Part B Explore the Arts as an Audience Member - Justine Knight

 

As part of my bronze-art awards I explored an artistic event from the point of view of an audience member. I attended an exhibition of artwork by Zoe Benbow and a reading and discussion by poets Sarah Corbett and Jo Shapcott.

The discussion was based around the concept of women poets and artists that use the landscape to create different pieces of emotional artwork. Poets ranged from Emily Dickinson to Sylvia Plath and they explored the idea of how we as humans are both part of the landscape and separate from it. How humans are moulded by nature around them and how this creates a certain atmosphere to the piece, whether it’s in awe of the raw power of nature (such as in Emily Bronte’s poem Spellbound) to the appreciation of the simplicity and the landscape around them.

This discussion provided an interesting insight into the world of art and how we as humans develop a piece depending on the mood and atmosphere that is there during the creation. It inspired me to continue to explore other poet’s techniques and to question what the writer was trying to convey towards its audience and how they create that aura to their work. How they develop their own style over time similar to the famous poets and how they use assonance and metaphors to convey abstract feelings that cannot be conveyed through ordinary means.

The discussion and reading also helped me develop contacts into the field of writing as I met and discussed possible future workshops with Sarah Corbett. This provided helpful skills for the future when my writing will depend on these contacts and how I integrate myself within the art community. It gave me the confidence to ask questions and delve into the writer’s work, to understand the thought and reasoning behind their pieces. Having Sarah Corbett’s expertise will benefit both myself personally and peers from my young writers group. Meeting like-minded people was also beneficial as they gave a new light on classic literature and their own opinions made me view the poems in a different but interesting way. There were a mixed audience of both genders and a large age range that meant various opinions were bought into discussion from people’s different background and gender.

 I also viewed artwork by Zoe Benbow and she talked through the creative process that led to her drawings and paintings. This was interesting as it allowed me to explore another artistic viewpoint that, being not very artistic with drawing, was a valuable insight into how other artists worked. Altogether this free event allowed me to meet like minded people and develop contacts for future reference. The discussion was thought provoking and allowed everyone who took part some interesting ideas and theories about the women artists and the landscape around them.