Susie had also reminded Gabi and I that the SSA deadline was today (tuesday 27th feb), and she so happened to be going to Edinburgh, so I've put in 2 pictures, one slate ("La Haine") and a new work based on the deconstructive work I'd done in semester one), "I don't have a dream" is Dr. Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech, run through one of my programs to deconstruct it, grounping all the words alphabettically. I printed it out on cartridge paper, cut out the only reference to "rascist", mounted it "floating" on a black background and put it in a broken frame, hand coloured with black felt pens, and held together with a belt (just so happens to be in the ANC colours too!). We'll see if they get in. I was pretty pleased with the work.
---------------- I don't have a dream :
a a a a a a a a a able able Alabama all an and and and and and and and are as at be be be be be black black boys boys brotherhood brothers but by by character children color content created creed day day day day day day down down dream dream dream dream dream dream dream dripping equal even evident former former four freedom Georgia girls girls governor hands have have have have have have have having heat heat hills his hold i i i i i i i in in in injustice interposition into its its its join judged justice lips little little little live live meaning men Mississippi my nation nation not nullification oasis of of of of of of of of of of of of on one one one one one one oppression out owners racists red right rise self sisters sit skin slave slaves sons sons state state sweltering sweltering table that that that that that that the the the the the the the the the the the their their there these they this to to to today today together transformed true truths up vicious We where white white will will will will will will with with with with with with words
I'd also got the Frieze magazine today, it's a "feminism" issue, looks fascinating.
Listening to : pigeonhed - full sentence : P - P (Gibby haynes, from the butthole surfers with Johnny Depp!)...
Tuesday 27 February 2007
presentation to kingswells p3s
Well, today is the day I presented my "sculpture" talk to the primary threes (all 58 of them!) in Kingswells primary school...what a great bunch they are, so polite and well behaved, it was a joy.
I started off with a wee powerpoint presentation, saying who I am, what I have done and now "do", and then into 50minutes of showing them my works, from Skene Sculptures to videos, games to flash animations.
I started with the sculptures at skene, letting them know how I built them, where they are, what materials I'd used, how I'd evaluated the area to decide where I thought was the best place for them to be built etc. One interesting point about "nest" that was raised was about its size, in one photo (without me in it) the kids thought it was small, when I revealed a photo of me inside the nest (9ft diameter), they were amazed. We had a short talk about scale, context (I'd explained what context meant, in this sense) and how we imagine things in our head, and they can then change when confronted with more information.
We had many great discussions about stories you make up, when looking at these sculptures, when you come across them in the woods, what sort of questions do you ask yourself? imaginging you are small, big, a bird etc. I also talked about how photographs of sculptures are not as good as actually seeing the sculpture for real, as you get to walk round the space, assessing it from all angles...you can't do that in a photo.
I'd then started to show them some videos, everyone loved the animation of the wee man getting his arm pulled off, questions were asked about how I did it etc, one bright kid (obviously watches his DVD extras!) knew how to animate, he'd even produced one of his own videos at home on the PC...these kids are 7-8. Fantastic.
I'd talked about all my works, about "creativity" and how imagination leads to wonderful, new ways of looking at things, about how creativity can "realise" the imagination, all the methods of "outputting your creativity", paint, drawing, writing, acting etc. (something for everyone). Just a fantastic day, (hopefully) inspiring kids to go think about things a little more, and think about being creative...who knows what they'll take from it. Next week, I have a class of 28 (the other 28 the week after) and we'll be doing some sculpture classes in the woods, weather permitting. If not...I must create an indoor sculpture class...need to write that now, just in case.
Listening to : [P.U.T] - surgical ep : postal service - give up : UI - lifelike
I started off with a wee powerpoint presentation, saying who I am, what I have done and now "do", and then into 50minutes of showing them my works, from Skene Sculptures to videos, games to flash animations.
