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Here's the first of two reports on the work I showed at the Front Room art trail in November.

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The statement I wrote for this piece:
Red Thread
2009
Red thread, white dress, gag, chair, table, plasters, scissors, pincushion, needles.

Red Thread is a brand new piece being performed for the first time at Front Room.

This piece is so new that even I’m not entirely sure what it’s about but part of the inspiration came from Snow White:

"Oh, how I wish that I had a daughter that had skin white as snow, lips red as blood, and hair black as ebony".

Red thread has great magical significance in many cultures and is often used to make talismans or protective embroidery on clothes. It is usually associated with luck, protection or fertility. There is a particularly beautiful Chinese myth that an invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet - in that case, the entire world must be completely criss-crossed with invisible red lines.

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I don't usually like photos of myself but I like the intensity of this one.
Red Thread 02
Kirsty Hall: Red Thread performance, Nov 2009

Wow, I really should have ironed that sheet! But I put it up at the last minute to hide a corridor and didn't have access to an iron - it's always these little things that catch you out. Apart from that, my preparation for this show was very good.
Red Thread 07
Kirsty Hall: Red Thread performance, Nov 2009

Cutting the knotted thread - many visitors noticed that both my pieces contained knots.
Red Thread 05
Kirsty Hall: Red Thread performance, Nov 2009

I enjoyed the way the thread spread over me like a virus. Someone said it reminded them of mushroom spores.
Red Thread 10
Kirsty Hall: Red Thread performance, Nov 2009

Doing the arms was tricky - I had to use my teeth to tie the knots.
Red Thread 08
Kirsty Hall: Red Thread performance, Nov 2009

The little stool that I completely covered in medical plasters - a process that amused my Twitter followers for several days.
Plaster Table 02

Sigh, I love my cute little bird scissors.
Scissors
Kirsty Hall: Red Thread performance, Nov 2009

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Overall this performance went well, although I discovered fairly quickly that being gagged didn't work because people on art trails really want to talk to the artists and I needed to be available for that. So I abandoned that part for the duration. That's one of the joyous things about performances, you can react instantly to things; it's scary yet freeing. If I ever get the chance to repeat this piece in a more formal setting, I think the gag could still work.

I also managed to persuade a few people to join me in sewing. Even without the gag they were quite reluctant, possibly partly because of fears of blocking a narrow space but also, I think, because it's a strangely intimate act.

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Hi everyone, sorry for being so quiet. Unfortunately I was so exhausted after the Front Room art trail that I collapsed in a heap for several days and then promptly caught a virus (possibly the mild version of Swine Flu) from my son. So I've spent most of the last two weeks in bed with a pile of books.

I'm hoping to do a proper art trail update in the next few days but since my muscles still feel like lead, I'm not making any promises.

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Oh dear, I'm hopelessly late in getting this out here. But if you're anywhere close to Bristol, I’m showing in the Front Room art trail this weekend and I'd love to see you.

FR09

I’m at 105 Oxford Street, Bristol, BS3 4RL where I’ll be showing some sculpture and premiering a brand new performance piece. It’s the first year that I’ve taken part in the trail, so I’m pretty excited.

The opening is on Friday 20th from 6 – 9pm and then the trail is open from 12 – 6pm on both Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd November.

Front Room aka The Totterdown Art Trail is the longest running art trail in Bristol. People in Totterdown kindly open their houses up as venues, so not only can you see lots of fantastic local art but you also get to have a good nose at other people’s decorating choices! If you’re in or near Bristol, it’s an excellent day out with lots going on including workshops for kids and a street party on the Saturday. The Front Room website has more details and maps.

Check out the beautiful staircase I've got - it's a very 'Kirsty' sort of space, all greys and whites with fantastic light streaming in from a huge skylight on the top landing.

Stairs 01
Kirsty Hall: Totterdown Staircase, Sept 2009

Stairs 04
Kirsty Hall: Totterdown Staircase, Sept 2009

I'll be performing in the space where that pile of books is.
Stairs 06
Kirsty Hall: Totterdown Staircase, Sept 2009

I'm doing a new performance piece called Red Thread where I'll be sewing red thread to a white dress whilst I'm wearing it. In a deliberate contrast to my Pin Ritual story-telling performances, I'll be gagged so that I can only communicate with my hands and eyes and I'll be encouraging people to sew bits of thread to me. It should be... interesting! It's a piece that I've been working out in my head for a couple of years, so I'm pleased to finally be bringing it to fruition.

