Convergence, A-B Gallery, 19 - 21 October 2023
Convergence, organised and curated by myself and Eleanor Street was an exhibition that main aim was to celebrate the work and coming together of a group of women artists across the MA Fine Art pathways at Camberwell College of Art.
During a lunch break at Camberwell, after being captivated by Eleanor Street's and Joy Stokes' work for the MA show Dialectics of the Skin, 2023, I was inspired to celebrate our unity, mutual support, and creativity. I approached Eleanor, proposing that we co-curate and organise a potential show at Camberwell. Kindly, she agreed, and together, we began planning our collaboration. Our friendship blossomed during our Art Foundation year at Morley College 2018, establishing a strong base for our bond. We extended invitations in a somewhat casual manner to our lunch group from the MA cohort. Unsurprisingly, a theme centred around feminist ideas, memory, and landscape emerged naturally. With the assistance of my MA Sculpture tutor, Matthew De Kersaint Giraudeau, I secured an exhibition space at Camberwell's A-B gallery for three days.
The core concept of the exhibition was to juxtapose the perspectives and cultural influences that each artist brings and to celebrate the connections and friendships that evolved over the past year.
Convergence featured a wide range of artistic expressions including painting, drawing, printmaking, and sculpture.
Artists that took part were Joy Stokes (MA Fine Art Printmaking), Eleanor Street( MA Fine Art Printmaking), Jane Hughes (MA Fine Art Painting), Sofia Alrich Veytia (MA Fine Art Printmaking), Alexandra Costea (MA Fine Art Printmaking), Te Palandjian (MA Fine Art Drawing), Yuhuan Song (MA Fine Art Printmaking) and I (MA Fine Art Sculpture).
Exhibition Overview:
Title: Convergence
Dates: 19 – 21 October
Venue: Gallery A-B Camberwell
Curator: Carmen Van Huisstede, Eleanor Street
Theme: Celebrating the Creative Diversity of MAFA Camberwell’s Women Artists
Private View: Friday 20 October 18.00 – 20.00
Convergence 2023, Exhibition view, A - B Gallery (general view from Block B lift entrance)
The gallery presented a challenges due to its design; it essentially functions as a corridor with numerous doors, windows, and access points, incorporating essential institutional elements such as fire extinguishers, fire exit signs, bins, electrical cabling, and sockets.
Furthermore, the available lighting is limited to overhead spotlights. The spatial constraints, given its nature as a corridor, make it impossible to have cables or wires trailing across the floor.
To prepare the space, we had to apply three coats of white paint to cover the dark green from the previous degree show held in July. Additionally, we needed to devise a solution to either conceal or divert attention from a row of power sockets that spanned the centre of one of the main walls. Once these preparations were complete, the installation itself only took us two to three hours.
In the same time, the location, functioning as a corridor, provided a significant advantage. Its position ensures that everyone passing through the college will have visibility of the exhibited works, offering incredible exposure for our art within the college.
My proposal for an exhibition showcasing women artists from our MA Fine Art cohort.
First draft of the poster without the artists names created by my friend, Sean Kinmont, following my guidance.
The exhibition timetable for
Convergence
emerged a week following my proposal of an all-women group show to our lunch group. My background in business studies proved beneficial as I drafted the timetable for the exhibition. Through this show, I recognised that the collective experience I've accumulated over the years will facilitate the organisation of future exhibitions with increased ease.
The subsequent action involved reserving the A-B Gallery, a process facilitated with guidance from my tutor, Matthew De Kersaint Giraudeau. Following this, I sought approval from Gary Walker, the facilities manager, for our upcoming opening evening event (see above emails).
Installation day - together with my colleague Eleanor Street, we prepared the space for our exhibition by removing old nails, filling out old holes.
Also we had to apply three coats of white paint to cover the dark green walls from the previous exhibition. Additionally, we needed to devise a solution to either conceal or divert attention from a row of power sockets that spanned the centre of one of the main walls. Once these preparations were complete, the installation itself only took us two to three hours.
