Back home

Now I have returned home and went back to my work at my grey cube. I am still little bit head in the clouds. I didn’t write about three last days so much.

Tuesday 1.11. Laurent and boys went to science museum at morning to free me to work in the while. I draw a lot and after took some pinhole photos. After lunch Nicola came to take us (me an Aarni as Laurent and Etienne didn’t want) to school in other side of the road. There were little workshops for the decoration of Breaking Bread happening. Workshops seemed very funny as they included splattering paints little bit everywhere. My Aarni anyway didn’t want to participate. He was interested oh playground outside where was climbing tree, little kitchen and wooden car. Inside he preferred plastic sea animals, puzzles and kitchen again. Just in the time we were leaving he might have tried some painting. At school I spoke with one mother, who song me Finnish song: Sympaatti that I had never heard before, but it was totally sympathetic!

Wednesday was the actual Bread Breaking. The happening was in gallery and it had big decorated table with many kinds of bread, around it was again little workshops and paper bags that children have decorated day before for taking bread also to home. Our boys liked the happening but they were too shy to play with other children. Same evening we had our artist talk with Nicola. She came to prepare it with me, and I used every free moment for writing and making my presentation ready. At evening we went to Pot Luck at 1st floor Common Room. I came with my whole family. And there was Nicola, Traë, Elyssa and some other people to share food and listen Nicola’s talk and mine. My talk went well I guess, Laurent said a bit in spontaneous, and Nicola read her writing ” A Woman’s Work is Never Done.” and did joggling with a plate at the same time! There were not much people but it was cosy and I felt good with these people and a bit melancholic as the moment for leave get closer. At night I still worked in dark room.

Thursday we went to museum MOSI again, and its museum shop. And I learned that Bob The Builder (the real on not the horrifying new one) is also from Manchester! What a great city indeed! It was raining in afternoon. I took some pinhole photos and went to museum of Salford. We couldn’t find a post office so our postcards will be send in Finland or given directly to hand. At evening we packed and I went to darkroom for the last time.

Artist Talk about residency

My process of this residency started over one year ago, as we heard that we have been chosen and as we we wrote to each other with Nicola. I anyway couldn't imagine how it would be to be actually in residency here. I have tried to handle with the subject of being a mother and being artist. I have made my blog about it. I got also new point of view on these questions as I met Helen Sargeant in Tampere, when she was We Are Resident artist there and made an article about her in Tampere art association magazine Täydellinen ympyrä.

Now when I have came her, I have found Islington Mill and We Are Residence -residency very stimulating and hospitable. I feel in this atmosphere that everything could be possible. I have found passion for work again. And there is so much I would like to do. I have met many talented and inspiriting artist and friend too I hope. There is still a lot of thing of the neighborhood what I would like to discover.

But I have also found very difficult to work with children around – which is a kind of good thing I guess because in home it will be more easy I just need to learn to realize it. Here boys depend so much on me. At home they feel cozy and safe and have their own routines and habits but here they are bit lost and they need us parents all of the time. I have tired to use every moment of evening after they sleep and Laurent have tired to take them somewhere to give me some space and also Nicola have helped very much. I have had chance to work a bit, but I keep on wondering, what if I would do this alone, I could skip correct meals and just work all of the time and in the evenings I could be social. Well, it is not the situation now and after all I feel very lucky and privileged to have this chance here now to myself and my family!

I didn't had much preconceptions about place and residency but I have to say that I have many times surprise positively by the beauty of place, friendliness of the people and even by the weather. This experience really is a top! I wish I could stay more long but at same time my son counts days to our coming home. 

Before coming here my plan for the residency was to involve all family to my art project as thinking that we are a group of explorers and we come to unknown world and collect some samples to explain how it is here. That have succeeded more or less, I had one dictation machine for collecting sound samples, that I have not use at all, same with one camera. Laurent have took excellent photos, children have collect some treasures from the sides of the road like I planned but they were not so interested about it. I have been drawing and took photos mainly here are some drawings and some pinhole photos.

My idea is to be present to catch something here the spirit of the place widely. I think if I could continue it at home, as I would like to have exhibition of this experience. It don't feel right, at least not now. These work are important because I have made them here.

Anyway, this residency was an opportunity that I am very thankful and that I will remember for long time. I wish I could come back here some day.