MARTIN FOSTER draws his series of Living Made Simple columns to a close – and introduces ARTLINKS, a new regular Reconnect feature to help local artists spread the word about their work, online presence and, Covid gods allowing, exhibitions.
THIS is the last of my Living Made Simple columns. Over the past couple of years or so I’ve looked at the practicalities of living a low-impact, more sustainable life, suggesting ways we can shift our emphasis from consumerism and instant gratification towards something more enriching and less harmful to family, community and planet.
Column-by-column, issue-by-issue, I’ve covered the primary elements of living, from shelter, work and food to clothing, relationships and creativity. I’ve deconstructed my own life, and the way I live it – an audit of a simpler way of living, if you will – in the hope that it might inspire you to do the same.
I know from the feedback I’ve had that it has encouraged some of you to at least make conscious decisions about your priorities, so maybe my work here is done.
My own low-impact lifestyle continues: I’m still living completely off-grid, keeping chickens and growing a little food too.
But there’s a new element to my life. After years of dabbling with creative ideas around producing magazines, I have decided to give them priority and I am currently a couple of months into a Fine Arts degree at Plymouth Uni as a (very) mature student.
Given the Covid restrictions, I have not perhaps chosen the best year in which to become a student but I’m gradually getting my head around the world of Zoom and as I write this we are still allowed a little socially distanced studio time.
Most importantly, though, the course is giving me a structure within which to explore ideas and learn new skills.
My first year modules include three main themes: ‘narrative’, which is already inspiring my interest in text- based art (so I don’t have to leave my love of words behind); ecology, which allows me to explore and express my love of the land on which I live; and the critical review of contemporary practice, for which I visited Being in the Moment, an exhibition of work by the landscape artists Richard Long at the Thelma Hulbert Gallery in Honiton.
I have admired Long’s work for some time, combining as it does an exploration of the elements of the natural world with the use of simple text to ‘map’ his experiences. It seemed like fate that his exhibition had been postponed due to the shutdown and that I was able to visit it, albeit under controlled conditions, right at the start of my course.
Blatantly commercial break: as soul-enriching as producing artwork is, it does not (and I suspect never will) pay the bills, so I am still producing words (press releases, websites, brochures, anything really) for therapists, artists, makers and any other small business owners across Reconnectland and beyond. Email me for more info or call for a chat: martinfoster4242@gmail.com, or 07837 003962.
Now, back to the main feature…
So that’s what I’m up to – how about you?
Despite my Living on Less series coming to a natural end, I was keen to continue contributing to Reconnect, which I believe continues to play a vital role in the life of the region. Talking to Scott (who, bizarrely, was also keen for me to stay involved), we came up with the idea of ARTLINKS, a column devoted to local artists who, particularly during this strange Covid times, might be finding it difficult to get the word out about their work.
So, artists across Reconnectland, please consider this an official invitation to get in touch. Email me a short artist’s statement and a few samples of your work (JPEGs, please). Send me a link to your website, or any other online presence you have. And, Covid restrictions allowing, tell me about any exhibitions or gallery space you have lined up (and please remember Reconnect is published every other month, so I need plenty of notice of events).
I’d love to hear from galleries too – tell me what you’ve got planned and how you’re coping with the restrictions.
You can email Scott at Reconnect (editor@reconnectonline.co.uk), who will forward it to me, or send it direct to me at martinfoster4242@ gmail.com.
Thanks for all the Living on Less feedback over the past couple of years – and I look forward to hearing from you with words and images for ARTLINKS. Spread the art!