Art Exhibition

I find it difficult to embrace my artistic side.  One of my clearest memories from 1st year at school was when a painting I did in art was praised and put on the wall for the rest of the year.  But art wasn’t seen as something very practical to do so I didn’t take it after 1st year.  I don’t know if this is a ‘west of scotland male’ thing or if it happens all over the world but art just wasn’t something that was encouraged.

Skip forward many years and I got into photography, more arty-photography, video, video editing and eventually ‘visualist‘.  Also, most of the visualist stuff I do is within the context of a worship setting.  I have been investigating what is more traditionally seen as video art to see what I could learn from it and so far I have come to the conclusion ‘not a lot’.  I have rarely been impressed with any video installations I’ve seen in galleries or exhibitions and I’ve never (yet) been blown away by any.

So when the opportunity came to put something that I had came up with into an art exhibition I was farily nervous.  When I heard the call for input for an exhibition on the theme of Grace there were two video pieces that I already had which came to mind, but only one which really lent itself to being an installation.

I think simply having a video playing to watch could be a piece of work, however to be an installation there has to be an element of interaction between the piece and the audience or between it and its environment.  I’m sure there is a better definition around, but that does for me.

‘Stations of Grace’

So along comes a three night exhibition and I’ve put my video installation in it.  I’m fairly happy with how it is set up- not ideal in the sapce available, but it more or less works.  But will people ‘get it’, will people like it and will they get something out of it?

The other small issue is that a colegue from work heard about it, put word around the office and now I feel I’ve spent two days explaning my video which means explaning the concept of Grace through the Cross of Christ – never easy to sum up in casual conversation.

Several people came to the opening event (including some from work), I managed to go along the next night to have a slower walk around with less people and have a good look at the other exhibits and tonight was the closing event.  It was a very encouraging that each time I was there people (other than just those who know me) found out who I was to say they enjoyed it and what they got out of it, and generally just to say they appreciated it.  Folk seemed to see different things in it without necessarily getting the interaction bit.

OK, so in my cynical mind I think that as people go around an exhibition the one item which is a different media from everything else will stand out in their mind.  I hope some of the people who came to the exhibition grew a little or got to know more about themselves or God through everything they saw and I hope that my bit in it helped.

Is what I do art?  Was it worth the effort?  Will I do this again?