This weekend I visited Photo North Leeds Photo Festival and it indeed deserves a quick shout on my blog. Reason one: Peter Dench, one of my ultimate photography heroes, is the creator of the festival and was present at the festival.
Reason two: Martin f Parr exhibited there – SAY NO MORE
Reason three: On Instagram I kept referencing to the attendance as brain food – pudding for my photographers soul, a treat organised by OUR BIG PICTURE and legendary Abby Jennings. It is so important to feed your creative curiosity, expand horizons and network with other photographers, industry specialists. Festivals like these are crucial elements to sustain the medium and preserve its role in this mad world.
Reason four: I am tiptoeing through career stage where I really have to pull every brain muscle to figure out all my best next steps way ahead and be ON POINT. So every chance to work on my creative practice, meet people and network, essentially keeping the artist in me alive, needs to happen without an excuse.
I will be short and sweet.
Little bit about the festival:
In 2018 we had a vision to bring a lively, welcoming and professional photography festival to new audiences. A festival where visitors would leave feeling nourished and inspired.
Alongside a sensational display of exhibitions, from celebrated and emerging artists, is a stimulating Live Lounge of talks and screenings. In our Market Area you can browse book, zine and print stalls or just relax with friends, make new ones, all within a background of music, food and a licensed bar. Money is raised for several charities.
Students are a key part of our mission. Festival Friday is Education Day with participation and presence from teaching organisations and students across the UK who can benefit from free portfolio reviews and career advice from photographers and industry experts.
With your valued collaboration we’re getting there. Together we believe we’re building a community around a ‘must see’ event on the annual photography enthusiasts calendar.
First, I liked the choice of venue, I think the exhibition was curated beautifully. Cosy, not too snazzy and not out of reach, and the work exhibited covered a lot of genres. It is pretty genius in the scale to achieve that.
There was also hosted talks with industry professionals, I listened to one and it is rich to hear from other creatives. Everyone’s journey can either be relatable, exciting and new to you, what you hear, you can learn from, or get inspired. Or get motivated to either stick to your won blazing guns or work harder. Olivia Brabbs, a photographer from Yorkshire really inspired me with her warm presence and openness. Her work is beautiful, generous in colour and love the range of clients she has. Loved gmosley, she was funny. She is an illustrated that found her place under the creative sun by just being herself and now is swimming towards big bright light. Proves that being yourself and letting loose, can be your business.
The exhibit summed up everything I believe in as a photographer. Great story, beautiful colours, wacky content and bold statement. It was a delight to see, what a talent, what an execution. It assured me that my mantra of believing in my own bad taste is me, and I should stick to my own guns and not “sell on”.
Most work there was a eye candy, I loved the variety. The layout was well executed, as I found myself lost in the stories one by one.
Very, very nice to see Martin Parr exhibited at the festival. Those who know me, are aware of my obsession with him. Martin Parr and his style is like a small colourful and wacky figurine on my shoulder, whispering me to be bold with colours, loose shame and find the wacky/weird/ironic/silly in the world. Forever grateful.
Last but not least. In early March I was planning to submit work into Ferens Open and the photograph I wanted to submit was close to my heart. I wanted it to be printed beautifully, majestically. Definitely not a foamboard print. After some research I found that acrylic prints could possibly meet the need. At the festival there was some beautiful acrylic prints and I was thinking what you are thinking. Acrylic it is. I don’t think I ever consciously have gazed at acrylic photograph prints and I think that most of my work belongs on acyclic in print.
Here we are, short and very sweet. Thank you to the festival. Definitely coming back for more in 2025.
Spread across twelve months my wonders around the city of Hull as a resident, friend and a photographer sixth year running. I have mixed feelings about this year’s blog: glad to still be partially committed, very pleased to look back at another good year for the city in various areas of culture, but also disappointed with my performance, because “best I could do with the time I had” is not good enough for me, my ego is sliced. I miss being involved and available, miss meeting people, networking and exploring small and big culture ventures, I miss having the luxury of time. But I really did my best in one of the busiest years OF MA LAIF.
I will show you events, spaces/places done on work basis, as well as stuff I did purely for the blog and some random beautiful memories that hope inspire us be in presence of culture in 2024. Some of my city ventures are through new thing I have been doing in 2023 – hosting photography classes in various subjects. Bit of teaching photography, but definitely exploring the city and its treasures, networking and photographing with other people. Also quick mention of Through Our Eyes exhibition that happened in early 2023 (link to my blog)) that hopefully will carry on as a “thing” next year.
LET’S GO THEN:
March – THE AWAKENING part of Freedom Festival Trust
The event that was so waited to drag us out of winter gloom and it sure did light up the city in all its meaning.
Celebrating the change of seasons from winter to spring and our great city’s maritime identity, heritage, folklore and mythology, audiences explored the history-rich streets of the city centre from Queens Gardens, down Whitefriargate, across Trinity Square and up to Zebedee’s Yard. The Awakening 2023 was free to attend, spread across two evenings, bringing opportunity to explore world-class installations and performances, with Hull’s historic areas lit up with giant figures and forms. Indoors audiences could experience musical offerings from local favourites including a special edition of Trinity Live in partnership with Trinity Market and Sesh Events, and at Ferens Art Gallery, there will be another chance to catch the RE:SCORE films and a special live performance by Broken Orchestra.
My memory of this was that through the weekend I was manic busy at work, but really wanted to go. So I lied, plotted and scammed to be able to attend ( no one was hurt the process). And I am glad I fitted in the visit. Little magic.
Full story available on my blog (link above), it was a fabulous start of the year – new people, opportunity to exhibit my creative work, tell my story and be part of a great project. We have new plans to carry on in 2024, so hopefully I can share some news in January on my socials,
In spring I also started my new part time hobby/job of teaching, hosting photography events. I have always wanted to teach higher education in photography, but that’s a long term future desire that requires some thought and prep that I haven’t had time for. The opportunity came unexpected and I grabbed it. Many and awesome events done and it has become a big part of my “photographers” duty. I love being the instructor, the educator, but at the same time mingling with various people who have different interests and skill levels, exploring genres and scouting Hull for gems to suit the topic, has been fantastic. I have grown a little friendly network and I have so many great plans for it in 2024. I also learned that I needed to revisit some basic photography key elements, and never the less it has given me an opportunity to be a photographer outside of work and have fun (cheeeeeeessse). We have done Street Photography, Urban, Portraits, Manual Settings, Night, Light Movement, Flatlay and many others. Here are some best of the best:
In Spring I also visited the POP-UP SPACE down Humber Street – funny how city grows and changes so quickly, I did not know it existed.
