http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 Douglas Clasper Scholarship for Fine Art Fri, 08 Aug 2008 19:54:19 +0100 a-n rss generator a-n The Artists Information Company and contributors edit@a-n.co.uk technical@a-n.co.uk http://sites.a-n.co.uk/img/logo.gif http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 As a group we represent a diverse cultural and geographical mix, Nicola Smith is originally from London, Sarah Stamp from the North East, and Anna Puhakka from Finland, together we form BaseNorth. Our diverse cultural, geographical background, range of skills and experiences make us a dynamic and dedicated team committed to realising projects at a local, national and international level. BaseNorth is committed to making conceptual work in any medium, which best represents, the idea. We do not limit ourselves to working in the white cube, and work in response to the context of our surroundings. BaseNorth are currently working at the Rednile Studios in Sunniside, Sunderland. Our first exhibition will be at the Rednile gallery space in October time. Sunniside is an area, which is undergoing re-development, the Rednile Studios are based in a disused factory, which at some point are due to be demolished as part of the regeneration plan.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 Today we have discussed dates for our first exhibition For Future Presentation and are awaiting confirmation for dates in October time. We are in the process of developing the BaseNorth logo and hope to get the press release out by the end of the month. We have also discussed where we are at the moment in our own work and the collaborative piece.Work in ProgressNicola Smith:I plan on creating a text-based piece on the double doors, which are situated in the gallery space. In front of the doors I want to have a running machine and propose to do the BaseNorth marathon over the duration of the exhibition.Sarah Stamp:I am currently working on a piece of writing in the style of a public service announcement/ news broadcast which I intend to record myself reading. It is set at some point in the future and details the bureaucracy of a dystopian society.  Anna Puhakka:At the present moment I am in the progress of making a game about becoming an artist and surviving it. It is a game FOR ARTISTS BY AN ARTIST. Like the art world the game will be elitist. It is a performance where I give the rules but am susceptible to the other players and how they play.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 This week ...... Anna PuhakkaThis past week I have been working on the appearance of the game. Surprisingly this has led me to start painting again, a part of my practice I had been overlooking for several years. I have also begun constructing the game pieces. With a stroke of luck, I managed to find a hundred colourful plastic balls in a second hand shop for a pound and the process began. At the moment I have to say I am immensely enjoying working. I have asked friends and those in BaseNorth to make up questions for the cards in the game. In short its all starting to come together. Now i just have to make up a name for it. Nicola Smith  I have been re-considering whether to do a live performance on the night of the private view and for the duration of the exhibition. When I am feeling really confident I think it's a great idea when I am not feeling so good I think it's a bad idea. Developing the wall text mural further I would like to put an image inside of it, I have been photographing the roundabout at Seaburn which used to be a public artwork which has since been grassed over. I like the idea ofre-presenting the image of the roundabout, opening up a space to re-consider failed public artworks. We learn from our mistakes and should not feel ashamed at presenting them for future reference and re-interpretation. I want my work to have a reflective and critical perspective in response to public art in the Sunderland area. Now wherethe hell am I going to get a running machine from?  Sarah Stamp Trying to work out how to put the speaking I am going to record on a loop so it comes on intermittingly. This may sound very basic but I haven't really worked with sound much, so I don't know what I'm doing. I have always wanted to work with sound of speaking but feeling like I don't know much has probably put me off. However I am keen not to just work in certain ways because they are easy and familiure to me, I think it is very important to do this if just to explore other ways of working. I have also been collecting more words and phrases to use this is very similar to the way I have previously collected objects to use. Some of my favourite ones are "the happiness industry", "the ministry of truth" and "human populations will be naturally checked by misery"I have also been searching for elocution tips to make my voice have less of an accent when recording I have learned elocution lessons are expensive so may try copying radio 4 presenters.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 Nicola SmithThe running machine element to the work is now well and truly over. I like the simplicity of the circular structured text and image within it. I have been experimenting with cutting out the roundabout section of the picture in Photoshop and placing it at an angle. This has made the image look futuristic, like a flying saucer, which I like. Anna mentioned painting the gallery walls magnolia which initially I wasn't sure about but reflecting on this I think it's a good idea and has inspired some other works which are visually linked to the door piece but also has a domestic feel to it. I have been photographing some domestic objects in my studio at home and have been enjoying playing with perspective. I particularly like one image, which looks 2D, and the shapes within the frame almost look like they are floating. I question, does this fit in with the title/theme of the show? Does it really matter? The two pieces visually are clearly connected and both have a sense of instability.