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Palimpsest 02
Kirsty Hall: Palimpsest, 2004
Click here for more information on this piece.

A lot of blogging advice tells you to do things like have a tight focus, develop a recognisable style, keep to a schedule, always use a photograph, make your posts a certain length and do lots of guest posting.

This is probably excellent advice.

I mostly ignore it.

I am not a strategic blogger. I try to blog at least twice a week but I often fail, especially if I'm unwell or busy. I don't blog at the times that'll get me the most readers because it never occurs to me to do so. I don't promote my blog as well as I could. I don’t stick rigidly to one style; I’ll often have a serious post one day followed by a slew of what I call 'eye candy' posts. This is partly deliberate – I think it’s boring to have all my content the same and I like to mix things up a bit. But mostly it’s because I post whatever I feel like posting, whenever I feel like posting it. My posting style is largely dependant on my mood and whatever is bubbling up in my brain at that given moment. Like I said, not very strategic!

However, although they may seem random, my posts do have a common thread. I deliberately focus fairly tightly on art. So I don't talk about lots of personal stuff unless it has a bearing on my art - with the occasional foray into chickens!

I’m also very picky with my posts, which is partly why I don't post more often. I edit rigorously because I like my posts to be highly crafted with correct spelling and hopefully half-way decent grammar. I'll spend hours writing the longer, more serious posts and I repeatedly read them aloud to see if they make sense. The ‘eye candy’ posts are quicker but still involve meticulously selecting the right photos and then moving them around to get the visual flow just so. I've tried to blog in a quicker, less obsessive fashion but I just can't do it.

My blogging style reflects who I am – an anal perfectionist with an undisciplined and impulsive thread running through me.

If your blog feels like a millstone around your neck, you need to ask yourself why. Are you trying to be someone you’re not? Are you spending hours crafting long posts when you’re naturally more of a micro-blogger? Are you feeling scattered and overwhelmed by a daily posting schedule? Maybe a single, more reflective weekly post would suit you better.

It can also be helpful to work out why you’re blogging and who you’re blogging for.

Are you trying to get a larger audience? Are you trying to get a book deal? Are you trying to attract new collectors for your work? Are you trying to network with other artists? Or are you just interested in keeping a record of your own practice?

Personally I’m trying to help and entertain people, whilst giving myself enough freedom that I stay interested in blogging. If I get a higher art profile or make useful new connections, that's absolutely great and it's certainly part of the reason that I blog but it's not my main motivation for writing. My main motivation is almost always a variation on the thought, 'hey, that would make a great blog post'.

I am rubbish at doing things that don't interest me and I know this about myself, so I try to minimise the amount of boring things I have to do. I know that I could probably get ten times the number of readers if I was more strategic about my blogging but I also know that I have to be careful to nourish the pleasure I take in blogging or I'll burn out.

Anyone can start a blog and keep writing for a few weeks or months but blogging for years takes a bit more stamina. Knowing yourself and what you want or need from your blog will help you to maintain your blogging in the long run.

TIPS FOR KEEPING GOING
...and yes, the irony of posting a list of strategic tips in this post is not lost on me!

Think Ahead
Write and save posts for when you can't be bothered - some posts are time critical but many are not.

If I was really organised, I'd have a dozen posts all ready to go for those weeks when I'm too ill or busy to write. But while I think that's a great theory, I've never quite managed it in practice. What I do have is a slew of unfinished posts that I can sometimes complete with less effort than writing a post from scratch. In fact, this post was one that I started last month.

Keep an ideas file
I have blog notes scattered all over the house and in several places in my computer. One day, I may even get round to organising them properly!

Be Yourself
No one is interested in reading a faker; be genuine and your audience will respond. This goes back to the idea of finding and then respecting your own style.

However, it's OK to decide just how much of yourself you're willing to share. It's a blog, not an internal monologue; keeping some things private is not the same as being a faker. There's also nothing wrong with editing - remember, this is a form of publishing not a personal diary.

