State of Readiness is now OPEN!

The blog has been quiet - and this is a sign that we've been busy working away and preparing the exhibition. Over the past week we have been installing the show at Landguard Fort; calmly, smoothly and without a hitch - this was the first time that we got to see everyones final pieces, very exciting, lots of hard work has gone into them!

Last night (Friday 6th), the Mayor of Felixstowe officially opened the exhibition following Chrissy and Diane's bright and bold marching performance across the beach for their piece "More than Beautiful". After the Mayor opened the show, Edwina's provoking and dark performance began in the main exhibition space, it was carried out beautifully and really captured everyone's attention. We were really pleased that so many people were able to make it along to the opening, and a particular thank you to those who donned hats and sashes and joined in with the first performance, and to Stuart and his team for the marvelous catering.

The lovely people from Felixstowe Radio interviewed us too, listen out for us between 6pm and 8pm tonight, Saturday 7th August or listen again on http://www.felixstoweradio.co.uk/ .

The Exhibition remains open every day until 26th September, so there is plenty of time to see it, and do come along to one of our many events to learn more about our ideas and artworks in the show:

TIMETABLE OF EVENTS - ALL FREE* (*Normal Fort admission charges apply)

Sunday 8th August

2 - 3pm: Artist Talk by Sam Epps

3.30 - 4pm: Performance by Edwina Goldstone

Wednesday 11th August

1 - 2pm: Artist Talk by Edwina Golstone

2 - 3pm: Artist Talk by Helen Otter

Wednesday 18th August

10am - 1pm: More than Beautiful Army Recruitment

2 - 3pm: Artist Talk by Diane Archer

Wednesday 25th August

10am - 2pm: Watercolour Workshop with Juliet Hayward

2 - 3pm: Artist Talk by Juliet Hayward

Saturday 28th August

11am - 4pm: More than Beautiful Army Recruitment

Sunday 29th August

10am - 4pm: Pinhole Photography Workshop with Diane Archer

2 - 3pm: Artist Talk by Lesley Bennett

Sunday 5th August

Its ART ON THE PROM!!! visit their website for more info

Come and see the 11 Fortified Artists, and join in with our performances and workshops, including Juliet's second Watercolour Workshop

Meetings and Research

We haven't blogged for a little while, mostly because the work that is involved in preparing the exhibition; marketing, installation needs, liaison etc is so exhausting and demands so much of our time. The good news is that we received the grant from the Arts Council, so more things are now possible.

I am now at the point where "State of Readiness" is my only project and i can concentrate all of my creative thoughts fully on making this work - its been a long time coming.

I originally said that i would do a performance, but following the Crit with Caroline a few weeks ago, i have decided that this work is best articulated through a video piece. Yesterday i visited an air-base, i have identified this place as the backdrop to my film, and was looking for specific spots that i can use. The air-base suits a lot of my needs, by having subtle military references, it is plain and sparse, open and flat. When i have a free day, either a Saturday or Sunday, hopefully soon, i will head back to make my film.

Here are some photographs from my visit:

Crit Tomorrow!

Tomorrow we are heading to rural Suffolk for a crit in Sara's studio, we will be joined by our Project Curator, Caroline Wright. Although we have attended many meetings, visited the Fort several times as a group and exchanged more emails than i care to remember - tomorrow feels as though it is going to be different. It will be the first time, in a formal setting where we each explain and critique our ideas for works to be included in the show, and it is the first time that we will meet with Caroline as a group.

I think that this will mark a shift in our progression towards the show, meaning that we can become more focused on "the work" instead of all the other things that take up so much time.

Felixstowe Visit, Sunday 9th May

Tim, Helen, Sara, Lesley and Sam met in Ruby's cafe in Felixstowe for tea, cake and cheesy chips. Cheesy chips are a "must have" at Ruby's. We discussed some ideas for works and the format for our crit with Caroline on 23rd May.

We said goodbye to Lesley and the rest of us went onto the Fort. Bought souvenirs in the gift shop and briefly toured some of the rooms before spending time in the exhibition space. One of the lights in the space was swaying quite a lot, this was unnerving.

Tim, Helen and Sam met Mary who co-ordinates "Art on the Prom" in Felixstowe

to discuss our involvement in the scheme including publicity and the pos

sibility of running small events or interactive activities - this was very positive.

Lots of ideas, tired now from the fresh sea air.

Sam.

Today i am appreciating the physical effects of activity on my body. Following last night's race, i can barely walk, only drag my feet along the ground pathetically. It feels like someone has kicked me in the back. How can my back hurt after running? I do not have the concentration to read or to focus for any decent amount of time.

I find it really interesting to observe how one's body responds when put under unusual physical strain, how it can impair and have a consequential effect.

Sam Epps

Ready? Steady! Go....!

I have just got back from my first road race; 5 miles along Great Yarmouth sea front (i did it in 46 minutes). It felt really good to be part of something, as an individual acting within a collective purpose, and this is a feeling that i would like to capture within my work for "State of Readiness".

I really enjoyed the drive to Gt Yarmouth from Norwich. I have been thinking about Landscape today, partly because i had a look round the Land Art room at the Tate Modern at lunch, and partly because i have been talking to a few people about how a lot of the artwork created in East Anglia pays homage to our Landscape. The view as we drove along the Acle straight was great, the horizon opened up in that brilliant way that it always does as you approach the coast, so it is no wonder that Artists here are always mesmerized by that view.

Because it is Easter, the sea front felt a bit busier that it usually would during these temperatures, families were wandering around, the swimming pool was lively, the arcades were lit up, but there was a feeling that Gt Yarmouth is still waiting for something; the summer. Easter is their practice run, and then everything will close again until May. Sea side towns are so fascinating, visually rich, full of colour and vibrancy, but conceptually i find them rather desolate. There is this feeling of waiting, anticipation, and expectation of something bigger and better that i enjoy so much in relation to the theme of our exhibition.

I couldn't help but take photographs of boarded up and battened down refreshment bars and burger kiosks.

Visit to Suomenlinna - Sea Fortress. 06.04.2010

Finally my planned trip to Suomenlinna ; the morning greeted me with torrential rain threatening to postpone the trip but after a few essential chores the rain stopped and Samantha and I headed for Helsinki, from where we would take a 20 min ferry trip to the Sea Fortress Island. The rain had now been replaced by a dense fog making the journey have a some what mysterious quality especially since the normally visible island was shrouded in a veil of fog.

For the briefest of moments the sun broke through the fog.

Once on the island our first stop was Galleria Rantasarmi who’s rooms and spaces have a strong simalarity in feel as those at Landguard, Samantha commented later that the floor even sounded the same as she walked through the rooms.

It was there that I first made inquires about the use of a space within the islands buildings in order to perform and video my peice for Landguard, they suggested I speak with someone in the new HIAP (Helsinki International Artist-in-residence Programme) offices. I had recently heard that they were setting up new premises on the island but was unaware they were up and running.

Leaving the gallery we spent about 2 hours exploreing more of the islands buildings, stopping off for a hearty bowl of chilli and bacon pasta, on our way to finding the HIAP office which we found situated in one of the best sites of the island.

There I met Virve; artist and co-ordinator of the Suomenlinna residency spaces, and after introducing my project and time schedual to her she immediately proposed a site and offered to show us, the place is Galleria Augusta which is one of the host venues for Art Contact which organizes experimental live art events in Helsinki on a regular basis www.newartcontact.org During the winter and early spring months activities on Suomenlinna are relatively quiet, this being so all I now need to do is contact the studio manager and arrange a time, which will more than likely be in late may........fingers crossed!

Edwina 07.04.2010