http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 You can go anywhere from anywhere Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:30:12 +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/415991 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 The purpose of this blog is to chart and give form to the year after my Papertrails project. Last year was so full, so prescribed and so organised that I often wished for a less regimented schedule. This year I deliberately opted for what I thought of as a breather; a calm period to assess and evaluate and build on the work of the project. This year is actually being far from any of those things. At the moment it feels utterly full of competing things with no time to weigh anything up. Welcome back to the real world!... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 During the last couple of weeks I have been meeting people to discuss projects. It has been fascinating and reminds me that not all the creativity is concerned with the medium, so much of what makes things work is a creative connection with people (often the people who commission the work). Whether something works or not can often be down to this connection. I was struck by Stuart's comments in his recent post in his blog; 'Project me' which reflected on trust / autonomy in the context of working with institutions who often demand or need predetermined outcomes. Despite some very interesting talks and potentially some very interesting projects coming up, I am desperate to just have an uninterrupted few days of making. While making work, one can make leaps of intuition which would take for ever, or maybe not happen if one had to pre rationalise or pre determine everything. Which isn't to say that you shouldn't think about it!... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 Looking through the other blogs I saw that Alinah Azadeh in her blog; Unwrapping the Gift, was referring Lesley Millar's 'Textile Routes' which is where I came across the quotation that I have used for the title of my blog.'How do we choose our specific material, our means of communication? Accidentially. Something speaks to us, a sound, touch, hardness, softness, it catches us and asks us to be formed. We are finding our language and as we go along we learn to obey (its) rules and limits. Students worry about choosing their way. I always tell them "You can go anywhere from anywhere."' Anni Albers quoted by Lesley Millar in 'Textile Routes'.Its one of the most interesting things about the a-n project blogs, the connections you find with other people.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 One of the projects that I am working on this year is a materials-based one with a focus on recycling and reusing. It is organized by Surrey and aims to twin artists / designers with groups within Surrey. My group is centred on Woking and I will be working at the Lightbox Gallery http://www.thelightbox.org.uk/ This is a fabulous place, designed by Marks Barfield Architects who also designed the London Eye. http://www.marksbarfield.com/search_results.phpI am really pleased to be given the opportunity to work here and make some work in response to the light streaming into the spine of the building. I am hoping to involve everyone who works there into making a contribution to the piece. Lynn and Michael, who I have been meeting with to discuss the project, have been very positive and I feel optimistic about it. I start towards the end of April with a programme of workshops with my group. Although I do occasionally feel I should move away from being so materials and process based in my approach to work, I can't help but find the world of 'stuff' very interesting. Everything carries with it a history and narrative. See my previous blog for more eloquent musings on this subject.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 It has been one of those times when real life intrudes and it has been impossible to work for a while. I've had an awful cold and things have just tripped me up. However it has given me the chance to think about approaches to the Lightbox project. I find it very interesting to use materials that have already had a function. Even after, for instance completely pulping a book and making it into something else, it always seems to me that there is a ghost of its former self still present.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 The project at the Lightbox is soon to start and preparations are well underway. There have been issues over funding for the project as a whole in these slightly uncertain days but now the basis of the larger project (into which my element of the work fits) has been secured, which means we can all get on with working out in more detail what we will be doing. My work starts with a programme of workshops and develops into an installation / exhibition in the Lightbox in the future, linked with a group exhibition at the Guildford House Gallery in September. The overall project is called Recycled by Design which gives an outline of the remit but is a rather uninspiring title. My own project within this umbrella is based on text, and materiality. My working title is 'Translations' which I hope conveys the sense of removal, change and transmutation which I am interested in investigating. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 This weekend I am going over images for a powerpoint slide show for Tuesday. I am hoping to show things which will give the students an idea of the possibilities of using materials without being too prescriptive. Next week is 'week one' of the workshops with my group and officially when the project begins. