Hey everyone!

I hope this finds you well. It’s been a tough start to the year, but surely one day, this WILL be behind us?

If you are London based, and able to travel, 24 Photography are holding their 18th annual exhibition in Soho, London, starting Wednesday 24th March.

Words below from their website

As the chimes of Big Ben welcomed in 2004 they signalled the start of a photographic project that saw 24 postgraduate photography students, from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, document the first day of the New Year. From the welcoming of the New Year to the end of its first day, these images capture the essence of that day for the photographers involved. But that was just the beginning. The photographers involved have embarked on a hugely ambitious photographic project that will span a generation.

24 hours. 24 photographers. 24 images. 24 years.

There are currently eight of the original photographers still involved, and this year I was chuffed to be asked to participate. If you want to know where I was around 5pm on New Year’s day you’ll have to visit the show, or you could just keep an eye on my social media feeds! Any current restrictions will be adhered to, but I expect I will be there a couple of times at the weekends if anyone wants to meet me for permitted exercise?!

More good news! I have recently sold my first limited edition print from 4 x 4 x 4. In the buyers words (roughly) “I think you are going somewhere”. I sure hope so, because going places is my favourite thing!

And more… Up until recently, project 4 x 4 x 4 has been largely self-funded, with a little help from supporters along the way.

In the last blogpost I mentioned a workshop I attended last summer, spearheaded by Natasha Caruana and Work Show Grow. People shared information of various funding opportunities, one of which was the Oppenheim-John Downes Memorial Trust. “The trust provides small scale grants to British artists, designers, writers and performers over the age of 30 who are experiencing financial difficulties in the pursuit of their careers.

The Trust was established under the will of Mrs Geraldine Elsie Downes on her death in December 1969. Mrs Downes named the Trust in memory of her father, the author E Phillips Oppenheim, and her son, John Downes.

I applied to the trust, and shared the information with some artist-friends who would have been eligible. The time for acknowledgment came and went, but due to an awful postal service in my area from November - January I had forgotten all about it; then one day in late January I received a letter telling me that I had been awarded some help in the shape of a cheque for £500. I was so happy, and it is great to remember that there are some philanthropic people out there who want to invest in artists. We need all the help we can get!

Your regular dose of 4 x 4 x 4 antics is in production…expect another mail-out soolimin.

Until then ✌🏼

Amanda