Study Day you, me, a letter and an envelope Maria Amidu

In the anatomy of the human body and in the anatomy of the envelope the throat is the locus of uttered and unuttered correspondence. For this Study Day, Maria Amidu will be testing out an idea – something she is describing as a soft performative role in which she will invite the group to collectively insert a letter into an envelope. In conjunction with this action, Maria will attempt to describe the impetus for the letter, its contents, and the reasoning for her invitation to the group. The ‘performance’ will be followed by a conversation about the effect of the experience on those taking part.

Join us for a day of thinking together, where we will hear from and work with Maria as well as artist and Art Therapist Georgina Evans who will act as a respondent to the day and help kick off discussions about the work. 

The Future Collect Study Days are envisaged as moments to come together and think through ideas collectively through gathering, reading, conversation, and workshops.  This event is part of the Future Collect programme. See more information here.

How to apply

There are a limited number of spots for this event (15). This event is open and free to the public, however, due to the library’s low capacity and the nature of the day being research and conversation-led, we want to ensure that those who attend would find this beneficial to their thinking, research, and creative practice.  

Our definition of creative work here is intentionally broad: this event is open to everyone who is thinking creatively about themes in the artist’s work, those who are in the arts sector, and also outside of it!  No portfolio or previous professional work is required to attend, just a keen interest in what is being explored.  

If you are interested in taking part please submit a short expression of interest by 5 May 2023,  briefly telling us (in 300 words or less):

What interests you about this study day? 

How does it relate to what you’re feeling/ thinking about and exploring creatively?  

Please send your response through the form here:  https://forms.gle/qAwBPHJ7x2d4QATJ7 

We’ll get back to everyone by the first week of May to confirm the capacity for the event.  

If you have any questions please email Anahi@iniva.org. 

Access Arrangements

Please see the library’s access information here.

We have a budget available to make this event as accessible as possible – this can include BSL interpretation, transcription services, and funds to cover childcare or care costs. If you require any of these please make a note of this in the form above. This will in no way affect how we choose participants.

Bursaries: We have some funds available for those who want to attend the day but are unable to due to lack of funds. For example, this can cover things such as a train/ bus/ other transportation to and from London. If you would like to request a bursary please state this on your form. After receiving all of the expressions of interest we will allocate all of our funds in accordance to the needs of the group to ensure we are able to support as many people as we can with our budget.

Artist biography

Maria Amidu

Maria Amidu’s artistic concerns are influenced by the complexities of the relational – between people, and between people and place. Through writing, printmaking, artist’s books, audio visual works and sometimes glassmaking she tries to substantiate what might be going on in collective situations, paying specific attention to what is hidden, obscured or unspoken.

The artist has developed projects with museums, galleries and other cultural organisations including: Watermarks (2021), Metal Culture; “Where are we?” (2020) Mid-Sussex, District Council; edge/threshold/brink (2018), Nuit Blanche Toronto; Act, Campaign, Petition, Reform, Lobby, Argue and Soit droit fait come est desire (Let it be done as it is desired) (2015); Houses of Parliament; Workforce (a work in progress) (2014), National Maritime Museum; a moment of your time (2013), People United in association with Turner Contemporary; Betty, Pat, Diane, Ivy, Lynette, Bonney (2011), Parramatta Artists’ Studios; Dolphin Loves Disco (and other favourite words) (2012), PEER; 21st Century Reporter (2005), Foundling Museum; Tribute (2002), Arnolfini and Bristol Royal Children’s Hospital; Finders, Keepers (2001), Horniman Museum & Gardens; and …a moment caught in three dimension(s) (1999), 198 Contemporary Arts & Learning. Her work is in several public and private collections including the Parliamentary Archives (UK), V&A, Arnolfini Collection Trust, and Limerick National Drawing Collection.

Maria studied glass and ceramics at West Surrey College of Art and Design, Farnham, and the Royal College of Art, London. She is currently undertaking doctoral research in the School of Arts & Humanities at the Royal College of Art and the title of her project is Making that remembers: a correspondence between emotion and material.

Georgina O Evans

Georgina O Evans is a freelance artist and yoga therapist as well as an Art Psychotherapist working in NHS adult mental health. She has extensive experience in holding safe spaces for individuals and groups to engage in open self-inquiry and intersubjective dialogue.  Her creative and therapeutic practices consider ways in which identity, sense of self, and social relationships emerge and are enacted and shaped by sociocultural dynamics as well as conscious and unconscious influences.

Image credits: Maria Amidu