boundaries which was based around showing the general public outside of the M.A my work, especially within the area in which I live.
I discussed all the issues that have happened in trying to exhibit my work and the obstacles that have happened and because of this I ended holding an open study within my own home exhibiting my work in my lounge and on the windows of my front room. None of the local residents took part, however people from the Pathology Department who I do not work with were invited to attend, and some people did participate.
I explained that I felt the how project had not been on the level of a professional artist, rather someone out of their depth. I really wanted to finish this Task with creating a book possibly, and this book would contain why I painted the individuals, what made them attractive as subject matters. The sketches I had created the finished pieces and the comments given by individuals who did come to the open study.
Both Jennifer and Sue were interested about the idea of book and Jennifer suggested that I look into self-publishing and told me about ‘Blurb’ and website from which I can create a book using the software.
Sue’s Breaking the Boundary was about being engaged with the community on ‘Apple Day’ and she managed to get the community to document memories of the day using a wide variety of aides ranging from photography/bark rubbings/sign rubbings/leaves/grass/twigs.
In doing this the imagery of the day has been recreated in layers not only in imagery but also the layering of the senses. The work has been encoded with the exploration of the senses.
The community came together to make this art piece, selecting by the community, a real collaboration that stretched through the generations.
Sue has gained a lot of comments regarding this Task, one comment that has stood out was “This couldn’t be art because photography was involved.”
Apple Day was discussed at depth and especially the concept of tithing, the local council is paid for the creation of the orchard on council land in apples as a levy/contribution. The concept of tithing opened up the discussion of the interpretation of land ownership, and how important ‘Apple Day’ was to the community as they have reclaimed the land creating an alternative economy.
Sue felt on the day she became a chameleon asking the question had she been artist/organiser/curator/teacher? All identities were used during this Task.
Sue has been concerned that she has had not been controversial in her Task, personally I believe that Sue is being very hard on herself and actually to become involved within the community especially on this particular day has allowed her to build a relationship within the community gaining a sense of trust and respect. In doing this she can then push forward onto more difficult and contentious material.
Jennifer then put forward to Sue how would she rephrase her intention, and what would she had changed about her outcome set within the Task.
Jennifer suggested that this particular Task was a step towards a bigger social comment and how Sue as an artist could now develop her ideas and have more of an impact within the community in which she lives.
At this point I had to leave the discussion however Sue and Jennifer continued to discuss Breaking the Boundaries.
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