Annette Warner, artist and Fine Art Graduate, Winchester School of Art reflects on her first professional opportunity as part of \u2018Ripe Mangoes\u2019, a graduate artists programme with Southampton-based \u2018a space\u2019 arts and setting up for life after uni.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n
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I was over the moon to be picked for the new bunch of RIPE\ngraduates, the \u2018Ripe Mangoes\u2019. A title I never thought I would be so happy to\nbe given, allowing me and 13 other selected graduate artists from Winchester School of Art<\/a>,\npart of University of Southampton and Solent University to exhibit our work (post-degree\nshow) and engage in critical discussion together. I knew of this recently initiated\nopportunity established by \u2018a space\u2019 arts<\/a>\nthrough my internship last year, working with them to plan the initial\nexhibition \u2018Ripe Bananas\u2019 (2018), which provided the first group of art graduates\nwith this opportunity, and so I understood straight away the what experiences\nthis opportunity would entail. Having worked last year, alongside the \u2018Ripe\nBananas\u2019 artists in preparing the venue for their arrival, it felt surreal to\nstep once more in the same space now as an artist in my own right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Being \u2018picked\u2019 provided me with the invaluable opportunity to continue investigations within my art practice which might otherwise have come to a halt after ending my three-year degree course that had nurtured the growth of our work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n My practice has grown from this opportunity due to the nature of its site-specificity, depending and responding wholly on the space that it resides in and thus collaborates with. The setting of Alfred Arcade, once the epicentre of Southampton\u2019s thriving antiques trade, was perfect; its rich history and unique location gave me inspiration for two weeks to test out ideas within the space. Throughout this time, I engaged in many ways to \u2018activate\u2019 and change the space, which was crucial in my considerations of continuing my practice past its previous academic setting! It\u2019s a crucial time for everyone, having just finished our degrees, in choosing which path to venture down, and I found the support of having this space alongside advice from my peers really influential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This opportunity has solidified my desire to continue working as an artist and further rooted my connections with the brilliant community of creatives residing in Southampton. Along with the ‘Excel’ internship I did with \u2018a space\u2019 arts provided by the University of Southampton, the experience has convinced me to stay and work as a young artist in the area, and introduced me to new artists who I have made plans to work with throughout the next year, many being new friends who are Solent graduates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having the help and experience of the \u2018Ripe Bananas\u2019 artists\nthrough our first \u2018Ripe Mangoes\u2019 exhibition was a real eye-opener as well. We\ngot to understand first-hand the hardworking attitude of the artists\nsuccessfully living and working in Southampton, which was encouraging in\nconsidering our own options post-graduation. It was welcome and a great relief\nto see graduated artists continue their work with enthusiasm, focusing on what\nthey are passionate about whilst being just as engaged in supporting others\naround them. This community ethos is something to be treasured. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I can\u2019t wait to see what the next bunch of \u2018Ripe Mangoes\u2019 have achieved when I visit the Arcade re-born for Ripe Mangoes #02<\/a> and look forward to seeing what unfolds next year, within this great environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Annette Warner is an artist living and working in\nSouthampton.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ripe Mangoes\n#02<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Exhibition Opening Friday 16 August, 18:00, Saturday 17 – Sunday 18 August, 11:00 \u2013 17:00<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Alfred\nArcade, Old Northam Road, Southampton, SO14 0SN<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Exhibiting artists: Jade Anthony & Sofia Popova, Ethan Edwards, Mel\nFitch-Mitchell, Alexandra Sutherland, Ashleigh Turner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n