Naomi Kendrick – Open Studio
1-5pm Saturday the 30th of September
On the eve of International Older People's Day,
artist Naomi Kendrick is opening her studio to show her latest work 'Nothing
Gold can Stay', A new series of drawings which evoke thoughts and discussion on
life, mortality and how we approach the ageing process. Naomi will be Joined by Patty Doran, a social gerontologist from the Manchester
Urban Ageing Research Group at the University of Manchester. Patty’s research
focuses on how communities can support our ageing population.
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On a rainy Saturday, Patty and I welcomed people to ‘Nothing
Gold Can Stay’ an open studio showing my recent drawings (see previous post). Having
noticed the drawings becoming a catalyst for conversation about ageing and
mortality, during their making, I wanted this work to be shown in a way that
encouraged these conversations further. As part of her research Patty is
interested in having these conversations too, particularly on the absence of preparation
for and discussion about dying. This was the first event of our collaboration,
a testing ground for future ways of exhibiting the drawings and generating
discussion.
The people that visited us were generous, not only with
their time, but in revealing their thoughts and feelings on these sensitive
subjects….
Visitors came to me in the studio to see the drawings one or
two at a time on arrival, they then went to a different room where Patty was
waiting with tea, cake and conversation about her research.
Some people responded to the drawings with tears and reflections
on their parents, or their own ageing. Others filled the same space with compliments
and questions about the physicality of the drawings; the materials, tools, process,
how I would preserve them… Two people told me straight that they didn’t want to
‘go there’.
“Beautiful” “thought provoking” “I like the red one best”.
There were many conversations about skin; changing texture,
bruising, raised veins in hands, how skin “gives you away” projecting age
regardless of how you feel on the inside in any given moment. And of course,
the extremes we take to mask it.
Someone was captivated by the idea that the more I worked on
the drawings, the more time and effort I put in, the more fragile they could become, increasing their chance of destruction. Someone else put it more directly.
“I think this is an act of madness, but I think you know that. And I like it”.
Tea and cake were welcomed (and devoured) as a “counter to
the subject matter”.
One person was frustrated with a lack of conversation amongst
her peers about their own ageing and deaths (beyond ailments and medication
updates). And how the actual words death and dying are never used “even in
church”, instead we pass on, are lost or gone.
I was told I am too young to think about ageing (I’m 45) but
that it is ok as the drawings grew from my feelings about my parents aging.
Which I thought was interesting, are we not all aging? is it not something we
should all think about, talk about?
One of the questions from a visitor that particularly stayed
with both Patty and I was where are the right spaces to talk about these
things?
This Open Studio Event was part of the New Mills Festival
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