Bolton Meeting, Update on Process

Today we arrange a meeting with the team at Bolton University to see how process was being may although we are having constantly communication between our facebook page. It was nice to have a physical conversation with them and a lot easier to discuss issues and possibilities. The first question on the agenda was the exhibition place and if we actually had somewhere to work with. There was two places proposed before I mention my process was Leigh Turnpike which were Downtex Mill, Manchester and ......

Because of grading criteria, the bolton students have to exhibit within the first two week of May whilst our preparations with Leigh were in the last two weeks of May. So it was decided to process with their options for the sake of being a team with them but also go ahead with Leigh Turnpike. Having two exhibitions is going to be a lot of hard work but I think the experiences, practices and opportunity is well worth the effort. It did come to the attention that not all menders at the bolton University wish to do two exhibitions and so number may fall within the Leigh show. To overcome this and aid the promotion within Leigh, I will be inviting Leigh artists from our college to get involved with the show, suggesting a more local community involved which our partnership with CreativeLeigh encourages. 

Philip Hirst whose role is responsible for the connections to the exhibition space in .... (where we choose to process our efforts into) posted a series of images of the place onto our facebook page. Here is two of the images which displays how professional the place is and highly aesthetic properties about it from the lighting and open space. 

Foursight Art Group Meeting - 3

This week was the deadline for the live belief for our logo designs. The final designs had been collected and presented during the meeting to discuss and choose the final design. We wanted the design to reflect on us as individuals and the significance of us being four members. As individual artists we are very different and diverse within styles, concepts and even disciplines, working from 2D to 3D and traditional to modern medias - so it was important for the logo to portray this. We had nine candidates and the chosen one was James Sanders which design truly portrayed us. The design consists of four diverse lines and show different ways of mark making which we seen as different forms of art and us as individuals. We have congratulated James and will remain in contact this him to discuss further develop within the logo, suggesting colour and different formations.

Congratulations  

Designed by James Sanders

http://www.james-sanders.tumblr.com/

Review of Whitworth Art Gallery

The Whitworth art gallery in Manchester are currently exhibiting the work of Cornelia Parker whom explores the concepts and structure of ordinary objects, transforming them to the extraordinary. Parker has been had an influencal figure within my development of my contextual interest, aiding my liking of the use of found objects and exploring concepts alone rather than just the physical art (conceptionalism) Being able to visit the work, that inspire me was breath taking and brought a greater visual knowledge and realization to both her studies and my own. I admire Parker's adroit idea of using already formed objects and deconstructing them in simple ways as to remove aspects or purpose that formed the object - testing the physical and spiritual properties of objects. Her work bring understanding with depth to how we question what we see and how we perceptive it, contemporary thoughts.

 

Perhaps Parker's most well known work, 'Cold Dark Matter: An Exploded View' (commonly known as the exploding shed) dominated her solo show, consuming an entire room with its projection of shapes and light. As I approach the piece, I feel an over-welling power of uncertainty and increase use of awareness, believe to be encouraged from the impression it give that time had frozen, like it had an immeasurable state of being. The use of contrast between light and dark aided this response dramatically. 

...

One particular series of works that not only provoked my thoughts but engaged my most strong artistic interests was Cornelia’s self-portrait as a square, line, circle and triangle. Geometric and spirituality reflect my own practice and Parker has combined the two to suggest the comparison of man-made abstract shapes and that in nature to express what is truly embodied and what can only excite within the mind. She has achieve this with the use of their own blood to place an aspect of her biology within her work – herself becoming the work with a contradiction of it being in the form of an geometric shape, far from nature which her body is. 

 Seeing the works wasn't my only objective, as for my professional practice it was useful to observe and reflective on the layout of the exhibition as well as the methods used and who was involved. To gain this knowledge we question a tour guild, asking in more depth such as questioning the length of time it took to present the work (two pieces taking almost a week), has the work been presented differently else where and was there any alteration made to the room. I found that it wasn't all about creating a sense of flow between the pieces but using the works to play with space especially would it comes to sculpture. By playing with the space, you are able to persuaded the viewer to what piece holds the impression of significance and form a metaphysical path within the viewers slight to journey around the works; not be draw away from any piece of art. All these questions were essential for me to develop on wards onto  constructing my own successful exhibition.  