Collaborating with my colleague and co-curator, Eleanor Street, we worked on setting up the exhibition works. We strategically formulated a flow among the works, commencing with Jane Hughes' works and culminating with my ceramic objects. The experience was notably positive, as our collaboration was seamless and effortless.
Convergence's exhibition Press Release and Poster with participating artist's names
I initially drafted the press release, and the final version incorporated Eleanor's and Matthew's input. Our poster was designed by a close friend, Sean Kinmont, following my guidance. I specifically aimed for the artwork that sparked the show to be featured on the poster as the focal point of our theme's inspiration.
Image: Eleanor Street and Joy Stokes, Dialectics of the Skin, 2023
Image: Blank Canvas, 2023, Mixed media (exhibition text)
The Convergence show was inspired by work Dialectics of the Skin, 2023 a collaborative effort by Joy Stokes and Eleanor Street first exhibited during the Summer Show in July 2023 at Camberwell College of Art.
Blank Canvas, 2023, Mixed media - accompanying text for artwork
My research focuses on the interplay between hauntology and materiality, with a primary goal of investigating the phenomenon in which inanimate objects retain traces of their previous purpose and cultural significance, consequently shaping our cognitive perception of these objects. Over time, an observable disconnect has arisen in the way people engage with these objects. My attention is directed towards expressing this emotional detachment.
Everyday objects serve as unifying elements within personal environments, and through their alteration, the artist seeks to examine the prevailing attitudes, underlying anxieties, and unspoken norms that have gradually shaped immediate surroundings and the behaviours that unfold within them.
Image one depicts the completed Risk Assessment form for the exhibition installation. Image two features the checklist used for submitting content to Camberwell's social media channels.
Printed copies of the Risk Assessment forms were supplied to each artist and remained on-site throughout the entire duration of the show.
Media marketing: Instagram post and stories to promote the Convergence exhibition
Convergence (images of works and texts)
We asked participants to offer a brief set of sentences about their practice and then we took great care to position these notes in a manner that wouldn't detract attention from the artworks.
Convergence (opening evening)
Convergence (images of works and texts)
I believe we effectively managed a challenging space that presented significant constraints. We achieved a seamless flow from one area to another, ensuring the placement of the works complemented each other rather than conflicting.
Convergence (opening evening)
Convergence (opening evening) Artist participating: Sofia Alrich Veytia, Alexandra Costea, Joy Stokes, Te Panlandjian, Song Yuhuan, Jane Hughes, Carmen Van Huisstede and Eleanor Street
While the exhibition was brief, it exuded a celebratory and supportive atmosphere. I believe it may have fortified and enhanced some of the pre-existing relationships. Undoubtedly, this experience has instilled in me a sense of confidence in teamwork and assured me of success in any future exhibitions involving these artists.
Steering Committee for the Summer Show, Peckham Road, Synchronised, Wilson Road, 3 - 8 July 2023 and Research Festival at APT Gallery 14 - 18 November
As part of the steering committee for our last three organised event at Camberwell, i took part in overseeing and managing various tasks related to organising and executing the exhibition. The tasks that a steering committee might were responsible for included:
- Curatorial Decisions: Deciding on the layout and presentation of the exhibition.
- Logistics: Managing logistics such as transportation, installation, lighting, and ensuring the space meets the artistic requirements.
- Marketing and Promotion: Developing a marketing strategy to promote the exhibition, including creating promotional materials, managing social media, contacting press, and organising the opening events.
- Coordination with Artists: Liaising with participating artists, ensuring artworks are delivered on time, and addressing any artist-related concerns.
- Public Engagement and Education: Planning educational programs, guided tours, and workshops to engage the public and enhance their understanding and appreciation of the exhibited artworks.
- Security and Insurance: Invigilation and addressing any security concerns.
- Visitor Experience: Focusing on creating an enriching experience for visitors, considering factors like accessibility, interpretive materials, and overall satisfaction.
