It's been a whole month since I last posted here, an unplanned break from blogging. The start of this term has been so full: teaching starting up again after a summer break, the final stages of a community project including an exhibition and a book, my own writing (more on this soon), work for exhibitions in the New Year and trying to find a rhythm again with it all. I must say that I'm finding that rhythm a little elusive at the moment. In quiet moments I have returned to reading Agnes Martin's 'Writings' and this phrase in particular,
'It is so hard to slow down to the pace where it is possible to explore one's mind.'
Well indeed. Time for reflection is often the first thing that vanishes when faced with multiple deadlines. Evaluation time is always built into the design of community-based arts projects and teaching, but time for reflective practice for the artist/teacher is often quite another thing. My personal strategy has not changed, I use my hand-stitching time as a moment to pause and problem solve. I just need to give myself more focused time to do it. Do you feel you have time for reflection in your work?