October 2018

The reality is I like not having to be anywhere in particular or having something specific to do. I like quiet productivity and organising my own day.  I like big gaps between 'events' or situations where I need to be very visible/interactive.  And so October was none of that. October was kids workshops at Woollahra and Paddington Libraries. It was winning a prize as part of the inaugural Seed Stitch Collective Contemporary Art Award hosted by the Australian Design Centre. It was being curated into an exhibition at Peacock Gallery by the wonderful Talia Smith. It was running a community art project at the Viva America Latina Festival at Lyne Park and running an intergenerational workshop as part of the Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize. Don't get me wrong, I love the interaction and meeting new people. I especially enjoy the feedback on people's interaction with my work or my ideas about process and making - especially kids.

But the flip side is that it is draining. It takes a mental and emotional toll because there's a lot of preparation that goes behind these events - scheduling delivery of artwork, organising child care, sending artwork details, installation, preparing materials, preparing workshop plans, the anticipation of how it will go: will people enjoy the workshop? Were there enough materials? Will they think it worthwhile? How could I do better? and so on.  It is an art form in itself to balance the desire to earn a living from what you love to do and also care for yourself in what can often feel like that constant hustle to create opportunities, to say yes to everything or else you'll miss out or worse you'll become invisible.