a transition (the rumors are true) – updated below

Sorry I have not been blogging much lately.  Been a little turned off by complaints, busy with a newborn, and planning for a big move. Which brings me to this:

So, the rumors are true. I’ve been offered a fellowship to study in Dublin, and will be doing a PhD-by-research/production at Trinity College beginning October.  My dissertation and artworks will carry on in the vein they always have, with a focus on the implicit body. Here’s the FAQ, so the rumor-mill doesn’t get too out of hand.

1. yes, my family is of course coming with me
2. yes, we are coming back – we have not sold our flat, and Nicole is applying for leave from Wits
3. yes, this is the same department and program that Cape Town artist Ralph Borland is studying in (tho our funding comes from different sources). We are great friends (studied together in New York), and have both been researching departments suitable for our work for a while now, all the while sharing our findings. We’re hoping to continue our collaborative teaching, as well as perhaps start some collaborative art projects, while overseas.
4. yes, this blog WILL change.  Altho I’d love to have more guest bloggers writing about the scene here in Jozi, I can’t help it if no one bites, and won’t be able to do much from Dublin. I’ll do my best to promote SA art there, and will cover any I see in Europe, as well as happily post any SA writings sent my way. I do not know what kind of life I’ll have in Dublin yet, so certainly don’t know what kind of blog I’ll have. Still, my research and art will be my top priorities, so expect less on this site until we return
5. yes, I’ll still be connected to SA. I already have a show booked for January in Joburg (and am coming back for it), and have another trip planned to be here in September.  I hope to travel said exhibition to Cape Town in ’08 if possible, and/or will book another exhibition in Joburg, of newer work. I’m also planning to participate in group shows – Johannesburg is one of the only two places I have ever called home (the other being New York).
6. yes, atjoburg and SAarts will carry on. The former, along with The Upgrade! Johannesburg, will be run by co-founder Christo Doherty (tho I will consult from afar). The latter will carry on as it has, on a submission basis but edited and run by myself, Simon Gush and Bronwyn Lace.
7. Surprisingly, a few people have asked me about my Wits teaching, and thought I was "leaving my post." Altho I still occasionally do workshops there, and I helped design the Interactive Arts MA and was its core part-time lecturer for 3 years, I have never been there full-time (or half-time, or with any title), and left the core lecturer part-time job in 2005. As an aside – and just to be clear – Christo (Head of Digital Arts) and I are on more than excellent terms as colleagues and friends (his recommendation helped greatly with my application to Trinity, and we’re planning to do some traveling together in Europe when he’s on leave in the second half of next year), and I hope to be involved with the department again on my return.
8. update. We expect to be in situ in Ireland for about two years. My funding is for three, but  my supervisor has agreed to let me finish up the dissertation at a distance, allowing Nicole to get back to work, and me more time and space to write in SA while getting back into its rhythm…

Let me know if you have any questions or whatever, but please also wish us luck! We leave on 25 October.