I started with the sculptures at skene, letting them know how I built them, where they are, what materials I'd used, how I'd evaluated the area to decide where I thought was the best place for them to be built etc. One interesting point about "nest" that was raised was about its size, in one photo (without me in it) the kids thought it was small, when I revealed a photo of me inside the nest (9ft diameter), they were amazed. We had a short talk about scale, context (I'd explained what context meant, in this sense) and how we imagine things in our head, and they can then change when confronted with more information.
We had many great discussions about stories you make up, when looking at these sculptures, when you come across them in the woods, what sort of questions do you ask yourself? imaginging you are small, big, a bird etc. I also talked about how photographs of sculptures are not as good as actually seeing the sculpture for real, as you get to walk round the space, assessing it from all angles...you can't do that in a photo.I'd then started to show them some videos, everyone loved the animation of the wee man getting his arm pulled off, questions were asked about how I did it etc, one bright kid (obviously watches his DVD extras!) knew how to animate, he'd even produced one of his own videos at home on the PC...these kids are 7-8. Fantastic.
I'd talked about all my works, about "creativity" and how imagination leads to wonderful, new ways of looking at things, about how creativity can "realise" the imagination, all the methods of "outputting your creativity", paint, drawing, writing, acting etc. (something for everyone). Just a fantastic day, (hopefully) inspiring kids to go think about things a little more, and think about being creative...who knows what they'll take from it. Next week, I have a class of 28 (the other 28 the week after) and we'll be doing some sculpture classes in the woods, weather permitting. If not...I must create an indoor sculpture class...need to write that now, just in case.
Listening to : [P.U.T] - surgical ep : postal service - give up : UI - lifelike
Thursday 22 February 2007
good day - thursday 22nd feb
After a doldrums day yesterday (wed 21st),a non event of a day, general apathy and lethargy in the mfa room, no motivation, inspiration or direction from the tutors, we seem to have the complete opposite today.
Morning = seminar by Stewart McDonald (head of grays, former lighthouse director)about curatorial developments in the architectural / design worlds, aided by fine artists and curators. Application of new ways of display, information relay and layout. Some fantastic visuals of shows (mostly architectural) that have been given a "fine art spin" by the curatorial process. Stewart also talked about relevance, where the audience needs to feel engaged, enough to actually bring the audience in to the space. "vertiginous" was a show, costing near a million pounds, to showcase modern architecture and design, it failed miserably to engage the public, and drew in meager audiences. A failure in everything but the excellent work on show. In the same space "love hotel" (a show about the phenomena in japan) drew in massive crowds, the content, nearly the "same" as vertiginous, but the title, advertisement of the show appealed to the populace...sex sells. (or the hint of sex).
guest at grays : Kevin Henderson (link)
A very interesting guest at grays. Performance art meets land art ? (walks / cycles documented) + "traditional" performance art, with audiences (poland, france, belfast etc). One of the satisfying aspects of the lecture for me was the discussion around "documentation" and the "work". I'd written in the notes, "is the documentation the work, or is the work a documentation" (research). The "audience" peices were a traditional concept of "work", for other people to consume, digest and understand, where as Kevin's "cycles" were actually personal research methods, which became work, when documented and displayed. Akin to Hamis Foulton's "walks". It's the documentation and display of the documentation that "makes it art". Some fascinating ideas about what documentation can and can not do (or how a photograph changes memory, through false lighting (flash) etc).
Afternoon in the whitespace (C3)
Finally! some direction and planning from the tutors! Moira shows her "yellow wallpaper" work (two projectors, one static showing a picture of a dolls house chair, mirror + reflection of door and said chair), and the other a constant blank / photographs of the same dolls house from different angles / set ups). The work is subtle, yet deep, opening up ideas of memory, time, scale, projection (self, light and imagination). An excellent first week, and something that's going to be hard to follow!
