2020 Round Up

What a strange year we have all had!

Ignoring all the global news, this has been a big year for me as I quit one of my jobs and started my PhD at Norwich University of the Arts. This was my new years resolution for 2020, so I am glad that I achieved this (now just to do the thing!)

At the start of each year I like to reflect on the one that has just gone. I definitely did not exhibit as much as I usually do, but I think that is alright given the whole COVID situation. I feel like I have still been able to achieve lots of other arty things. Read on if you want to hear more!

1. Blog

The first achievement comes from this blog, I have posted every week for (over) a year now. This was my other new years resolution! It has been a really good way of keeping myself accountable to doing stuff and also thinking about the stuff I am doing. I am 100% sure that if I done this just in a diary, or as something not public facing then I would have failed long before now. If you are struggling with motivation I would suggested a public blog.

2. Creative Practitioner Support Programme

We have moved into our 3rd year which is amazing, we weathered the storm of COVID shutting our in person sessions down and have actually grown our online community hugely. This has been both professionally and personally rewarding. I cannot wait to see what we get up to in the new year. Keep your eyes peeled for exciting things!

3. CAS

As a board member of CAS (Colchester Art Society) I am charged with Instagram, Twitter and the Newsletter. Again, we adapted and responded to COVID, hosted two online exhibitions and published a few newsletters which reached over 300 members. 

Our social media presence is growing day on day and we now have over 3000 combined followers ob Instagram and Twitter. Follow us for regular posts; Members Monday and Throwback Thursday.

Newsletters:

• May Newsletter
• September Newsletter
• November Newsletter

4. Art Exhibitions Etc

Unfamiliars: On Freaks 

‘FREAK’ 

Colchester Art Centre, Colchester 

15/01/20 

 

Firstsite Collectors Group Bursary 

‘The Road Sign Collection’ 

Firstsite, Colchester 

07/02/20 

 

Secret Art Sale 2020 

‘30’ 

The Minories, Colchester 

20/02/20 – 22/02/20 

 

Unfamiliars: At Home 

Zoom 

28/03/20  

 

Firstsite Online Gallery 

‘The Road Sign Collection’ 

Online: https://firstsite.uk/online-studio/post/the-road-sign-collection/   

31/03/20 - Onwards 

 

2m Squared 

‘Keep Clear’ 

Online: https://www.2msquared.net/contact 

27/04/20 – Onwards  

 

Collab with Sally Maddams 

Online: https://padlet.com/cairnsabbie/Bookmarks 

18/05/20 – Onwards 

 

Colchester Art Society Newsletter 

‘Lino ACcomplete4 letters’ 

Newsletter 

26/05/20 

 

Lockdown and Light 

‘here’ 

Online: #lockdownandlight 

29/05/20 – 31/05/20 

 

Summer of Art 

‘Keep Clear’ 

Online: https://www.explore-essex.com/virtual-summer-of-art 

28/05/20 – 31/08/20 

 

The Lockdown Open, Beecroft Gallery 

‘Lino print on wooden work top’ 

Online: #TheLockdownOpen 

01/06/20 – Onwards 

 

Harwich Festive of the Arts: Digital 20x20 Exhibition 

‘here’ 

Online: https://www.instagram.com/hfdigitalexhibition/ 

25/06/20 – 31/07/20 

 

Borders 

‘Tickets, Please’ 

Firstsite, Colchester 

24/07/20 – 11/10/20 

 

Colchester Art Society Online Summer Exhibition 

‘HERE’ 

Online: https://www.colchesterartsociety.co.uk/online-exhibition  

15/08/20 – 26/09/20 

 

Colchester Art Society Newsletter 

‘Taking Art on a Walk’ 

Newsletter 

02/09/20 

 

Get Carter 

‘Jacks Return Home’ 

19/09/20 – 09/01/21 

20 21 Visual Arts Centre, North Lincolnshire  

 

Colchester Art Society Newsletter 

‘second’ 

Newsletter 

14/11/20 

 

Colchester Art Society Online  

‘END/ARROW’ 

Online: https://www.colchesterartsociety.co.uk/christmas-exhibition  

14/11/20 - 19/12/20 

Lets see what 2021 brings!

A Four Lettered Word - Part Four

This project has ind of fallen away a little. This is as I always have more than one project on at any one time. However, I have played with digitally altering the image. This was an attempt to blur the text.

While this did work, I worry that it makes the text too unreadable - the central letters feel OK to me, but the outer letters are becoming lost.

I am note sure where I will go with this idea, or if it will just fade away into the night. 

I think that i is good to remember that not all projects and ideas will work out, that is just part of the creative journey. 

New: Abbies Art Shop

I've created Abbies Art Shop, pop over to see what artwork is for sale!

https://www.instagram.com/abbiesartshop/

A Four Lettered Word - Part Three

 One of the things that makes the project is the transformation in the work, day to night and the addition to a torch and the visual is completely transformed.

One thing that I am considering is using the words that I created and bring in a bit of Dada and using the words to create almost cut and paste poems or streams of consciousness.

It will allow me to explore how much you can convey with only Four Lettered words. Results might be deep and profound, or utter nonsense. Either way I look forward to finding out.

At the moment I am thinking that this Dada excursion could be done in one of two ways: still images of a video loop.

Some Visual Workings Out

One: Side-by-side

Two: Top and Bottom

Three: Grid

Four: Video

Issues

The pictures have all been taken at different viewpoints so the lettering does not line up exactly, I think this is an issue, but it might not be.

The fact that they look different highlights that they are different, and they ARE different. They existed in different times and different moments of now-ness.

TBC

White or blue or both.

If I do video I could then project the video of the photo, I could project the video of the photos on the site the photos where taken.

CAS Christmas Online Exhibition

Head over to the Colchester Art Societies website to check out our Christmas Online Exhibition. All works are for sale, so you might just find the perfect gift there too (for yourself, or for someone else!).

Find us here: https://www.colchesterartsociety.co.uk/

My offering this year, is 'END'.

END makes use of two of my The Road Sign Collection lino cuttings. Designed to be a wall hanging, bring the outside in with this wooden sign.