I am very appreciative and glad for my time at Fabrica this summer as I feel it’s added a valuable insight to how galleries work and allowed me to engage with the public on a more intimate level. I love the exhibition I was volunteering at as it was purely interactive, something I was initially disappointed by but rejoice in looking back. It introduced me to a number of different and diverse people, public and other volunteers and illustrated the welcoming space that the art world can be with the right people. Many of the other volunteers had no background in art but simply liked to be involved and interacting with others. Fabrica as a space has an integral interest in inclusivity and this is reflected in everything they do, from the space itself to the workshops they run, and this makes me proud to have been a part of their gallery this summer.
Looking back, I enjoyed all three resident artists but Sara Dare’s work was the most enjoyable to watch the public be a part of due to the amount of freedom and the joy the most unexpected people found in picking up a paintbrush or pen. I was also inspired by the questions she asked, who owns art, who decides what art goes where and what becomes big?. In the digital age these questions are so important with the amount of people now able to take photographs and create their own pieces, that the people who decide ‘high art’ need to change and be reviewed in this new era.
Whilst the documentary practice may not directly feed into this style of work, asking questions and having conversations is a way to progress with a project and I feel my time has helped me meet some wonderful and interesting people that I wouldn’t have otherwise engaged with. These ar people whom I could potentially work with in the future, perhaps looking at their lives and the work that they do.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Fabrica and would definitely volunteer again when I’m next down. I’m intrigued to see what they have to offer in the next art term.
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