John Plowman.... Creator -> Curator
On the 12th March we had a talk by John Plowman the director of the Beacon Art Project which was started in 2004. The project explores Non Gallery Spaces in rural areas. It looks at new ways of presenting contemporary art, challenging the urban model of use of space. Through these unusual spaces the project aims to create 'social, discursive and fluid spaces'.
He spoke about one of the projects where there was a coach taking the audience from one site to the next. These 4 hour excursions meant the audience made a commitment to the work, engaging with the artwork rather than consuming it like we often do in gallery situations.
The talk was a really good introduction into thinking about our own work as the creator but also as the curator, working out how I want the audience to view my work and what audience I want to view it. It also got me thinking about the importance of the relationship between the audience, the artist and the institution and getting the balance between the 3 in order to pull off a successful event or exhibition.
Unit X gives me a great opportunity to create a context for my work to happen outside the studio and I fully intend to take advantage of it.