This day really was like going back to become the member of an academic institution. I attended a safety lecture in which I learnt about the colours of fire extinguishers and how the EU had screwed up the colour coding. I went around to Janna's place to visit her and her husband, W, and their baby, G. I ate most of their pizza and then went back to the department with Janna where I had my photo taken and a bit later went to an introduction to the department lecture for new students and members of the department.
Some time inbetween I looked at images proposed for the walls of the new bit of the department where I will have my desk. I felt a bit bogus being given responsibility for choosing the images they have to live with. I mean just because I'm called artist in residence doesn't mean I have to foist my taste on everyone.
Then a little drinks affair to socialise and meet people. Everyone was very welcoming which is nice. The thing is they never asked to have an artist in residence, to have someone come knocking on their doors asking inane questions about cosmology. Some people ask me what I'm going to do and I have to try and explain that while I can't give them a specific answer I have an idea as to how to proceed towards the point at which I can.
Posted by Jem Finer at October 8, 2003 10:52 PM