Kathy Williams

I recently recognised that the method I use in making has always been through the structure of play, and it is with this realisation that I share my learning with others and create safe spaces for everyone to explore visual ideas together. I was a 90s graduate from the RCA and remembered even way back then that my thesis was researching the similarities a child has when playing with that of a person painting. I have always been dissatisfied to create images, yet accepting the fact that I was good with paint....a tricky link to try to dismantle. After a 20 ish year hiatus, I picked up making again and challenged every aspect of what I thought painting is and what it does....and after a few years I did make work that had infinite images, could be multiauthored, belonged in response to a context/place, was ephemeral, can be outside / anywhere, and could often move. I have been a class teacher and truly have worked with so many age groups and demographics of people which is where I think my passion for visual expression and communication to be in the realm of everyone comes from. Visual communication and creative thinking is in us all. . . when I create work I began to see it as an offering of possibilities from which people could engage with. It seemed vitally important that my work ( even as paint based, materiality of medium and gesture) is able to communicate to everyone...not just an art crowd. And I have never placed myself into a place of authority, but as an equal. ...it's not just my opinion or thoughts that matter, we all matter and can create a rich and vibrant visual arts conversation. I have recently moved past process ( which infers and end point) and I am researching art is the doing, that it is a verb, not an object / thing. It is the bit of action that is in the middle. I am trying to blend 2 seemingly opposite actions of my life ...making work and working with others...to create the ultimate that ( painting) can offer....collectives of people engaging in a freeflow of immediate ideas to See what they come up with...I am beginning to share the doing, the play, to give permission to just Find Out...is enough. Timebased, collectively, capturing of moments. Many recent comments from others have described my work as 'a disruptor of light, play and expectation', 'generous', and that her work contains the 'nobility of education'.

Process

How do I work? I wouldn't describe what I do as a process. I really do appreciate any moments I can give to working in. I usually engage in a method of play...this always has been the case, it is just that now I have formally recognised it and so share this as a basis for everyone. It is a similar method painters may use when painting...I have an idea...or I see something...I rearrange/ reassemble it...I look, take lots of photographs and then adapt, change it, take more photographs and then can freeflow immediately on visual ideas I see. We cannot at all ever make something exactly as we have thought it, and perhaps our plans do not always work how we want them to be...so there is the start point of the idea or so. When we see what we have done...I will probably become very disappointed - because It is not how I imagined (and anyone working with paint will probably know paint doesn't always do what we ask of it). ...we / I then look, and interact, converse, try things out until that work is finished. I photograph many stages and use different lights and places ...I think the photographs enable us to see our work once removed..we see it ibn a different way, and I think the photograph probably helps me to see what I may have missed without it...an inflection of light, someone passing by...another mark in the area...etc. I do use this complete method of doing in public..for example when installing / making work for a particular space or place...the work starts right from the first visit...into ideas, into instal...and the terrible panic we have when it isnt right - when we see it!-...to then adapt the work to be right in the context it finds itself in. I have to let go for it to work. But since realising the importance of play as my method, I am tying together the strands of ( workshops) and my own work together. I'm working towards creating visual art jamming sessions via play. I am making prompt cards, and I imagine fluid collectives of people engaged in their own journeys of making / doing work via a method of play. The outcome doesn't matter. It is work that is moment based, collective, rich in language and captures the moment. If music / sound and dance / movement can occupy volumic space, then why not the visual arts / what we see? And the process / method for working with others, is to be equal, to provide starting points and facilitate the journey, the learning and discoveries.That's where its at.

Influences

It is strange isn't it..there are artists who have been with me since I was a child...and I havent always known why and if they still influence me....I know that sometimes when we return to old friends we often understand them in a different way, from a different viewpoint as we get older...like rereading a book, or rewatching a film. There is also the comfort or nostalgia of looking again at work we havent seen for a long time...and then there are those rarities that still manage to move us...we may not know why for years and years and then one day we understand. It is so interesting. I have just reconnected with Moholy Nagy...I have always loved the time machine and most photograms..and just accepted it. that is enough. Also here are Frankenthaler, and Stockholder and an image from DaDA...as the seeming ridiculousness of being an artist in a similar age of the most horrendous acts of violence rings true today ( times we never thought could be repeated). I am influenced by what I see...light, shadows, shapes, weather, people. I am sometimes transfixed when in the company of my nieces and nephew...as they superfocus in on their play. I love seeing what is here already, and I get excited sharing it with others. I'm currently heavily influenced by music collectives and visual expressions that capture the moment, how what we do can reflect who we are. I recognise that I am possibly in the years reveal state of understanding neurodiversity personally and with others. I am fascinated with knowing I dont have to think in a straight line, and I am currently loving making mindmaps of ideas...they look great!. It is exciting because the work I am developing I think gives the green light to any form of art being OK as its the work that counts...so maybe we can freely print , paint abstract paintings, sing and dance and all those things are OK...actually they are joyful.

Challenges

Having to let go! When I started to include people to be a part of the work and / or ask them to add their own marks...there were times I became upset because perhaps I didn't really want them to make that kind of mark.....? ...This does not happen too often now, but a couple of times a few years ago......! The times when what I had planned completely didn't work...which now of course is absolutely OK and it is part of what we do, and I am still learning to be OK with that..because each outing is going to be different, the circumstances, the context etc. I would even go as far as to say that failure ( in my eyes) is part of it, its what we do...and honestly...yes, it is going to take some time to really be OK with it. But interesting too that failure is deemed only because of my own expectations. For example I recently understood how actually difficult is has been for me to be free from gallery / exhibition/ art event expectations of installation and methods of doing. ...but then, if I hadn't have had that experience it would still be waiting there, waiting for me to see it, understand it and so work with it as we grow. In fact I would go as far to say that by demonstrating failure..is a condition we have all experienced, and if art reflects life then so be it. I am increasingly aware as well of barriers I may face being a neurodiverse soul...I am not sure if how I say things are 'right' or how to share work, approach people etc. And just by recognising things may sometimes be a little too busy..then definitely plan for the downtime and rest. We cannot just continue, we all have to look after ourselves in whatever way that works for us.

Reflection

I think success is being happy feeling free to do whatever it is that makes your heart sing. For me...I am in a space of being able to play and discover the fleeting moments we have, to work visually, see what works, to share with others, include voices and just be. Where the work is the doing and being, and connecting and respect for being alone. I think too, we have to discover our own paths and for this we need a bit of conviction. It's what we do. Advice for anyone stuck in their practice? Just go out. Share something with someone else..maybe go on a free course / event and just see what someone else is doing, and smile. It may be a cliche ( for a reason) but other people are a great levelers. I often cant go out, and I have learnt when I do its always a good thing...you are not on your own. And if you don't want to share...then give yourself time...its OK to be at home / not get out of bed...find your way as that will be the right way. Me? I am pulling together the people's work and my own work. It is difficult but I have some slots coming up...and you know I will learn by reaching out and learning. And we can all do this together.