Saturday, August 29, 2009

art plans

I've been back in Melbourne full time for almost six months, and I starting to find my feet in the art world here.
Apart from the two major solo shows I'm putting together for next year, I'm planning to write a curriculum for a series of art workshops. These will focus on the creative act, creativity itself and explore such concepts as the artistic muse, spontaneous creative practices and put into practice the creative art theories of others. I'm planning to run these as a day long workshop from my studio in Melbourne. They will consist of some formal training/teaching but still plenty of room for discussion and workshop activities.
I'm also planning to give away a series of 9 or so small oils of canvas I painted a few years back. More details on this later via twitter. @virtuejofern

Monday, August 17, 2009

why I left my former art studio...

I've spoken on this subject before. The dangers of those inexperienced in the art world, who decide they want to be part of it.
Usually it's because they have money and can own galleries or art studios so they get themselves a stable of artists then proceed to behave like total tools, eventually driving you away.
This is what happened in my former studio, the landlord was a total fool who had some very archaic, stereotypical and false ideas of what artists are really like and, more importantly, what they need in a studio space. They think these kind of people think because they have cash, the buildings etc, they are instantly involved.
This landlord kept hanging around, his first mistake. He keep sticking his nose into everyone's business then gossiping.
Secondly, he really believed that all artist are sex crazy maniac's that will do anyone, anywhere and therefore kept coming on to me. ( he was really creepy)
Thirdly, he rented the studio out to me with 24 hr access and attempted to put my rent up 50% because he said I was using it too much...WTF!! I use the studio all the time because I work a lot you fool!!!

Manallack St Art Studios, can't say I would recommend them. The landlord is the most unprofessional tool I've met in the last few months... But the art world is full of them.

My new studios great ...here's a link to them http://www.latrobecollege.com.au/studio.htm