Day 1. I need a placement and a blog.

This blog lands on the second week into my Level 5 Fine Art Degree.  After 'the rona' forced us into corners at home and socially distanced studio time.  This module is introduced in an actual classroom, which in itself serves to remind me that there is still a real world of professionals out there - outside of Instagram exhibitions and virtual artist networks. 

So day one is a bit of a bubble burster.  I have to go out into the actual real physical world and source a placement that will enable me to pursue the Art Career that I want  - and I have a host of options at my disposal, all backed up by the powerpoint presentation we're watching.  It shows how previous students have approached this and cracked it.

I know they all started in a similar position. Worse really as they were in full Covid restriction territory. So here's to a brave new year of unrestricted options.  Amazing.  What the hell do I do!?

Fresh back from the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, my initial thoughts are around why can't Stoke  have this?  I could do a call out to Staffordshire artists and curate a show that could grow in prestige until Staffs is recognised for its contribution to the Arts.  This feels totally overwhelming and maybe a complete pipe dream. 

It could be safer to enter a competition. I've not come out on top for an Art competition since I was 10, and at junior school.  This would give me a tangible direction, I'd be doing something that was suggested by an artist who spent their whole first year after graduating entering competitions. I'm thinking that this could make me much more aware of how "Call outs" and "Art selections" work, it could go somewhere...

I am slightly torn after our academic points out that the exhibition could have legs.  There's a potential venue that I could use.  So now I'm thinking, I'd learn about local artist networks, help put Staffordshire Art on the map, learn more about curation. 

So now I'm excited so maybe I just do both! ~ That's a possibility right?  If artists can be multi disciplinary, then surely I can take on two projects at once?  Instantly, I'm now overwhelmed as I don't know where to start for either.  Maybe next week an academic will talk some sense into me. Give me a gentle steer in the best direction.

Whatever direction I take, I know I want to create Art.  Maybe I need a word with myself around what's more important to me, creating it, or promoting it. I know what I don't want to do, but even as I type that, I realise that I'm not completely opposed to teaching, community projects or residencies.  Who said that Art isn't a tangible career path?!  pah....

So to get started, I'll do some research, to find some competitions and gather my Summer Exhibition information and see which one I can my teeth get into.