Change of career path

If you know me, you’ll know that I’ve been trying my hardest to get into a career in art galleries. I’ve volunteered in lots of awesome places over the past few years and I’ve learnt a lot. But I started to feel like I wasn’t actually progressing, and a paid job was never going to happen.

Over the past few months I’ve been trying to figure out what to do next. What career to choose. What path to take. So I went to a careers appointment, which, although it didn’t really help me at the time, it brought up the idea of graduate schemes. I began looking into them, and whilst looking on Channel 4′s website and seeing what they offer, their pop up days caught my eye. They were covering marketing, tv production and digital marketing. I applied and selected marketing as my preferred workshop, and luckily got accepted to attend on 9th May at Bournemouth University. 

Let me just say that I was dreading the 4:30am alarm call but it was so worth it! The day included industry talks, workshops, a networking lunch and an exciting challenge. In small groups, we came up with our own mock marketing campaign for the Rio 2016 Paralympics. Ours was, “Unparalleled - not just as good. Better.” We drew this idea from last years C4 campaign which really pulled the Paralympics up to an equal footing of the Olympics. We wanted to say that these amazing athletes aren’t just equal with the able bodied Olympians, but superior. We didn’t win the challenge, but I loved doing it.

During the networking lunch I was also introduced to a woman who has offered to give me some advice, as she’s previously worked with the arts council. I have emailed her and am looking forward to the reply.

I’m incredibly excited that I have finally found what I want to do in life, and have something to really aim for. A career in marketing feels so much more obtainable, and I can also apply my creative knowledge to it. I’ve had some of my lovely friends offer me advice as they’re in the industry themselves and I also applied to an internship, however I think I’m jumping the gun on that one. Everything feels like it’s falling into place, even though I’m only at the starting blocks of this new career. Huge weight lifted, and I’m feeling really positive. Here’s to this momentum continuing.

I have a new Facebook page for my felt creations! Please go and give it a like to keep up to date with my soft fuzzy world!

Taking some nice photos of my felt goodies for my Facebook page :) #photos #fujix10 #gingerthreadhouse #felt #craft

Finally decided on a name to sell my felt creations under. Introducing... "Gingerthread House"

Creative Cargo

Since August, I've been involved with a fantastic project entitled "Creative Cargo". This is a Strong Island project aimed at promoting Portsmouth's cultural and creative industries.

I have spent the last month and a half managing the restoration/up-cycling of the steamer cases at the heart of the project. It's been hard work, but really good fun. Not only have we completely stripped the cases of their original linings, but we've breathed new stripey life into them using Southsea Deckchair fabrics as well as lots of local maps, tourism guides and books.

Seeing as I've put so much work into the project, I was kindly invited to the launch event in the swanky end of London which was brilliant. It was held at "Albany", Londons most secretive address. Not only was it a beautiful building, but the room we were using was previously inhabited by Lord Byron himself. It was a stunning location to launch the project, and I met so many lovely people who have contributed to the project with their products.

Below is an image of the cases beautifully displaying the creative cargo of Portsmouth. For more information on the project visit the WEBSITE. 

Birdie Photography Conference 2014

A little while ago, my partner entered his photo into a competition, not thinking much of it. He was then informed that his photo was in the top 10, and will be displayed at Birdie Conference. This was great news, and considering we were coincidently travelling to London the same day for a family meal, we decided we would go to the conference. 

Now, I love photography, but I was a bit hesitant to go to an entire days worth of talks about it. I thought it was going to be full of technical jargon, talks about different cameras etc etc. But I couldn't have been more wrong. It was a FANTASTIC day, full of brilliantly inspiring people. As the chair of the conference Dan Rubin explained to begin with, he wanted this conference to be about the people and their stories. 

So the first speaker was Kevin Meredith a.k.a. Lomokev, and his talk was about making the change from amateur to professional. Straight off the bat, he explained he hated using the very words "amateur" and "professional", as all it really boils down to is whether you get paid for it. One of the best things I came away with from the entire conference was from this talk, and it was to take photographs for yourselves, not instagram etc, and to do personal projects, as they're more often than not what gets you a job. 

The next talk was an interview of Dan Rubin by Tom Seymour. They talked about a lot of interesting things such as how the technological advancements such as wearable tech could change how we take photographs. Smartphones have already vastly changed the way the world takes phographs, so it was interesting hearing how devices such as Google Glass could change things such as street photography. 

Next up was Katja Ogrin talking about her career as a music photographer. When I was younger I dabbled in gig photography, as I'm sure a lot of people do, so it was great to hear from a professional such as Katja. The photo that wowed me the most was of The Hives, leaping from one of their monitors in front of a puppet master background with almost glowing eyes. It just goes to show that knowing a band and their on stage performance well gets brilliant shots. 

Naomi Korn was up next talking about the issues of copyright, specifically in the digital age. It's quite amazing to see how far behind the times copyright laws actually are. The most interesting part of her talk in my opinion was about Twitter. Is retweeting something breaking copyright laws? According to copyright laws, yes it is.

The next speaker was Conor MacNeill, an astrophotographer, talking about his travels to chase the perfect night skies around the world. I absolutely love images of space and the night sky, so this was fascinating for me. His images were stunning! It was also rather amusing to imagine him running back and forth during a 30 second exposure to keep warm. "Get travelling", was Connors advice if you want to shoot the night sky. 

