All My Life 1989 (detail from 80" quilt)
self portrait, ink etching on silk fabric
I've lived all my life in Northern Ontario.
I've made quilts since I was 20 years old.
Isolation. It's an obstacle, yes. This quilt is about the isolation of living in Northern Ontario combined with that of motherhood. Click here to see what I said about it over on one hundred quilts.
Today I received the report of the Ontario Craft Council symposium Reflecting The North. My friend Linda Finn is the first artist to speak in this video.
I like what potter Tim Alexander says on the video. "I just wanted to do what I wanted to do"
The focus of the symposium was not only on how to over come northern isolation, but also (mostly) on promotion and marketing. I can't express why this bothers me. I like selling my work but it's not the most important thing for me. It's not the most important thing for many artists.
Most of us, I bet.
I've chosen to live in a beautiful, sparsely populated place and I realize that I'm lucky to be able to pursue my art here. I would do my art no matter where I lived. I probably would feel isolated no matter where I lived.
I will be an artist until I can no longer see. Until my hands no longer work.
5 comments:
mom i miss you
Lovely video, Judy, thanks for sharing. I was hoping you'd be on it, though!
It's funny, I've never though of you as being so isolated. I think the artist in us though likes and often needs that isolation. No wonder you are such a great traveller.
Marketing and sales, a lot of world seems to be driven by those two things these days. Isnt it lovely to make something just for yourself....and so nice if others appreciate it too.
Jacky xox
EVERY ARTIST HAD SUCH COGENT COMMENTS..AND I AM VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE LEVEL OF ALL THE WORK THERE. It's a wonderful film and deserves a wide audience. I've had the feeling all along that despite isolation, you are part of a very vibrant and professional scene.
yes it's a fine balance between being/feeling isolated whilst making......the art needs a lot of time spent on one's own; and the outside world starting with my family, my friends and then there's the officework, not to mention trying to get my work seen out there....it's a lot
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