Listening to : tom waits - various interviews on youtube : big black - songs about fucking : carcass - symphonies of sickness
Morning = seminar by Stewart McDonald (head of grays, former lighthouse director)about curatorial developments in the architectural / design worlds, aided by fine artists and curators. Application of new ways of display, information relay and layout. Some fantastic visuals of shows (mostly architectural) that have been given a "fine art spin" by the curatorial process. Stewart also talked about relevance, where the audience needs to feel engaged, enough to actually bring the audience in to the space. "vertiginous" was a show, costing near a million pounds, to showcase modern architecture and design, it failed miserably to engage the public, and drew in meager audiences. A failure in everything but the excellent work on show. In the same space "love hotel" (a show about the phenomena in japan) drew in massive crowds, the content, nearly the "same" as vertiginous, but the title, advertisement of the show appealed to the populace...sex sells. (or the hint of sex).
guest at grays : Kevin Henderson (link)
A very interesting guest at grays. Performance art meets land art ? (walks / cycles documented) + "traditional" performance art, with audiences (poland, france, belfast etc). One of the satisfying aspects of the lecture for me was the discussion around "documentation" and the "work". I'd written in the notes, "is the documentation the work, or is the work a documentation" (research). The "audience" peices were a traditional concept of "work", for other people to consume, digest and understand, where as Kevin's "cycles" were actually personal research methods, which became work, when documented and displayed. Akin to Hamis Foulton's "walks". It's the documentation and display of the documentation that "makes it art". Some fascinating ideas about what documentation can and can not do (or how a photograph changes memory, through false lighting (flash) etc).
Afternoon in the whitespace (C3)
Finally! some direction and planning from the tutors! Moira shows her "yellow wallpaper" work (two projectors, one static showing a picture of a dolls house chair, mirror + reflection of door and said chair), and the other a constant blank / photographs of the same dolls house from different angles / set ups). The work is subtle, yet deep, opening up ideas of memory, time, scale, projection (self, light and imagination). An excellent first week, and something that's going to be hard to follow!
Listening to : tom waits - various interviews on youtube : big black - songs about fucking : carcass - symphonies of sickness
Tuesday 20 February 2007
monday 19th - whitespace
Susie and I head into uni for 10.30 - 11 am...we find a studious Mary painting the walls Iain and I constructed last week (thursday 15th feb). We're still not quite sure how this "project" (of everyone having a week to "do something" in the space) is going to work out...assessment? peer review?...fah knhas. Moira isn't in, and it's her week, granted, it's still up in the air...
I returned the parkette, after reading a lot about RICHARD SERRA's work. The use of materials on a grand scale, simplification of shape, disection of space and shape. All interesting stuff, and might shape how I feel about my shot at the whitespace. I've written several words / thoughts about "quantification" (calculating, evaluating, deconstructing space / object / thoughts into component parts. It's like making a cake backwards, if you eat all the ingredients individually, it's nasty, but mix them, and bake them, it's a cake. I guess I am looking at why people need to disect, comodify and segregate to simplify a response? I think it leads to the deth of the essence of the object. I've often explained that, if you over analyse a joke, it ceases to be funny...perhaps mystery and the unkown is the thing that makes life life?
Listening to : mogwai - stanley kubrick : masters of misery - earache tribute to black sabbath.
I returned the parkette, after reading a lot about RICHARD SERRA's work. The use of materials on a grand scale, simplification of shape, disection of space and shape. All interesting stuff, and might shape how I feel about my shot at the whitespace. I've written several words / thoughts about "quantification" (calculating, evaluating, deconstructing space / object / thoughts into component parts. It's like making a cake backwards, if you eat all the ingredients individually, it's nasty, but mix them, and bake them, it's a cake. I guess I am looking at why people need to disect, comodify and segregate to simplify a response? I think it leads to the deth of the essence of the object. I've often explained that, if you over analyse a joke, it ceases to be funny...perhaps mystery and the unkown is the thing that makes life life?
Listening to : mogwai - stanley kubrick : masters of misery - earache tribute to black sabbath.
trip to the woods pt 1
This was from an adventure last Sunday (18th Feb).