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 Anna PuhakkaFor the past few months I have been working on creating a game. It is a satirical view on the art world and the life of an artist just trying to make it through. This game has worked as a type of research in to my own psyche of what I have been expecting. A map, of fears and expectations. After reflecting on this piece of work I have decided that although an interesting object I am sceptical about exhibiting as a piece of my work. This is not to say that all this time has gone to waste. I do intend to keep working on painting these game boards and refining the game. As for the exhibition I have been thinking of presenting a sculpture that I’ve started working on. For me it starts to bring together the idea of ritual, history, fear and expectation which is what I am essentially interested in at the moment.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 Sarah StampI have been finishing off the writing part of my public announcement, reading prime ministers speeches to get ideas. The announcement is quite detailed in places as I wanted to have the feel of government policies/acts of parliament, but I wanted the conclusion to be quite concise. I felt it was quite easy to keep adding more to it as I was writing I was very involved in the process which allowed me to focus. When reading prime ministers speeches certain phrases words are used repeatedly such as ‘I believe’, new, change and top of the agenda. I’m now focusing on recording what I’ve written, I have been experimenting with my voice and practicing the announcement several times  so I know how I want it to sound. Once recorded for the final time I need to know how it sounds on different types of equipment and in different positions in the space.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 The past few weeks for BaseNorth have been riddled with uncertainty. Last week we were informed that the building, which houses Rednile, our studios and the gallery (where we have been preparing to have our exhibition) was sold. In short, we were kicked out. So we began the process of finding an alternative venue around Sunniside, only to find out that the exhibition might still be on for next week. It's been an incredibly busy and stressful time but BaseNorth is ploughing through. We will find out on Thursday afternoon if the exhibition is on again. If it is we will post more information.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 Unfortunately the BaseNorth exhibition will not be happening at the Rednile gallery space as was originally intended. We have been told that the owner needs to get in and we must get out. We have been in contact with Sunniside partnerships and others who can help us find a suitable venue in the area. We are all still continuing work on the project and are hopeful that we will find a space soon in the area to exhibit in.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 Nicola SmithToday I have tested out the painted text on the double doors in the space, in the back of my mind knowing that the exhibition could all fall through. The red paint really stood out and is perfectly framed by the door. I really enjoyed painting the words onto the door, even though I was happy with the finish I have been considering whether the words are still working? Ive been thinking about replacing them with the Suga Babes song title, Round Round Babey Come Round. For some reason this makes more sense to me than, In The End There Are Only More Beginnings, this sounds too hopeful were as Round Round...is more fitting with the roundabout image and the structure of the language used in the archived newspaper reports regarding the Seaburn Fountain/Roundabout changes.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 Anna PuhakkaThis past week I have been working on a sculpture, which incorporates a game to its underside and mirrors. I have also been using plastic balls to create miniature army formations. I am particularly enjoying the photographs of these small sculptures. There is a chance that work will change depending on the space we exhibiting in. I guess incorporating these ideas in to a new space will make it a nice challenge.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 Sarah StampThis week I haven't been doing much pertaining to the project as I have been preparing to go to Brussels and do something I proposed what seems like forever ago. It is quite difficult knowing we can't use the rednile space as the work feels like it was made for the space. I have been slightly concerned about the acoustics and what my work would sound like at a louder volume as I haven't had much experience of working with sound, however after testing it in the rednile space it sounds as I hoped. So now all I need is a similar space to play it in not too much to ask? I have also been thinking about the visual aspect, initially I just wanted to hide the speakers or have them somewhere discrete. I now keep thinking about having the sound coming form this one suitcase I have which is quite old fashioned looking. I also have been thinking about having some kind of seating as it makes a visual reference to the domestic which is quite a big part of the sound but I also think it allows people to engage more when they can sit and be comfortable, I recently went to the Jordan Baseman exhibition at the Hatton gallery and I definitely stayed much longer because I could relax.