http://www.esc-film.com/siteFiles/resources/images/News/newsKoestlerAwards1.jpg(accessed 17th May 2011)
There is certainly time spent on the art, and the only differences to more usual gallery art is the critical fulcrum artists go through at art school or in the art arena. At Koestler, all is accepted, from the most naive to the expert, and given an equality of worth. It is a reminder that it all depends, really, on what you do with material.
Koestler is about motivating the art principle, with a purpose of rehabilitation and giving hope. When pushed into a corner, even if that is by oneself, the urge to create and express emerges. Of course, it doesn't have to take actual incarceration to find the outlets of art and writing, but within prison is where people who may never have contemplated life in a self reflective way before find religion, spirituality, and inner purpose. So Koestler is preinstrucional art, precritical art. But it opens a door and perhaps sparks something in a person they may run with. Some do.
http://www.culture24.org.uk/asset_arena/1/28/11/211821/v0_master.jpg(accessed 17th May 2011)
The prison chat and inner procedures of prison life remain as interesting, entertaining, alarming and largely confidential as ever. I have found the exoffenders I have got to know a bit very open, and willing to initiate conversations about religion and other personal and usually offlimit areas, especially for such blokey types. Having been in prison, having to be open about that, and now involved in the arts and sharing direction with others, gives them something I have also found in my life akin to people who have been through drama school - they have already been ripped open and embarrassed, so there is no point hiding now.
I am yet to see if this ethos translates into their own art in any way - I think Koestler is a great breeding ground for the principle, but is only a start. In every piece one mostly sees impulse, impulse, impulse.
http://dontforgetthemonkey.com/wp-content/uploads/koestler-art-awards-618x824.jpg(accessed 17th May 2011)
The Koestler team meeting covers most things an organisation has to consider. Koestler relies on a large amount of goodwill, achieves this, and fosters it. There is currently a scenario symposium going on with Oxford University, using Koestler as a case study, which is of course invaluable to the Trust as they evolve. Not just artists, but others give their time. While there is informality balanced with efficiency, there is a constant appreciation of the ethos of the charity and the worth of the work. A survey of participants from last year is used to improve procedures. The logging in itself, matching numbers, labels, codes, etc, is quite laborious, but as you are doing it, you really can't think of a way it would work better, considering the sheer numbers and variety of categories.
http://www.shearmanbowen.co.uk/2010-v2/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Shearman-Bowen-Plat-k50021.jpg(accessed 17th May 2011)
I met up also with an artist friend of mine, part of an artists group I run. This group has been brilliant over the last couple of years, talking about all areas of life in art - it's a bit patchy at the moment due to life events within the group. I was telling J all about the MA, and Koestler, etc. She is currently doing a PHD and working in a gallery. Mostly what we concluded is that an artists life is a portfolio career. We couldn't think of anyone we knew who are artists and only produce their own work. everyone does some teaching, projects, educational work, and so on. And so it is. That's the life of an artist, really. there must be a point when you get it right, at least for a while, the flow of work and money and time coordinating, perhaps like a complex clock always showing the right time at least twice a day, or once or twice in a lifetime.
17th May 2011
No comments:
Post a Comment