First we take Manhattan!

Posted by: Pamela Conacher | Date: 2009.04.16 | Category: Crafts | Response: 0

Work by an American Maker

Before I went on my travels, my son took it upon himself to organise my MP3 player – alphabetically, by genre and with a special section of music for New York! The one song that keeps playing through my head so far is Leonard Cohen’s ‘First we take Manhattan’…  So – we are doing just that!

After a lunch that left us all with plates that looked like they had not been touched even though we could all eat no more, we set off to explore galleries and exhibitions.

Manhattan is fairly simple to navigate as it is all based on grids (just like Glasgow!) and everything seems to be within walking distance. However, our feet and legs tell us today that we must have walked miles! Some of us went to MOMA and came away overwhelmed by the crowds and have decided to try when it it quieter – I have seen very little sign of a financial downturn here but perhaps that is just where we are situated. Talking with people, they say that instead of shares the wealthy are investing in art works. Indeed there was a rash of red dots appearing on work at SOFA – many in the $40,000 + range!

The SOFA reception was amazing – so many people in incredible clothes and you could nearly smell the wealth. We wandered in a daze clutching champagne and kept being stopped in our tracks by the sheer bad taste, garish colours and size of some of the American work (and many if them had red dots and huge price tags) – it was very difficult to not just concentrate on them! The American aesthetic is so different from the European and indeed Japanese. Our work stood out in with it’s beautifully executed craftsmanship, design and quality. It was hard not to compare a perfect work by Alison Kinnaird at $18,000 dollars with a ceramic figure decorated with wool that had been badly glued on (yes, you heard me right!) by Michael Lucero at $40,000!

However, that was first impressions and we did find some gems in amongst the more obvious work. I am really looking forward to today when we go back to have a proper look, get a guided tour and a chance to talk to people as well as attend some lectures.

After that, I am off to meet Monica Hampton at the American Crafts Council to talk to her about their Searchlight mentoring scheme – amongst other things. Hopefully, I will take away some ideas for our plans! Then it’s on to The Pentland School of Craft Artists Reception at the home of Bill and Laura Paulson followed by our group dinner with invited curators and artists! Luckily the sun is shining and I had a few hours sleep last night!

One really important part of a trip like this is having the opportunity to spend time with colleagues who are as passionate about crafts as you are. The discussions that follow events, the planning of new projects and the sharing of ideas are invaluable and if that involves a trip to the top of the Rockefeller Tower for cocktails all the better! The views last night were stunning and I was fine if I didn’t look down!

Now it’s on to take on today’s experiences! I’ll be reporting back later.

Pamela
16 April 2009, New York

From Lochaber to Manhattan

Posted by: Pamela Conacher | Date: 2009.04.15 | Category: Crafts | Response: 0

Central Park, New York

After all the preparation and planning we have finally arrived in New York after an early start, straightforward flight and taxi to the hotel. ‘We’ are a group of twelve Craft curators/officers who are here to be immersed in the American craft scene, carry out individual research and promote what we do to professionals and makers in the USA.

First impressions are that New York is actually not as big as we thought – especially the Statue of Liberty! The architecture is amazing and incredibly impressive – I love the towering buildings overlooking Central Park and we were amused to see a very classy dentist carrying out treatment on a patient in full view of the street looking onto the park.

After a celebratory cocktail, it was an early night before we build up to a hectic schedule.Today we meet at midday and then three lucky members of the group (we have to draw straws!!) are off to visit the home of collector and philanthropist, Nanette Laitman to view her collection of contemporary craft – and her apartment!

If my name is not selected, I will go to MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) as it is close by and they have some wonderful exhibitions on. Tonight we are invited to the preview and reception of SOFA (The International Expositions of Sculpture Objects and Functional Art) which should be so exciting – not least for the people watching!

I will be reporting back from it all tomorrow and hope the rain stays off – the grey clouds and drizzle remind me of home! However, the forecast is for sunshine after today so I am keeping my fingers crossed!

Pamela Conacher, New York
15 April 2009

Travels through the Highlands (and beyond!)

Posted by: Pamela Conacher | Date: 2009.04.07 | Category: Crafts | Response: 0

One of the many great plus points about my job as Craft Development Coordinator for the HI-Arts is that I get out and about throughout the Highlands and Islands to meet many inspiring and positive people.

On Friday I was fortunate to travel to Iona and Mull on one of the most spectacular days of the year so far. An early drive through Ardnamurchan found me crossing to Mull on my first ferry of the day – a much shorter one (and calmer) that my last trip to Stornoway! The sun was out this time and as I drove on the single track road over the hills to Fionnphort, radio on and hardly a car to pass; I glanced up to see two eagles soaring not very far above me. Even after living most of my life here, I am still awestruck by the beauty of my home!

My second ferry took me the short 10 minutes to Iona and I walked up the winding street to visit Mhairi Killin at her beautiful studio and shop overlooking the Sound of Iona.

Mhairi is trained in textiles but came back to Iona to take over her family’s traditional Celtic jewellery business in 1997. In 2003 she set about restoring the steading building where she is now based and, as well as selling her own work, she retails a select group of work by other jewellers.

Mhairi has always wanted to create a new body of work that reflects her heritage and to move her work onto another level. Having received a Creative Development Award from the SAC, she is now fulfilling that challenge and her exhibition of new work will open at An Tobar on Mull in July before touring. I was in Iona to speak to Mhairi about this work and her future plans and we will be featuring this on our website before too long.

After a very inspiring couple of hours with Mhairi, it was back on the ferry after a delay while it waited on the Mull side for a cement lorry to bring over fresh supplies for the jetty – giving us a chance to take a breezy walk along the shore side and to make me realise just what a challenge living on an Island must be.

For craftspeople like Mhairi it is so much more of a struggle than someone, say, living in London or Edinburgh. Inspiration has to come from within and from the landscape as there are no galleries or museums, few colleagues and sometimes little understanding within the community. Every journey, transport of work, delivery of materials has to be planned round the ferry and then, from Iona, it is over an hour on single track to the next ferry to either Oban or Lochaline and then onwards to the Central belt.

On my way back from Iona I called in at Isle of Mull weavers at Ardlanish farm. Down another muddy single track road to the farm and you are greeted by work that is sold and respected all over the world and worn by models on the catwalks of London and Japan – all from an unprepossessing barn in the middle of Mull. I was going to say ‘nowhere’ but that is not where it is – it is a landscape and life that inspires and allows people the freedom to create work that reflects this in its own unique way.

Once more, I am amazed by the creativity and drive of makers in the Highlands and Islands. We have some of the very best and it takes a strong and determined person to make it really work given all the obstacles in their way.

Next week I head for a very different landscape and people – New York! I will be promoting our makers, seeking out opportunities, being inspired and I am sure I will return exhausted but reassured in the knowledge that we do have some of the top makers in our midst and we can stand on an international stage!

If all works to plan, you should be able to follow my trip on this blog from the 14th April.