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 Week oneThe first of ten workshops at the Lightbox started with none of the technical stuff working. My laptop (with PowerPoint slide show) refused to talk to the gallery’s projector; transferring the PowerPoint to their laptop didn’t work either and finally running upstairs to the conference room with the PowerPoint on a memory stick to play through yet another computer set up to its own projector, didn’t work.After that things went fine!The group of children from the Lightbox’s resident ‘Junior Art School’ were great, friendly and interested. The increasing numbers of people drafted-in to help with the non-communicative technology were also great, friendly and interested and more importantly, unflappable. I have to confess to being in a teeny-weeny flap myself (!) but that soon passed as we got down to industriously making paper after having peered at the rather reduced slide show on laptop screens.There is something very calming about papermaking, maybe its to do with being up to your elbows in porridgy liquid. Anyway the purpose of these workshops is to involve the group and as many other people from the Lightbox as possible, in making some contributions towards a piece of work for the exhibition and also to have some fun in the process.My own work in relation to the project is growing almost organically. I’m finding it interesting revisiting some older territory in terms of material and content but with different ideas about scale and form. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 The rest of the week has been filled with ‘stuff to do’ rather than anything terribly creative. I’m am organising materials etc for a one-day workshop at Farnham Maltings on 10 May as well as resources for next week’s Lightbox workshop (no PowerPoint this time!).  I am hoping to go to see the ‘Blood on Paper’ Book–art exhibition at the V&A and nip into Falkiner Fine Papers too.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 Week two finds me wondering about connections again; this time with the group that I am working with. The children who make up the group are lovely, enquiring, interested youngsters but they are also tired after concentrating all day at school. I think they could do with running around and letting off steam first. I am trying to find the right balance with them. Last week what we did was ‘too easy’ (in my opinion); this week it was ‘too hard’, next week I’m hoping we can find things ‘just right’. We are making some books individually as well as the piece that I am working on with their input and the processes involved are clearly interesting to them so we are on the right track.   ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 Week three and the workshop went much better. I rearranged the space, built in a break and some outdoors time as well. More to the point we were doing some more involving, less outcome driven work. Vast quantities of materials were used and large amounts of paper were made. A good day. The children and I worked on long textured composite strips of paper which I had imagined (from the amount of pulp they used) would be quite chunky but drying the paper out today it is delicate and beautiful. Instead of the floor-based piece I thought we were making it has become something much more airy. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 I am drying the rest of the paper today. It is wonderful to be able to dry it outside, usually I have to use hot-plate type dryers with large quantities of paper. Later I am nipping into the Lightbox to pick up some of my equipment because on Saturday I am running a workshop at Farnham Maltings as part of their 'Farnham Creates..' events. I am also working on a growing installation through the day with (I hope) participation from the public. More information from www.farnhammaltings.com ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 The workshops at Farnham on Saturday went really well. It was a very enjoyable day if extremely busy. Note to self; queuing system next time! Dozens of sheets of paper were made, mainly to be carried off by proud participants and a good time was had by all. Many thanks to the wonderful people who were conscripted to assist at short notice.  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 Week four. We got on well today, finding textures in the courtyard garden and making paper from a variety of recycled materials. We also made another long composite sheet to hang with the others we had made last week. The materials we used to recycle into new paper included brown envelopes, pages from discarded books and money. The last was the most popular with the children. The idea of sticking hundreds of pounds worth of bank notes into a blender and seeing what happens is quite appealing! Before you go away with the thought that this art project is possibly over-funded if we can casually  pulp money; be aware that this is pre shredded by the Bank of England and can be got from them free plus postage and packing! Monday saw me washing the shredded bank-notes in biological washing powder to remove the characteristic smell and grime off the paper. So I can also add money laundering to my CV.  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 There are too many conflicting and competing things to do this week. To mix my metaphors, I have too many fingers in too many pies and my chickens are coming home to roost. On a more positive note though, the work for the Lightbox Gallery feels as if its working out. I am finding it really interesting to re-examine my relationship with 'stuff'. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 Week five. The afternoon went very well. We did printmaking and burst into colour. The children made some good work and were happy to experiment. Some or all of these prints will be added to their book structures after the half term break. I am hoping that I'll be able to take their long strips of paper back into the Lightbox to hang by a window or somewhere the light can catch it. There are problems with being able to hang things though because being such a new building no-one wants to make holes anywhere. Drawing pins are a no-no! However Lynn, the education manager has promised to work out a method.