Rivington traveller searches for artistic inspiration in Paris
Recent successful Rivington applicant Lindsay Rutter applied to travel to Geneva via Paris to explore art including visiting an exhibition marking the 100 year anniversary of the Surrealist Manifesto. We spoke with Lindsay and began by asking her how she learned about Rivington?
Rivington traveller Lindsay Rutter
I knew about the fund from when I was at Highlands College as a mature student. I had never applied before but knew it was there for residents who may financially struggle to afford a trip away.
Tell us about the trip that you applied to take.
Exploring is a big part of my practice as an artist. I am massively influenced by my surroundings. I hadn’t been away for over 2 years and had been invited to make work as part of a group show. I wanted to have a boost of inspiration and feel like our link to Saint Malo means that it’s relatively easy to get to France. Paris is somewhere I’ve visited briefly before and knew that I was comfortable travelling there solo and there was a lot more for me to see.
I understand the journey was a big part of this trip - tell us more?
The journey somewhere is just as important to me as the destination. With the doom of climate change, I wanted to fly as little as possible. I am practicing the art of slow! Slowing down and making the most of the time I have to Sew, draw and read. I am researching for my next body of work so every minute of my trip is used for that.
What exactly did you visit and see?
This year was the 100 year anniversary of the Surrealist Manifesto and there was a show dedicated to this at the Centre Pompidou in Paris. I was included in a Surrealist show at the CCA gallery this year and have been influenced by their work over the years. I’m also researching mark making in public spaces and the city is filled with street art and graffiti. I find myself busy with life, working and parenting, so I often work on my art late at night or early in the morning, much like the street artists who paste their prints or spray their work in the dead of night. During my trip I also visited 59 Rivoli which houses an artists collective in a former squat with 30 artists studios, an exhibition space and concert venue. It was great to see how the building had been utilised and how much joy it brought to visitors. Everyone there was amazed at the venue and artists.
What was the highlight of your trip, if you had to name one?
The highlight of my trip was visiting Montmartre. I decided to visit before all the tourists and went to watch the sunrise at the Sacre Coeur Cathedral. I was able to walk around taking photos of the street art on the quiet streets and found a photo booth near a very lively coffee shop. It was a dreamy morning taking in the beautiful views from the top of Paris.
And did you see anything unexpected or unplanned?
I was on my way to an area of street art in Belleville and walked past a busy entrance to a cemetery. I decided to follow the crowd and ended up in Cimetière du Père-Lachaise, where Jim Morrison is buried. There were hundreds of amazing tombs and graves with elaborately carved stone. It was incredible.
How was the experience of applying to Rivington and what difference did it make to your life?
The team helped guide me through the process. There is an online form to complete and the team reached out to me to clarify elements of the trip to ensure that all the information was available before being reviewed.
What would you say to encourage someone to apply to Rivington?
Plan your itinerary and get your costs together. Be realistic as the little things add up, like travel on the metro and the cost of breakfast. Reach out to the team and have a chat. You'll be surprised at how easy the process is and how helpful the team is in getting your application together.
