Listening by Kirsten Harris, Acrylic on Canvas, 150 x 100 cm
David Bowies epic song ‘Five Years’ plays in my mind this morning. Five years since lockdown, five years staying home and painting painting painting. Soon an exhibition in Edinburgh. A chance to see people – ‘so many people… all the somebody people..’ I hope so, anyway!
This upcoming exhibition feels like a big deal. A chance to push myself out of my lovely rural rut. I have no town clothes anymore, so it’s also a chance to dress up… or at least to see if I can still scrub up! Yikes!
There is some sort of unspoken ‘rule’ in the art world that if you hang a show your art is all kind of meant to look the same. I have been worrying a bit that mine doesn’t! My art has journeyed in 5 years from medieval inspired paintings done in chalk paint displayed in antique frames, to collages, small and large semi abstract paintings and a deck of tarot cards drawn in pen and ink. I’ve taken most of the work off my walls now and the house feels delightfully naked!
This morning I had a Narnia moment opening a cupboard and finding paintings that I had completely forgotten about. The empty cupboard is making me think of this exhibition as some kind of portal to the next bit of life. An adventure!
I feel excited, but also nervous about exhibiting in Edinburgh again, although I know those two feelings are much the same, so will go with excitement! A lovely thing has happened already… Visual Arts Scotland have chosen our exhibition as the featured exhibition of the month.
Wowzer!
That was unexpected and a real honour. I’ll share more closer to the time.
Hope to see you if you can make it to The Dundas Street Gallery in Edinburgh in May.
Off to the picture framers now.
Love Kirsten