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FMP Proposal

My final Major project will be based on exploration of space and association. The constructed idea was developed from my previous project ‘transformation’, were I investigate the concept of change in the perspective of art.  I now wish to examine concepts of constructionism, focusing on how people gain knowledge of the world around them; perceiving shapes, space and volume.  I plan to produce a series of sculptures experimenting with these notions and processing further into extending my creative ability and working towards a more advance understanding of space. I will be researching my own reflective interest of how space is one of the key elements that makes up sculpture as well as impacting its responses, development and even the very primary thought of the piece. Space exists within both 2D and 3D forms and even defines the two, so I plan to experiment with both.

My primary influence and starting points will be looking at how space has been used, researching into artists Robert Morris, Peter Lowe and Dame Barbara Hepworth whom have not only worked with space within their works but the space around them; considering all aspects of it. I plan to research and sourcing information from exhibitions at various galleries with a strong intent to visit Yorkshire sculpture Park. I will also be referencing books, articles and YouTube clips with relevant information to develop my knowledge and opinions.

I will encourage my own way of working using my particulate favoured media of wood, clay and plaster exploring the phenomenology of sculpture combine with the ideology of space. With a strong interest, the study will be influence by both geometry and organic forms as to mature my knowledge and curiosity towards understanding the bridge between both differential forms. Progressing on with medians, the use of metal and industrial materials would be of a beneficial development as to encourage links between the studies of constructionism.

To make sure my project goes affectively I will manage my days and costs within a weekly action plan and assess my timekeeping within that. I have an estimated costs after my previous practises, and perhaps future experiments which may be explored.  As an aid, I will be attending tutorials to reflect on my work and be given constructive criticism to point out directions and develop ideas. Giving me the chance to present my work and reflect, will help me focus on the work at hand. As another note of record and control over my development, I will also have a progress diary, recording my process, reflections, thoughts and ideas towards development.  

'The Unwinding' Article - PDP

As a part of developing my academic skills and the language critics use in the form of analyzing artwork, it was requested of me to read an called based on an exhibition called 'The Unwinding'  in Cookie Butcher, Antwerp and written by Sam Steverlynck - 22 November - 1 February 2015. My focus was to highlight key factors such as theme, inspiration, contrasts and symulaites between artists and artwork, but when it comes to joint exhibitions it is important that it flows and the artwork has harmonious links or reflects one another. 

First of all the reviewer, decides how the location of the exhibition reflects the the narrative of the theme and could of been purposely chosen to create empathize within the locals, as Antwerp's distant past use to be a Jewish community and as change for what the theme decides as for worst - illustrating decay and the state of being abandoned.  He then decides what are the inspiration such as George Packer's nonfiction book The Unwinding and how the group choose the title for the show which created more attention towards the meaning of the word unwinding, meaning undoing or undone. The rest of the article was Stevelynck deciding the works and using them to give evidence towards the theme and how it relates, reflects and comparing artists approaches and the differences from the use of media compared to history's use, which supported the narrative of the show.

The show was produced by artists Virginia Overton, Charles Harlans and Michael Smith whom refereed to Post-minimalism parasites, using found Industrial looking objects.  The theme was based around the decline of the American dream such as wealth and a great economy, looking at how degrading is felt within the younger generation because of the culture we have now, were there ambitions will not eased over the older generations (an interpretation). The works echos this point towards the economy, realization and artwork itself, with the use of cheap industrial objects used for media clarifying the difference between histories rich and now or what is seen as great groundbreaking works and the works shown he. 

Charles Harlan,Concrete, 2014

But what makes an groundbreaking work? Is it the scale or the type of media? Or just simply the fact it is attention seeking and enticing us to see the work? 

Publicity and Reaction; for reason that it may be seen as bad making it so good.

Proposal for Leigh Turnpike

After are two meeting with the group, it was decided that we needed to look for an exhibition space soon, so we can establish contacts and create endlines to help manage our action plan. Due to this, I emailed wigan counselor Trevor Barton who has contacts with The turnpike gallery in Leigh. The proposal was well received, passing my details onto Elizabeth Costello, a volunteer at the turnpike. Between us two, we have arranged a meeting with Her self and Wayne Reedman BA, CreativeLEIGH Development Officer at the Turnpike to discuss the opportunity. 

Image of the emails between us. 

WOO HOO!! Canverse Collective

 My colleagues and I at Wigan and Leigh School of the arts have officially joined the University of Bolton's Fine Artist Group, Canverse Collective as they have  added us to their website and looking forward to sharing an exhibition with them this May. Becoming more involved with them, I have joined there Facebook page and following them on Twitter. 

Not only has this been a great opportunity to progress professionally within my artist profile and portfolio but will hopefully gain me important contracts for the future. I do wish to develop my education further on to a degree course and very much interested in the University of Bolton being where I achieve it. This joining could hopefully give me the insight and confident I need to impress the university.