London week.

This trip is always good!  First, Tate Modern and Tacita Deans huge film exhibit
in the Turbine - but for me the Highlight was Gerhard Richter!!  Absolutely wonderful.
I didnt realise how varied his work is - its so difficult to say how great this exhibition
is - that my suggestion is GO AND SEE IT!  I believe its still on until 8th January 2012.
There are 13 rooms full of Richters work - loads of beautiful art.  I also purchased some
special paper I wanted in the shop so I`m hoping to complete my paper works next week.
Assessment is looming and I must complete my work for this semester, to enable me to
continue with confidence.
Tuesday morning was the Saatchi Gallery and most of the work was from Germany.  It was very eclectic and there were some I liked very much.  Unfortunately, I dropped my
trusty camera outside whilst trying to post the Lightworks postcard - it did actually take
the picture - but it is giving a bit of trouble in downloading to computer.   I`m sure there
is a way!  We were really lucky with the weather in London and I`m sure the walking
did us the power of good.  The West End Galleries were great and the variations of
works with light and movements amazing. Paul McCarthy is worth a research if you
are looking for really up to the minute art.  Explicit some were, but thats art.
On Wednesday morning as a threesome we decided to trawl the National Gallery, but
we had no chance of seeing the Da Vinci as the queue was around the building - still
The Portrait Gallery was beckoning one of us and as one of the two left we went into
the Photographic Competition exhibition - and that again was good and busy.  We had
refreshment then went on to the Kings Place which is just around the corner of Kings
Cross, where the Portrait Competition was being shown (In which our friend and

Leaving the Tate.

local artist, Linda Ingham had been selected) in a vast contemporary space which appears to be used for conferences and meetings in amongst the art-work.  The
competition had already been judged but being selected is an  honour in itself. A great deal of the work was self-portrait as was Linda`s work.  I think by this time we were all
running on gas!  It was now time to depart London for Home.
Thursday brought another rush to bear as I| made my way to meet Barrie and Caroline

`Graffitti`  by Wooton Children.

at Wooton School to procede on with our promise to help the children to make a
candle to present to the local church. It is in honour of the 200th year of the Church of
England Schools in the diocese. It has some finishing to be done by us and a plaque
to be put in place, which has yet to be inscribed on brass.
Onward with hope for reasonable marks - ciao!

 LIGHTWORKS LOGO EVERYWHERE!

EVEN AT THE SAATCHI!

Monday made the pace!!

Yes - Monday started with a dash to Wooton from arrival at college on bus! into Baz`s

bus. We met Caroline in Wooton, and the three of us arrived for a  very amiable meeting with Mrs. Zaitschenko, the Head at Wooton Primary, and we took note of necessary points - had a look round the school, surprisingly spacious and light, and very modern.  The discussion was re our work with the children to compose a gift for the C of E Church in lieu of the celebration this year of 200 years of the diocese, and also it happens to be the 400 year of the King James Bible.... our suggestion was a substantial wood piece - to hand over to the church on the 2nd December, at the Christingle service. It will entail going back to the school on 24th November to spend a day with the children in groups to make their marks on the large wooden candle we have spent this week preparing. Pics shown.  It measures 6ft tall by

3ft wide, and has had many coats of primer and then gold, and it is ready masked off for the artwork to be applied by the children.  It is intended to overlap some of the works and make it very colourful and lively whilst the masking and the relief will still give it the tidiness for the professional touch. We will then coat with varnish and attach the stand to stabilise it.  In between coats of paint etc, in 3D  we all tried to carry on with studio work - as we also have Utterby Festival to plan and attend.  Essay is coming along nicely!  My work with paper is progressing and the plaster head is in the next stage.  I had some suggestions re research at the crit and have been looking at that. John Latham - Artist and film maker, is really very interesting, especially his work with books. I am looking at Karla Black also - who has been nominated for the Turner Prize.