Know Your Own Rules
In real life I swear like a sailor but I made the deliberate choice when I started not to swear much on this blog. I have other internal rules. It's not happened yet but if I got an abusive comment, I would delete it - I don't mind constructive criticism but I'm not at home to trolls.

Define your own schedule
I saved the most important tip for last.

Work out when you have the most energy for writing and schedule it in. If you don't write, you won't have posts, it's as simple as that. And if you want your blog to be regularly maintained, then it has to be very high up on your to-do list or it just won't happen. Believe me, I know!

Get more help
If you'd like more information about building your online presence, check out the free resources section.

I am also available for online consulting if you need one-on-one help.


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Back of apron 02
Kirsty Hall: Back of Sequin Apron, Oct 2009

I've been working steadily on my sequin apron and it's coming along; I'm trying to do at least an hour on it every single day and progress is being made but it's just very s-l-o-w. I'm currently on the outside of the pocket and should get that finished this week.

A few weeks ago I completed the inside of the pocket - a masochistic pursuit as it was awkward to sew and seemed to take forever but it was SO worth it.

Apron Pocket 02
Kirsty Hall: Inside of Apron Pocket, Oct 2009

Apron Pocket 01
Kirsty Hall: Inside of Apron Pocket, Oct 2009

I find myself quite fascinated by the patterns the sequins make when they're piled up in my little glass bowl. I especially like it when they form clumps. There may be a piece of work in this at some point.

Sequins 02
Kirsty Hall: Sequins, Oct 2009

Oh, and I made a short video about the sequins. Naturally, it also features the chickens; I swear, these chickens are going to end up more famous than me (which admittedly, wouldn't be hard!)

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I am not an entrepreneur, in fact, having spent the last seven years pretty much failing to make any money at my art, I'm kind of the opposite of an entrepreneur! Yet I loved Crush It! by Gary Vaynerchuk.

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I'll say upfront that I'm a fan of Vaynerchuk - I find his enthusiasm completely infectious - and I liked this book. He is someone who tends to divide opinion but even if you normally find him a bit 'over the top', I'd recommend giving this book a go because his natural exuberance is somewhat restrained in print format. You could also read this without having a clue who he is and still get lots from it because it's a punchy, concise, funny and inspiring book that's packed full of great stuff.

Basically the book is about how he used social media to successfully build a huge business. He briefly tells his own story and then explains how he did it and how you could use the same methods. I liked that he's very upfront about the need for you to take your own journey, rather than trying to slavishly follow him. He explains several times that this is just what worked for him and that you could decide to follow a different route and still be successful. He's also very clear that his method a) won't suit everyone and b) is dependant on vast amounts of sheer hard work.

There's also a strong moral core to the book that I found very admirable - this isn't a book about marketing sleaze and manipulation; his central message is one of caring about others and doing what you love with integrity and passion.

I found this an inspiring book that left me hugely excited about the vast potential of the internet to revolutionise many aspects of our lives, including our businesses. That said, I struggled to see how some of the 'monetizing' methods mentioned in Chapter 11 could be applied to the art world because the economy of the arts is so deeply weird. Normal business rules often don't apply in the arts - in particular, open 'monetizing' is hugely frowned on in many art circles, so artists may need to approach things like accepting external advertising with extreme caution. However, artists could certainly use his techniques to help build their online profiles, which I believe is vital for artists to do.

This is a book that could be read by someone at any level of internet experience. I've been online since Usenet and dial-up modems, so I'm very comfortable with the net and its culture. Yet I still got masses of ideas from this book. I've read the book through twice (it's short!) and both times I made tons of notes, many of which I've already acted upon. However, I'm sure an internet newbie could also read this book and wind up with a coherent understanding of how to successfully market themselves online. Even if you're not running your own business and have no desire to do so, it's still a useful read because he delves into the way the world is changing and talks about things like how the traditional resume is becoming increasingly irrelevant to a lot of businesses.

This book won't be for everyone - no book ever is - but if you're interested in the business side of art or you're ready to learn more about the power of social media, then I'd strongly recommend it. Even if you think you know it all, I think this book will spark new ideas or expose an angle that you hadn't considered before.

If you want to find out more about it, the book has a FAQ. If you're in the UK, Amazon.co.uk doesn't have it yet but The Book Depository seem to have it in stock.

