Coventry Artspace

Coventry Artspace

Coventry Artspace is a charity dedicated to supporting and developing the visual arts in Coventry for the benefit of its citizens.

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(re)assembling residencies 2020-21

July 1, 2022 by Coventry Artspace

Image credit:

Context by Coventry Artspace

In Autumn 2020, emerging artist melisandre varin was awarded the Covid Artist in Action Award, providing free use of Arcadia Gallery as a residency space. Alongside this they were also selected as the first ‘Featured Artist’ on the new Outside In Midlands Hub.

Combining the benefits of both, melissandre worked on a their first seasonal residency with us, reaching out to marginalised artists, challenging notions of how the gallery space might be used and what might be considered art within it. Before long melissandre was working with an inspiring array of artists and creatives from a variety of backgrounds.

At the same time Coventry Artspace was writing a new Audience Development Strategy, which will underpin the organisation’s work over the next five years. melissandre’s refreshingly inclusive practice supported the aims of our new focus and, consequently, we decided to support the growth of their practice through a further 3 seasonal residencies in 2021 and a studio space dedicated for use by local Black artists.

It is a testament to melissandre’s exceptional ability to connect with and inspire other beings that, despite knockbacks (including of course Lockdowns and various Tiers of Covid-19 restrictions) they delivered residencies that continued to build an engaged community of artists. This web page is being created to capture a flavour of the creative output of the residencies and provide an opportunity for reflection on them.

Coventry Artspace would like to thank melissandre varin for the energy and creativity (not to mention hard work!) they brought to Arcadia. We would also like to thank all the creative beings who supported, collaborated and/or visited – online or in person – to make this series of happenings such a rich one, characterised by generosity and warmth.

The re-assembling  artist residencies were funded by: 

   

 

 

 

(re-)assembing archive by melissandre varin

14/04/2022

not everything was Black 

everything has not been a success 

rating – 

rating success takes very different forms and shape for me as an artworker in the craft

drifting 

away

gathering feedback from Loraine acknowledging ‘exposure’ as a benefit from our partnership 

does not equate to success it does not fill me with joy 

–

being filled with joy is also not something i regard as positive – anymore

–

i used to 

and as i am trying to account for the different versions of myselves and ourselves 

comparing, weaving, and annotating feedback is an aerial exercise

if there is no right and wrongs 

if we recognise that we are mutating beings 

assessing the impact of projects based on fixed desires and expectations at a point T in the past

does not bring much in the shaping of futurities

this evaluation takes lots of silence, infusion, and inquiry rising 

the aim is not to deliver: to assess the process and delivery 

but to collate those with ancestral dreams

those dreams that made themselves palpable in Summer 2020 those dreams that are just starting to sketch out

there is no way to account for all of them in a singular time/space framework.

The intention is rather to offer archives as they are 

moments 

of time 

time that is not celebrating a past-present-… : triptych 

but time that is entangled with multiple dimensions happening 

  • in simultaneity 

 

invited by Miss Amy Galvin from King’s High School. i had the best time with 10-15 Year 11 students using my first solo show as a way to discuss decolonial afro-feminism.

–

can you feel it*?

it*’s like flipping through a family album re-membering, re-constructing fictitious reality making something new 

-well 

acknowledging that i came from the dreams of past/away beings that i and my work are living ancestors

Image credit: melissandre varin

that i carry death and life in one breath 

–

‘an offering to new ancestors’ (Winter 2021 floor level installation made of books authored by Black artists/beings, canned food and polyester) is still bearing fruit to the understanding and (un)folding of my practice and collaboration with Coventry Artspace. A time of collective trauma 

A time where some of us already had their shoulders full of them

still

had to carry more

it is presumptuous 

but also coming from a place of making with a limited artspace as a ‘second class citizen’ in a ‘second city’ 

re-assembling brings darkness to the potentiality of art spaces to be anchors for spiritual gathering  to practice collective grief and grievance

Image credit: Mandip Seehra

grieving

ideas that do not serve us anymore 

ways that do not serve us anymore

masked behaviour that never served us

  • anyway

there is no point nor end where Blackness ceases to be about whiteness, where stories neither start nor begin but acknowledgements that we have never been quite there

not quite useful but always full of commitments 

overdoing, self-exploiting as a uniform

feeling the weight of isolation a little less

my work with Coventry Artspace has always been a community research without communities

***repetitive lockdowns, separations, an other Blackness, a pronounced accent, an obscure practice

but 

yes love in flux 

unconditional (not as in birthing something from one’s body and being supposedly programmed to be ready to die for it/them but not framing love as an exchange currency)

 

it has been a challenge

it made me sick to re-visit this work 

i poured my flesh, blood and soul into it 

a living space window installation part of my Autumn 2020 residency ‘was sick’ 

  • literally

i lost myself 

found it back in front of extra sweet ice creams in a Morrisson when i (finally) had buying power in Spring 2021

‘what do i (really) like?’

