Not such a bad thought really.
I take a quick stroll around the gallery with coffee in hand. As always there’s an interesting and diverse bunch of artists lined up for tonight’s opening and I’m keen to see how the night will unfold.
But for now there’s plinths to paint, lighting to play with, and room sheets to print.
I wish I brought my overalls and head scarf.
I suppose my boring jeans will have to do. (sigh) With no drop sheet or protective clothing, my painting duties become more challenging than first conceived. My hands and fingers quickly turn to splattered white….
A few people stumble into the room looking slightly lost, and apologetic, art works, ladders, and paint tins lay at random throughout the space.
“Sorry” I explain, “the openings at six tonight.”
One man even confuses me as part of a performance work. I chuckle. I love that this is really not such a strange question to ask, especially within the Gaffa space.
Now onto the lighting. I gaze at the aluminium Ladder and the high ceilings with anticipation. It may sound bizarre (since I am a six foot woman) but I have an irrational, and at times, crippling fear of heights. Maybe I could reach from the bottom step? No, that was silly.
Luckily Kelly comes to my rescue, and like an experienced rodeo rider she climbs to the very top and casually begins to play. Her movements are relaxed and precise, and I mentally begin taking notes like a good little intern while passing her lights.
Within no time the entire gallery is lit.
Mrs efficient.
With the painting and lighting now complete, I turn my attention to the room sheets. It always amazes me how such a simple and straightforward task can pretentiously cause such frustration and confusion. Placing numbers next to art works and matching them to the associated printouts sounds easy enough. That is unless, each work is named untitled, and is constructed by the same materials…
Hmmm
Mark Coulston’s wooden geometric sculptures are truly striking creations, however I’m not quite sure which order they follow. Surely I can’t ask for help from the gaffa girlies for this??
Perhaps a coffee will help.
My dear friend Mr Caffeine is always a fantastic idea, and with a fresh set of eyes I begin to place numbers throughout gallery two, and than on to three and one.
How delightful it is crossing things off the list.
I quickly set up the bar down stairs and it’s around this time that gallery goers begin to arrive.
My goodness is that really the time??
With the Animal Collective in Gallery one it proves to be a very busy opening. For the next few hours I squeeze through gaps in the crowd collecting bottles and placing black dots on purchased artworks. The whole thing makes me smile really…
Thanks Gaffa.xo