After an hours break for lunch, it was brilliant to have someone as hilarious and "quite interesting" as QI Elf, Stevyn Colgan. He gave us an alternative history of photography, with giggling victorians, a photograph of a little girl stood on a stuffed crocodile (just 'cos), and some extremely amusing photographs of small children with their mothers "hiding" in the shot...under a sheet with their child on their lap. This was definitely one of my favourite speakers of the day.

Another of my favourite speakers was Agatha A. Nitecka. She is a stills photographer on film sets, and has worked on films such as Wuthering Heights. Her photographs blew me away they were so beautiful. It circles back to Kevin Merediths point about doing personal projects. She used to shoot landscapes, on film without flash. She was approached because they loved her style and thought it'd be right for the movie. It was surprising to hear that there's still photography jobs out there that allow film to be used. And because a film camera is louder than a digital, she has to rush in before and after the scene to get her shots. This produces some brilliant photographs of the actors. 

Before the final talk, the winner of the competition was announced. It just so happened to be my partner, Matt Maber. Stupidly proud of him, and thanks to the Impossible Project, we now have one of their instant labs, giving us the opportunity to print photographs from our phones onto poloroid film.

The final talk was from Retronaut creator and curator, Chris Wild. He spoke about the things that don't change, using his brilliant stock of old photographs to illustrate this. People smiling hasn't changed, buildings don't change, the back of people's heads don't change. It was a fabulous way to end the event.

I enjoyed Birdie so much more than I thought I would. Thanks to the organisers "White October Events" and Dan Rubin for putting on a brilliant day. I'm sure everyone in attendance hopes it becomes an annual event. To see photos etc, search "#birdie14" on instagram and twitter!

Look it's me in a book! #creativecargo

Edging closer to finishing this #creativecargo case.

This had been my @creativecargouk work station today. So much cutting and gluing and fiddly measuring! Definitely worth it!

A set of drawer fronts completed! @creativecargouk @strongislanduk #creativecargo

More drawers covered! Very exciting! @creativecargouk #creativecargo

All suitcases stripped! @creativecargouk @strongislanduk #creativecargo

I went to the final exhibition of "The Home Reforestation Project" by Hannah Gardiner last week at ArtSpace in Portsmouth, and it was brilliant to see an exhibition with a difference.

The project focuses on growing your own plants from the seeds and leftovers we would otherwise discard. In just one month, Hannah has grown over 1000 plants! These were being given away free on the opening night. If you decided to adopt one, you wrote in a log book the plant number, the type of plant, the date of adoption and your email address, so Hannah can check up on the plants in a few months time. 

I adopted a sweet mini pepper and a butternut squash plant, which I popped on my windowsil outside in the evening. I woke up to find both plants had been completely obliterated by snails! I'm going to have to adopt more plants and try to keep them safer this time.

For more information, please have a look at the blog. Exhibition is open 9th - 12th July 3pm - 6pm, so please go and check it out! 

All images: Matthew Maber

Spice Island Winners Exhibition - Zodiac Gallery, The Portsmouth Guildhall

I managed to miss the Spice Island Art Trail (again!) this year. But I did make it to the winners exhibition which has some great pieces in it.

The overall winner was Kas Williams, and quite rightly so. The intracate paper sculptures are just stunning. I admire artists that can create something so beautiful out of everyday objects.

My favourite pieces from the rest of the exhibition are from the "Brick House Man", Lyn Richards. His house portraits are unique and beautiful. Individually, they make great mementos for home-owners. Together, they're like a giant lego set, sitting comfortably aside each other, creating one of a kind street scenes.

There is such a broad range of art on show this year, with Fiona Harvey (photograph), Michael Wright (oil paintings), Julie Chappell (computer bugs), and Jessica Taylor (rigging tapestry) also exhibiting, all with fabulous work. Head down the to Guildhall to see the show, running until Tuesday 8th July.

My current thoughts

A lot has happened since I last posted on this blog. I’m still trying to fight my way into the art world. I’m still meeting as many people as I can. But one big thing has changed…I left my job. It begun as a Christmas temp job. Two and a half years later, it was time to call it quits. I wasn’t able to fully commit to any voluntary work, so I took the difficult decision to leave in April of this year.

  I have taken on an unpaid internship at a new gallery in Portsmouth called STAND CLEAR. It’s been great getting the space ready for the first exhibition, and I’ve organised an Art Market to help us raise some money.

  I have also taken on what was previously named “+art”, with four others. We put artwork in two hairdressers and one Orthodontist in Albert Road, Portsmouth. We’re hoping to get ourselves established and take it further, putting on exhibitions in other venues such as empty shop fronts.

  I’m still struggling to find my way, and am still unsure of what it is I want to do exactly. I love meeting artists and putting on exhibitions, but I fear this alone will never amount to a paid job. The only paid arts jobs I have seen lately are so far up the system, that to get them, you need years of paid experience. (Catch 22 as always!) I am grabbing the voluntary opportunities that I find, and am networking all the time, but it is slow going. I’m trying not to get disheartened, but it isn’t easy!

  A lot of people have suggested I look further afield to a more culturally rich city, but I am reluctant to leave Portsmouth. I love it here. I love the sea. I love the people. I love the growing creative scene here. But it’s no secret that Portsmouth is no match for somewhere like Bristol or Brighton. I’m thinking about volunteering at a gallery further afield for a short time, but without a job to pay my way, it’s difficult to justify the idea.

  Don’t get me wrong, leaving my job was the right thing to do. I’m a happier person, can put all my time into my voluntary positions and can attend a lot more exhibitions and events. However in the short term, I don’t feel as though the time I’m putting into everything is benefitting me as much as I’d imagined. I’ll get there eventually. I’ve just got to keep going and try my best to stay positive.