Sparks

It was useful to collaborate with others of the MFA cohort to set up an exhibition, away from Wimbledon. I assisted with a grant application in the initial stages of the process as I had experience of doing this, and visited the site in advance of the installation. The curation and installation was collaborative and I was involved in that. My own piece had to be re-installed as, in a rather challenging environment, it became hidden during the PV, by the serving of drinks etc. Legge Studios are in effect workshops where work with metal, bicycle mending and other activities mean that there are several pieces of permanent and immovable pieces of machinery. This made for an interesting environment that required careful installation.

I took on the role of running a wood-carving workshop for adults and children. I brought a log of American Red Oak and some carving tools, and was prepared for the health and safety challenges involved. It was a simple idea which proved irresistible to a range of members of the public. There was an understanding that we would not be able to complete a piece of work but that we were working towards making a bench to sit on. People love the process of just chipping away at wood which seems to give them some a sense of the power of creativity. I have developed and continued a relationship with one young person who was particularly enthusiastic, and who has developed her own woodworking skills in the interim.

As a group we learnt that having a clear contract with gallery owners is vital, perhaps especially in an unusual setting such as the Legge Studios. We learnt that health and safety was an issue to consider, as was the weather, and that working with inexperienced owners meant that as curators and exhibitors we needed to be on top of matters they had not considered. Without that it was going to be a challenge to deliver a safe show in a pleasant environment. In addition, as the first external show by our MFA group another challenge we learnt form was the wrapping and transportation of many pieces of work, and the log of wood I brought form a previous project.