 

inviting artworkers to a space they did not access before 

similar others/beings

laughing, crying, and having more wine

  • ing

it’s an archive that never stops mutating – it* – too 

  • is alive

    Image credit:

opening metallic shutters as i closed them 

maintaining

no 

caring for Arcadia Gallery as a land of/for temporary freedom

 

passed the ‘thank you so much’ (gallery voice)

i am so grateful bla! bla! smile – and more blabla! in the detour of a 3rd glass of red

What is left is knowledge – a permanent infusion of us. 

 

Joyce Treasure invited to share her film The Breakaway State phase one/two  during  ‘speculating’ a film night at Arcadia Gallery as part of ‘the party is over’ programmation highlighted the lack of financial support for invited artists, the inconvenience of the timing of the event in relation to being Black and taking public transport late at night. Joyce also noted the lack of readability and flexibility with the promotional materials due to ‘last minute’ set up. 

 

Part of another line of my favourite programmation: ‘gesture’ a night of performances at Arcadia Gallery was artist Jade Blackstock alongside Sebastian Hau-Walker and Alfredo, and Izdihar Afyouni 

Jade shared:

“Really appreciated seeing the bios and video links of other artists in the emails, as it gave more of an idea of curating decisions and ways works connected with others/responded to themes. 

Loved receiving recordings of feedback given by the audiences after video screening. Was particularly good as I wasn’t able to physically attend the event. The feedback was valuable and there was a sense of sharing.”

Image credit:

Sebastian H-W reflecting on the collective Spring residency noted last Summer: “It was incredible to be part of this residency and work with melissandre and have such a relaxed usage of the Coventry Artspace gallery to test out and develop new work both collectively and individually, I think all of the artists were very grateful to be part of the process. On reflection I loved how the simple gesture of gifting and receiving donations of plants helped us bridge the divide of both the artistic and more general/non-artistic communities of Coventry.”

 

Ô – Black studio – friend and artist Samiir Saunders highlighted that: 

 

“The studio space was incredibly tranquil and filled with natural light which made for really good working conditions. Also, having a space separate from my home in Birmingham made it much easier to focus on my project work and made much more room for me to get out of my comfort zone. I enjoyed sharing the space with another artist as this was a great opportunity to foster care and creativity and expand my networks. The main downside however is that although having a free studio was a great benefit, I still had to incur the cost of transportation every time I wanted to visit, which was a financial barrier that still limited the amount of time I could spend at the studio.”

 

There is so much to munch from – Zoey Sibanda current Black studio holder shared with me in the form of a voice message that having access to a studio space offered Zoey the time, inspiration, and motivation to apply for commissions, make work as a practice not as something solely depending or dictated by incoming commissions. Zoey has been in the studio almost everyday. 

–

Access to space is still not to be taken for granted.

 

And –

all those live events and digital thingy… oh my gosh … i keep a warm memory of the sofa Zoom with Victor Iringere, Cecilia Bracmort, Ryan Hughes and Cory Barrett as a neurodiverse person i tend to freeze and feel overwhelmed with anxiety when having to speak IRL in front of a group of beings. This show opening in time of lockdown #3 felt sooo warm, a wide range of supportive beings/laughter/ and beautiful shots from the exhibition taken by Mandip Singh Seehra with whom i was working for the 2nd time – at the time. It really felt like sitting on a sofa with a couple of friends and that’s what i wanted.

 

i am most grateful for opportunities to work and share paid work opportunities with loved beings i met along my time with Coventry Artspace after serving together at the Board of Trustees of Coventry Artspace Mandip Singh Seehra and i worked together at multiple occasions Mandip shared this comment with me on the 26th of April 2022:

 ‘mel asked me to be a contributor to the Traces of Others exhibition.  I decided to create a set of cassettes of the voices of individuals who have traveled to the UK and made it their home, this extended to mel’s family in europe.  This opportunity helped to look at my work as a photographer and to start a project on identity. I look forward to mel’s next work and exploration, and hope to be part of it.’

 

Last but not the least (must the first English expression i learnt by heart) – one of the best thing ever happened across this timer: commissioned by Coventry Biennial at the same time Ryan Christopher, Roo Kaur Dhissou and myself developed friendships and nurtured them through different interventions during the seasonal residencies with Coventry Artspace. 

–

Traces of Others was a gift.

 

i never want to write 

always feel like it is stealing moments from me 

but i have so much to say.

