A Sunday Memorial

A large screen illuminated the room, with an image of a girl climbing a Cedar of Lebanon whilst attached to thirty multi coloured balloons. Purple and blue cast a cloud of colour over the audience as they witnessed the video documentation of me leaping from the tree at Cathays Cemetery in July. Sounds of drumming and thudding came from the bright balloons, and echoed through level 3 of St. David’s Hall. This was the day that the Balloon Girl team and myself had been gearing towards for nearly a year. From the moment Id approached a talented filmmaker, writer, photographer and graphic designer with my idea’s and visual aims. We were all extremely proud and I’m so happy to have shared this work with everyone. It has expanded from detailed sketches and notes I made (this is an integral part of the performance process for me) into the live work, and then the film installation and publication.

Thank you to everyone who came along and supported this project.

For more details of the launch, please visit:

www.inmemoryofballoongirl.blogspot.com

Diolch x

Invitation

I am very excited and nervous about the launch of publication and film installation, which takes place at st.David's Hall in two weeks time. Please join me to celebrate the finale of this project and to witness the film installation of video documentation from the live performance that took place in july of this year.

Please refer to the project blog and facebook page or further details:

http://www.inmemoryofballoongirl.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/groups/188857767834906/?refid=52

An Experimental Autumn

I am so grateful to all the artists who took time and energy to make beautiful artworks for Cardiff and Experimentica 1.1. Discussion and learning were the key ingredients for the weeklong art festival. A strong sense of community developed through the regular breakfast meeting; a chance to eat breckie and talk over the previous days art making. A contextual library became a supportive artist hub, where people could congregate between making and seeing. Sleeping overnight at Chapter Arts Centre was such a fun and unique way to spend time alongside the other artists. During the night we consumed lots of Lambrini, sweets, popcorn and dodgy horror movies. The experience of witnessing the new and exciting work taking place by international artist was overwhelming and inspiring. Thank you to my volunteer team who worked so hard and supported me throughout the festival. Thank you to Cathy Boyce and James Tyson for giving me the opportunity to help shape the festival. Most importantly, a big thank you to the artist’s who showed complete dedication to their work and Experimentica.

A complete archive of the weeks activities is available online at Culture Colony and on the Live Art Live Blog by Random People. Please follow the bellow links for further information:

http://www.culturecolony.com/videos?id=7348

http://liveartliveblog.net/

Green Eyed Monster Documentation

Her green eyed gaze flickered angrily.

Wildly fanning herself to cool down the rage of jealousy.

Jealousy towards the yummy mummies with the promise of family and love,

Jealousy towards the young beautiful ladies promenading along the lagoon,

Jealousy towards loved up couples romancing.

With her fan and her goggles she takes on my fury.

Fury at everything I am not.

Replacing me at my performance post

Replicating

Reinterpreting

Exorcising my Green Eyed Monster.

On October 3rd 2011, Nia Metcalfe stood on my behalf at Via Garibaldi and made my performance for me. Nia, who is one part of the public art organisation Elbow Room, curated four artists (Sean Edwards, Mark Gubb, Molly Rooke and myself) to show in Venice whilst she was invigilating for the Welsh Pavilion. The artists were invited to give Nia the project that they wished for her to make on their behalf. Thus blurring the typical roles of artist and curator.

It was difficult for me, as the immediacy and directness I gain from making performance art was lost. On the other hand I have passed on my vision to her, and she created exactly what was in my minds eye.

Having had the performance idea for Green Eyed Monster brewing for a considerable length of time it felt fitting to pass it onto Nia, a trusted friend and someone that I admire creatively.

The performance lasted for three hours. No food or drink was consumed and Nia remained barefoot throughout. These are important rules I follow when making my durational work.

Thank you to Tom Goddard for documenting the work for me.

Id like to thank Nia for taking on the responsibility of making this work for me, and for being brave in inviting people to gaze.

Green Eyed Monster

Green Eyed Monster is a new performance work that explores the madness of jealousy. Its a project I have been developing for a while. Chapter 3 of John Burger' The Ways of Seeing has contributed to the themes behind this work, and I aim to look at the notion of the surveyed women, trained from an early age to objectify other women and see their potential threat. This project has been realised with the curatorial vision of Nia Metcalfe, and I am very grateful for her mentoring and support.

I look forward to sharing the imagery with you.

Experimentica 1.1

As part of this year's Experimentica festival (Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff, UK) I am taking on the role of Hostess with the Mostess. I will be there to provide a warm Welsh welcome. Community and a sense of belonging are an enormous part of a festival's presence and being. My aim for Experimentica 1.1 is to strengthen this and to create a feeling of collectivism for both the participating artists and audience members. This may stem for my desire to belong, I am forever searching for that sense of family. I long for those student days spent at the studio discussing your work at length and moving together towards the final goal of a show.

I am not an artist who thrives well on being alone at the studio.

My ideas and work often stem from discussion, debate and an understanding which is gained through social interaction.

Please join me in creating an artist hub that will fuel the hearth of Experimentica 1.1.

N.B The previous post is a call out to those who would like to support me in the endeavour of creating this sense of community throughout the live/visual art festival.

WE NEED YOU!

EXPERIMENTICA 1.1 team are calling for enthusiastic and friendly people to volunteer for the live art festival’s Welcome Point and Reading Room.

The Welcome Point will function as a hospitable and informative space for participating artists, the Experimentica audience, and the wider public. The Reading Room will keep a variety of texts relevant to the history, theories and context of performance art. We aim to have a constant presence throughout the festival’s activity. Both spaces will enforce a strong sense of community to Experimentica and the foyer area of Chapter Arts Centre.

Your role as part of the Experimentica Family will involve answering questions, greeting people, and providing information on performances and the artists. Whilst taking care of the Reading Room your responsibilities will include looking after the books, reading and greeting people. Shifts are between 3-4 hours in length and both areas will be open from 10am- 9pm throughout the festival (Weds 12th- Sun 16th of October 2011.) Training for the volunteer post will be informal and will take place a week before Experimentica 1.1’s start date.

In return for your valuable time you will receive a free Experimentica 1.1 festival pass and refreshments during your shift. Whatever time you can offer will be greatly appreciated.

If you are interested please email Kathryn Ashill at info@kathrynashill.com, with a short introduction to yourself and state why you would like to be part of the Welcome Point/Reading Room by 1st of October 2011.

Thank You. Diolch Yn Fawr.

For more information on the festival please visit: http://www.chapter.org/24305.html