Gabs and I went out for a walk to Skene woods, where I was armed with camera and video. Gabi's dad was having a bonfire, and like all men and moths, I was drawn to it!...must...pile...on....woood.....must....burn....twigs.
I'd piled on several piles of conkers, eagerly awaiting their explosion, several satisfyingly bassy pops emanating from the furnace. It's like a time machine for me, early boyish years of fires and forests, perhaps this is why I am always fascinated by these places?
I'd experimented with some glass sheeting, to observe partial reflections of my feet and the ground. The lighting wasn't up to much, so the reflection didn't work too well. I'd noticed the glass when held at odd angles, makes the direction of the feet seem jarred, nonparallel reflections of walking makes me unbalanced, something I'll look into further. I'd like to use this effect for the white space in the MFA room, perhaps pace the area, and record it? I thought this might work on several planes, several videos displaying time lapsed walks, where the viewer would get the feeling of the feet "walking through space" (past each video, like they were windows to another world, just behind the blocks of TV monitors...(need to sketch this)).
I'd also found a fantastic hollowed out tree, still upright. It looked like a woodpecker, or something had hollowed it out to a shell, so I tried to knock it down with a barrage of sticks, to no avail. Again, child like playtime for me.
With all of these actions in mind, individual documentation of each action could result in a "self portrait"...need to research contemporaries who have done similar work, for the "contextual analysis" I need for the MFA.
listening to : shellac - various 7" : iain ballamy - Food
Gabs and I went out for a walk to Skene woods, where I was armed with camera and video. Gabi's dad was having a bonfire, and like all men and moths, I was drawn to it!...must...pile...on....woood.....must....burn....twigs.
I'd piled on several piles of conkers, eagerly awaiting their explosion, several satisfyingly bassy pops emanating from the furnace. It's like a time machine for me, early boyish years of fires and forests, perhaps this is why I am always fascinated by these places?
I'd experimented with some glass sheeting, to observe partial reflections of my feet and the ground. The lighting wasn't up to much, so the reflection didn't work too well. I'd noticed the glass when held at odd angles, makes the direction of the feet seem jarred, nonparallel reflections of walking makes me unbalanced, something I'll look into further. I'd like to use this effect for the white space in the MFA room, perhaps pace the area, and record it? I thought this might work on several planes, several videos displaying time lapsed walks, where the viewer would get the feeling of the feet "walking through space" (past each video, like they were windows to another world, just behind the blocks of TV monitors...(need to sketch this)).
I'd also found a fantastic hollowed out tree, still upright. It looked like a woodpecker, or something had hollowed it out to a shell, so I tried to knock it down with a barrage of sticks, to no avail. Again, child like playtime for me.
With all of these actions in mind, individual documentation of each action could result in a "self portrait"...need to research contemporaries who have done similar work, for the "contextual analysis" I need for the MFA.
listening to : shellac - various 7" : iain ballamy - Food
Saturday 17 February 2007
been a while : lazy bastard
Well, My plan of writing a blog a day...has been compromised due to me being a lazy good for nothing (can I blame the start of the year?..it's nearly March!)........
Anyway, since last writing, I've been to see ross sinclair's "vs Edwin Landseer" at the Aberdeen Art gallery (followed by the opening of Dalziel & Scullion's : "some distance from the sun" and David Blythe's "Knockturne"). Two fantastic shows in Aberdeen Art GAllery. I was most impressed by the standard, the professionalism of both shows. I am a sucker for quality, but these two works reek of it! I really need to get back in and have a "proper look", as openings are more about schmooozing than looking at art! I'll write up some texts and link them later.
Getting back to Ross Sinclair and Craig Richardson (Curator), their installation of a landrover + video works. (link to ABZ council text)
The "seminar" was interesting, even Ross and Craig thought they were going to have a "Cosy chat" with 9 or so mfa students, only to find that 40+ students from gray's and some members of the public attended!
