A passionate Artist Parent interview with Ruth Dillon @ruth.dillon, an artist from Liverpool, UK.
Tell us about yourself?
I am working class, single parent. I work at Uni of Liv. Based on Sefton Park, but I grew up in Kensington and travel a fair bit. I'm interested in an expansive arts based practice, and love a Socially Engaged approach, which translates really as collaboration in a multi disciplinary sense. I have worked with a lot of marginalised and vulnerable groups, internationally and locally, as that's how I got into art... originally it was a way I could express myself when I didn't have the words to, but work developed into a broader less indulgent practice. I have watched trends change, industry nepotism, cultural inequalities, and political policies influence the field. Dave O Brien (Goldsmiths) writes astutely on cultural value and equity as does Hettie Judah on being a female in the art scene.
How has being a parent had a positive impact on your artistic practice?
Wow, now thats a good question...The joy of parenting is inexpressible. It has allowed me to see the world from a wonderfully curious and fresh perspective. The impact is boundless, I became a lot less self obsessed and self focused and politicised after birth, my son is 24 years old now, so at different parental junctures, different things are revealed. Priorities shift with time and I have to say my son is my greatest collaborator and sounding board, as he has been on the journey with me. He allows me to keep things accessible and as inclusive as possible. If I can explain my ideas to him, and he understands then I am confident others can too, as being far too abstract (clever as he would say) reduces the capacity for the average person in the street to grasp.
What are the challenges you have faced in your artistic practice being a parent?
My practice adapted, as my son spent two years in hospital, and little time at school, with home tutoring due to health issues. Mentally he is so cool and well adjusted, but hereditary respiratory health problems means he faces challenges most don't. Obviously my practice had to adapt to my boy's needs. In Liverpool only one organisation was progressively encouraging with this, METAL. In terms of work, very few understand, and Its a tricky one, you do not want to lose commissions but you also need to disclose. Sometimes the level of care he has needed has exhausted me, and means my work focus changed. I have done lots of work with young carers, the Afghan community and other groups, because of my son, I guess I am more on it than others regarding health and barriers to access than most.
Any advice for other Artist Parents and how they can continue to nurture their practice?
Schedule your practice, hook up with mentor mums, and be fierce and unapologetic about your needs a mother. Not sure if its a human rights issue or a welfare rights issue, but we are neglected and undervalued by many, but that doesn't matter in the grand scheme as we are utterly awesome, and if we remember our parenthood is part of our practice, you can find meaning beyond the Curatorial gaze or the Gallery walls. Lets have an exhibition, by mums for mums...that would be cool. Biggest advice, reach out when you feel overwhelmed and undervalued, build a thick skin and remember YOU define your worth, not a show or a curator, just try make two pieces of work a year, and do not feel you need compete with young free things, you are enough, whatever way you work!
Is there anything else you would like to say, share or promote?
Galleries, Art organisations you need to help female artists thrive, start to value women and stop using the artists YOU find easy to work with... Its lazy and you exclude a whole cohort of practitioners...Considering Arts orgs are made up of primarily women, they still have not made the leap of consciously being inclusive, its politically a negative standpoint, think Guerilla Girls & Pussy Riot.
Thank you to Ruth for sharing her story and thank you for reading. If you would like to read more stories or for your work to be shared then follow and tag @artist_parent on Instragam.
Uploaded 15th October 2024