There are two coincidences which link me with the Artists Placement group, firstly it was founded in the year I was born and secondly, sadly, its founder Barbara Stevini died this year on February 16, my birthday.
During the mid-sixties the APG facilitated a more active role for the artist within the surroundings of commerce and industry. The artists included Barbara Stevini, John Latham, Barry Flanagan and Anna Ridley. They would be invited into businesses to investigate what was going on and make proposals accordingly. There would be no product planned or expectation. The artist effectively negotiates an open brief. Their motto was context is half of the work.
When I understood the pivotal role that this group had played, it did not seem like a revelation to me, but a natural development in the role of the artist. The legacy left behind remains to this day. The commissioning of artists to work within government, commercial and scientific organisations, is commonplace. Residencies form fertile ground for mutually beneficial relationships and the understanding of cross disciplinary practices serves to not only enhance but create exciting work for artists of all disciplines. I have experienced this firsthand when working with a Scientific Researcher at Salford Royal, who’s work includes the study of changes in the tiny capillaries of the fingertips. Working together has facilitated a project which will help researchers to understand better arthritic, invisible pain. It will inform the public and patients about the progress being made in medicine in this field. This in turn will hopefully reduce anxiety. Often in research the act of taking part is one of selflessness as the patient volunteering won’t benefit themselves directly.
We discuss our practices, consider the importance of research and keeping records, how we experience and benefit from failure, progressing projects simultaneously because of delays in funding and most of all, existing in the realm of ‘what if’. This is the most exciting part of working with a scientist to imagine and create, to dream and then to try. I feel lucky to be in this position and we are both looking forward to the results.
Babs Smith Multidisciplinary Artist 