In my experience sculptors tend to be on the brink of catastrophe even in the good times. Maybe it’s the overheads, the foundry fees, the storage and the fact that commissions while often significant in terms of budget tend to be spaced out on the calendar. Add to that my practice as a sculptor is labour intensive, old school –  making it not the ideal capitalist enterprise.

I’m fortunate to have part time employment at an Art School, steady money in uncertain times. However the other half of my earning potential – being an Artist has been gripped by the same economic inertia that has spread across the planet.  Projects and commissions have been delayed, thankfully nothing cancelled yet.

Sculptures are quietly gathering dust in a once busy foundry full of noise, heat and shouting.

This loss of personal income is adding to the generalised social anxiety that pervades my thoughts as I flip between new possibilities and old dread,  between radical change and hunkering down – l’m open to all offers right now.

All my current Public Art Commissions that will hopefully be reanimated soon are either half way through or nearing the end of their life as paying endeavours.  Sculptures for East Lothian Community Hospital now  await patination and installation, a small Public artwork for Lerwick, Shetland is being cast in bronze this week and a iron sculpture for a private client should be standing up in the Highlands by the end of August.

The Future is unwritten.

 

 

Jul 21, 2020

 

Roughly four and a half months into the Covid 19 era, as experienced in Northern Europe and  although I am fortunate not to have  caught the virus, it does seem to have messed with my head. The pandemic has forced us all off our own little mouse trails, work – home – pub – social media – repeat.

My understanding of the structure of  time, my identity, my relationships, my history and my future have all been intensely questioned.  I can’t be alone in experiencing a deep and extended period of reflection during this time. What do I want? what’s important? what’s not important? If this is the case, then if we have collectively asked all the big questions of ourselves, then does this mean we are all now on the way to living better lives in tune with our true desires and better natures?

Or is all this navel gazing a luxury of the lockdown that will evaporate on contact with the reality of un paid bills and the growing  dole queues of the coming winter.

We have different futures  to contemplate

 Welcome to the Super Safe Society – social interaction is on line, germaphobia, food from the ghost kitchen, foreign travel for the few, exchange your health data on your first date, isolation, system crash, permanent crisis mode, retreat into the private sphere.

Welcome to the Resilient Society – adaptation, we culture, glocalisation, regional products, supplies are shared or exchanged, urban farming, flexibility in the workplace and circular economies. People no longer trust state actors and form Neo Tribes.

Option 2 would be a positive by itself  and a corrective to the ongoing  environmental crisis or maybe a vaccine will show up by Christmas  to return us all to  our self regarding and self destructive ways.

One thing is certain these are historical times, with extraordinary dangers and extraordinary opportunities.

Jul 20, 2020