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 Brilliant news! The Lightbox Gallery, where my current project is based, has won the Art Fund Prize. This prize formerly the Gulbenkian Prize is an extremely prestigious one and well deserved in my opinion. The Gallery is not only a beautiful new building but also has a team of enthusiastic, positive people working to establish it as a much needed art resource in an area without much art provision. It has a good local history gallery too and always seems to be full of school children and local visitors as well as those from further afield. http://www.artfundprize.org.ukThis week, being half term is a break from my papermaking and recycling workshops too, giving me a chance to continue with my own project within the project. Coming up soon is the Surrey Artists Open Studios and towards the end of the week I am installing a small selection of work in the window of Waterstones in Guildford to publicise it. So another busy week.http://www.surreyopenstudios.org.uk/ ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 The week went fast. It was good to stand back from the workshop side of the project for a few days and assess things. I really enjoy working with people but it's hard to give enough attention to your own work while the teaching side of things dominates.I have been preparing for the Surrey Artists Open Studios, putting a small display in the window of Waterstones in Guildford as part of the 'Street Gallery' initiative. That was fun actually. It's interesting seeing things in another context. The Open Studios is a lovely way of meeting people but I don't aim to use it as a money-making, career promoting activity it's more of a wild card kind of thing. Other artists from SAOS, Angela Thorne, Lisa Pettibone, Martyn Perryman and Faye Campbell are showing work in other windows around Guildford. More details from the Open Studios website.http://www.surreyopenstudios.org.uk/Tomorrow I am back at the Lightbox with my group of kids. We are going to be  concentrating on self-directed work using any or all of the techniques we have gone over since the sessions started and the next week we will start to assemble the books they have been making.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 Week 6.A really rainy day. I'm getting my stuff together to go off to the Lightbox for my workshop. I thought I'd post a photo of one of the pieces we have been working on over the last few sessions.  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 Week 7. Book-binding was the focus of the workshop today. The sheets of paper are being put together in their final form with much decision-making about different types of binding and thread v string dilemmas. I took some photos of the work I have been making as part of the project in to the education rooms because the hard thing is having to communicate the process of making without the work being there to see. It made me realize (again) just how lucky I had been in my last project where the making of artwork had been much more evident. Although I am enjoying the work that is emerging from this project.Earlier in the day I had a very interesting discussion about a future project where I would have more of a curatorial role. It's a development that I find exciting. Watch this space! ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 The Surrey Open Studios are on now and I am attempting to make work at the same time, which is something of a juggling act. I have some work to make for the launch of the 'Art in the Surrey Landscape' project. This is to be a temporary intervention on the bank of the canal at Woking next to the Lightbox Gallery. I am also coming to the end of my set of workshops there as part of another project so need to ensure that the children have all had the chance to make what they wanted to. My own work for that project is having to take a bit of a back-seat right now and I am looking forward to being able to re-engage with it.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 It has been an interesting few days; some bits very good and other bits that make me feel I should review the direction that things are moving in. What has been good? I have enjoyed the opportunity afforded by clearing out my workspace for Surrey Open Studios, to see work in another context and to see it make connections. I have begun to think about making new work again instead of being so stretched by the 'stuff to do' that I can't look ahead. I am pleased with the work that the children in my workshop group have made; it's coming together now really well and they have made it their own rather than being too much like my work. I ran a workshop for the public as part of the Open Studios and met a really nice group of people who were fun to be with and enjoyed the day too. I have liked meeting people and discussing my work. I realize that I have missed this aspect of 'being the artist'. What has been bad is the growing thought that I am getting very bogged down in the kind of working practice that gets me to enable others to do things rather than making meaningful things myself. I worry about the two extremes that I lurch between. On one hand making consumable artifacts and on the other being involved in work where the value of the artist has to be measured in 'utility'. