Tutorial.

Tutorial: 23.10.26. Between Jonathan Kearney and John Cunningham.

There is a mountain peak I wish to climb, but there seems no route to it other than going through a valley and ascending another steep hill first so to access the point to which I wish to begin.

Discussion Topic’s

We talked on two main avenues of approach to the question I hope to come to late in the MA. First, as a way to begin and to find a flow into the art making process, I would look back at my art practice of the past 15 year and make new works in the style of those previous works. A looking back, to draw forward. To reflect on what elements from the past may have relevance to this new movement. In this we also discussed how I had thought and reacted to situation surrounding the make of past works, for example, the killing of certain personas at certain points and the forming of new ones.

The idea to begin this way was seen as a positive first step.

The second area of working intention was in relation to the beginning of an enquiry to the making of an artwork/s ultimately themed around mourning. We spoke about an allowing for intuition to guide directions and trusting in a process of research and discovery founded upon intuition. Jonathan was encouraging in respect to not forcing the movement but enjoying (revelling) in the unknowing of the search and allowing intuition to reveal. We also talked about materials like the making of charcoal and some suggestions on how to start a painting by doing something else on top first. And to look at the doing of a piece – as the piece being a teaching.

I expressed some reservation and concern over the ethical nature of what I was proposing and looked at the possibilities of resolving those concerns, honestly. Topic of, the line between heaven and earth, threshold, rupture and the necessity of the scare in the earth so to hold a reflection of the heavens in it where covered.

We talked about the hiding of myself and non uses of me in the making of art and then the uses of my personal experience. Two questions arose from this. Have I reflected on why I didn’t wish to use myself? Why do I wish to ‘use’ or say something about grief? (I will give reflection in another post).

Jonathan shared a book recommendation The Wild Edge of Sorrow. I guess to allow a permission to approach grief and with some poetic beauty. He also referenced the remarkable prophetic text quoted by the apostles Peter by the prophet Joel in Acts 2.

I felt we agreed on a sense that there could or can be an overarching move through trauma into the possibility of the great and wonderful day.

Going forward.

Their was a positivity towards making some 30 works in the mode of my practice from the past. Secondly, to investigate intuitions relating to the clearing of woods and the making of slash piles. To take this material and make charcoal and look at the possibility of how I may take this into the making of work. To start a large oil painting based upon on trees, on some local wasteland intend to investigate and continue my sketchbook work on this theme.

Over all I felt an openness to share and a sense of deep encouraged to move forward.