The artist exhibiting at the time was Holly Bright. She basically educated me about the space and it was lovely meet the face that lit the room like sunshine and her art was beautiful. It is an art in itself to be able to make a space yours and she really made the warehouse-type of space welcoming and brighter than it was before.
On a separate culture wonder with my partner I purposely went there to see who has taken the space at the time. The POP-UP space is one that changes the host, so each time you go, you can see something new.
Sadly I have lost and haven’t traced back the artists name, so if you recognise this talented person, please let me know in comments, so I can credit them. It was a really good visit, the artist was more than happy to tell the stories behind the work, shared how he used found materials to give them another life, and work was stunning, not all light and fluffy, some deep colours and string textures.
This year I have also been invited to do some stuff for the famous Middle Child Theatre Company for their Out Loud Scratch Nights. They collaborate with Silent Uproar – an award-winning theatre company creating fun nights out to engage a younger, funkier, and punkier crowd, aims to get theatre more accessible and affordable, fun and engaging for 16-25’s. Middle Child is one of the best up North and they just know good stuff. They put Hull artists at the heart of their creative process, our growth and our successes, they really are the heart of local and real theatre.
I did two shows this year, one in July with two play scratches and one in October.
Out Loud: 1988 and Shit Life Crisis was ACE. To the point I managed to get photos whilst completely disappearing in the story. Shit Life Crisis made the audience tear up, I did tear up.
In October I was invited to photograph scratch by Chris Pearson “Cuckoo”
Again, very local and relatable to our “problems”, entertaining, gripping. And yet, still work in progress, all read from scripts.
All these events focus on audience feedback and discussion after the play, its purpose is to hear feedback and listen to audience on how they received it, raise a conversation.
Humber Street is definitely a hub of art. Humber Street Gallery, Pop-Up Spaces, lovely shops, beautiful doors and best views both ways: Tidal Barrier on one side, Hull Marina on the other. Great spot for a walk, few hours out, good food and candy for the eye for good portrait backdrops. There’s been several visits to the Humber Street for work and leisure, but on this one particular crisp day I went for a location scout. came out satisfied and full belly with yummy brunch from Thieving Harry’s.
Speaking of scouting for spaces. Brew Hull is my 2023 favourite. I went there for a coffee and a snoop for my Flatlay Photography event. Let’s start with the fact that they make good coffee and the space has got something very appealing about it. What is great too is that they independently without any outsourced funding host small exhibitions for local artist. How cool is that. I hope to visit some in 2024 for sure and maybe one day pitch an idea for on ow my own (wink wink).
The summer of 2023 was busy. I was focused on estate photography and it was hard to get my game on for anything else: it was hot and super tempting to leisure. On top of only three months of summer I went away for quite a bit to Latvia and Scotland. However I was invited to work for Absolutely CulturedPeel Street Festival and this is one I really want to share, because the small scale local community festival is the core of culture, the very beginning-from people. The festival involved local Spring Bank community – the parade was for them with them. All the masks and props made by people at workshops. The festival had stalls, Beats Bus Records, crafts and food, how can you not smile. Absolutely Cultured are really making a mark in Hull. They reach out to various communities and get them involved, educate and make it accessible. Marianne is an angel and has a strong team around her. This year I have done few bits for them and it’s really lovely to see their work making the difference. After the City of Culture rebrand it could have gone in a different direction, but they kept it for us.
FREEDOM FESTIVAL 2023
The best festival of every year in Hull. I will be honest, it happened that I was swamped in other work in the festival week and on Sunday I rushed to get what was left of the festival. I am aware that I probably missed the festival vibe and can’t really say that I went to the Freedom Festival. Anyway. After looking at the programme, I was hopeful that there is just enough left to close the summer.
WE AGREE TO DISAGREE by Collectif Malunes is a contemporary circus and they pulled of a great show. Entertaining, engaging with great stunts and charming Belgian accent. We laughed and fried in the Sunday sun, we turned to the stage and applauded the flying performers.
Ferens Open exhibition was another must have for the 2023 tales. I went twice this year, one to see and capture, another to enjoy and view as a judgmental participant (just constructive criticism), both times I made sure I have another pair of wyes to share the experience with. In my view, this year was one of the best ones I have seen since 2018. It was good, plenty of quirks, humour, fine art, beautiful frames and colour.
On my first visit I managed to catch the last day of Tomorrow by Freedom Women Collective. As it states on the poster at the entry: Tomorrow is an enduring reference to hope, belief and self-determination. In every language tomorrow can be a promise, a practical arrangement or a philosophical proposition. My memorable moment with the exhibition was the encounter with a Ferens Gallery employee who asked me and my friend: “have you ever seen a tree in a exhibition?” Those few sentences brought us to the exhibition, we are curious beings, so I am glad my curiosity lead to a great find.
In general, Ferens Art Gallery is a landmark in East Yorkshire and beyond for a great and free art gallery, it is always worth a visit. Work exhibited does change often enough to include the gallery visit on your Primark haul and Costa coffee day out.
On another not so Hull note, I really wanted to include the fabulous and epic GAIA in Beverly Minster. Beverley is the wealth cousin of Hull and we seem to treat ourselves in Beverley and I imagine a lot of Hull people went to see The huge Earth installation at the Beverley Minster.
Though there is a little story. First time visit was a bit of a fail on my side. Me and my partner used a day off to “treat” ourselves to Beverley and I wanted to include the GAIA visit for the blog. All went well until I realised that I haven’t got a card in camera. OBVIOUSLY I had to plan another visit. I sat down with a cup of cappuccino and thought to myself: I need to make the second visit better. How can improve the image, who can I tempt to visit Beverley.
Two things: my best friend had a mid week day off and she was totally up for a visit and turns out she’s never been to Beverley Minster. So she gain so much more than I expected from this little trip out. The other thing, more technical. I thought to try and capture people movement with a planet Earth still. Which is a great idea on paper, until I stared at the installation and realised that it spins, as an actual Planet Earth does. But at least I had a CF card in camera and I had a really good day with my bestie.
