degree journal: The `DREAM SYNDROME` effect!

degree journal: The `DREAM SYNDROME` effect!:  I cant tell you how the time has increased its momentum-  you know the feeling when you have a dream when it `s a necessity to run, and you...

The `DREAM SYNDROME` effect!

 I cant tell you how the time has increased its momentum-  you know the feeling when you have a dream when it `s a necessity to run, and you cant feel the movement in your legs?  thats how it feels with work right now!  two steps forwards and three steps back.
However, I am staying positive as the other one doesnt help - it just seems that there is so much to do to complete.  Analysing it though, it is just small parts of each item that needs some TLC.  The most trouble is the filming of my performance.  I tried again on Friday with help from Barrie, but the noise encroachment from the class next door was too much for the recording.  Sharon Parkinson from Media at Main site has given me a name of an enthusiastic person - unfortunately - I have had no luck with contact yet, but will try again tomorrow.

The Dissertation plan has been turned in via `Turnitin` so thats one off the list.  It may be presentations next week but I think I`m prepared for that.  The Tutors will have so much reading to do with all this for every student! 

I have decided to make my feet - which are only a possibility for the installation, from clay as the Mod roc one was too small with the skim of plaster for the shoes I bought, we`ll see what they turn out like - or if I will just use the shoes.

The Freud Museum has an exhibition of Louise Bourgeois on there until 27th May, so I have booked a trip to London on the 17th with an overnight stay at the Royal National, to see "The Return of the Repressed", and hopefully get a couple more galleries in as well.  £92.00 for return train and stay didnt seem too bad.   The above is one of my favourite sculptures from Bourgeois.  I am hoping to use Bourgeois within my Dissertation next year - thats if I dont change my mind, or indeed if something more appropriate shakes my roots.  Anselm Kiefer is keeping me occupied with his interpretations of Paul Celan`s poetry, especially `Death Fugue`.  The cultural guilt of the entire nation seems to be displayed in his work.  The text within his work also intrigues me - just so simply shown, but ceaslessly haunting.

I will take some time now to perfect my second foot - thats the right one!
Hoping the weather improves everywhere soon! Caio e state bene.




                            

degree journal: Half way April !

degree journal: Half way April !: This week has been very interesting and quite productive after the break.  I went directly from college to the Preview of Gary Woods Photo...

Half way April !

This week has been very interesting and quite productive after the break.  I went directly from college to the Preview of Gary Woods Photography at Abbey Walk Gallery, and really enjoyed it. So different and technically excellent.  I would recommend this exhibition.

 My tutorial with Paul Sparks went very well, and he was happy with my dissertation plan, so that will just need a look over and the bibliography added to complete for hand-in.  I am soooo pleased.

The third year students are beavering away with dissertation etc - due in three weeks I believe!! Ahh!  I am sure they have all got this under their belt and will concentrate on their degree show/exhibition work - which is showing signs of building up.

I have now almost completed my entrance piece to my installation - the door - I put more screws in place where needed and tried the keys on the hangers - they do look as I wanted - enough showing to stimulate curiosity for the viewer.  Ideas for the placement of this piece has changed course because of the weight.  Anyway, talks with the Mike in 3D have been fruitful and we are all set to go with this next week, and then onto the candle piece/s.

The candle shelf work is more complex and is taking quite a bit of setting up.  The small  candles with the integrated money may well be a seperate piece.  I am purposely taking my time with this as it has changed a few times - as readers of this blog will know. 

Today I have been using Alabaster Plaster to complete my feet - the first one is looking okay, but it is difficult to photograph.  The mod-roc template just about fitted the shoe - so it will only need a skim, otherwise it will be too big for the shoe.  Hopefully it will be okay to use with the door piece?

I may be visiting the `Main site` next week - April rang them to see if they could help me with my performance film piece - have to admit it isn`t very good as it is.  April thought it was worth going ahead to perform and film it in the proper type of studio with some technical help so I will contact them on Monday, to see what they can do to help me improve the outcome.

Feeling very positive still, and pleased with the work in production, I will take my leave until next week.  A Presto mi amici!




































































Who stole March - the Lion or the lamb?

Caio mi amici, spero ha tanti lavorativo?
The mind work is much more taxing than the practical isn`t it?  I have been checking my writing for hand-in, thats proposals and reflections etc., but we still have to be briefed on this so it may change again - but at least I am prepared for that.  The Presentation is also checked over and will hopefully go okay.

Reading and researching is so good for us - the ideas when researching an artist that you may have an affinity with or your work has, - is interesting as ideas just seem to pop up from somewhere and you find yourself thinking in one vein and reading at the same time??   Which means of course you lose track of one somewhere and need to re-cap once in a while - thats when you need a notebook at your side.  There is one more idea I have re my studio practice and as I haven`t really decided yet I`m going to keep that to myself.  I have found a source I need for materials to carry on with i.e. thats next year, and so I`m relatively comfortable with that.  This will be a short blog as it is difficult to show how work with descriptive pieces is getting on short of actually showing the outcomes - anyway suffice to say I have done what I can, with some sketchbook catch-up to boot.
Caio - a presto!

No-bus syndrome blues!

Ah well - I am used to fitting in with the majority - what else can you do? but take the middle road -  and there is the shortage of fuel I suppose!   I hope all FE students are enjoying there Easter break.  College is quiet without them.  The plan was to tie up all sorts of loose ends to do with my work - that didnt happen!  As stated in previous blog I wanted to get some help from Mike (technician) to cut some metal rods that were too long to go comfortably through my door and connect with another handle - I missed the opportunity several times, but did ask him about my hand cast.  He didnt advise the drilling into, in case of pressure and disintegration which would totally ruin it, and although I didnt complete the project, at least I have a better idea of what I am likely to do.  I am pleased with the hand as it is and decided to leave the excess plaster on it as I think it is quite appropriate in relation to my hand being damaged during carpal tunnel operation a few years ago.  It is not the most beautiful of mitts, and it does hamper me at times, with lack of feeling and pain/swelling, but it is my hand and has registered in parts the closeness and proximity to me as well as replication.  The skin texture and shape of the fingers is amazing, and is a surreal experience when holding ones own hand!

                                            
The veins are quite obvious
on the first pic - this is just with plaster, imagine what it would look like with more practice, and possibly silicon with pigment!


It does look like this - I did say it wasnt a pretty mitt!




















I would like to try and improve technique with casting, and hope to be able to cast a foot before next September.





You can appreciate the problem of mounting this piece - and the suggestion by Mike may well be the way I will take it.  It may be best on a thin plinth,  or just on a small shelf.

I`m thinking this would be part of the candle piece.   I have been trying to edit my film!!!  It is certainly not perfect but it has got some parts I like - the edgyness of it is compelling.  Barrie did a good job with the filming - small-time actor though! We had a laugh doing it - the props kept moving by themselves - spirits amongst us, and I accept it could have been mother as she does visit me at times.

These are molds of keys - for the door, and rather than attach the two sides together to make one key - I fashioned them to look like they make be emerging from the woodwork of the door:                                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                                    

                                         
There is no doubt I will have to pin (not literally) Mike down to doing my jobs and talk about the hanging of my door when we return to college - until then I will continue research for my dissertation plan which is really interesting, and hope it is a suitable subject.  I will try and improve the editing on the film - all 3 and half minutes of it.  Nel frattempo mi amici Buona Pasqua - non mangiare tanti cioccolatini - ciao!