The De-install Day

I met Barbara at the gallery at 10; Frances Wilson and her neighbour Griff (who had expressed an interest in taking a taproot) were already there. Griff picked his taproot and I walked the 50 yards to his house to inspect where it would go, and measure up. Frances also decided to take a taproot for her son in Bristol.

Barbara and I then took down all the five taproots using the ladder. The cardboard comes away from its moorings very easily, leaving no trace (which is definitely a metaphor). Barbara swept the floor and mopped it, in preparation for her installation of the next exhibition tomorrow. The gallery looked empty and a bit bereft (but expectant of new life nevertheless).

While she was working in there, I was at work in the shop, installing the taproot which Laura had earmarked (actually the first one to go up in the corner of the gallery).

Barbara and I said a sad farewell, and I took my bowl, glue and cardboard around to Griff’s house. Whilst fixing the taproot in its new home, I spent a very happy hour chatting to him and Frances (they are near neighbours and very old friends) about writing, thinking through making, architecture, badgers, insect numbers and other interesting subjects. Another case where I was thinking to myself – I’d love to live in Hertford!

After saying goodbye and promising to see them soon when I come again to install Chloe and Juliette’s family’s taproot (now in two pieces in my conservatory – easily mended), I walked for a final time past the closed-up Courtyard Arts…

…and posted my parking permit through the letterbox. That felt very final.

What a wonderful month. I feel it has changed me in some ways, as yet indefinably; however, I think it’s something to do with gaining confidence in talking to people (I’m usually quite reticent) and a wish for meaningful and lasting connections – I think I have been inspired by my own artwork.

Thank you to everyone who has been reading this blog and following my progress! I’ll be making a film about the install and de-install, and will put it on the blog when it happens.

Bye!