Location and the vision of the art installation was pretty epic, it was a throwback to the Moon installation in Hull at Hull Minster few years ago.
On of my ultimate favourite exhibition of 2023 was the BOOTLEG SHREG & FRIENDS with Bruce Asbestos at Humber Street Gallery. The visuals below will be self-explanatory of why it is in my top list. I managed to catch it last minute and told everyone to go, when it was already too late.
I am sorry, give adults some inflatables to play with and we will be over the moon. Interactive art makes the distance between yourself and the art shorter and you can become part of it. It does incredible things, when you see relatable, squeezable and fellable stuff, when the art is there for you not hidden behind glass case or yellow barriers.
Since 2016 I have been involved in Hull Comedy Festival and even at busy times of my own, I always make sure I photograph at least couple of shows. They are my extended family, especially Gary and Jed, local legends that organise the festival and bring the laughing game to Hull. This year we had generous shows, including a comedy show OH MY DOG where as the title gives away: dogs are the stars of the show.
Due to early next day morning, I missed other acts on the evening, so the crowds enjoyed more acts that evening.
The third show was Hull Comedian of the year with many great acts from various spots of UK. It was totally worth the late night.
In autumn I was invited to do another gig for Virtual Horizons at Hull Truck Theatre. Interactive, VR set included theatre in an intimate space talking about flooding. Last year I was lucky to work with Risky Cities and the big project, so this was another follow up to the topic.
Two vital Risky Cities’ team members, Jack Chamberlain and Maureen Lennon, have continued their creative work on Hull’s watery stories in a new show featuring VR and theatre. Both were involved in delivering Risky Cities’ intensive community engagement programme, experiences that they have built on to develop their ‘Virtual Horizons’ as freelance creatives.
These guys have brought art, community and science together to openly and educationally discuss flooding. The project last year was big and achieved a lot, it was great to see Jack’s vision virtual Reality taking form at Virtual Horizons. The interactive play was sweet, funny and generous.
This autumn I also for the first time visited Polar Bear and Sesh.
Friend of mine invited me to see his girlfriend sing and I shot two birds with one stone. Ellie Pollard is a voice powerhouse teaming up for a new collaboration, plus I got to see the famous white Polar Bear and link Humber Street Sesh (in my brain and music knowledge over the years haha) with Sesh at Polar Bear with Mark Page at the front of this amazing place.
My December started with little Christmas event for Absolutely Cultured in Gipsyville. It is another gem that Absolutely cultured host every year – adorable Christmas parade for Gipsyville community with Christmas tree light-up, parade, carols and hot chocolate. After that I was tiptoeing in the Christmas spirit, I just couldn’t resist.
Last but not least is not so Hull, but close by little venture of Burton Constable Hall. Yes, not quite Hull, and not quite culture, but two reasons. I was testing out my adopted gear Sony 6700 and I have never been inside in this luxurious manor. It is culture, but from a different decade. It was sort of a hunt for Christmas market replacements for the day, and I am really glad I went, as it was pretty spectacular. We went there at 3 PM just as the bright winter sun sets and lights up the gold interior, we talked about the hygiene of the times and how this building preserves a family history to this day.
And here we are, last moments of this very hectic, but beautiful year. 2023 has been busy in all areas of life, but I am happy and I can pull of 90% of my wish list. The wish list is long, the “to do’s” are plenty, the word boredom is not in my vocabulary. L I F E
I am doing a small personal paragraph in my iPhone notes of resolutions for 2024, because there are some bad traits in “busy”, so I want to improve on quality, not quantity, so I need to make compromises with my petty 24 hrs a day. But that being said, I am gonna try and commit to more cultural ventures in my “out of work” hours, because the show must go on.
Thank you to every single person and organisation who invited me along to be their photographer.
In the last breath of the summer I want to share a story about February 2023. I have recently returned my annual well deserved trip home for the summer break.
In all honesty I was suppose to press the “publish” button days before I travel, but work got in a way. The second attempt was on the last week on the day when I was with my mum, helping her work (distracting her really), but this one cannot be rushed to be publish, so I carried away being on holiday until I have settled back into my life routine back in the UK.
Over the years whenever I go to Latvia, camera is with me and I capture the outings, the weird and wonderful and I always call them HOME GLORY. I used to consider that as a body of work that trails my practice in a way that I can’t do here. Also over the years I have focused less on taking it on as a job and I produced less photos, less touristy stuff and for the funny personal quick fixes I use my phone. It essentially gives me more freedom to produce less, but more meaningful images, filtering through moments when camera is a work tool and when I do it for the pure beauty for the moment. For more casual and less intrusive presence I trust my phone photography techniques and most of the time it don’t disappoint. So this whole story contains phone photographs only.
This story isn’t about the sad reason of why I flew home suddenly in February, this story isn’t really about my END OF LIFE SERIES continuance, this story isn’t my typical blog content, but its a good story.
This story is about three blood-related women sharing a grieving period and trying to find the best way how to work through it. Me, my mother and my sister.
My grandma passed away quite suddenly in February 2023 and I of course packed my suitcase, paused my life here and went home. My grandma was steadily coping with age related problems, bed bound, but always had good spirit. Things turned bad quite quickly. My mothers mother she was, the last grandparent in my family, the last sane relative (you will see why if you continue reading and no hard feelings, we try and have a sense of humour about it) from my mothers side, so it was not just ones passing, it was also an end to a generation.
The difference between my granddads passing and this was that I arrived after it happened, so the initial wave of shock and sudden loss transitioned into next stage: funeral was planned and arranged, all the dreadful admin was done and grandmas favourite dress was drycleaned. I thank my sister for being for holding my mums hand through this.
When I arrived, we had to order pastries and nibbles, coffee and wine for the wake, and the rest of the time was for us to be with and for each other.
Due to short notice I had to pick a flight that was not the most convenient. I flew to Vilnius. Never not flown directly to Riga and I thought that it will be a dreadful hassle, but luckily my sister loves a good road trip and so her and my mum came to pick me up.
At my arrival I was greeted with nippy cold weather and layer of snow: both things I miss living in the UK, so I wasn’t complaining too much. However my mum every five minutes complained how bad the winter is, the roads are awful and wished the cold would stop biting her nose.
