Breaking the Boundaries

Due to the issues of trying to set up an exhibition before the December hand in time, I have decided to set up an exhibition of my work using my lounge window that faces into the road to advertise the exhibition and I am going to set up an open studio at my house for a week.     

Breaking the boundaries

This project has been a nightmare for me, I have really tried hard to forge ahead and get a place to exhibit images of my work, but I have been constrained in each area that I have considered.
I have found out after attempting to make contact with the person who organises the exhibitions at the Worcester Arts Workshop that there are no spaces available until the New Year!!
So I am actually at a complete loss at what to do, so once again its back to the drawing board.

Breaking the Boundaries

This particular task grounded to a halt and for a period of time I just concentrated on other tasks and the paintings.

Then in September I met up with a friend for coffee at the Worcester Arts Workshop, this is a place that in the past has not been of particular interest even to local artists because it wasn’t a popular place to go. and nothing seemed to happen there.

Times have changed, friends of mine have taken over the café, and the place has been turned around and now many events are now organised for many different and diverse areas of the arts.

This place is very busy and run mainly by volunteers and after some thought and discussion with the proprietor of Café Bliss I have joined as a volunteer.

In doing this I will be once again involved with other artists and be part of an artist society. Furthermore the proprietor has agreed that I can show my work for a short period of time specifically for this particular Task. I just need to try and get a date organised and an area choosen.

It has been agreed on principal, yet I am having huge problems contacting the individual how is in charge of organising exhibitions.

Breaking the Boundaries

          The area of Worcester in which I live was built in the 1960’s as a large council estate towards the more industrial area of Blackpole. The house I live in is part of a row of five houses built in the 1980’s and they are slightly different from the other houses on the estate.

          I began to think that this row of houses could be the area in which my work could be displayed in. I went round and visited my neighbours and explained about the project and how I was hoping that each neighbour was willing to show two prints of the work I have been creating in their windows that looks out into the main street. All the neighbours were keen to take part.

          Once again I discussed this idea with members of the team, as well as other artistic associates, what did concern me with this idea was that this area is full of characters which have I have been influenced by and this has been reflected in the work that I have created. However this is a poor area and there are social issues to be considered. Would people be offended with the images on show and how would they react?

I began to feel uncomfortable about involving my neighbours in this idea, because I felt that I could make the decision to show my work using the windows that look out onto the main street. So if a brick was put through the window due to the fact someone was offended with the work, and this could be a reality, so I have decided to not involve my neighbours.

Breaking the Boundaries

These are photgraphs that show the tattoo shop, the manager would like to be involved by having a painting done of hiself as a English Bull Terrier, however the only area available is a very small area on the door, when it is open they work would be completely missed,

Breaking the Boundaries

These are some images that show the area in which I live, and the area that I  have taken the photographs are at the back of the shops and were there are rows of garages, all which are in disrepair, but are still used by the Police and the Council Authority.  

Breaking the Boundaries

Breaking the Boundaries within the environment I live is to show my work within the neighbourhood, and to gauge people’s reactions.

This project started back in May 2011 with a visit to the local tattoo shop. The meeting which took place was a difficult meeting, the gentleman really seemed disinterested and he really wasn’t particularly forthcoming. However he did give me permission to use the shop front to shop a variety of prints reflecting the paintings I have been producing.

So to start with I thought I had found the ideal situation location amongst the local shops. The pieces would be shown in a clear and reasonably sized area. I thought that I could then concentrate on creating the work.

Then in July I found out that the management of the tattoo shop changed hands and the new manager would like to show my work, he was very keen not only to show the work but to be part of the work by volunteering to be a model for a piece of work.

 I spent a long time within the shop being shown the sketchbooks of the tattooists who worked in the shop, however as the conversation continued, I became aware that the new management where making a lot of changes to the outside of the shop therefore I would be unable to show the work on the shop front. The only place the manager was willing to show my work was on a small area of the door. After discussions with Sue Weinstock and Sarah Lundy, who are parts of the team from the M.A with whom I was to share my ideas for this task.  I decided that the tattoo shop wasn’t the right place to show my work.