Exhibition Review

Organising and currating my own exhibition has been both stressful and very rewarding. I have learnt alot and enjoyed tackling the challenges and producing the requirements that come with this type of project. I was realy lucky in securing the gallery, as while I was exhibiting people were asking how long in advance I had to book as they had been told it was fully booked until 2008. Due to lots of other projects and away from university issues, my concept and exhibition was not exactly how I had envisaged it looking. The exhibition was a diverse range of work
produced both at university and in my spare time by the two different people that I adopt on a daily basis. However the layout did not turn out how I would have totally liked, as when I was
setting up the possibility of dividing the space became impossible. I also had access to
equipment that I did not previously expect and so decided to make full use of the space and equiptment, incorperating a wider range of my work. I had a total number of 152 visitiors over a ten day period, which I am very pleased with as I had to close it for large chunks of a few of the days due to problems with stewarding, and as I was the first this year it was miserable weather and soon after the festive period meaning library visitors were few and far between.
The space is normally used by societies often exhibiting landscapes and watercolours. The general feed back was very positive and people were pleased, interested and excited to see something totally different on display. Due to stewarding issues and arrangements I was
unable to publise my exhibition as much as I would have liked, so that people didn’t visit and find it closed. I produced a leaflet and poster, which were displayed in a variety of local
establishments and at university. A leaflet was also produced by the Library, listing up and
coming events. Mid way through the exhibition I was visited by Angela Connor who is the
founder of Eggmeg.co.uk. Which is a website that advertises local events and attractions, they have recently expanded to Hillingdon and she was keen to place my exhibition on her site. This extra publicity helped greatly to increase the visitor count. She has asked me to let her know if I am planning anymore. Other interested visitors included a youth worker who was keen to start up art classes, and an artist that works with recycled materials who was keen to see some more of my work. As well as a few visitors who have studied at the University of the Arts London or who knew of friends or family that have.
Putting on this exhibition has taught me that its not easy putting on your own show, don’t leave stuff till the last minute as things take time, be prepared for everything and if you exhibit in a gallery over the winter period...wrap up warm!!!! I have exhibitied some of my work before and even sold a few of my pictures, but this was the biggest and my first solo show, it felt great going into the gallery every morning and showcasing my work to the public, listening to their feedback both good and bad as well as just generally chatting about art and design. I felt proud of my work and it has encouraged me and given me more confidence to get my work out there and get noticed. The exhibition and preparation can now be viewed online at
www.jameshousegoexhibitions.blogspot.com.

Exhibition pictures

The work, in the order it appeared in the exhibition