And now for something completely new. Following Vaynerchuk's example, I decided to give video blogging a go and bought a Flip Cam. I've have been having a blast taping stuff, including this short review of the book, which is worth watching just for the last few seconds!

Disclaimer: I got this book as a free review copy after I rather cheekily emailed Gary and asked him for one! Gary Vaynerchuk and HarperCollins had no influence on the contents of this review, all opinions are my own.

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It's very definitely autumn now, as evidenced by the first proper mist of the season on Tuesday.

Morning Mist
Kirsty Hall, Morning Mist, October 2009

This was the sight that made me run back inside for my camera! Isn't this leaf just incredible - it looks as though it's been gilded or sprayed with gold paint but it's completely natural.

Leaf 01
Kirsty Hall, Leaf Turning Gold, October 2009

The spiders really pull out all the stops at this time of year. I am always astounded when I go out in the morning to find metres of silk spanning entire corners of the garden - how do they even do that?

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Kirsty Hall, Spider Web, October 2009

Web 01
Kirsty Hall, Spider Web, October 2009

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Kirsty Hall, Spider Web, October 2009

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I'm currently doing Alyson Stanfield's Blast Off course. It's challenging and intense but I'm finding it incredibly revealing and useful. One of the daily lessons was about reconnecting with what made us want to be artists in the first place. Here's what I wrote on the subject:

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I've been thinking back to some of the ecstatic points in my life that made me an artist.

1. I would have been about 16 - 17. I was still in secondary school and we were taken on a visit to Glasgow university. I had some free time and went into the Hunterian art gallery, where I was utterly transfixed by a full size Victorian/Edwardian painting of a woman. I can't remember who it was by - I think it was possibly John Singer Sargent - but I sat there for about an hour, totally engrossed in it, with tears running down my face.

2. Standing in the Sacré-Cœur in Paris with clear December sunlight streaming through the Rose Window while the choir sang in Latin.

3. Seeing Eva Hesse's drawings for the first time - I'd always loved her sculpture but the subtlety of her grey-toned drawings blew me away when I saw them in real life.

4. Walked round a corner in the Pompidou Centre and being confronted with Cubist paintings by Picasso. I was in my early 20's and had only been seriously drawing for about three years. I had seen them previously about two years before and been singularly unimpressed - at the time I liked the Impressionists and I thought Cubism was 'modern rubbish'. However, when I saw them for the second time I'd done a lot more art history reading and I suddenly got it. It was a surprisingly visceral moment, like a punch to the stomach! It's a moment that's stuck with me because it reminds me that even if I don't initially like or understand a piece of art, it's always worth taking a second look because my understanding of the visual world is constantly evolving.

But my defining moment was when I was 18 years old, sitting in an English lecture at college and getting absolutely FURIOUS at the way the lecturer was completely pulling this book apart and remaking it in his own image. I found it so disrespectful, I was sat there thinking, "write your own damn book, mate!" and it suddenly hit me, "I don't WANT to do this, I want to be the person MAKING things, not the person analysing other people's things!"

Now I look back and I think, yes, THAT was the moment when I stepped through the looking glass!

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I've had many other meaningful encounters with art in my life but those are a few that stand out. Was there a defining moment in your life that took you down the path you're on now? Have you ever experienced a piece of art that overwhelmed you with emotion? Please leave a comment, I'd love to hear about it...

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Chickens were first mentioned on this blog back in May 2008 when I was in the midst of an art lull and had started edging into Mad Project Stage.

Here's what I originally wrote:

So… last night I decided that I wanted to own chickens. I’m doing up the garden, I want to grow more vegetables and our family is interested in environmental things like micro generation of power (we have solar panels that heat our hot water) and getting off-grid as much as possible. So a couple of urban chickens producing lovely fresh eggs wasn’t that out of left field – food yards instead of miles, it would be great!

Actually, I originally thought that both chickens and a beehive would be the way to go but apparently I’m learning because I recognised that bee-keeping was probably a bit beyond me and discarded the idea before enthusiastically announcing it to my bemused family. But I honestly thought that the chickens were perfectly reasonable. One little chicken ark and two chickens – how hard could it be? My family kept chickens when I was a teenager so I know how to look after them – in theory. What could possibly go wrong?

Yes, well… apparently, my family did not share my wild enthusiasm for this wonderful idea and I was told in no uncertain terms that there would be no chickens unless egg prices went through the roof or the fall of civilisation seemed imminent.

