Set up by artist Lenka Clayton in 2012, ARIM is an exploration into how the role of motherhood and being a practising artist can work in partnership. In 2016 she opened the doors to invite other mothers across the world to undertake their own artist residencies in motherhood. I will be undertaking my artist residency in motherhood from Aug 2016 - Aug 2017. You can read more about the whole project here.
Residency Manifesto
In common with all new parents, the birth of my first child changed many things in my life. One of those changes has been the way I and others think about my career as an artist. I find now that many aspects of the professional art world are closed to artists with families. Most prestigious artist residencies for example specifically exclude families from attending. Despite a legacy of public artist/parents it still seems to be a commonly held belief that being an engaged mother and serious artist are mutually exclusive endeavors. I don’t believe or want to perpetrate this. I like to imagine the two roles not as competing directions but to view them, force them gently if necessary, to inform one another.
I will undergo this self-imposed artist residency in order to fully experience and explore the fragmented focus, nap-length studio time, limited movement and resources and general upheaval that parenthood brings and allow it to shape the direction of my work, rather than try to work “despite” it.
I will document my residency through a blogging diary and a catalogue on this website of (if any) finished works.
Set up by artist Lenka Clayton in 2012, ARIM is an exploration into how the role of motherhood and being a practising artist can work in partnership. In 2016 she opened the doors to invite other mothers across the world to undertake their own artist residencies in motherhood. I will be undertaking my artist residency in motherhood from Aug 2016 - Aug 2017. You can read more about the whole project here.
Residency Manifesto
In common with all new parents, the birth of my first child changed many things in my life. One of those changes has been the way I and others think about my career as an artist. I find now that many aspects of the professional art world are closed to artists with families. Most prestigious artist residencies for example specifically exclude families from attending. Despite a legacy of public artist/parents it still seems to be a commonly held belief that being an engaged mother and serious artist are mutually exclusive endeavors. I don’t believe or want to perpetrate this. I like to imagine the two roles not as competing directions but to view them, force them gently if necessary, to inform one another.
I will undergo this self-imposed artist residency in order to fully experience and explore the fragmented focus, nap-length studio time, limited movement and resources and general upheaval that parenthood brings and allow it to shape the direction of my work, rather than try to work “despite” it.
I will document my residency through a blogging diary and a catalogue on this website of (if any) finished works.