Again, I'll write up an essay on this, and link it later. Needless to say, it was an excellent day, quite inspirational and aspirational.
Listening to: god : breach birth 12" | martyn bates & mick harris : murderballads | einstürzende neubauten : halber mensch
Anyway, since last writing, I've been to see ross sinclair's "vs Edwin Landseer" at the Aberdeen Art gallery (followed by the opening of Dalziel & Scullion's : "some distance from the sun" and David Blythe's "Knockturne"). Two fantastic shows in Aberdeen Art GAllery. I was most impressed by the standard, the professionalism of both shows. I am a sucker for quality, but these two works reek of it! I really need to get back in and have a "proper look", as openings are more about schmooozing than looking at art! I'll write up some texts and link them later.
Getting back to Ross Sinclair and Craig Richardson (Curator), their installation of a landrover + video works. (link to ABZ council text)The "seminar" was interesting, even Ross and Craig thought they were going to have a "Cosy chat" with 9 or so mfa students, only to find that 40+ students from gray's and some members of the public attended!
Again, I'll write up an essay on this, and link it later. Needless to say, it was an excellent day, quite inspirational and aspirational.
Listening to: god : breach birth 12" | martyn bates & mick harris : murderballads | einstürzende neubauten : halber mensch
Wednesday 7 February 2007
first crit with S.H. '07
Back again...with my folio, to talk "direction" and "honing" with Steve Hollingsworth. I've gone from very confident about my work, when handing it in for review in January, to "ooh, what was all that about?" ... which made me think hard about the "purpose" of the work I'd produced last semester. The more I argued with myself about the validity and reason for some of the experiments and research, the more I could see the direction of this second semester taking.
I've decided to research and explore the need for quantification by humans, the need to analyse, break down, segregate and simplify complex scenarios and stimuli. With computer programs I'll write, exsisting software and other forms of digital media (possible use of analogue too), I'll explore abstraction, simplification, continuing with my "iterative" aproach. With incremental exploration, I think a clear path and documentation of research methods and outcomes will be obtained.
Steve had talked about my still obvious drive to "answer" problems, to create "solutions" when talking about work...I thought that most of the exploratory experimentation I'd been working on last semester had killed this "problem", but, the more I talk, the more I make it obvious to him that I'm still rooted in logic and problem solving...not so "helpful" in art - creation. (I get the feeling).
Still, several excellent discussions about my direction, the possibilities that I could arrive at with more "play" and exploration.
We have been tasked with filling a whitespace in the room, as a test ground for finalising works...I've started to think about how the space could be quantified, how my interaction with the space could be documented, and this would form the work I'd show there.
some further ideas when I'd left the room where to possibly use incremental / quantifiable units (polystyrene balls, wooden 1cm cubes etc). I'd also thought about the colour abstraction, how much of an object could I simplify, before it truly loses its meaning, and becomes something else? (A face boiled down to 3 colours, shapes simplified etc). I'd had thoughts of sitting in the nude and having my clothes next to me on a chair, do the clothes make "the person"?
I took out an old parkette to read, I'll have to digest it before I comment.
Listening to : Skinny puppy "remission (12")" : pigface "gub" : techno animal "ghosts"
I've decided to research and explore the need for quantification by humans, the need to analyse, break down, segregate and simplify complex scenarios and stimuli. With computer programs I'll write, exsisting software and other forms of digital media (possible use of analogue too), I'll explore abstraction, simplification, continuing with my "iterative" aproach. With incremental exploration, I think a clear path and documentation of research methods and outcomes will be obtained.
Steve had talked about my still obvious drive to "answer" problems, to create "solutions" when talking about work...I thought that most of the exploratory experimentation I'd been working on last semester had killed this "problem", but, the more I talk, the more I make it obvious to him that I'm still rooted in logic and problem solving...not so "helpful" in art - creation. (I get the feeling).
