Coventry – Capital Of Culture 2022
During lockdown, a group of my artist friends started reading The Artist Way by Julia Cameron.
We read the book in synch and It became a lifeline during those difficult months.
Our weekly virtual artist meet-ups provided a safe space to unpack how we were feeling and support each other with our creative lives and journeys.
For myself, one of the main take aways from reading the book, was to notice synchronicities in your life.
These incidents are almost always catalysts for creative happenings, and shouldn’t be overlooked.
Another suggestion The Artist Way makes, was to take yourself on an artist date once a week.
We often make ourselves so busy in our day to day bustle, that the idea of a midweek day for pleasure can seem unthinkable!
This act of radical kindness to yourself feels self indulgent, what about deadlines and productivity?!
We’ve become so conditioned to work continuously without seeking moments in the mundane for pleasure and sensory exploration.
I was beginning to realise that I what I really needed to nurture my creativity.
I had become disconnected from play and joy as part of my practice.
=A friend had mentioned visiting an exhibition that had blown her away. The exhibition was DANIEL LISMORE, BE YOURSELF, EVERYONE ELSE IS ALREADY TAKEN, at the Herbert Gallery, Coventry.
I’ve never visited the city, but an unexpected detour on a driving job back from london put me very close by.
When I realised there was so much to see there as part of its Capital of Culture Programming,
I couldn’t not overlook this geographical synchronicity.
I decided to take a day out of life and took myself on an artist date.
Daniel Lismore can only be described as a work of living art.
Raised in Coventry, Lismore is an artist, designer, perfumer, stylist and human rights warrior.
His The exhibition was so immersive, my eyes couldn’t take it all in and I had to roam around the space repeatedly to scratch the surface.
The best part of this experience was meeting Daniel himself!
Hearing him talk about growing up in Coventry was such an open account of his creative life.
So often there is that disconnect between where someone started, and who they become.
This was so personal , it was incredibly moving.
The other discovery was an amazing piece of instillation art by Morag Myercroft.
Endless Ribbons Connecting Us transformed a 60’s plaza into a riot of colour.
I’ve loved Morag’s work and her use of colour for such a long time, it was so brilliant to just happen across it whilst I was looking for something to eat.
I love her description of the work which was inspired by the colourful stained glass in the Cathedral, and the Ribbon Weaving heritage of Coventry.
"Community is at the heart of every project i do. We wanted to change perceptions of space by transforming the canopy walkway with fresh bold colour and an abundance of plants. working with the food traders and surrounding shops, together we wanted to make a new destination for everyone that brings joy to an area that needed some love."
One of my best days out in 2022 so far.
I hope your eyes enjoy the pictures.