In one of the towns we stopped for a coffee and we seized the opportunity to visit famous Lithuanian thrift shops. My mum is not a big fan of being part of the haul, she likes to receive the goods instead, but she joined that day and almost bought a leather handbag (turned out to be fake).
The thrift shops in Lithuania are full of funny brand knockoffs and interesting fashion pieces and in the past we have been asked to leave because we cannot hide our amusement and cry from laughter. This time the same : hilarious pieces and nearly kicked out. Here are some of the best ones:
and this fashion icon:
Don’t get me wrong, if you look and have the patience to ramage, you can find some real gold pieces, brand designs, so I love thrift shopping, but sometimes clothes and other things found drives me and my sister hysterical.
On the way back we slagged off insane Lithuanian drivers and watched the Soviet Architecture in snowy grey cities.
My mum: ” Anet, on the way here we saw pussywillow branches on the side of the highway”
Me: “shall we stop and steal some?”
My mum: “yeah sure”
We did, we giggled and took them home.
The next story is about my auntie. My auntie for many decades have been a fruitloop and I have never been a big fan of her for million reasons, I used to visit her because she lived with my grandma, so I always patiently “sucked up” her nonsense. Due the family loss and the fact that her closest person passed away, I wanted to see her and wish my condolences. And not very surprisingly she made herself the biggest victim and the whole visit (and others that came in that week) was ALL ABOUT HER. I don’t want to write paragraphs about every single time when she was an asshole, and those times when she was treating her family, mother, father, sister like sh*t, but she’s always been the weird, selfish, narcissistic and nonsense auntie that we cannot bare without wanting to slash our skulls open. By us I mean my mum, sister and me. My grandparents of course had less choice or choice to ignore it, because she was the “you poor thing” kind of character. My auntie lived all her adult life with my grandparents, worked probably a whole year in her lifetime (she is 67 now), never brought any actual use to the household and never had a boyfriend. She is a typical spinster with a cat, no life and no hobbies, everyone is stupid, useless and she is the victim of the injustice. In her opinion mother is a failure, I am the run-away and my sister is the grumpy cat, but probably most favourite of us all.
All her cats that she had were not very well looked after and all were called Rudis (bad luck to name new cat with an old cats name, especially when the death was tragic). Auntie never allow cats to be selfish independent ferrels and vet doctors are mythical creatures, so whenever we visit, we just feel sorry for Rudis (all of them)
When my grandma got poorly my auntie had to step up her game, finally give back what she has taken, be useful, be more grateful. Unfortunately it wasn’t quite the case and it was a tough time for the family. My mum wanted to get a carer, but my grandma refused to let a stranger into the house, so she managed a lot of things herself. We felt really sad that our auntie not being employed and having all this time is incapable to unconditionally do the housework, look after grandma, cook healthy meals. We were angry actually. Things our auntie did, we heard about them all the time and how hard it is – that too we heard so many times. Her life was so easy, she didn’t know what hardship was, and in this moment of need it was hard for her? My mum works insane hours, my sister works two jobs and has quite a few life things, and a house to maintain, so the support they could give was offered, but it was never good enough. We knew that grandma isn’t in a spa retreat in that house, but she stubbornly stayed and tried to be joyful/carry on. It must have been so lonely for her, not having her husband, love of her life there, seeing one window every day and be with my auntie.
The house was not very tidy: we had some fridge nightmares, layers of cobwebs and dinner invites were hygienically unsafe. we laughed, but really we should’ve cried.
That one last time I visited the house, I had a good look around and it was sad. It was sad that I will never see grandmas smile in there and it was sad that I don’t wanna be there anymore while my auntie habits the house.
On a happy note, when we went first time round, to see the empty bed and her book unread, her hair brush and sweeties she used to like, it was overwhelmingly sad. We sat down for a chat with coffee and talked about grandma. The day was grey and snowy, but at that very moment sun came out, and I bloody well knew it was grandma smiling at us. Unforgettable last memory of grandmothers presence for me.
Usually when I am home I spend most of my time at my childhood home. My sister is taken over the household and the house is so warm and cosy, mixture of old and new memories. It felt appropriate to change the scenery and be with my mum, so I stayed at my mums place. She has her own little sanctuary flat in city for herself, it is tiny and oversees the urban landscape of Jelgava. We have had a great New Years Eve one year overlooking the cities fireworks.
I of course prefer my childhood home in the countryside, I have enough of city living back here in the UK, but this time I really wanted to be there.
I cooked tea, we did some baking (but I cannot remember what we baked), we had little games night with my sister and ordered pizza, we chatted, spend long evenings talking about grandma and sipping tea in her little kitchen. Again, despite the circumstances, it was the silver lining. I cannot remember the last time I spent a week with my mum. It was incredibly lovely.
The morning of the funeral was cold and crisp. It is never pleasant and you are never really prepared. There is a certain routine in the morning before such occasion: minimal make up (double think if you want mascara or not), black clothes that have been ironed twice, fluff remover linen roll, one coffee, but you crave two and the dreadful walk to the car. The whole process switches from sadness and grief, to actual morning/getting ready rush.
We separated the pack: ones picking up pastries, ones picking up flowers and then someone had to (flip a coin) pick up auntie.
We are fortunate to have a plot among gracious trees near the entrance and the little chapel is beautiful. I have always loved cemeteries, place of green and quiet, respect for nature and for all resting there. No one bothers you there, no one stares, mutual respect for surroundings and personal space. And a beautiful place where to celebrate ones last journey. It was sad and beautiful.
It was a beautiful service, we had a singer and her voice was angelic. We thought that our grandma would have approved.
As any funeral and saying goodbye for last time, holding ones hand who’s heart is broken is really hard. But it happens and there is nothing to be done. So we just stick together.
My mums best friend came and that really put a relief smile on our faces. She is a funny, blunt, “take no shit” strong character and we hugged in joy when we picked her up from the train station. She is like that one trusted person who will get you through any life difficulties, she will be there to help, advise or pull you by your collar and tell you to get your shit together, or just simply make you laugh and give you a hug.
We needed her there, our mum really needed her there. In fact the last time I saw her was at my grandads funeral, really puts in perspective how funerals can be sad and unwanted ceremonies, but they bring people back together.
