The Art of being an Artist in Residence

I felt really at home in the seemingly hidden away space of the Feddon Gallery, a chapel shaped space, used for business meetings and temporary exhibitions, Bristol's best kept basement transformed, but in need of more signage,which was resolved when Joel the liaison manager who used to work at Tate St Ives downloaded and arranged his favourite British Standard pointing fingers. And, so it was, with equal measure of exhaustion and happiness and overwhelming richness of feedback from visitors to the what looks like imposing but actually is really friendly academy, folk from all walks of life, art buffs, to visiting parents with young children, to artists,collectors,curators, tourists and volunteers.

"You needed to stay longer,the show wasn't on long enough"... 

Aha, I thought, what happened to those once upon a time talked about deliciously long artist in residency projects, six months or so, where time was spacious and allowed for process, a space for making, reflection, taking risks.  Modern life is so condensed with fractured time.  A dream it would be to install the work, go away and lay down for a week, go back sit with the work and reflect for a week, and then invite the public and interact and respond, then repeat in reverse.  How would that be!!! 

 It was time to leave the RWA, even though the lovely girl Rose on the front desk 
said she wanted me to live there, but I have a feeling that is called a real job. 

At the RWA I felt hugely supported and it was great working as part of a team. Gemma,the exhibition manager, kept me informed of developments all through the process of being awarded the Travel Bursary, through to the setting up of the residency/exhibition. It was a valuable insight into how things within the organisation worked.  Being hugely patient when I kept changing my mind about work titles and having to produce the dreaded Excel spreadsheet of FACTS, she later asks when my project is completed if there is any feedback for them as an organisation, for other artists, but what can I suggest? For me, the opportunity to work on developing one's practice, as artist in residence in a rich cultural setting, is a privilege.  It is a special time, to respond to people and place, to connect with different creative organisations and step into their world, respecting their way of working, being open to the dynamic of creative exchange, which is mutually beneficial. So, for me, the aim is to work hard and simply bring the very best of yourself to the opportunity.