Roisin Markham

As part of the #plenty2share project I have been sending artist prompts. Not many have been sent maybe 10. I have about 6 queuing on my desk to be thought about, considered and compiled before being packaged and posted.

What’s an artist prompt?

The artist prompt is a collection of items offered from my studio to an artist as an open invitation to create, ponder, make, reflect and perhaps begin a visual dialogue with me. Or not it’s a total open no onus nor obligation sharing.

I have n’t been photographing what I put into them and each one has been unique. I create them slowly and thoughtfully. The artist prompt still contains a small piece of original art, a hand written note and a curated bundle of materials to (I hope) inspire, get curious or intrigue.

I have to have the right headspace to create the artist prompts, that’s not always easy to reach in current Covid19 lockdown. So I walk myself towards the headspace, beginning. I tend to do practical things like select an envelop size, type & write their name and address on it, applying a stamp & airmail label. On reflection this opens the communication channel.

I think about the person who has been nominated, I tend to know very little about them and on purpose I do no research. Just going on the nominating story if there is one, there tends to be. That’s another blog I need to write!

So I think about the nominated creative maker, artist and I sense into what I want to send them. My studio is packed with lots of textures, inspiration, old work and materials – they are all full of stories. The artist prompt is sharing work or materials from my studio, some raw some in process, some completed. For someone opening the prompt they may seem like bits & pieces.

During the process I freak out – what will I add, will this make sense, will they think this is a bundle of crap?

Then I remind myself to trust. To ease off on the perfect to be playful, chill the intensity, gather, sit with it and just go with it.

It’s like editing my story offering to see what others do with it – curiously that’s been a previous paradigm shift in my work after an exhibition in 2007.

So I select things. I think they are random but on reflection I tend to pick things from these general parameters;

• something I’ve collected from nature
• raw materials; paper, fibre, materials
• a piece of unfinished work: painting, textiles, writing
• finished work
• something that has a story or meaning for me

This morning on twitter Mags described the artist prompt as a ‘mise en place’ I had to google it! Wikipedia describes it as “phrase which means “putting in place” or “everything in its place”. It refers to the setup required before cooking, and is often used in professional kitchens to refer to organizing and arranging the ingredients… The writer and chef Dan Charnas uses the concept of mise en place as a “philosophy” and “system” for what chefs believe and do, even going so far as to call it an “ethical code”. In the kitchen, the phrase is used as a noun (i.e., the setup of the array of ingredients), a verb (i.e., the process of preparing) and a state of mind. All of these uses, however, refer to someone who knows to be well-prepared. In this view, the term’s broader meanings can be applied to classrooms, hospitals, and elsewhere.”

It’s use outside of the kitchen is worth noting “how one’s stance towards a given environment places constraints on what one feels able to do within that environment, and how these assessments and predispositions impact the process of preparing to act.” in the time of Covid19 lockdown this is very meaningful.

My work is driven by finding meaning, it’s naturally reflective.

After selecting paper, a shell, a scrap of fabric, some blackout poetry, words, cut-offs of handmade felt, some fleece, dried natural things, a photo, buttons, beads, something I’d been working on and stopped, stitched fabric. I place the pieces, layering them, wrapping them, thinking about the unwrapping. This consideration is weirdly informed by my digital strategy work (on boarding, CX and UX).

I tie and secure the bundle, it now has potential, the artist prompt. I hand write the note. Then I tuck the original art & the prompt into the envelop usually adding some jimmyjoes wishes and sealing it. I walk it to our local post box, 1km up the road and post it.

Some artists are not making work at the moment and this idea of sending a creative prompt was like sending them compassion – I see you, it’s ok, here’s a creative hug, you are connected, this is a group of items that might prompt you to respond, it’s ok to just look at them & put them away, this too shall pass.

Once I post it I have no control over what happens if anything, I no longer own the story, the gathering of materials or artefacts. It now belongs to the nominated artist whom I may never hear from.

Some artists respond and we open up a dialogue on social media, Some respond via post. I begin thinking about their work and something is happening there, it unfolds. I love that.

One of the earliest artist prompts was sent to Emma Saffy Wilson who responded with this lovely juicy prompt back. Musical sand, words, a postcard of her work, sand from her local beach, bits gathered. I’ve sat and looked at this collection of things lots, enjoying them. Thinking about responding and how I might stretch into this conversation. I find myself thinking of Emma as I walk my local beach, looking for bones among the shells, she collects bones. But I still have n’t responded physically it’s stewing. Both of us seem to connect well on Instagram and I am enjoying learning about Emma’s arts practice and life.

If you’d like to nominate someone for an artist prompt leave me a comment with their name and address. I won’t publish the comment. Or you can direct message me @creativedynamix on Twitter or Instagram. If you’d like to make a donation you are most welcome, it’s optional.