NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2008
WWW.HELENCUINN.COM
Well! What a year this has been – traveling about, having wig fittings, eating ginger nuts! It’s been hectic but this time of year is a good one for reflection so I have taken time out to update you all on some of the year’s highlights and outline plans for 2009. For the purposes of keeping this newsletter short(ish) I have summarised key events so if you do want further information about any of the projects feel free to get in contact…
All the best ,
Helen*
Work
May 2008 saw the successful Scottish tour of Cuinn's solo performance Hoose and Hame. The one-woman show toured to three diverse venues, The Arches Studio, Glasgow, Edinburgh’s Media Education studio, as part of the Ladyfest Edinburgh festival, and the main stage at Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline. The show attracted a fairly broad audience base and garnered some critical acclaim from the steely Scotsman critic Joyce McMillan. Thanks to all the venue staff and all the individuals who supported the production/attended the performances (far too many to mention by name) and special thanks to James Batchelor, who was master carpenter, old hand roadie and general provider of craic and classic rock CDs.
You can view the production shots, video and flyer at www.helencuinn.com
Headway was made into the Hair on my Head is Dead project this autumn. The name is an umbrella term for numerous artistic outpourings relating to red hair. To begin with, a series of performed installations were selected to debut in the new work festival Arches Live! and then Cuinn traveled to Manchester’s greenroom to perform in their Emergency festival.
2009 will see the bulk of the work done on Hair, keep up to date at www.helencuinn.com
Cuinn has also enjoyed working for other people and has been popping as much as possible in different places and contexts (David Overend’s Multipli city at the Forest Fringe, Shelly Nadashi’s video work, Ladyfest stand up poetry event at Elvis Shakespeare, Underneath the Arches Scratch night, PLaY series). Get more information in the collaboration paragraph below.
Residencies
Thanks to the Centre for Contemporary Art, Glasgow and Karen and the team at Dance House for two opportunities to work on Hair in their respective Creative Labs. Very valuable to spend some quality time making material – thanks also to the people who were able to make it along to the showings and give feedback!
You can view the images created during a photo shoot at the CCA on the website. (All images are copyright to Craig McCutcheon and Helen Cuinn 2008)
Awards/Support
2008 has been the best year in terms of support (both financial and artistic) and national recognition for Cuinn’s work. Firstly the Donald Dewar foundation have recognized her emergent practice and sponsored the making of a wig of her hair. The Arts Trust Scotland team at the Scottish Arts Council has contributed to the development costs of getting Hair up and running for the Glasgay festival (October 2009).
There was also success in the business sector. Cuinn’s business plan was presented to the Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust and the Glasgow West Regeneration agency. Both agencies will be supplying her with ongoing business advice and training as well as the initial grant, so thanks to both panels and staff for approving the plan.
It’s worth mentioning the continuing support from the creative team at the Arches at this point. Cuinn has benefited greatly from their advice, venue support, performance and networking opportunities.
Collaboration
Exciting times are here in terms of creative collaboration: two new groups have been formed in 2008.
Right back at the start of the year (h)our 8&9 was formed and Cuinn traveled to Belfast for their first meeting. (h)our 8&9 is a new media collective comprised of Scottish musician Caroline Pugh, visual artist Lucy Irvine and performer Helen Cuinn. All three come from Scotland, Caroline lives in Belfast, Lucy in Melbourne and Helen in Glasgow. (h)our 8&9 was conceived to provide a support platform for the individual exploratory practices, experiment with physical and mental distance and to create a body of work through discussion, miscommunication and the sharing of ways to make. Their work relies heavily on both digital and traditional methods of communication and they will use these tools in their respective cities during their first major residency in April 2009. More information as the project unfolds.
Cuinn was also invited to participate in the Arches’ artist development programme this October. The other artist’s involved were Kieran Hurley, Julia Taudevin and Jenna Watt, put together with two Leeds based directors, Dick Bonham and Jamie Fletcher, by the Arches. The resulting performance was a work in progress called PLaY Part 4. Apart from being incredibly fun and engaging process, it is clearly just the beginning of this collaboration – it shouldn’t be too long till the team ride again so keep an eye out for future collaborations with this motley crew!
Current and Future Projects
The Hair on my Head is Dead work continues…Spring/Summer of 2009 will see the material from Creative Lab residencies developed into a theatre piece to be premiered at the Glasgay festival in October. As the work progresses there will be updates issued from the website, so if your not already signed up, you can do so at www.helencuinn.com
January 2009 sees the launch of a major new web-based project called Looking for Laura Quinn. Using the plethora of Internet sites designed to keep us in touch with all the different people in our lives, Cuinn will embark on a search for her childhood friend and bona fide non-biological twin Laura Quinn. You can read the story of Laura Quinn at the website www.looking4laura.webs.com and join in the search there. Or why not join the Facebook page?
(and if you know Laura Quinn or think you might know someone who knows her, please make contact ASAP – all contact details listed below or on the website)
Continuing the theme of popping up in unusual places, interested parties should keep their ears to the ground as Cuinn branches out into new territory. Although nothing is too fixed, you might see her performing at: Nice and Sleazy, Death Disco, the Vic bar at the Tron and a new night called Wildfire at Traverse theatre, Edinburgh.
So that’s what I’ve been up to, in case you were wondering why I haven’t phoned/emailed you back! Seriously, thanks to all my friends and colleagues who have made this year so pleasurable. All the best for the New Year and your own ventures!
Helen*