- Evaluation and Feedback: Collecting feedback from visitors and artists to assess the success of the exhibition and gather insights for future improvements.
- Documentation and Record-Keeping: Ensuring proper documentation of the exhibition, including photographs and records of the exhibited artworks for archival and promotional purposes.
The steering committee serves as a guiding force, overseeing these various aspects to ensure the successful execution of the art exhibition. Their collaborative efforts are vital in delivering a memorable and impactful event for both the artists and the audience.
We met weekly for an hour around lunch time to plan each show, striving to achieve our objective of executing a seamless and trouble-free event for our colleagues and visitors.
My significant skills lie in hosting, drawing from my prior customer service experience, and a proactive, positive attitude.
Additionally, I contribute to the invigilating team, valuing the significance of offering information to our visitors and ensuring the safety of our artists' artworks.
Image: Steering Committee's marketing planning (poster, QR codes, networks to reach)
Organising the APT Gallery areas for the Research Festival scheduled in November.
Excerpt from the minutes recorded during a steering committee meeting for the July summer show.
Notes during a Steering Committee meting for the Summer Show
Professional Toolkit Talk: Alicia Paz on Artist Residencies, Wednesday 24 May, Peckham Road Lecture Theatre
Alicia Paz shared her insights from her diverse involvement in various UK-based and international artist residencies, shedding light on a spectrum of opportunities that piqued my interest for future applications.
Alicia's recently showcased her work, Juntas, held at the Maison de L' Amérique Latine in Paris, highlighted her creative prowess. Moreover, her contributions to group exhibitions such as Le Cabaret du Néant at the FRAC Ile de France, Château de Rentilly (2020) and Life Stories at Chatsworth House, UK (2021) underscore her versatility and presence in the art world.
With an impressive track record and her rich array of experiences, she delivered an enlightening discussion on navigating and thriving in the art world.
Images: Alicia Paz during the lecture
During the lecture, Alicia Paz emphasised the significant importance of art residencies for artists, highlighting various key benefits: creative focus in residencies, dedicated time and space for concentrated work, exploration, and experimentation. fresh inspiration and foster collaboration with fellow artists, local communities, and diverse cultures, access to specialised resources not usually available allows artists to explore new techniques and mediums, opportunities for exhibition, networking, and increased visibility in the art world, encourages self-reflection, enabling artists to reassess their practice and experiment with new techniques and subjects and community engagement.
Alicia Paz strongly advised all artists to consider engaging in at least two art residencies. She advocated for the immense value these residencies provide in breaking away from the usual routine, immersing in diverse cultures and environments, and dedicating time to the creative process, ultimately nurturing personal, professional, and artistic growth.
Professional Toolkit Talk: Juliet Haysom on Writing Proposals, Wednesday 7 June, Peckham Road Lecture Theatre
Images: Slides from the lecture given by Juliet Hayson on Writing Proposals
Juliet Haysom discussed the art of creating effective proposals for various projects, a vital skill for ensuring success in future professional pursuits.
Juliet Haysom, an artist with a specific interest in architecture, bases her projects on extensive research that uncovers latent aspects of a site, such as its geological and historical elements. These findings guide the strategies and material processes she employs in her work.
Her experience includes working as an Associate Artist at Muf Architecture Art, contributing as an artist and designer, and overseeing various community engagement projects. She has received commissions for public spaces in cities like Bristol, London, and Torquay. Notably, she collaborated with Aude-Line Duliere on the project "Placeholders," commissioned by the V&A for the London Design Festival 2021. In addition to her independent projects, she is a regular instructor at both Arts University Bournemouth and The Architectural Association, London.
Haysom earned her BFA from The Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art, University of Oxford (1991-2001), and her MPhil in Drawing and Sculpture from The Royal College, London.
The lecture was incredibly engaging and provided a wealth of detailed information that I can directly apply to my own proposals. This knowledge guided me while writing my Research Festival proposal. I intend to utilise this guidance for my future projects, including applying for residencies and proposing exhibitions to various spaces in the UK as an initial step.
