ART FOR ALL?

Trouble is that when I have entered juried exhibitions and been rejected, I feel art is only for the privileged and professionals. At the very least art is for those that know what they are doing and so that’s not me. For sure when it comes to making things out of glass then I am OK with that but sticking to a theme? Well, I have been known to wander off the subject. There is a trend with all my reflections and that is the message that is meant to be conveyed to the viewer gets lost in translation. I think my message is so deep it appears buried. So not very inclusive is it when exhibitions just select the proper artists in?

Inclusivity and diversity are all the rage these days. So popular that getting grants is easy. Just acknowledge that an event is open to all and bang there you go money tress drops its crops. I would have thought that everything is open to all, and we shouldn’t have to make special allowances. I know I face criticism for being naïve but in my defence, I have a little experience.

My workshop is open to everyone, even people I don’t like. I think I am allowed not to like some people just because they get on my nerves. I may have picked this up wrong and it maybe illegal and if so, I apologise. Recently I took a visitor into my workshop who was in an electric wheelchair. The lady in the chair couldn’t enter one door as it has a step, but she had no problem coming through the other door which led into my working area full of glassware, gas cylinders and flames. Potentially quite dangerous. With a Pirouette as if a ballet dances the wheelchair did a spin and wedged itself conveniently in the perfect position so that the lady could get a good view of me working. I have had so called sweet innocent children in my workshop causing chaos and breaking glass. So, it seemed appropriate to put up a sign which told kids to clear off and I banned children. That ban lasted five minutes as I was told I was being exclusive and would be punished beyond all recognition by the powers that be (above)> I then decided to ban religious zealots but of course I can’t tell just by looking at people who these are.

The funny thing for me is that as a glassie person then I hear all about inclusivity when reading about and seeing glass paperweights being made. I am being a little flexible with definitions here but what goes into paperweights is called inclusions. One has to make sure that the glasses are compatible with each other when making otherwise the paperweight will crack. A bit like real life, isn’t it? We all have to be compatible don’t we otherwise we all can’t fit in. We must demonstrate a bit of give at take otherwise we would all crack up!

Fitting in is really what makes us human. Ask any craftsperson who wants to be an artist how they could possible fit in. For years as a glass artist (which I am not seen as) then the dizzy heights of fine arts are and always will be beyond me. That’s not just my opinion but learning from others in such places as Edinburgh! Well, that’s the big city for you. There are some who think that all artists are defined by where they graduated from and if one didn’t then you just dint fit in so were excluded. Not very inclusive is it. Hence the perception that art is for the snobs while all others can wallow in their crafts!

As Chair of the Society of Caithness Artists then I am very keen to include everyone in our annual exhibitions. That isn’t possible if someone wants to enter but has no artwork to offer. Doesn’t paint a very good picture of diversity does it. I mean there must be something wrong in the World where art exhibitions are excluding non-artists and only accepting art? If someone turned up with a large bucket of water, would I be putting my foot in it by refusing entry? If so, I might get into deep water and so I let them in. As long as this bucket (with or without water) is for sale then that’s OK. Its conceptual art and that sometimes seems a default.

Finally, one story I would like to share. I moved to Thurso in 1981 and loved the community who all seem to welcome so called outsiders. These were people who were not born or brought up in the area and had moved to the place due to work or other reasons. Some called me and others like me, white settlers – not very inclusive and a bit anti-diverse. I joined in as much as I could various community activities. A few years ago, I was walking across Thurso Bridge very late at night, in fact it was more early in the morning. Suddenly two young men walked alongside me. One each side of me pushing at me say that I don’t belong here. They told me I wasn’t welcome because they knew I had come from outside the area. I admit I was scared, very scarred and focus straight ahead on the end of the bridge. They kept with me until they saw a police car and drifted away. It happens several years ago but that memory lasts and to a certain extent makes me wary of what I see as fashionable political answers to a very complex issue. Yes, I perhaps don’t fit in, but I don’t mind that and of course there are a lot of us. In a World of mis fits then those that do fit are in reality the odd ones out!

Finally, finally this blog was type up using a spell checker which incorporated a check for “sensitive geopolitical references.” So, there you have. We aim to all fit in and get our boxes ticket before we all end up in one box each.