Still, several excellent discussions about my direction, the possibilities that I could arrive at with more "play" and exploration.
We have been tasked with filling a whitespace in the room, as a test ground for finalising works...I've started to think about how the space could be quantified, how my interaction with the space could be documented, and this would form the work I'd show there.
some further ideas when I'd left the room where to possibly use incremental / quantifiable units (polystyrene balls, wooden 1cm cubes etc). I'd also thought about the colour abstraction, how much of an object could I simplify, before it truly loses its meaning, and becomes something else? (A face boiled down to 3 colours, shapes simplified etc). I'd had thoughts of sitting in the nude and having my clothes next to me on a chair, do the clothes make "the person"?
I took out an old parkette to read, I'll have to digest it before I comment.
Listening to : Skinny puppy "remission (12")" : pigface "gub" : techno animal "ghosts"
Sunday 4 February 2007
strike three, yer oot
Design day today, working on several new designs for the march bridge view invite.
Gabi's mum asked if I'll be doing another sculpture trail this year for NEOS@oriel art. She also requested some drawings / print work for the gallery to support the trail. should be good!
I've also picked up a few of my slates I had at oriel before christmas, so I can take them into a gallery in Aberdeen, to see if they would take them. (I'll post the verdict tomorrow).
listened to : tool:10,00 days, Tom Waits : orphans
Gabi's mum asked if I'll be doing another sculpture trail this year for NEOS@oriel art. She also requested some drawings / print work for the gallery to support the trail. should be good!
I've also picked up a few of my slates I had at oriel before christmas, so I can take them into a gallery in Aberdeen, to see if they would take them. (I'll post the verdict tomorrow).
listened to : tool:10,00 days, Tom Waits : orphans
Friday 2 February 2007
mum's birthday
Made a Lamb Rogan Josh today, for mum n dad popping round in the afternoon.
We're also off to see the health visitor (an oxymoron, surely?) Poppy is 17 weeks old, and it's the standard practice to interview us to see if we're coping. (and of course, we are).
I bashed a few questions around with Gabi about my direction, purpose and general thoughts on the work I will be concentrating on this semester. I've started to shape up theories about using computers to "quantify" and "interpret" images / inputs. I've been thinking that people would see this filtration or re-interpretation as what a computer woulkd "see", but I feel that because a computer is made by man, and the programms it utilises are also written by humans, surely these outputs are "limited" by human parameters? perhaps trying to find some way of removing the need for programs to manipulate images would be an avenue? It's my understanding that quantification and the need for humans to put order to any situation, to "further understand" its importance or relevance is infact my drive to produce these works too. There is something satisfying about simplification and order, and perhaps the study of Chaos Vs Order will play a great role in my artistic development?
Listening to : Andrea Parker : Kiss my Arp (MoWax). Shins : Wincing the night away (sub pop)
Poppy photo to follow (probably with nana n grandad T)
We're also off to see the health visitor (an oxymoron, surely?) Poppy is 17 weeks old, and it's the standard practice to interview us to see if we're coping. (and of course, we are).
I bashed a few questions around with Gabi about my direction, purpose and general thoughts on the work I will be concentrating on this semester. I've started to shape up theories about using computers to "quantify" and "interpret" images / inputs. I've been thinking that people would see this filtration or re-interpretation as what a computer woulkd "see", but I feel that because a computer is made by man, and the programms it utilises are also written by humans, surely these outputs are "limited" by human parameters? perhaps trying to find some way of removing the need for programs to manipulate images would be an avenue? It's my understanding that quantification and the need for humans to put order to any situation, to "further understand" its importance or relevance is infact my drive to produce these works too. There is something satisfying about simplification and order, and perhaps the study of Chaos Vs Order will play a great role in my artistic development?
Listening to : Andrea Parker : Kiss my Arp (MoWax). Shins : Wincing the night away (sub pop)
Poppy photo to follow (probably with nana n grandad T)
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