My wrapped books will be going to Utterby together with the screen prints to support the pulpit sculpture.  Work this semester has been so far quite hectic but definitely exciting.  I thrive on the buzz, and hope it continues.  Our partnership of three is so electric!!  Until next week - London trip - then Wooton - then work;  Ciao.

Tidy and ready!!

Crits started on Monday, and I must say they appeared to be quite relaxed and some of the feedback was relevant and positive for the artists I witnessed.  I am prepared I think, for tomorrow, and hope for some useful comments from my peers and tutor.  There was an induction planned and listed for Tuesday in Print room for Acid etching.  The mention of acid of course means we take care with things, and that is why we have inductions!  Sara, went through all procedures and we got to etch our plates in the acid.  I have not printed with it yet, so will report of the outcome when done. 
I got to make some metal brackets this week in 3D and was surprised at how easy it is to cut metal - with the right gear of course.  The brackets were to hang my wrapped books, and they are now in place in studio.  I continue to `play` with paper in a sculptural manner and maybe something will emerge from that.  I delivered some bulky items to college today - and asked Security to save any cardboard they may get as I intend to extend my `play` into the building of a carboard sculpture - quite what shape yet I do not know.  It may take the form of a head or an abstract piece.  Whatever comes, I am looking forward to starting it.  Got to check my sketchbooks now for the crit tomorrow - so,  ciao mi amici! a presto.

It`s good to be busy!

The first week in November and the progress in most art spaces is starting to reveal the simmering pot of ability amongst us. A lot of memory related work together with decay and re-birth or exorcising of past personal defunct baggage are in development stages. Barrie, Caroline and myself had an appointment this week(Tuesday) with Penny Would, a committee member of St. Andrews, Utterby with the possibility of putting some art work in place at the church to coincide with their Christmas Tree Festival, in three weeks time.

Discussion was long at the first meeting, (two hours), but of course we had to feedback to Chris, as the original request from Penny had gone through him.  Penny, mentioned that she would like some projection images/film on the ceiling of the church, in a similar vein to Lightworks!  We discussed this with Chris and we hope to be able to put some lights etc in, together with an atmospheric installation by Barrie, a sculptural piece by myself in or around the pulpit area, together with some murmuring parabels of sympathetic nature, and Caroline will create in the large window behind the altar - which is, although 14th century, very plain so will lend itself to possible use of lights and reflective qualities, which Caroline will work with.  There is also a small niche at the side of the entrance to the church in which an installation could be placed - watch this space for news of that, and subsequent actions and finalities.

On a  personal note, I have been making some chicken wire heads with a view to hang or attach some text to them.  I made a large one out of 50mm wire which didnt have the same finesse as the previous two so I decided to use that one to experiment with.  It didnt go as well as I would have liked but out of failure comes a glimmer of hope!  I will form another head out of some smaller wire just purchased and use another idea I have to complete the pieces.  String, is a great medium to wrap things up with.  The books collected will inevitably become secured in it soon.  I have done a few and they are quite aesthetic to view so when we had a workshop with two guest artists yesterday, I took them along as they requested that we bring a piece of work to collaborate with each other to form a typical gallery space and therefore curate together under guidance and input from the artists, an eclectic mix of works.  It went very well - so we all came away in a positive mood. 

The pics show some of the exhibits in our `White Cube` collaborative.

Next week we will be concentrating on crits.  It is two years since my last crit with April, so I`m hoping that it won`t be too daunting and as 3rd and 2nd year students are grouped together for crits, as in the collaborative curation, hopefully it will all turn out to be positive.  I have already started to compile notes towards my essay, so will read through and continue to extend it this weekend.  I indicated to Chris what I would like to do regarding `Lightworks` duties, and as I have interactive experience, both in my art work and previous professional work, I chose the children`s activity table, or explainer duties or perhaps an interchange during the evening with another student may be possible. I am happy to be placed anywhere to help the smooth running of the `Lightworks` spectacle. Tonight many people will be having a mini lightworks of their own, together with friends and family.  Whatever you`re doing - keep safe. Arrivederci!