The Sneeze...

by Anthony Schrag, 2 Oct 2007

Early Sept., 2007

I have been asked to Blog. Blog. I have never really understood what that means, or even ever really liked that word. It has a ring of unpleasant jargon to it. As if were slang for a toilet, or some sticky mess. Or the materials you expel when you sneeze; something not so formalized, at any rate. Something without too much order. Which is really how I am feeling about my whole project, right now – like I’ve just sneezed it out my nose, and its dripping through my fingers and I’m staring at it in both embarrassment and disgust.

I suppose that is part of the natural development of any project – that sense of horror and embarrassment of all the unformed goo and muck of your ideas and thoughts. The work comes in shaping all that into something interesting and engaging. That, at least, is the intention.

As an introduction, the Gallery of Modern Art (Glasgow) has a programme called “Blind Faith: Human Rights and Contemporary Art”. Currently, they’re focusing on Sectarianism and its related issues of Territorialism, Neighbourhood and Identity. I was accepted to a 6-month Artist-In-Residence to make work relating to these issues – despite having neither cultural nor sociological reference to the topics.

However, I am interested in power-dynamics: in structures and trying to look at them differently. I am fascinated in taking an established perspective and trying to find alternative viewpoints. Which, I suppose, is applicable to entrenched and systemic issues such as Sectarianism. I was, however, slightly disappointed to discover that “Sectarianism” had nothing to do with Secretaries. I think I could have done A LOT more if I was given a 6-month residency about “secretaries.”

Of the residency, 50% was spent on my own work, and 50% working with youth groups with my fellow resident, Writer-In-Residence Magi Gibson. In December, we will have an exhibition at GoMA’s gallery 3 of both our own work, as well as work we’ve done with the youth groups.

The youth groups themselves were based in Toryglen, Shettleston, Balliston, and Easterhouse. For a wee Canadian, visiting these schemes and estates was a fascinating experience. External advice from friends on hearing I was going to these areas was “wear something stab-proof”. On arrival, however, we found estates filled with lovely people, just in horrible circumstances. However, they were great kids and we dragged them from their comfort zones into the hallowed halls of GoMA to make ‘art’. I face a daunting task in that I – being the only one with visual arts training – am finding myself responsible for the form and shape exhibition with a group of people who have no training – or with different training – and formulate that into a cohesive and formally and critically interesting exhibition.

Ho Hum. So, no Pressure.

Anyways, this has no direct reference to my actual “Public Art” project – that being the reason I am writing this bloggy, sneezey, gooy mess and all.