Monday 21 January 2013

I love Lists!

Here is a list.

It is all the things I am learning about my process:

I Like:

Signs- With words that are made with marker pen or typed in large font and laminated

Presentation- Performing and creating work that is square on to an audience

No Character- Being myself on stage rather than a 'character'..

Space- Shaping my space with props

Audience- Making them laugh at something that is not usually funny. Talking directly to them, making them think differently about a subject.

Body- being physical, alive,  present in my body through small actions and gestures

Process- In performance is exciting when you leave something of yourself in the space. Leaving a lasting impression or mapping time in the space..



Its been a while........

Its 2013 and what a great year it is going to be!....

Next week is my birthday and I am going to be 32 year old. I am not as excited about this as I usually am. I like to celebrate the day my other bore me! (I think thats the right expression!)

I have got a back log of research from last year to share about my adventures into live/performance art, i's difficult to know where to start!...

Looking forward to this year here is a list of places and things I would like to see:

  • Plan a trip to Bristol to check out Live Art Scene
  • Go to SPILL festival in London
  • Take Part in a workshop
  • Go to The Junction SAMPLED weekend
  • Get Married!...

Friday 12 October 2012

Radio Interview

Check out my radio interview on future radio on 10th October about my new site specific work- Waiting Shifting Shoppers....

http://soundcloud.com/kayla-st-claire/radio-interview

Friday 28 September 2012

Creativity- site specific antics......

Today I am feeling a sense of achievement. I am in a very exciting process of linking my practise as a workshop leader with  artist practises and finally working in harmony!!

So far I am noticing that a lot of this year has been grappeling with my different roles within the art world. Now im a teacher, now im a workshop leader, now im a choreographer, now im a live artist, now Im doing burlesque dancing! now im job hunting! I felt sad and confused and as a result I wanted to reJect them all; shed the layers, so I could get to the heart of things! I realised what was at the core.....creativity!...

So reading my book 'The Art and soul of midwifery' (dont ask, to be dicussed at length later!) I have come back to creativity, back to myself, back to connecting the art of the everyday, rituals, gardening and glimpsing the purpose in the 'doing' rather than 'thinking'!

Here are some of my favourite quotes from the book:

"Creativity is not only in the making but in the 'seeing' of things in a different way"

" To be effective in the caring, there must be a wisdom, which is shown by an ability to be open-minded, 'to keep the process of knowing in a receptive and open state of creative chaos out of which the emergence of new insights can be faciliated'( Dimitrov 2004)

" The art of careering"

"Through everyday tasks we can be naturally visually creative. Tasks such as: choosing clothes to wear, decorating the place we live or plan our gardens (campbell 1993)

"Looking at ways we explore creativity as a spiritual experience. Exploring the use of stories of everyday aspects including ritual, care for children and parents and caring for gardens" (Art and soul of Midwifery) ( this is the link I like!)

Tuesday 17 July 2012


Yesterday I watched an interesting video by Chantal Akerman made in the 70's. I really liked how it was framed and although I felt it went on too long the snippets of everyday actions were very watchable. I write this phrase in my journal. 'The theatre of the everyday'..

As I chatted to my fiance I became increasing annoyed because I couldn't remember something which happened yesterday. In my frustration I subconsciously started to wash up the cutlery and without me realising had arranged them as you see above! It was really exciting to see how in control I was on the outside, when internally I told a different story! It reminded me of the film from earlier and how interesting everyday actions can be!..

Feet First

I have been exploring my creative process recently and thinking too much about EVERYTHING!..... Ive realised..

I have not jumped in feet first yet! I am tip toeing around the edge, and occasionally dipping my toe in!....

I think I need a day to dance really fast to some 80's or 90's music (that normally sorts me out!!)

Tuesday 5 June 2012

Trip To london

Monday 30th April, Tuesday 1st May...

In london I had an valuable advice surgey, went to The Whitechapel gallery, discovered a new artist at the LIDA (Live Art Development Agency) and learnt to use a dictaphone!.

So much to write, so much to edit!!.. more to follow....

The Library

26th April

In preparation for my visit to the Live Art Development agency library session I have come to my hometown library to practise!

This was my experience:


Walking around the isles of books, I already feel the overwhelming anxiety rising up.

It took me back to being at uni, looking blankly at the spines of books, unsure what I was looking for; lost in a sea of books.

Trying to read the spines is impossible and I have to touch the book. As I start to reach for it, I grab its spine. I can feel the anxiety melt away, with the heaviness of each book grounding me a bit more.

The tactile, weight of a hardback book is very comforting!

I start to enjoy this sensation and grab more!...
Before long I realise that I am hugging my every growing pile of books into my chest like a lost friend; 5 in total.
My excitement now, of which one to read first!

So here I sit
ready...

ARTISTS

From my research I have reconnected with many artists that I found inspiring at uni. They are:

1. Marina Abramovic- Ritual, body based 70's

2. Paul Mc Carthy- Presenting the grotesque in a comic way, popular entertainment with the grotesque

3. GILLIAN WEARING-public/private themes, dark subject matters based on human behavor and situations

4. Jeff Wall- narrative through photography

5. Bill Viola- subject matter of death, transience, birth and use of natural materials

6. Lorna Simpson- photography, film, invisble processes

7. Santiago Sierra- House of mud, 60's/70's

8. Martha Rosier- Links between everyday activities and wider political issues relating to gender. (SEMIOTICS OF THE KITCHEN 1975 video installation)

9. Cindy Sherman- identity masks public/private


It was a useful exercise to write a brief comment about each artists which at first was solely to remind me at a later date of who they are and so I can research them more in depth later..I realise now that what I have ACTUALLY done is highlight my particular angle of interests from each artist and therefore from writing this have gleemed an insight into what makes me tick!!

Tuesday 24 April 2012

Research Begins...

April

This month is all about the beginnning of my research and discovering new Live Artists.

I have booked an advise surery with Arts Admin team and shall be spending a day at the Live Art Development Agency to indulge in books and videos!..