Three days ago I delivered 24 pieces of art to an exhibtion - it felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my soul - a bit like delivering a much loved and somewhat tolerated relative to the airport and waving them goodbye at the gate. I loved the visit, cherished the conversation, late nights and rich food but a sense of relief was foremost on the drive back home.
And walking into the studio this morning - I was excited to see much more space both literally and figuratively!
The series, From a Distance - Works in Conversation, began during the pandemic when a friend and I began exchanging artwork. Looking back now to those years of uncertainty, mixed with a bit of fear, I try to create both growth and experimentation in my art practise and working in collaboration was a perfect stretch to add some mystery and surprise.
I met Lori Sokoluk several years ago at a art business conference and we kept in touch with studio visits, IG chats and further business meetups. While Lori works large in abstract and strong lines and my focus is on surface design and stitch we found a common meeting place in our passion for mark making and text. A few art exchanges back and forth and we became quite excited about the possibilities for further collaboration.
Seeing an invitation to submit for an exhibition gave us the incentive to work towards a goal with our exchanges and the next steps were to build parameters: size of the work, number of pieces, the logistics of mailing the artwork plus writing an engaging and persuasive proposal. And January of 2024 seemed so far in the future!
So what is it like to work collaboratively?
It’s both great and a bit hiccupp-y!
Let me tell you about the hiccups - really there aren’t too many! But above all - communication is key - most importantly who is doing what, when and where! Because Lori and I live several hundred kilometres apart, Zoom meetings were very important. Partly because we shared images back and forth but also its nice to see one another, even From a Distance! Since I was closest to the exhibition space it made sense for me to prepare the panels and mount the pieces, plus a few other tasks like delivery and I knew that ahead of time.
One of the best parts was getting mail - artwork mailed for me to add my ideas and inspiration - sometimes it was a bit scary too! What if I messed up? What if Lori didnt like my work onto her pieces? It became a matter of trust - we trusted each other to interpret the work as we each felt best, to see each others layers and marks as a reflection one moment in time. And to acknowledge and honour what is part of an ongoing and continuing conversation.
To enjoy the full exhibtion, please visit: https://www.susanpm.com/from-a-distance-works-in-correspondance/
I just read your blog post, “Working Together and Apart,” and I wanted to express my appreciation for your thoughtful insights and reflections. Your ability to navigate the complexities of collaborative work, especially in a world where remote collaboration is increasingly prevalent, is truly commendable.