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 So now we are without a space to use for our exhibition; for future presentation we need to find somewhere before we can do much else which is very frustrating . As the work we made for the exhibition we intended to be at the rednile space was engaged with the site and context of the space and area, the work will obviously change to some extent with a change of location. However it is important to us to keep the location within the Sunnyside area of Sunderland. We have looked at another space in the area which is at the other end of the regeneration cycle, newly regenerated office space waiting for businesses to take up residency, very possibly what the rednile space may become. Anna PuhakkaMy work in the past couple of weeks has begun to take a turn. The old feeling that what I was making was not quite right returned, this leading to a time of reflecting and re-thinking what I am doing. After university with less time on my hands I find reflecting on work a much more strenuous process then before. I've spent much time looking at old silent movies over the past few weeks and have found myself very inspired. I have written a loose script for one of my own and will start filming later this week. I am filming on a DV-cam because I like the slightly pixelated quality. Lets just hope my editing skills are up to scratch. Nicola SmithKnowing that we are not exhibiting at the Rednile space has made me re-consider the work I planned to make. We have been looking at a new space on the corner of Talbot Street, which is a very large space with high ceilings; it is intended to be let out as office space. I still feel that I would like to work with text but on a much larger scale, I keep thinking of the slogan, COMING SOON used on movie posters, seems fitting for this space which still hasn't been rented out by any business. The empty dead office space reminds me of the famous Klein piece, The Void. I find it funny how The Void has filtered down into an office space with its white walls and blue carpets. This has inspired a new text piece; I have been experimenting with writing the name Klein in blue electrical tape. I am enjoying how I can move theindividual letters around in a space. Sarah StampAt first I was not at all inspired by the other space we have looked at, but with more consideration I feel the aspects which I disliked are actually quite interesting. For example the empty deadness of the unused office space and the large size offers me an opportunity to make new work which is more spontaneous than the speech I have recorded which was quite a lengthy process. Over the past few weeks I have become very interested in ceefax and its imminent demise, it now looks so old when compared with other technology. This regeneration of technology has many similarities to the regeneration occurring in cities.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 BaseNorth have been looking around the Sunniside area for alternative sites for our exhibition. There are many empty offices and shops up for sale, which we are going to contact to find out whether we can rent one of these spaces temporarily. We have to consider that we may not get a space or the rent may be too expensive, if so how do we work around this? We still haven’t heard back about the MA art space on the corner of Talbot Street, this has inspired us to think of different ways to show our work. What if we produced a printed artwork? We could make a temporary installation outside that only existed for a day. Even though it has been frustrating not being able to show our work it only makes us more determined and creative. Going through this process has also solidified our ideas as a group and we are working much more collaboratively. Last week BaseNorth got the opportunity to meet, Mike Clasper and his wife who are the sponsors of the Douglas Clasper Award. It was great to meet them and we felt that they really believed in our ideas and supported our vision for the exhibition project.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 A few weeks ago we were asked to make a short film relating to the sunniside area in some way for a film project. It was all quite last minute meaning we didn't have long to plan exactly what we wanted to do. However as we have been working in the area and making work relating to regeneration we felt we could bring together out thoughts and ideas to produce something relevant. This also presented us with the challenge / opportunity to work collaboratively something which is quite new to all of us. After an initial discussion of ideas for the film we set a day a side to buy some materials, film and see what the result was. We decided from out initial discussion to primarily use text as we all use text in our own work in some way and we felt it was a quick direct way of communication.On the day of filming we each brought with us words and phrases to use. We decided on a small white board each which we could write on the wipe off quickly which we wrote on and held up to the camera. We also wanted to make something which was spontaneous so for the first go at filming we didn't know what each other was writing. The words and phrase created their own narrative and worked very well together in an energetic way. We did try another second version in which we planned out the text resulting in a methodical feel which was quite dull. So the first film was chosen and named sexing up the whiteboard.As we have struggled for many months to find a venue for out exhibition we now feel that this work will fulfil the part of the project we intended to complete in Sunderland. We are all ready to move on to the second part of the project in another city in the U.K or abroad. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 The holiday season is upon us, yet the work is never done for an artist. Last week BaseNorth started writing our funding application to the arts council. We are hoping to get enough money to finance a research and work trip to Berlin. We are busy researching possible places to work and live and also contacts that we may wish to make while there. We have given ourselves until the end January to finish up our application.  