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Draw to Perform Residency Program

27 April – 11 May 2019, Brighton, UK

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The Draw to Perform residency program for Drawing Performance practice.

The D2P Residency program is a unique opportunity for new and developing professional artists and art students to engage in the dynamic artistic discipline of drawing performance art. The program provides the foundation to develop drawing and performance skills and to translate creative practice into live action. This rigorous 15 days structured program of mentored residency includes one-on-one tutorials, workshops, intensive studio time, studio visits and artist talks by UK drawing and performance artists. The program is headed by artist and curator Ram Samocha, who is internationally acclaimed and the founder of Draw to Perform.

The program included guided tours to key exhibitions and art events in Brighton and London and ended with a day of live drawing performances to celebrate and showcase the output of this creative time.

When:

27 April – 11 May 2019 (15 days)

Where:

Copperdollar Studios, Brighton, UK

Daily Programme Outline:

Day	10:00am to 15:00pm – Activity
1	Sat 27 Apr – Welcome brunch meeting in the studio, introduction & studio allocations
2	Sun 28 Apr – London art galleries guided tour
3	Mon 29 Apr – Residency artists talks
4	Tue 30 Apr – Studio visit – Ram Samocha
5	Wed 1 May – One on one mentorship
6	Thu 2 May – One on one mentorship
7	Fri 3 May – Studio visit/critique session – Marega Palser
8	Sat 4 May – D2P Workshops
9	Sun 5 May – Free day
10	Mon 6 May – Public drawing performance on the streets of Brighton
11	Tue 7 May – Studio visit
12	Wed 8 May – Brighton art galleries and studio guided tour
13	Thu 9 May – Individual work in the studio
14	Fri 10 May – Individual work in the studio
15	Sat 11 May – Final live performances

Attending Residential Artists:

Mieke van den Berg (Australia) – https://artbymieke.com

Liu Bin (China)

Julia Higgs (Australia) – http://juliahiggs.com

Rebecca Jayne Hammett (UK) – http://temmah-rebecca-hammett.squarespace.com

Cheryl Walker (USA) – http://cherylwalkerart.com

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A review by artist Rebecca Jayne Hammett – D2P residency, 27 April – 11 May 2019 

I feel honoured to have taken part in this my first residency away from my home in Wales with funding from the Arts Council of Wales and with such intuitive artists. Thank you to Ram for being such an incredible host with such curiosities to offer.

– The studio

The studio space was of a good size, a beautiful building with walks of history. There was a raw sense about the space, with all the conveniences and is very environmentally conscious. The heated mirrors I still miss. I loved in particular how you have to touch the lock to enter the building like you were greeting the space. The space offered adaptations that are no different from most spaces I have worked in, be considerate of the space and apply plastic when necessary; however, it was hard for me to build with no outdoor space or a messy room. It’s always of use to adapt and see the outcome. I think the design of most of the work would not have been as it was without certain restrictions. So thank you Copperdollar Studio for the time in such a beautiful space.

– Workshops and visits

Ram Samocha is an international artist and the director and curator of ‘Draw to Perform’. The program really stands out as there is not a lot of opportunities to focus on drawing performance in particular, so this was a beneficial experience to meet him and to learn about all the draw to performs that have taken place up to date. It was a really great honour to be chosen and supported to experience what was only the 2nd Draw to Perform residency that has taken place. It was interesting to see the outcomes from the first Draw to Perform and how the program is developing in these still beginning stages. The residency provided more opportunity for experimentation and development that can suit whatever stage an artist is with performance, drawing and movement. This experience provided an opportunity to change your practice through new mediums and environments.

Workshops with Ram Samocha:

1. Making a mark without making a mark – From the first workshop you could really see in such a simple action where we were coming from and what we were here to do, it was an interesting outcome.
2. Presentations – The presentations of everyone’s work was an important activity as performance was a new subject for some of the artists. It; was good to see how they had come to incorporate performance into their work and why. For Bin coming from China and the great firewall of China, it was the first time that the other artists on the residency had access to her work.
3. Flat mike, drawing, and sound – Flat Mike introduction was very exciting for me. I had considered having a sound aspect to my work however did not know how it would be possible without it being too invasive. Due in the workshop with time to experiment I made discoveries. The first was that the mike could pick out up hair sound the second I was rubbing wax crayons when they ran out I was using my nails to scratch the wax and made tactile material out of this and realised that the flat Mike would make a very interesting sound when you sprinkled this material, Ram referred to it as rain.
4. Metalpoint & sound – Metalpoint on marble paper was a new medium and experience for me. It was very exciting to watch the paper take on a structure. I would very much like to experiment with this in the future.

Artists that gave workshops:

I used my hands in the action directly and learnt how to move in many new ways. I feel as if I have rediscovered movement and am experimenting with my body’s ability as if unfamiliar. Marega Palser – I have worked with Marega before however this allowed time to really understand her work and Origins and Incredible movement and drawing workshops.

Nelly Lewis – coming to drawing and performance from a different point of view, with more focus on theatrical element story and words.

We also got to meet the artist Kiki Stickl and Oliver Hein in their studio that was sighted in Phoenix Gallery Brighton art and studio space. They also work on an international level. The works has elements of both performance and drawing, were Kiki’s work is more about the connection between drawing and painting and Hein’s work is more related to delightful drawing machines.

– Experimentation

Mieke van den Berg (Australia) we worked and experimented with movement.

Liu Bin (China) we experimented and performed in the studio with balance with logs from Wales.

Julia Higgs (Australia) – we experimented with pendulum drawing and conjoint apparatus Painting and printing.

Cheryl Walker (USA)- we all took part In a constellation we shared Philosophy and ideas video stills included.

Each artist was allowed time and space to work together sorting that would never have been possible without the support of Arts Council Wales and Draw to perform.

– Out on the streets

I have not worked a lot in the public realm such as this and when I have, I have been alone or with one other. It was a day full, there was a buzz in the air that was different to me. It was very exciting to go over the map of where we would go. I should have liked to spend more time walking with the group talking about locations and their significance to their ideas. As it was I think each piece worked well in the chosen sites, there being some realisations in the act, I felt added a sense of discovery at the moment and made us all work to together. The collective spine work was interactive and was not only a benefit to the artists that participated but there was also a few instances where members of the public became involved. It was fascinating to see the interest people had in getting involved with apparatus in a very public way, I will certainly consider this in my future public realm performances. Unexpected benefit in regards to ‘embrace my own body’s current position: position in regards to social and political aspects. By this, I mean thinking about my self-identity, past traumas and feelings about current political agendas. As artists in current climates, we have no choice but to interact and take action with social aspects of law, identity and culture. In the work produced for adapting work for public realm ‘Washing piece’ this work was intensely personal but important to share in a public way to be nerving  and raise awareness of mental health following a miscarriage that I sadly experience before leaving for the residency; this also had an intensely emotional effect on me and the other artists involved. I learn that a public realm work does not have to be directed at a viewer, it can be a personal offering of a ritual act. It was a surprise to me that hidden in this work was elements of Welsh culture.

All documentary photography was expertly executed by Manja Williams, and Ram himself documented and live streamed every event non-invasive and to high quality.

– United in action

There was a great sense of belonging and unity to the group that was totally unexpected and happily received.

I feel I pushed myself into a new level of action that was a direct result of the draw to perform residency and all the artists involved. I thank you.

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For more documentation from past residencies please visit the D2P residency Facebook page.

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