During our annual Barnsley meeting our MA group visited Bank Street Arts in Sheffield, where we will have our final MA show in 2014. Firstly, we were all a little surprised and delighted that the OCA has already organised this for us, as we always thought we would have to find a venue and organise it ourselves.
Hmm, I say final MA show, but up to now the only other exhibition we have done as even a partial group has been Absolute Magnitude, which was a small but perfectly formed gem. I have always intended to initiate another exhibition like this. Even a small postal show is something. It's crazy if our final show is our first. Most other MA shows will have had interim exhibitions, which can act as good trials and build an audience. Naturally with the MA as it is there are various logistical considerations, but a postal exhibition is a good solution, and as time allows I will set something up.
It's not too early to think through some ideas for the exhibition. In visiting degree and MA shows last year I was especially critically aware of choices made, and best and worst practice in showing work. This year I will visit more. I think I wrote about the 2012 Chelsea MA show previously on this blog - there were a couple of frankly horrific practices there - I mean exhibition practice rather than art practice. Why do yourself a diservice? Surely at MA level you are looking for an artist who is good to go, who is exhibition and gallery ready, not someone who has been caught out and can't work to a deadline. Even an amazing idea beautifully executed can look like an amateurish flash in the pan if the setting doesn't serve.
Things to avoid - the obvious - video pieces not turned on. terrible, but it happens alot.
Really poor quality or photocopied cards
Cards without an image
Inconsistent name signs throughout the exhibition
Poor directions in the building
The catalogue being too big, heavy and difficult to carry
The map or list for viewers poor quality photocopy
The map making it difficult to make sure the viewer has seen everything
Those things may well be normal exhibition horrors to avoid, but sometimes in groups, everyone is raised either up or down by the expected standard, and individuals may find their choices compromised. There are of course other aspects to avoid in exhibitions, and according to each venue. Bank Street Arts has advantages and disadvantages. It quite amazingly has enough spaces for us each to have our own separate gallery room or space. They are rather small rooms, and so that informs work, but there we are. The spaces are at different levels, and there is the interruption of the cafe and other doors and corridors in between, and so I think we will have to have clear signals about where to go, where the exhibition continues, etc. Perhaps we will colour code our exhibition to mark it out, and even use something like coloured tape to mark the areas. As long as this coordinates with our layout map, we will make it easy for the audience to see everything and know they have.
Good degree and MA show practices I noticed:
It's best to have a new card made with an image of the current project
Keep the space clear of everything but the pared down work
Don't have a big display, but have further information or reading available about the project and the MA journey if the viewer is interest
A further leaflet or booklet could be available
Postcards of the current project are also good as a larger card
15th April 2013
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