After the funeral we had a small gathering with hot drinks and pastries to say those last things, remember the good, talk about grandmas life and shared forgotten memories. We were looking at photographs, remembering how her and grandad used to sit in a garden all dressed in their best summer clothes, just enjoying the shade in the apple yard always together. My auntie used to take photos quite a bit, and always noted the date. Comes handy for decades later when your own brain gone into mush and you forget things. We laughed too, as my grandma liked a story and a joke. . And that’s what the day of funeral is: you dread it, you live it, you cry and feel broken, but there comes a moment when you are able to remember their lives and smile about them. And then you find your new future without them and learn to accept and grieve.
The remaining days after the funeral was spent in various ways. The in-between of “their back to normal”, me lingering about (always feels like a holiday for everyone when I am home), full-on crisp and magical winter days and freezing winter nights, my dad being my usual bonkers self, my mum wanting to get her head back into work mode and ongoing joys being around my sister.
We went to the gym, we went on snowy walks and drives, we ate loads of Latvian pastries and goodies, we piled wood, we played with cat and shovelled a lot of snow.
It was purposeful week, every minute was spent meaningfully. Even the things we did after the funeral, we made sure it counts. I don’t want to say that grandmas passing bonded us, but this time the trio was really connected. I have never stopped admiring how families work – they love you despite, my family are still with me, even after 14 years apart. My dad finds it the hardest, I get slack every so often for being a run-away and the question of when I am coming back with no return flight is asked a lot. But with no choice (the family contract) he still is glad to see me and loves me. My mum has grown closer to me in all the years I have been away and she is so supportive. Agnes, my sister is a whole other level of pure love and respect for each other, my life would not be the same without her. The way I have laughed with her is insane and she is the only person who will take me hundred percent how I am, no questions asked. Worth a million these things innit?
This is a very personal insight into my life that is parallel to who I am for most. It has been quite hard to write something that you think or know in your brain cells and heart, but never really wrote it out in actual words. This blog post has taken me a while, it had to feel right (and I am not quite sure it is, but it MUST BE FINISHED NOW), some chapters have been rewritten several times. The hard part was to stick to the story and not to start telling you all the “beef” that happens on all my visits with all parties involved back home. When I say I go on holiday to Latvia, rarely it actually is a typical get-away. It is a bag full of adventures, being home, some damn good food tales, roady trips, seeing old faces, small attempts to get the feel for “do I live here”, being a Latvian and of course being me as I am here in the UK. In August we went to see some Agneses close fiends and walked their dog on a hot summer night. They openly said that we are both a bit crazy and that my sister is the most adult out of both of us. My justification for this “accusation” is simple: when I am in Latvia on holiday, I have no job, no adult responsibilities, no set mealtimes, no reasonable bedtime, its all -let loose- business. That’s a luxury guys that I am so grateful for.
I wish that this story reminds you of something from your own family story.
Don’t judge, I am aloud to be a little peasant once in a while.
Delayed and delayed again, but better late than never – this happened. Irony in the weather contrast, it was frosty cold when the exhibition opening took place and I am typing this 30+
OUR BIG PICTURE presents THROUGH OUR EYES EXHIBITION A photographic exhibition showcasing work by six emerging women photographers from North East Lincolnshire and the Humber Region
Curated by emerging producer and photographer Abbie Jennings
The exhibition displays work that explores themes around identity, gender and perspectives of the world. The exhibitions aims to challenge perceptions, encourage conversation and celebrate diversity in photography.
The official part above and now the tales of what went on
Back in December 2022 I received a surprise email from an unknown person, who turns out a fantastic young lady, who gets me on many creative levels and almost is like my sister from another mister. Abbie invited me to be part of the regional women-only exhibition and future collaborations.
It happened at the time where I was very busy with photography that wasn’t my own practice, all work was exclusively WORK. After Covid this were weird anyway and my life was upside down different to my old me, so the invitation was exactly what `I needed to spark back into the mode of creating a story, creating meaningful (to me initially) content. Note that this wasn’t just my experience: further down the line having conversations with other girls that turned to to be the case for some of photographers. The luxury to be creative only and make living is super hard and if you are not in the right circle or time frame, your inner creative dilutes into the world of work.
The part were I had to choose what to exhibit was straight forward: unfinished business in my family-loss related body of work that continued my “End Of Life” series was that thing that was in the top draw. Back in 2021 I created a digital format of the work where I spoke in few words, but exhibiting and continue the discussion with myself and the potential audience was “to be continued”. It was just the perfect finale for the photographic series and a promising start for new things and people, collaborations and, of course, continuing talking about loss, my Latvian heritage and how the society taboos gives a starting platform for a slightly challenging work.
Couple of weeks prior the exhibition all were invited to visit the space in Grimsby to help set up and meet each other. I am not shy to admit that I am curious being so I went to meet Abbie, Jo and other people involved. The exhibition space is located in the building that sits in the heart of Grimsby and has so many perks(beautiful flooring) and even though not initially an art gallery, it fits the purpose perfectly.
Upon arrival I fell in love with everything surrounding me: the people, space, glimpses of other photographers work and the best part was to be shown where my work will be exhibited. I was given a space in the corner on the other side from the main entrance with an old cast iron fire place in the centre. One particular photograph from my selected photographs was taken in a really similar place: same cast iron fireplace, white walls, parquet floor and the sense of old building. The space oddly perfect (explains the wool mittens in the exhibition). How did curator space knew that out of all these six girls, that place is right for me? It was a good start, good experience to figure out placement and order of the photographs and be involved.
Another part of the tale is my family, my mother. The exhibited work is around my grandads sudden illness and death, and my time in Latvia during. Only now, after over three years I understand that for my mum it was the first close person she lost, her dad. When my grandma past away this winter, it felt like a chapter to close and that chapter is in all of our books. During university years I heavily explored and photographed the idea of death being an obvious ending and funeral is the end of life celebration. I delved deep into research, I photographed for exploration purposes many areas of the subject around death and end of life and, looked at my own culture, upbringing and ways of how I used camera to tell the story that I saw as the unavoidable. My grandads passing was a test : was I really able to connect or disconnect with death in my own life and capturing that in photographs. I always thought and believed that it would be a tool to help and not “close the emotions” and allow myself to grieve in my own way, through the camera see what else comes with grief, what happens to the persons life after they pass and observe other people. This was my first loss in an adult life and long was the days when my dad dragged me to many village funerals, long ago since my godmothers funeral where I was genuinely sad, but laughed at the pastors horrible singing skills at the funeral service, I basically had no adult skills in dealing with loved ones death. I didn’t know until arrived and told my mum that during this process I will be photographing: from last hospital visit, to funeral arrangements to the actual funeral and, everything that happened to us during those days. My mums reaction was acceptance. We didn’t discuss it much, but I knew I had her blessing. So for this exhibition it was very important that she came. My mum was already proud for the fact that I have this opportunity, but I think the reaction and feedback from others, the opening evening itself and photographs exhibited made her even more prouder. It was just nice.
