Pop up Exhibition - End of Semester 2, University of Huddersfield

Yesterday marked a significant point in our Studio Practice, through a pop-up exhibition of work we had created for the first two projects within this module, and it had been suggested that a working copy, albeit having to be of high visual quality of the final project's output can be submitted.

The exhibition was a little bit of a damp squibb in reality, and in no large part to the fact that no one in our group took control (my-self, reluctantly, but very much, included).

In reflection, the lack of control has been evident from about a month earlier, when the idea of an end of term exhibition was first posited by our year Tutor, Christian.  He was quite right to provide an overview of what some previous students had done, for example, the pop-up exhibition over the previous Easter holidays where for about two weeks, a local vacant shop-front / gallery near to an Artist's suppliers had been taken over, and the premises used to show an excellent standard of work by the previous freshers (or first years... Now, our second year peers).

   I think that, what everybody in our group this year failed to grasp, and I would suggest that this is a lesson to all of us as "Art students" is;

' that it is up to us as an individual Artist to organise and arrange how, when and where our / your artwork is exhibited' 

 Full stop...   An unfortunate yet true 'Fact'.

   - Something that I had not considered until after (in my humble opinion) we had all perhaps failed in this exhibition, - me, very much included.

The three works I submitted were;

  

FOOTNOTE;  I have held off posting this particular blog today (Tuesday 8th April) as I'm still rather cross with myself for not realising our collective mistake sooner.  However, I'm not in anyway apportioning any blame to anyone at all,  - in fact, nothing has been done "wrong" by anyone.

 - It's just that I felt, after yesterday's "exhibition" experience, somewhat frustrated that "it could have been a lot better..."  So, it is better for me to pause, take a bit of time away, and analyse what could have been done differently and why...


Updated Monday 14th April 2014
There has been a reluctance on my part (both an un-concious and at times concious, - an internal resistance or 'inertia' if you will), to take control of this vibrant group of young people, as perhaps I would likely have done in my own younger years (say in my 20s, 30s or 40s, when the 'management status' was an important facet to me at that time).
I don't want to 'lead' my student peers, (all of whom are of a much younger age group than mine) for many varied reasons, but perhaps the most important one being simply because I fear I could stifle any emerging personalities, characters or actual leaders within the group.  - Indeed, the opposite is true, in as much as I want to encourage and totally support anyone who wants to step up to a leading role (-and I do hope this does not in any way sound or appear arrogant or patronising to any of the other students, - after all, they are all friends as well as peers and work colleagues).
Finally on this point, whilst I may at times, make suggestions based on a little extended life experience, I am keen to make sure at all times, that my outlook on what the other students do, and my influence upon them, is kept to "minimum interference, and positive encouragement"...

Updated Wednesday 23rd April 2014 & Published
I started this journey some eight or so months ago with a few of my own aphorisms, which were to "keep an open mind, support & encourage any and everyone if needed, but don't interfere"...  I will keep to this personal goal for as long as I practically can.
So in reflection to this MASSIVE lesson, I have learned something quite fundamental, and I hope that my peers and colleagues have also learned the same....

 We are in control of our own careers as Artists, and, if we emerge from this protected environment of University and go on to earn a living from Art, we are, of course, totally responsible for our own destiny....  

Now, after that little rant at myself being over, in reflection, stuff happens!... This may seem an irresponsible notion. It is not meant to be.  Another lesson I have learned over this last few years is, just go with the flow.

Nothing really matters,  Anyone can see, Nothing really matters, Nothing really matters to me.....  Anyway the wind blows....

(I just loved Freddie Murcury, Queen and Bohemian Rhapsody!.... God rest his soul, if there is a God out there!)