The Artists Voice in the midst of Calamities

Well it seems the artist's voice will not be heard - however artists will always try to make their voice heard above the clamour - for cuts, down sizing reductions , change of remit purpose, opening up arts venues to be more outward facing, job losses etc. how to measure the impact of the arts on the pubic etc. and all other manner of calamities that may come to the arts cultural sector - the same across the board. What is clear is the need to work together more closely, share resources, partnership, collaboration is need more than ever. Those not used to it this will find it all very strange and disruptive . For myself I am planning my next moves, as there is much to re-configure, momentum to be regained and re- aligments to be made.

Always my muse never fails and clear ideas are emerging on the music and visuals front for the project . There is my support team's unfailing comittment, tempered only by the current climate cuts etc. Close Team working will be critical for sucess.

It seems to me it is often the case particularly for a many Black artists on the margins they face considerable added obstacles so the all the arts sector docuementated evidence states. I am happy but chastened by the fact that I have only ever had one arts grant back in the 8O's from a public funding body. Much of my success and achievement were made through my own my own efforts. This entrepreneurial spirit has served me very well to date but what of the future ? How will all this affect the arts and artists voice - specifically those not platformed or championed in the mainstream currently ?

All Hung Out with Frida Kahlo

So today several days after the predictable political turmoil England currently faces, of a hung parliament. I effect to be confident and sanguine, as I now know I must definitely get the help I require from some quarter. It starts tommorow I meet a woman skilled, experienced and knowledgeable in these dark arts, of getting money from Arts funding bodies for emerging arts wonderkinds as myself. Just as in the days of patronage I need to get her on my side in my camp so to speak in order to bring forth this work !

Wonderful inspiration I found at the weekend, provided in a incredible performance by Khadijatou Doyneh, a strong confident articulate and eloquent artist, just re - confirm how joyful is it to meet a British Black woman, so able to utilise all her gifts so magnificantly. However this is a rare occurence far too rare today.

We dont see such artists on our arts cultural radar never mind the media etc, I had taken to studying more of women's art feminist art etc over the week end. I just marvelled at how countries like e.g. Germany Europe in general just churn brillant women artists out all the time. Only a couple of Black women artists are listed in the book I read , no other women of colour included , thus surely providing the opportunity for this omission to be addressed more fully by commentators, driven to correct this glaring imbalance .

On the phone I chatted with a male colleague in a similar situation to myself with his arts project , we shared our mutal disappointment in having our ambition, raised only for it to be scaled down by the circumstances, outside of our control that were not divulged at the time we embarked on our respective artistic journeys . We find some comfort in these conversations with each other, i.e. to carry on with the 'struggle', saying with hindsight if we had all the facts - would we have taken on the enterprise ?

Later I noted a frustrated , almost bitter tone on his part, also curiously secretative as if he had information of great import that he could not divulge at this time. As he felt more than slighted by these untoward developments affecting his work, he felt the political uncertainty would only worsen matters, hasten further cuts in arts spending, therefore the end of all our larger hopes. I was more cautiously optimistic, I had a weekend of fun and deep reflection, this has strengthened me and gvien me a certain necessary detachment at times , to be able to see things a little more clearer, rather than through a mist of frustrated anger . I understand though how he feels I guess we have similar problems but have different ways of dealing with it. For me as I said before it is all grist to the mill.

This then follows on as it brings me into some affinity, tenous connection and fascination with the works of Frida Kahlo. European Surrealists, wanted to call her a surrealist, but she said she 'never painted a dream' she painted her lived authentic experience - infused as it was with unimaginable agonies and her passion for Mexcian folklore. Looking at her photos it is her gaze that arrests you and the proudly unplucked dark lush eyebrows, that give her a defiant yet melancholic beauty. It is these qualities that I find most compelling of all.