The opening was a success, many people came, the final touches and overall curation work was exceptional, other photographers work was amazing and it was something very special to be part of. My friends from far and wide came, my British family came and I will never forget that evening.
This exhibition was celebrating female photographers from the Humber Region and we did indeed seized the opportunity. Th best part was the variety and different angles how we each see the world around us. I guess we brought to table the most relevant “its us” topic for this exhibition.
Since I have revealed the glimpse of our meet up in April, I can tell that we did meet and we did chat (had biscuits and tea granny style). We were invited to meet and reflect, sit at the round table and build new connections, build small and big plans and just hear each others stories. It was super, super nice and for me personally, it was great to meet new people that are working in the industry and trying to sustain creativity at the same time. Some girls are fresh out of the university and just starting to learn the ways of working, but blimey! how it bought me back to 5 /6 years ago when I was the same. It was valuable to hear the joys, the struggles, the financial side of things, expectations and demands to meet in this complicated world of being photographer. We built some plans, we connected on WhatsApp to be in a reach of each other and hopefully we will continue to collaborate and build amazing photo stories that fulfil us, and get some new content for our next exhibition.
During the time when the exhibition was open to public I visited couple of times. The time when I visited with my partner,I was not in the best shape(just after a belly/sickness bug-yum),so I was melancholically reflecting on the windowsill after I finished photographing the exhibition for blogging purposes.
The finale: what an opportunity, so much gained, so much thought and I am forever grateful to the OUR BIG PICTURE team. Thanks for hard work, love and care that went into this.
To the spring chickens: grab these opportunities without a second thought, these will give you confidence, learning platform and you will meet people. I remind myself this regularly. To the old dogs: always go back to creative, even if it’s just a little bit not to forget how and why this journey started.
My own future: lets just see what I can and can’t pull off this year; blog content for 2023 culture is not going that well (time management and lack free time), plans to go back to university pending and well, in-head built plans to do more than just work – always there. But all good.
POST SCRIPTUM: This blog post has been delayed since April, but I also didn’t want to rush it, as I considered this as my post-exhibition appreciation post. I wanted to really try and say the right thing but I my own way.
and yes, it is way over estimated spring peak of daffodils and grass cutters coming out of their dungeons, first warm day and sun biting your nose at 11 am, but you know how life doings suck you in and you wake up on the 8th of May and want to welcome the spring via blog
Basically me in a nutshell : always behind the schedule or just hitting the deadline.
It has been a while since I have casually posted some photographs because of pure love for it, its been a while since my last culture blog (disclaimer: not hitting my targets for 2023 so far) and it’s been a while since I actually had a room in my head to just create silly little nothings of life through photographs.
My camera is usually carried to and from work, CF card copied on to my hard drive for the next available hour to do post-processing, or 70% of my time these days I will work with 360 cameras, and so the work dust layers on my Canon for months. It goes without saying that I miss being a creative.
And the arrival of the spring welcomed some external changes to my life, almost made my life a little less difficult, so I am positive that I will be able to make some internal changes too (all these above are purely adult life shit, professional bollocks, I am happily in love if you are asking). I started with my new tradition (three years in a row) to visit a location in South Cave over the Easter for a little spring walk and photograph the detail of the spring. It may seem random, but I tried to photograph what I am feeling with my skin, smelling in the air and seeing with my eyes, and the awakened ground I walk on. It may not be the ultimate portfolio content, but it is something for myself, to retrieve my senses and relationship with the camera.
The things I have done in the last few months outside of everyday work included an exhibition (blog coming very soon about this) and I have ran two photography classes for a company based in Australia (ORBLE) in Hull (ask if interested as this will be an ongoing business). Both did miracles to my none-working side and reminded me in a very cliché way of why I ended up being a photographer. Meeting likeminded creatives, exhibiting a very personal body of work in a perfect place for a photographer from North, meeting enthusiasts and learning photographers, passing my knowledge and love for it has been so helpful. It has worked as a driving force to make impossible possible, switch on the double-ninja energy I embody and get shit done. Full time photographer for an estate is a big commitment that I have signed up for, always making sure that I keep my freelancing going, so the leftover time has to be used up to live, feed, indulge in physical hobbies and have a life, but I am determined to create work and be a photographer for myself too.
Back to spring. I don’t really rave about the arrival of spring as majority of people, I always like the stretch of February and linger in winters’s safety, but there is a moment when it hits my brain with a happy wave. Passage between hibernating and summer busyness. Because I love summer: that’s when the best plans come to life, my body and face gets sun-kissed, have a lot of warm nights and go on holidays (mainly go back home to Latvia and cut grass)or local trips. After summer comes my favourite season autumn, then my birthday and then Christmas, and then back into hibernating. So these photographs is a moment right before the spring kicks in as a welcome. Today I can say that I am already buzzing for some of my summer plans: work and leisure, so it kind of is a delayed reaction, but I wanted to share this with you.
We all have our own ways of making our way through life: professional life, adult life, leisure and personal stuff and I know that occasionally it is a guessing game, but we just have to keep going. I keep going regardless of what shit shows I face, so for a change I can tell you : I am great. It isn’t easy, but the sole fact that I am writing this in peace, at my desk with no errors or stresses is a great and promising start.
As per tradition this blog post is here just before we clock off for 2022: mic-drop kind of send off from me. It’s been a funny year you know, but amongst all the “life give you lemons, some good for a lemonade, some can go in the bin” there has been culture outings and some awesome jobs in the city.
You will see that my culture wonders are not as frequent in my 2022, but I still believe that our city gives us cultural treats for us to feast on and we embrace it. To some I wishfully never went to, but things I did attend made me smile, wonder and love the city (you know I am a big fan of Hull).
