Endings and Beginnings

Last night was the Private View of the degree show of the 2017 soon-to-be graduates in BA Fine Art at the Wolverhampton School of Art.

The Poster

This year, I am one of the soon-to-be graduates. As I’m a part-time student, I took part in last year’s degree show. So this is my second time.

This year, though, the feeling has been different. I have a rightful place in the degree show rather than being a pretender. Last year, I felt as if I was being granted a favour by being given some space to exhibit. Although I took part in the private view and all the excitement, I didn’t feel the same high level of emotion and celebration as my fellow students. This year, I felt it.

Today is the day after the Private View and today has been an odd day. I have definitely felt the post-Private-View blues. I was awake for 22 hours yesterday, starting with excitement over the general election result (hung parliament, in case you are reading this in twenty years time) and then excitement over the degree show. The day was fuelled by adrenaline, nerves, excitement, joy, smiles, alcohol, sore feet, real lady tights, nail polish, odd conversations, good friends, family, wine, gin, music, smoke, people, crowds, art, happiness and the odd crisp. After the degree show, which now is a bit of a blur, I went out and drank more and talked and sat and talked and drank even more and talked until 2am.

Me at about 1am last night sitting in the fertility chair

Today, The Next Day, I’ve been back at the School of Art to invigilate the exhibition and it has been a really quiet, solemn kind of day. I haven’t been entirely content today. I’ve spent far too much time engaged in Facebook Time Suckage. I’ve been oddly sad. I’ve stood for far too long. I know this lull is entirely normal for the day after a big event. I mean, have any of your ever gotten married? Today has been the Boxing Day of the Private View.

My stuff

I have spent today watching the public walk around the degree show. I’ve found it oddly compelling watching people look at art. Secretly, I quite love it. I’ve done it for 5 hours, with just a break for lunch. I’ve seen people wonder, wander and ponder. I haven’t done much else (except Facebook time suckage).  

I’m hoping that once the weekend is over I will come back up again (emotionally speaking), and recover from this post-Private-View slump. I have to as next week is going to be busy.

And also, after all, this is an ending but it is also the start of the breathing space I need before a new beginning: otherwise know as a Masters in Fine Art. Woohoo!

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