I have decided to work every Tuesday, at least through January. I plan to arrive at 10am and leave around 4pm.
My first day was perfect. The South facing entrance to the Chapel was bathed in sunlight on a crisp January day. The sole key was used to open the imposing door and light flooded in.
My plan was to ‘just be’ in this historic building. I came prepared with materials but did not expect to use them.
With no expectation, it is interesting how the mind fills the void. My natural inclination is to plan, to anticipate, to expect the unexpected, yet here I was without direction. A weird feeling.
I had expected to just sit in a meditative state and absorb the building, but I found this too difficult. I needed to explore, so I did, with the aid of my ipad.
At first I photographed anything that caught my attention. I was not short of subject matter.
Pattern, symbolism, light.
I systematically walked around the building recording my visit; a creative tourist, but as the day progressed and energised by comforting lunch, I became aware that the pictures were becoming more abstracted.
And whilst I already, possibly have the basis for a substantial series of abstract paintings (173 photos), this is a long term project which requires me to really evaluate my connection with this building, to dig deeper than perhaps I am prepared to venture.
I came away from the day with some questions. The building felt cold. Yes it was January! But more than that, I didn’t warm to the building. Why? This is what I need to explore.
susanmilleruk 