This year was big and important for myself, and it was almost like stepping on the other side, where the light is. The start of 2022 was tough and most days my head was rolling into the mud, my body trying to catch it, but I didn’t give in. New home came, I found somebody who is worthy of me trying to stay sane and hopeful for the future, then my new lush job came (job interview with a glass of wine and a onesie: not a luxury, but necessity), great freelance jobs kept popping up and then I found love. On the very last day of the year, I look back and it was the best year in decades. Today I am grateful and ready for 2023. We all know it’s going to be a difficult year, everyone skint and worried, world around us is falling apart, opinionated and angry species that poison the happy and good, climate change probably is going to throw some surprises our way and so on. As individuals we need to focus on our own good deeds, be nice and do our best, be open minded and engaged, care and love, respect and never take for granted. And the shit that come our way will be easier to deal with. Simple, isn’t it? And never forget about art and culture, we all need it in our lives.
Which brings me to my main subject: CULTURE IN HULL 2022
2022 started with a spectacular event across the city that Freedom Festival Trust trust brought to us: The Awakaning. “It’s initial creation was a way of driving audiences to significant cultural landmarks within the city of Hull as part of an outdoor cinema experience. Beautifully using the environment and the historic buildings that line the streets by projecting on to them at night, Re:Score allowed the audience to connect with warm, nostalgic footage from the past with a reimagined, bespoke musical soundtrack.”
Amongst everyone’s favourite events in Hull the light shows will always be on the top of the list, to layer Hull landmarks in stories about Hull with visuals and lightshows works magic. The attendances were amazing and in my personal spectrum, me and my partner learned things as we went along.
Ferens Art Gallery as usual gave an interesting exhibition BRICK BY BRICK by Andy Morris
Designer Andy Morris, aka Little Big Art, is based in Cardiff and specialises in making LEGO® themed artworks. He has exhibited his work internationally.
His work, Popcorn Time! 2018, was exhibited in Ferens this year and aren’t we just lucky. It was fun, as cheesy as it sounds, but it was also very detailed and genius/beautiful. Kids area had a space to build your won and me at 32 seized the opportunity.
At the same time there was more exhibits that tickled my fancy too:
Freedom Festival this year was not pencilled in my freelance diary, but on the last day I went out to see couple of the events.
SIRENS at the Tidal Barrier, GF Smith PORTAL: A JOURNEY THROUGH COLOUR down Humber Street, 2Face Dance LAST ORDERS down Princess Dock Street were my last-minute choices. All of which brought smiles, inquisitive thoughts, questions and nevertheless another link to the city built through cultural experience
GF Smith exhibition photographs have vanished in my archives, but one for the eye and memory I suppose.
UNBOXED ABOUT US in April was the favourite. I guess another light show in the city that was a visual spectacular, but for me it was very special. In silence at late hours, I visited Queen Victoria Square and found my seat. I watched it I my own time, in the space I built for my self with someone I love.
I visited Humber Street Gallery on few occasions for leisure and work purposes, nice stroll down the lovely street always ends there.
BLOOMBERG NEW CONTEMPORARIES 2022 was hosted at the Humber Street Gallery in November. It contained various artist and artworks and as stated is an annual survey exhibition of emerging and early career artist. From my own Google search Humber Street Gallery kind of nailed this: it is prestigious opportunity and lucky us [again]
Throughout the year I also did some cool freelance jobs closely Hull culture related:
Absolutely Cultured FAST FOOD MEGAVERSE by The Herd Theatre . This was commissioned cultural outing, it was family-friendly, all age groups welcome type of happy event.
Humber Street Gallery hosted one of the best things of 2022. Silent Uproar is an award-winning theatre company based in Hull and I had an opportunity to photograph one of their shows.
Big thing this year was getting involved with Risky Cities Project for Hull University. I was asked to cover many events and I loved it.
“The city of Hull and Humber estuary region has an 800-year history of living with water risks, including recorded floods from the 1250s onwards and several major floods since 2000. Despite this, research has found that residents have a low engagement with flood risks and adaptation measures, such as flood alert systems.
In response, the local councils, alongside the Environment Agency, Yorkshire Water and the University of Hull, have developed the Living with Water Partnership with the principle aim of increasing awareness and engagement in the region.
The Risky Cities project will contribute to this partnership by drawing on Hull’s long history of living with water – as recorded in its artistic and cultural heritage – to raise climate awareness and build flood resilience today and for the future”
The project focused on engaging with local communities across the city and that was the “juice” of the project. The conversation around the subject was vital and I learned so much throughout the workshops, talks and exhibitions.
New Year’s culture resolution: to be more out in the culture, monthly visits. More frequent none-work related culture wonders. This is the seventh-year culture blogging anniversary and I want to celebrate double that, so let’s get cultured.
Can you remember last summer, that first festival/outing after the boring pandemic? And how Humber Street Sesh came back in a form of Inner Street Sesh? Well this year it is back! Back with its full package, back in Hull Marina.
This blog post been pending since last September: I was waiting for the perfect moment to celebrate. After it never saw daylight in late September as a farewell to the summer, I though to cheer everyones January (just right before I do my tax return haha). When that didn’t happen I thought that this blog post could welcome summer 2022 arrival and swing us in to a first back-to-normal summer. And here we are just under a week away from HUMBER STREET SESH 2022: call me genius or what.
It’s not a secret that I have had an interesting year that I have somehow survived and actually thrived from ‘then’ to now, and so my blogging practice has disappeared in everything, but I knew that I will be back.
Little bit about the last years Inner Street Sesh: it was amazing (thanks for all access Media Pass), it was the perfect ending to the summer as the weather complimented the music, crowds danced the day away, smell of street food wrapped Queens Gardens and it was just a little inner street magic.
I fell in love with a band BDRMM, saw some old faces and of course shot some pretty cool images. live music (LIFE Band), rave, dance, Silent Disco (my favourite), face paint with my Queen Tracey, graffiti, BMX stunts and of course our own Hull quirk <3
DJ sets, LIFE Band , Chiedu Oraka
Thank you for still being here and enjoy scrolling through past than soon will repeat on a bigger scale:
p.s. check out my instagram anetesooda_lovephoto feed for some moving thing I created in order to sell you this blog post.
