Southside Happenings

Been searching for possible studio spaces in Glasgow and came across the Southside Studios which is a few minutes' walk from my flat. Checked it out recently and while they didn't presently have any available spaces (shame would have been perfect) they mentioned another place not far which I will be popping by to have a look at soon. Generally I'd say the average cost of studio spaces in Glasgow vary between £100-200. There are a variety of studio spaces around but there are also a variety of artists around too which along with cost make it more difficult to find and afford one. While I definitely am pinning for a studio space to have as a place to practice I have been considering how to go about continuing to be a practicing artist while I have no such place by simply shifting my attention to the possible exhibitions spaces being that very space to play and experiment in. Those empty shops and buildings laying vacant everywhere could be such useful extensions or replacements of the studio. There is a piece in the the booklet 'What is Installation art?' mentions the displacement of the studio in installation art practices among other things.

There are definite pros and cons but I guess whats first and foremost to any of this is actually having something you want to make in the space or use the space for but by not having a conventional artist studio you could put yourself at risk of leaving the critical grounding of your practice the conventional studio pertain. Although should we not be at a point where we should always have that critical edge ingrained into our very beings by now so that we can push forward our practices, tackle those risks, whether it be away and without the confines of a conventional studio?

What this post was originally meant to be about before I went on a ramble was a link to the Southside Happenings blog which shows whats 'happening' in the southside of Glasgow. Along with the Studio spaces, cheaper accommodation available in the area and good transport links this might just be me pushing the claim of the southside on all you would be movers and shakers when the time comes :) maybe

Kit