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 I think I was feeling a little negative when I posted my last blog entry. Today I am trying to make definite arrangements about the work I am doing. It always makes me feel better when I don't feel as if I am on a runaway train! The projects that I am working on or due to work on are all converging a little alarmingly so I need to sort out the details and then things will be fine. However I am really looking forward to a holiday!Yesterday I found out that Surrey have used one of my images or in fact a detail of one of my images on a flier about their Contemporary Art in the Surrey Landscape project which is pleasing. The project will be launched at the Lightbox on 31st July and I am due to install some work along the canal-side for the event. More info (though not much) on:   www.surreycc.gov.uk/arts   Follow the link for Visual Arts. Everything seems to be in some way linked to the Lightbox for me at the moment. Tomorrow I am there again for my penultimate workshop with the kids at the Junior Art School and I hope to be able to post some pictures of their bookbinding. In fact I have loads of photos of their work but it seems unfair to single out one person's work as they have all done so well.... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 The last but one workshop session with the Lightbox group went well. I think everyone has finished their book or books. I was too busy helping with bookbinding woes to take many photos but I came home with one that has little to do with their individual work but a great deal to do with my interest in stacking and accumulating stuff. I'll post some more of their work next time. The last week at the Lightbox is going to be paper-making. I am making some pieces for an exhibition in September at the gallery and am working with the children and others, to make a 'Lightbox Book' and also some horizontal pieces that I am thinking of as landscapes.On a completely different note, I was browsing some design / art / craft blogs out there in Blogger etc away from our little a-n blog enclave and was very impressed with their openness and supportiveness and also with their creative nature. Maybe we could all communicate a little more with each other. I know I am often struck by something said on one of the other a-n blogs but feel too self conscious to comment very often. I might be slightly influenced by the fact that one of the blogs; 'Found Object' featured my work yesterday! Anyway some blogs to look at if you feel like a break from our slightly earnest tone: http://foundobject.squarespace.com/ http://callycreates.blogspot.com/http://feltbug.blogspot.com/     ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 I'm posting photos of some of the books made in my Lightbox workshops. The last session with my group of kids is coming up on Tuesday and we are going to spend the time paper-making. The books and other things we have made together over the term are to go home with children and they are going to leave me with heaps of handmade paper. I have found this project very interesting and I have met some lovely people. The children; and I hope other people from the Lightbox eventually, will have contributed quite a lot to the work to be exhibited in September. The dates for the exhibition are 16 September until 30 November. At the time of writing there isn't any information on the Lightbox website about it but it's a while off yet.  ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 Tomorrow is the last workshop at the Lightbox with my group of youngsters. We are going to spend the two hours just making paper. Each sheet made will be part of the final installation in September. I am looking forward to being able to start actually producing work again myself. It's going to be interesting to see how the processes involved in its making will modify the final forms of the work. The whole project has been based for me on translations and alterations which I find fascinating.A bit of background to the work:I have been aiming to make some work that will respond to the light and spaces at the gallery as well as the overall theme of recycling and reusing. One of the pieces that I am making with the children and people who work at the Lightbox is a book whose pages: handmade by everyone who takes part; are impressed with textures made and found at the Lightbox. One of the other collaborative pieces is a long 'Landscape' made of hand cast paper. Its shape is designed to catch the light streaming into the building. Complimentary to these and using the same forms are some pieces made of found pages from discarded books.   ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991 The last workshop went well. Everyone finished what they needed to finish and much paper-making was done. We also looked round the work from the Surrey Open which is showing at the gallery. At the end of this phase of the project it is good to be looking forward to the next bit. I still have to discuss a few things about the final show with Michael Regan and will be having a meeting on Friday. On Monday evening I went to the Jerwood Space to see the 'Contemporary Makers' show there and to listen to a talk with ceramicist, Edmund de Waal and choreographer and dancer Siobhan Davies. This was a wonderful evening and I came away really inspired. The exhibition itself is the new initiative of the Jerwood foundation to support and promote applied arts. The artists; Gary Breeze, Sara Brennan, Lin Cheung, Drummond Masterton, Deirdre Nelson, Nicholas Rena and Clare Twomey were selected and asked to make some work responding to the theme of 'touch'. Edmund de Waal one of the selectors, described this as being a way of bringing 'seven artists from a diverse range of disciplines into dialogue with each other.' The talk between Edmund de Waal and Siobhan Davies examined the differences and similarities between their own work and their approaches to their work. Both concluded that they were as concerned with the gaps, pauses and spaces as with what happens in-between. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/415991