I have always known the importance of networking. Due to working in the film industry from a young age I was constantly reminded that it is all about who you know. This did not stress me then as I felt quite confident with the relationships and networks I had built then in the film industry. However now that I have chosen a different career path and have virtually no art world connections I am quite terrified.

One of the main things that stuck out to me in this reading was how toxic anxiety can be very harmful to the creative process. I relate to this on a very personal level and find that if I am overly anxious or stressed my creative abilty is greatly diminished. To combat this it is important to create deadlines for yourself and stick to them within their peramiters. I feel when I set a deadline for myself and dont stick to it it makes it so much harder to try and start it due to the anxiety caused. However on the same not it is also important to make allowances and be gentle with oneself as so not to burn out and to get the best out of their creative abilities. 

BS300 Week 7 Homework 

Task 7: Elevator Pitch Manuscript

Hello Fancois, and anyone else who may be listening, I’m Holly Hawthorne and this assignment  is my attempt at a plan of action for my future career and personal life, although given this strange period of self-isolation, it’s hard not to feel that these plans are up in the air.

Being on ‘lockdown’ at home for the last few weeks has been a bizarre experience, to say the least. Moments of happiness and total relaxation, are followed by moments of panic, which are followed by moments of wonderful productivity, followed by moments of a really deep sadness that feels really hard to kick. However, the start of online classes have been an incentive for structuring my days, designating specific times to certain activities, etc. And although I’ve struggled at times to adapt to the online learning system, which obviously lacks the favored class dynamic which I love and find greatly helps my art making process, seeing them for a few minutes in a video call a few times a week, will have to do for now. 

The introduction of lockdown has slightly shifted my personal goals, and I think for the better: as this has been a time of being left with my thoughts and reflecting on where I am, as well as where I’d like to be in a year from now, when I’ve graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Contemporary Art. In essence, I would like to make a conscious effort to be ready to receive plans, which seem to have a funny way of just popping up unexpectedly. Preparing for the unexpected is hard, in fact terrifying at times, but optimism has been my savior over the last few years, as well as ‘taking it day by day’, or even ‘minute by minute’, to avoid feeling overwhelmed. 

You could call me borderline obsessive when it comes to ‘to do’ lists. Feeling in control of my daily tasks softens the blow of feeling out of control about what the future may bring, and it honestly brings so much self-satisfaction to tick off a task. While this way of working may seem excessive or time-consuming at times, I’ve discovered this year not to fight the urge to nit-pick. If this is what is going to help me achieve my goals, who cares what anyone else thinks?  “A Practice of Openness” was one of our prescribed readings this term, in which the importance of ritual, and the individualism of rituals was elaborated on. 

Find your thing, and do it well. My thing? I want to continue my Artistic Practice after college, and I think that a perfect job to support myself whilst doing this is teaching. I have an affinity for small kids, and my practice is largely based on crafts, so being a junior school art teacher sounds like a dream come true to me.

In fact, I was lucky enough to be offered an internship, assisting a curator, that will be displaying a collection of Peter Clarke artworks, invaluable to the art history of South Africa. This Internship has gotten me excited to pursue an artist’s assistant job, and in an ideal world, to pursue an opportunity to shadow teach at a junior school, for which I have a few contacts in mind. In fact, a few years ago I shadowed a Grade 4 art teacher and I loved it! These internships and assisting jobs will be valuable to my future networking, which I think is especially important in the art industry, so I  better start hanging around exhibition openings and art auctions…

Actually, another question to ask is whether I could manage to teach on a long-term contract with a school, in conjunction with a deal from a gallery, whereby I would be a practicing artist, or find another spot behind the scenes. Either way, this term saw us learn some really helpful points for any job interview, as well as how to properly email and communicate effectively with fellow professionals. I’ve also learned that I have the option to freelance or not to freelance, and the pros and cons thereof. I think that the stability of a teaching job would make me happier, knowing that I have a steady income, but interning on top of that sounds like a fun way way to keep inspired and productive, which will only contribute to the quality of the work I make, as well as my state of mental health.

Underlying all of these aforementioned ideas which we learned about this term, has to be a reason why. A reason WHY you get up in the morning, you go to college or work, or why you may do whatever you do. Intention is what sets us as humans apart from both animals and each other, and to know your intentions in the world is really empowering and encouraging, because you know where you want to go, which is the first step to getting there. 

I want to pursue my goals of finding a teaching job which is fulfilling and enjoyable, whilst keeping time for myself to make art, whether that transpires into a professional endeavor or not. As lame as it sounds, happiness is the goal. I am isolating with my boyfriend near Kommetjie, and we’ve been talking about the little schools with alternative and interestingly creative approaches towards education that exist all around this little valley, where we intend on staying for the foreseeable future. So, for now, I’m feeling optimistic but tomorrow I may feel different - and that is okay. 

I hope that all of you are safe, and feeling what you need to feel during this time, and please shout out to me if I can be of any help, ever, Even as just an unresponsive ear.

Thank you for listening

Holly Hawthorne

Here is the link to my recorded submission.

Daily- I want to wake up early in the morning and give myself more tme to get ready for the day. I find it very hard to get out of bed and as a result I am often late for things. I think that maybe if I set out a simple goal to get me out of bed faster and earlier it could work. Maybe like immediately getting up and making tea as soon as my alarm goes off. I think by getting out of bed earlier and therfore being more on time to things it could improve my quality of life.

Weekly- I would like to go for more walks, not long ones that I can't commit to but atleast a stroll around a park or my neighborhood. I want to get moving and change my environment a little as i am often just finding myself at school or at home.