Pandemic time keeping explained in short – you either have all theme in the world through this or no time at all. I’ve been B apart from odd moments of blunt ignorance to the global pandemic and complete social avoidance. But I assure you that I AM ALIVE AND SHOOTING. Hence why this short snippet of 2021 in Hull and culture comebacks : you’re welcome.
Ponto Cafe Hull
When I say comeback I more mean my own comeback to the much loved Hull galleries, culture hotspots, local shops and other outings. Sure, many areas of our pre pandemic normality had a comeback, but I had a choice to make to either carry on work only, or spruce up and do what I loved to do before.
During spring/summer Hull Vigil rose my attention and I applied to be one of the participants, so obviously years long landmark at the very top of Hull College was captured. Combined with visit to the Hull School of Art & Design degree show adapted to pandemic normality. I was good, but not enough for my hungry camera eye.
At Ferens Art Gallery all year round here is something to see, so on more than one occasion I visited for an indulgence of art. Pride of our City was one of the exhibitions I saw. Pride in our City explores Hull’s LGBTQ+ history and documents people’s experiences of being part of LGBTQ+ communities in the city.
This time on a separate visit I indulged of art collections solidly there to please my eye. Ferens is often a place where I like to people watch and slowly digest the of who comes and goes through gallery rooms.
In 2020 and 2021 Was raving about Plant and Paint shop down Humber Street. Still am and consider that as one of the best success stories of Hull. The shop and Lara who probably doesn’t recognise me are just what you need on a rainy day or if you struggle for gift ideas, or just want to gaze at plants. For me personally its like a local TK Maxx and can solve all my problems. Yes, its a shop but whit its own culture.
Prospect Street Gallery
Prospect Street Gallery is a little hidden gem with a lot of prospect. Each visit is a humble culture engagement with a lot of talent exposed. Local, small and independent.
dot dot dot Humber Street Gallery always deliver interesting, controversial and funny. Or whatever you want to see and be exposed to in your own translation. On this occasion I visited the exhibition with someone who never been to anything of this kind and we rose a conversation about what art is and what it does to us and our outlook own cultural outlook. Of course, this was on the edge of what-the-hell, but I explained the this will speak to someone in a different way and we must not disregard art.
Cafes and walks
What is culture without a rainbow and a coffee break.
Social – comedy – Gigglees Live – Jacks Live Comedy
Comedy made a comeback and I was lucky to photography chunk of that. In fact during my last comedy gig, a comedian own stage said that comedy is a form of art despite Arts Council refusing to fund. I agree and will continue to support Hull Comedy scene.
HOF Food Hall came with a bang and I had to see it for myself. Twice in one day actually. Impressed with the internal design, orgiginal features and all the food indulgence and options to spend, spend, spend. It is beautiful butI wonder if HOF food hall is too posh for us humble working class and how long the hype will last. We shall see, but in the meantime I’ll keep visiting, buying expensive mayo and drink coffee at HOF.
Better late then never to officially rave about Oliver and Friends On Every street amazing merchandise and super cozy woolly hat that I purchased. Such a proud Hull moment.
Right, that’s 80% of my culture engagements. Inner City Sesh still pending on my to-do list and other bits, but this is little old year wave a goodbye kind of thing and a marker point that II am alive and 2022 will be great year. That’s all we can hope for.
Almost my escape, but more a general way of some peoples escape from the urban rush and recently Covid strains.
These series are a short personal experience from being in allotment with the seasonal garden work and chats over the fence. Last summer I spent few days here helping and catching sun, this spring returned.
Maybe my upbringing, maybe my love for outdoors, maybe my wishful thinking that I have green fingers, or all combined is what draws me to these mystical allocated zones in cities for people to connect with the basics.
My friend who owns the allotment is a straight forward woman with a big heart. She invited me in, gave me opportunity to learn craft, help pulling weeds and eat the goodness,
I am hoping to create more photographs over the season, as this indeed was one of my favourite pastimes in the pandemic,
We each found our ways to cope, to last and to still enjoy life and there was many people taking advantage of the allotment. What was your escape?
This was when we were able to do fun things, mingle, to breathe on each other and stay over. I was c h e e s e f a c e happy and excited to go on my first real British National Holiday Mystery Tour with other three friends. I was excited about the mystery location, about the grannies on the coach, about eating crisps on the coach and, most importantly, wonder around new cities, soak up new culture and relax. We even had a little betting game of where we will go. If I correctly remember I was the closest one to guess with putting Coventry in line and I won a pint of beer. Lichfield and Derby on the day 2 were our mystery locations, and, although not really tropical and exotic at first thought, it was a pretty good. We actually got soaked more than normal in August, and it was rather nippy for the time of the year, but we survived that too.
Since the current states is a bit plain in my line of work, I’m finally getting time to edit and revisit old personal and semi personal imagery/content.
The best thing about the concept of mystery trip is the unknown. No pre planning was that little freedom. We just set ourselves to a random direction and strolled through beautiful town centre through Lichfield Cathedral
It goes without saying that the cathedral was gorgeous and it had little exhibits [including a children’s play area with a coffin as a centrepiece].
It resembled Hull Minster and how these incredible buildings can be used not just to pray, but also bring communities and people together with art flare in the middle.
The cathedral is enormous and takes time to walk around, but the view up is stunning.
Lichfield was welcoming and friendly, good vibes and all that was enhanced by an accidental farmers market with something for everyone – alpaca meat, apple moonshine and ice lolly artworks.
It was actually funny visit to a museum/art gallery with three grown ups with different interests in life. We laughed, learned stuff and were fascinated by the collection of bugs and creepy crawlers. Skeletons, drawing stuff, assembling horse and escaping hunger with weird sausage rolls.
I loved the intense red at the Bare Bones. From seeing so many exhibitions over the years valued its great ability to educate and amaze at the same time.
But it was beautifully set out and organised teaching me all about British Isles wildlife.
And there was there rest of the museum and gallery – again, very good and educational with not many yawns.
It was a shame that the rain spoiled seeing the city, but we probably wouldn’t have seen these beauties, so all good and forgiven. We did had Derby sausage rolls and saw the giant sheep. Plus visited the entertainment centre and played some indoor games.
Fun times, fun times. All being well we might be able to repeat that in 2025. Maybe. But for now we listen to Boris, say thank you for good health and plan our future dream destinations.
ANETE SOODA PHOTO 