This is the title given by the members of the Unit 9 Gallery to our forthcoming exhibition (to run through the later part of August and September). The idea is that each of the members will submit for exhibition in the gallery not only a finished piece of art, but also the materials which went into its inspiration and development …. sketches, notes, photographs, false starts etc. It should make for an interesting show. The idea, of course, is to make the point that the art normally seen by the gallery-goer is the tip of an ice-berg of activities which normally remain hidden, or it best implicit. The finished product could be the result of an extremely long and complicated process.
I was working at the South Square Centre today, helping as a volunteer to install the incoming exhibition there, as I do regularly. I was struck by the fact that the answer to the question, “What do you do all day?” should, in fact, be a good deal more complicated and extensive than anyone would be likely to guess from our exhibition of that title. The world of art probably survives only due to the efforts of an army of volunteers and part-time staff, often themselves practising artists, who are contributing their time in a huge range of activities not normally thought of as the work of artists. I have been repairing a window and painting the frame, cleaning and stowing tools, rearranging the lighting, making a plan for the reorganisation of our workshop/store-room, helping the artist hang her work, and putting up signage, and cleaning the floor. In addition, of course, there are things one might have expected to be part of an artist’s day, such as two valuable conversations with colleagues. These activities were not part of what one might have expected me to be doing as an artist, and they will not feature in my contribution to the forthcoming exhibition, nevertheless, they are elements in what makes the world of art go round.
Incidentally, Unit 9 is a cooperative group of 16 artists based in the Bradford area of West Yorkshire. We each contribute to the rent of a small gallery attached to the South Square Centre, in the Thornton area of the city. The gallery shows primarily the work of its members. We are a very eclectic bunch working in a variety of disciplines. I think that our work is of quite a high standard, and if you are ever in the area, check us out.