Wysing Arts Centre

It has been a busy time.

Since the open discussion in Ipswich Town Hall Gallery we have installed some work for a show at Wysing Arts Centre in the Wysing Arts Contemporary series entitled Partnering. Here, our project has a very different flavour to the work at Ipswich since we have tried to focus on the nature of the four protagonists working together rather than majoring on the work produced as a result.

A large (2.5 x 3 mts) photograph forms a backdrop to a stage set on which sits the desk and chairs that we use for meetings. On top of the table are copies of our work in a box file, a sound recording of our open discussion and a script for an imaginary play. It is multi layered, and needs time to uncover everything.

We plan to hold our next meeting in the gallery space on the stage.

The open discussion event on 1st October was well attended - about 65 people in total, many of then students from Suffolk New College. Phyllida, George, Helen and Caroline spoke for around 40 minutes, outlining the project history, its development and their individual reasons for taking part. The conversation ranged from "what is art?" to the student and art institution's roles today. There were several questions from the floor bringing the event to a close after almost two hours.

The project will be represented at the next exhibition at Wysing Arts Centre near Cambridge. Called Wysing Arts Contemporary:Partnering, the show looks at different ways in which artists are working with other people, be they artists, those from other professions or communities. The show opens on 16th October and continues until the end of November.