If all goes to plan we should be heading off to Berlin this spring for about three weeks.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 Our film, Sexing up the whiteboard will be shown at the end of the month in the exhibition On Screen In Street in Sunniside, Sunderland. Films will be projected from inside shops onto the shop window fronts. We are really excited about this as we were looking at empty shop spaces last year to exhibit in, so seems fitting for the work to be placed on a window front. We will publish the exact dates and times as soon as we know on our blog. All of us have been researching towards our Berlin trip; we would like to make another film together but in a totally different location. Berlin seems the perfect contrast to Sunderland the German city has also undergone massive regeneration of social/political/artistic kind. We aim to get our proposal for further funding done in the next few weeks and hope to get to Berlin April/May time... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517  ’On Screen In Street’ where our Sexing up the Whiteboard was shown has come and gone. Due to change in dates we were unfortunately unprepared to advertise it on our blog. Sorry to all of you who had been waiting for it. The Event went well even if the arctic winds were not for the light hearted. BaseNorth have been busy writing off the application to the arts council and we are hoping to get it finished in the next few weeks to be sent off.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 The last month has for BaseNorth been all about writing applications and now finally on Tuesday our efforts have paid off. Well not yet been PAID but the application has been submitted. We have also been working on individual projects and at the same time refining skill through several workshops. We even did a short course in German and are now able to say “Ein bier bitte”(one beer please) and also “Ich bin kunstlerin”(I am an artist). Exciting stuff, and will certainly be of use when we reach Berlin. That is if the money comes through, here’s hoping.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 I have been setting up a project page on the wooloo/berlin website which will then allow us to apply for other projects. There is one really interesting project were you apply to get a suitcase sent to you which contains a tent, its then up to you what you do with it. I would love to put the tent up in the bridges and photograph it. I am also working on another project taking 35mm photographs of suburbia and looking at some older photographs I took a few years ago. I have uploaded a pic I love how I can see all these little interventions all around me.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 Anna Puhakka     I have been working in sound primarily the past month or so. I have also started doing some technical training at Isis Arts for sound, which has sparked off many new ideas. During this time I have also begun constructing drawings from old and broken headphones that I have been collecting. They are very simple but I find this new material is making me love drawing again. With these drawings I am aiming to come up with a composition for a light piece I would like to use these headphones for.  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 Happy Days! BaseNorth is going on an Arts Council funded Research and Development trip to Berlin! After many anxious days and weeks of waiting we finally found out that our efforts had not been in vain. We will be heading off on June 1st and returning to the UK on the 10th of June. Our aim will be to network, make contacts with arts professional in Berlin and to conduct research on our personal areas of interest in the city.  This will be used to inspire new work that will then be presented to our peers back in the North East.  We have also set up an account at Wooloo.org an artists-run organization based in Berlin. The purpose of Wooloo is to foster new and relevant opportunities for emerging artists. We are hoping to take part in New Life Berlin which will take place between the 1st and 15th of June in Berlin. We have also applied to Sandwich box another Wooloo project, which will be organised on our return to the North East.  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 BaseNorth is in Berlin and involved with the New Life Berlin Festival organised by Wooloo. The Sandwich Box, Wooloo project gave us the opportunity to develop our work around the idea of regeneration. This project is of specific interest to us as we used to have studios in the Sunniside area in Sunderland, U.K, but have since been evicted as it is due to be redeveloped into luxury apartments and expensive studio spaces. The Sandwich Box gave us a free mobile space to work in. We feel the lack of affordable studio space due to urban regeneration is a significant problem in the U.K. We came to Berlin to participate in the New Life Berlin Festival it seemed a natural progression to create the BaseNorth International Studio as a space to create new work, make new contacts and encourage international exchange. We will send a postcard documenting the project to both our new and existing contacts in Berlin and in the U.K.  We hope to raise awareness of the use and cost of studio space and the impact of regeneration on artists. For more information on this project visit www.wooloo.org/basenorth ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517 A young woman stands at a station, she doesn’t know it well but she has been here before. The train arrives. She gets on.   Slurps and suckles of artificial sound, accompany the feeding of a swaddled pack. The announcement comes She hides her bare chest Turns off the sound And leaves ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/378517