 

residencies break out text:

 

Space: Arcadia Gallery

Autumn Residency October- December 2020: a living space

Image credit:

format: solo show 

family involved in the preparation: Eole Varin Vincent and Jay Vincent

art technician: Tony McClure

Photographer: Ayesha Jones and Mandip Singh Seehra

artists invited: Jérémie Priam, lanaire aderemi, Ryan Christopher, Sioda Adams, 

mentors: José Sunshine-Okoro – Outside In, Mindy Chillery Coventry Artspace

Coventry Artspace team: Mindy Chillery, Lauryn Dunn, Cara Pickering, Naomi Latty

invitations within: 1 x talk with Year 11 King’s High School students, 3 x Saturday film sharing and conversation with artists, 3 x local artists invited to share their films, 1 international artist invited, 1 x making Instagram live, 1 x BBC radio interview, 1 x mediated performance, 1 x Instagram guided tour, 2 x blogpost with unedited audio conversation, 

 

Winter Residency Feb-March 2021: sorry we are close(d)

Image credit: Mandip Seehra

format: solo show (accessible from the street online due to lockdown) 

friends involved in the preparation: Victor Iringere, Loraine Masiya Mponela, Jay Vincent, Philips Francis

photographer: Mandip Singh Seehra and Alan Van Wijgerden

artworkers invited: Ryan Hughes Coventry Biennial artistic director, Cecilia Bracmort artist curator cultural worker, Victor Iringere cultural worker and manager at Coventry Refugee and Migrant Centre, Cory Barrett Coventry Artspace Trustee founder of CBGC Creative Industries and design consultant 

Coventry Artspace team: Mindy Chillery, Lauryn Dunn, Chloe Morgan

invitations within: 1 x Instagram live opening ceremony, 1 x sofa zoom, 1 x Q&A Instagram live, 1 x live performance, 1 x Facebook live, 1 x artist talk, 1 x participatory audio activity via Arcadia Gallery answer machine, 4 x blogposts

 

Spring Residency May- June 2021: Traces of Others 

Image credit: MIndy Chillery

format: collective residency

artists invited: Roo Kaur Dhissou, Ryan Christopher, Sebastian H-W, Mandip Singh Seehra

photographer: Mandip Singh Seehra

Coventry Artspace team: Mindy Chillery, Lauryn Dunn, Chloe Morgan

performance artists and filmmakers based in Coventry, London, Scilly, Birmingham and the USA invited: Jade Blackstock, Izdihar Afyouni, Joyce Treasure, Yas Lime, Roo Kaur Dhissou, Ryan Christopher, Sebastian H-W and Alfredo, Indira Lakshlmi and Human Oils, and Nyugen Smith

invitations within:  5 x Instagram live guided tour, 1 x film event, 1 x performance event, 1 x live music performance event, 1 x talk between artist residents, 1 x open communal dinner, 1 x giving away plants day, 2 x blogposts

 

Summer residency July-August 2021: multiplicity of us

format: group show

artists part of the show: Ryan Christopher, Ije, Loraine Masiya Mponela, Ayesha Jones, Japhet Dinganga, Gloria Adusu, and melissandre varin 

artists invited: Samiir Saunders, Gloria Adusu drum band

art technician: Tony McClure

photographer: Ayesha Jones

Coventry Artspace team: Mindy Chillery, Lauryn Dunn, Chloe Morgan, Sophie Clausen

invitations within: 2x Instagram live Coventry Artspace 30 years birthday party, 1 x grand opening event, 1 x dinner with Maokwo led Black Arts Movement workshop participants, 1 x free astrology offering day, 1 x hieroglyph initiation course, 2 x seed bomb making activity days, 1 x Poetry-film event, 1 x Outside In film feature, 6 x blogposts 

 

June 2021 – March 2022 Black studio 

location: Eaton House Coventry 

studio holders: Japhet Dinganga, Zoey Sibanda, Taiwo Ajose, Ryan Christopher, Samiir Saunders, and Ayesha Jones

 

special thanks to 

❤ Arcadia Gallery for being such a transcendent space/land to grow with 

❤ Ryan Christopher for being such a consistent and inspiring artist friend across the 4 seasonal residencies

❤ Eole the sassiest art critique and collaborator and Jay for being an incredible assistant and accepting to be vulnerable in the space so i could grow into a fuller version of myself

❤ IndIe bonsai master – the wisest and kindest friend/ gallery visitor

❤ Coventry Biennial artistic director: Ryan Hughes for taking a chance on me, trusting my gut, holding space for change, and re-directing resources towards me and the beings i had the honour to work with.

❤ Coventry Artspace Director: Mindy Chillery for mothering me and opening windows and doors for/with me + copy/paste my love note to Ryan.

❤ Coventry Artspace spaces coordinator: Lauryn Dunn for being a key to so many problems/ challenges and for your sweetness, generosity, and pink hair.

❤ Coventry Artspace Marketing and Community manager: Chloe Morgan for being such an inspiring artist-parent, and holding my hands through the forced digitalisation of the arts.  

❤ Tony McClure for being a resourceful technician, artist, and friend. If it was not for you getting my ND brain vomit i won’t be here today.

 

❤ Local food and drinks providers: Coventry Market (everything), Cogs of Coventry (fresh fruit and vegs, nuts and banana chips), Green Kitchen (cakes), Taste of Asia (catering), Twisted Barrels (beers),  licking fingers (catering), next door African and Caribbean shop.

re-visiting my personal archives has been made possible with the love and labour of Seán Elder (consultant and mentor), Sym Mendez (support worker), Izdihar Afyouni (consultant and zine designer) Mindy Chillery (resource direction magician).

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