A good part of the past couple of days has been passed in selecting materials for my forthcoming exhibition at the South Square Centre. The theme under which this is advertised is Conversations with Trees, and as you might guess, it deals with the varied aspects of my relationship as an artist with trees. I realised after my recent trip to Bradgate Park, and the flood of creativity which followed this experience, that I would have no difficulty in putting together a body of material which could fill the space. I had not grasped, even so, the frequency with which I have turned my attention to trees during the past twenty-odd years. My problem is going to be not finding enough respectable material to fill the space, but eliminating stuff I had originally thought would form a part of the core of the work to be shown.
It is a sad reflection of the situation, but one criterion I am having to entertain is that of price. It is believed to be very difficult to sell work in this area above a certain price-level. I am very reluctant to go down this road because it would be idiotic to sell some of my best work at what might be called “bargain basement” levels. On the other hand, one purpose of an exhibition is to show what one is capable of.
This is one of the occasions on which a group such as Unit 9 demonstrates its value. I can call on the judgement and opinions of colleagues in guiding my decisions.