The Timeraiser is coming! In a few short weeks on May 13th, Londoners will have the opportunity to appreciate local London art, and learn more about volunteering in the community. Participants bid on local artist’s work not with money but with volunteer hours. This is the first Timeraiser to occur in London so if you’re like me you may have some questions on what this event is all about. Luckily local artist Cheri Robinson whose work is included in the show, offered to answer some questions from GenNext volunteer Diana Bumstead. 

DB:  Cheri, How did you get involved in the Timeraiser?
CR: I received an e-mail from the London Arts Council initially regarding the opportunity.  I followed through, and was lucky enough to be chosen!

DB:  How long have you been painting and drawing?
CR:  I have been drawing, painting, and doing sculpture for over 20 years.  I graduated Bealart in '89, and attended Sheridan College's School of Crafts and Design - I have a 3 yr diploma in the hotglass studio. I started a small glass studio, but I slowed down when I had my children. I felt the urge to create, and I started painting out of my home about five years ago. I have been showing consistently since then in juried exhibitions, solo shows, and have won some awards.

DB:  What is it like being an artist in London? 
CR:  It is great to have the support from the London Arts Council. They have a great website, and offer artists a chance to list themselves, and see what's going on. I can only speak for myself, but I do believe there are a lot of artists here, and there are many opportunities to show work, and get involved.  However, finding full-time employment in the visual arts is rare. You have to create your own opportunities, and if you do find a job, it's usually temporary, low pay, and no benefits.  All the other artists I know have jobs in different fields. 

DB:  What piece did you submit for the Timeraiser? Can you tell us a little about it?
CR:  I submitted five works for jury. I chose work which had a connecting theme (breadtabs). The work which was selected is titled "Falling Breadtabs". 
A breadtab is the little piece of plastic which holds the bag of bread closed to keep it fresh.  I was originally collecting these for another art project - a calendar of sorts. I employed help from friends, and soon was overwhelmed with extras. I kept them in a mason jar, and loved how they looked as they fell into the jar, and the layers that were randomly created. This inspired a still life of the jar with tabs-(more realistic), and a close up view of the objects in the jar- (small paintings of falling tabs - colourful, pop-arty and more loosely rendered in a blind-contour style). The latter studies were brought to a larger scale when I produced "Falling Breadtabs". This is a fun piece which really jumps out from the wall.  This work was done in late 2007, and was included in a show I had in August 2008 titled "Breadtabs 08". It included all of the funkier works I had done in regards to this study on the lowly "breadtab", - 17 paintings of various sizes, and some unconventional sculpture. The subject matter deals with mass consumerism, multiples, finding interest in a common overlooked object, and underlying issues of danger/mortality. I see the shape of the tab as a modern symbol for these concepts.
 
DB:  Is there anything else you think potential Timeraiser participants should know about you, the artistic community in London, or more you think they should know about the event?
CR:  Whoever is the top bidder on my work, I just want to thank them for their interest. I am here to stay as a London Artist (and beyond).  I think this is a wonderful opportunity for artists, and also the volunteers that are ultimately helping the community. Thanks for the encouragement!

Prepared by: Diana Bumstead, GenNext volunteer and Timeraiser enthusiast.