Reason for the treason

‘So what’s with the blow-by-blow account of her opening?’ I hear you say? Well, partly borne of self-obsession, partly to highlight the breadth of skills one needs as an artist. Creating the work is only part of the picture, so to speak. In organising my own solo exhibition (instead of hawking myself and waiting for an invited one), I’ve had to become graphic designer, marketing expert, event organiser, technical manager, carpenter, painter/decorator, lighting technician, chef, bar staff, production manager and public speaker. Not to mention the gal-who-knows-where-to-get-stuff. It’s all about problem solving really. Now, to some of you, I will be preaching to the converted and you will know how flexible and resourceful artists are. This is really to those who may be a bit suspicious about the reason for artists’ importance in society. We are the supreme problem solvers and I’m surprised that we don’t just all defect and start our own civilization ‘cos I’m sure it would run like goddam clockwork. Unfortunately, I need the scrimmage and mess of my greater society for my work. You’re all part of a social observation that ends up splattered on a canvas or draped across a wall, or flashing in pixels through an RGB filter. I’d like to think that by documenting the process of my artistic practice, there might be someone out there that will see and artists’ CV, know how much work goes into every exhibition, revere them for their skill and dexterity and pay them a whole bunch of money. And that the culture of artistic support will spawn.