Somewhat to my surprise, my family came round on the chicken idea without any further pleading from me. So back in January, 'get chickens' became one of my ten goals for 2009.

After a spring and summer spent concentrating on the garden, it was time to decide whether I was up to challenge of chickens. I borrowed several books from the library and immersed myself in the details of chicken-keeping. Hours were spent online pricing up chicken coops, feed and accessories and weighing up the various options. Finally I decided that I could probably manage it as long as I bought a plastic Eglu. Apparently chicken purists often frown on these but I love the funky design and more importantly, because of my health I needed something that was lower maintenance and easier to clean than a wooden coop.

So, a couple of weeks ago, I placed an order online for a green Eglu, two chickens and a bag of Layer's Mash. The chickens were supposed to arrive on the 6th October but earlier this week, we got a phone call from Omlet (yes, that's really the name of the company) saying they were delivering in our area this week and would we like our chickens this Friday?

Why yes, yes we would!

The friendly and helpful man from Omlet arrived promptly and installed the Eglu and run in about 15 minutes. While he was doing this we read the handy chicken instruction manual. He told us all about feeding and watering them using the 'glug' and 'grub' containers - they actually have this embossed on them; it really is Chicken Keeping for Dummies!

Finally it was time to meet the girls and they were brought from the van in a cat carrier. He showed us how to hold them and how to clip their wing feathers (you do this once a year, so that they can't fly away). We practised picking them up and marvelled at how incredibly soft their feathers are. After further instruction on their care and plenty of reassurance that we could call their chicken expert or ask on their online forum if we had any problems, we were alone with two somewhat bemused chickens.

We spent the rest of the day totally engrossed by them.

Chickens 01
Kirsty Hall: Pepper And Ginger, September 2009

Here's Pepper. She's a Mrs Pepperpot breed and is the older of our two hens, although she's not quite fully grown yet. She should be laying in a week or two. She's the more wary of the two but she'll come close to humans if there's a treat involved!

Pepper 01
Kirsty Hall: Pepper, September 2009

Ginger is a Ginger Nut Ranger. Hmm, are you seeing the theme with the names here? I'd just like to point out that I was not responsible for the somewhat literal naming. I had planned to give them old-fashioned Victorian style names but was over-ruled. I don't mind though, Pepper and Ginger are good chicken names.

Ginger 01
Kirsty Hall: Ginger, September 2009

Ginger is a couple of weeks younger than Pepper, so she looks a lot more like a dinosaur! Her comb is still quite tiny and she's a fair bit smaller than Pepper. She's got at least three weeks of filling out to do before she'll be giving us eggs. Despite being smaller, she's often the more assertive and braver of the two and she's more likely to come close to be petted.

I'm finding there's a lot to be learnt from chickens. They are sort of Zen - they're very 'in the moment' and their movements are often so slow and deliberate that they remind me of Buddhist monks doing Walking Meditation. When I'm near them, I often slow down too. This afternoon I sat on the lawn feeding them bits of cooked rice from my hand and I felt deeply and completely at peace.

But they can also be amusing. I especially like when they put their heads on one side and give me a quizzical look. They have definite characters and opinions about things (slugs good, cats baaad!) They've already learnt that if I come up to the run, it can mean that treats are in the offing: slugs proffered on a garden trowel were squabbled over enthusiastically and quickly devoured. I just love the idea of turning the bane of my garden into delicious eggs!

They fit in well with our rather ramshackle garden. And I love looking out of the kitchen or library window and seeing them placidly going about their chicken-y business.

Eglu in garden
Kirsty Hall: Eglu in garden, Sept 2009

Having bought them for practical reasons - fresh, organic, ethically produced eggs with low food miles, droppings to accelerate our compost bin and a handy slug-disposal method - we were all quite surprised to be so enchanted by their actual presence. But they are lovely and my family, originally so resistant to my Grand Chicken Plan, are utterly charmed by them and go out to visit them often. Even the teenager has been observed inspecting them.

And Chiana thinks we've bought her The Best Present In The Worldtm Because, as we all know, everything is for the benefit of the cat!

The Chicken Menacer
Kirsty Hall: The Chicken Menacer

The chickens aren't quite so enthusiastic about her!