ARTISTS TALKING

# 1 [6 May 2009]

It's a strange feeling, being on the verge of holding a degree show.  There is a sense of quiet urgency, almost desperation, around the third year studios which is coupled with an odd absence as some students have packed up and headed for home to await the release of their show space.  Nonetheless, those present seem hugely focussed and keen to make the show a success.  So the unease is not entirely unpleasant, there seems to be a concentration of intention and drive behind it.Anyone involved in the degree show committee has the added pressure of queries about the PR for the show, usually from those who have studiously avoided all involvement up until this late point.  However, there are a lot of terrific things being done by art students in this university.  It may not have the PR gloss or private backing of some of the other art schools out there, but within the walls of this adapted old house in the grounds of a tree filled park can be found some inspirational staff and inspired students.  I would like to use this blog to invite everyone to visit us and see what has been happening here.  We all attend our chosen universities for a plethora of reasons but as of July this year we will be set adrift in the same boat.  Come and see who you are going to be sailing with?  I know I plan to visit as many of you as time will permit.Wishing you all great shows,CJD.

# 2 [6 May 2009]

http://www.a-n.co.uk/degrees_unedited/whatson/single/527302/1

Being an afterthought is no insult - for surely it is better to be thought of at all than not......

# 3 [11 May 2009]

Most of this past week has been spent in a bit of a tailspin but today I feel things may possibly, perhaps and hopefully be coming together....  A useful chat with the Building Manager, the Health and Safety man, the busy but happy to be able to help woodwork technician and the ever wonderful porter dissipated several clouds of doubt about my show space (which became a worry late last week when a new location was suggested for my work after I'd made plans for the first space, tested a technical run etc).  The new space is large, will be more of a challenge to prepare and to execute my plans in but will make a positive difference to the visibility and ambition of the work. 

  Once I have the opportunity to speak to our overworked but hugely accommodating technician about the hardware I need to borrow and the logistics of its positioning in the new space, I may be free to panic simply about the sheer amount of work I have to do once my space is released rather than the unknown quantities relating to the roles of others with the power of veto......  I am not the only one to be feeling uneasy - how strange it is to have the sum total of three years work be dependent upon one final show! 

  Starting to consider the making side in earnest now - and hoping I have enough time before the assessments begin when preparing such a big space on my own may amount to the task of Sisyphus....  I'm also making applications to exhibit work after the degree show date - another odd feeling to be considering life after such a red letter event.  Plate spinning is the way forwards.

# 4 [13 May 2009]

Some of my posts appear to have fallen off the edge of the planet - along with several brain cells these past few days....  Although there is still a month til the PV of our show, there is a flurry of activity in and around the studios at present.  This activity is mainly centred around the initial preparation of degree spaces (checks made with technicians about space requirements and technical equipment, sweettalking the buildings manager into providing new locks/wall sockets etc and of course threatening the current first/second year students with actual bodily harm if they do not scrape as much plaster, paint and other substance from the studio floor as humanly possible by the time we come to occupy the spaces to prep for our show!).  Sadly, the other buzz is one of general confusion relating to the peculiar nature of the 'professional practice' module.  The elements of said module are not hugely difficult and any student who has already sought exhibition or other opportunities outwith the university environment is aware of the hoops through which one must jump to secure such things.  A thousand word critical evaluation of the work done throughout the final year appears to be the stumbling block - mostly due to conflicting reports about the nature of this beast and the requisite contents.  I am looking forward to bottoming this particular piece and getting back to making.  I can appreciate the relevance and even the value of such a task but the nebulous directions are maddening at a point where the mind has bigger fish to concentrate upon.  Especially when some of the brain cells are missing it seems - did I mention that?!

# 5 [13 May 2009]

Just a couple of pictures really - I'm thoroughly enjoying looking at the work posted on here in the blogs of others so thought I'd join in.  I wish I'd signed up and joined in at the beginning of this year but good to be on board now, even if I seem to have crashed the party at a late hour.  It's getting late, everyone here is asleep and we're on the verge of tomorrow.  Hope someone out there gets some pleasure out of looking too.  CJD

# 6 [16 May 2009]

3 redundant VCRs and 40lbs of lead = one happy Caryll!  Armed with a respirator and a prayer for dry weather, I can feel a melting and pouring session coming on this Monday afternoon.  This is the last week of studio occupation before the degree show preparation begins and I want to maximise my time in this end phase of my degree.  It is easy to forget how lucky and sheltered one is as a fine art student, having resources, information and usable space to hand.  Today I am hugely aware of it.  And appreciative that I have had this experience. 

# 7 [20 May 2009]

OK - there is a mounting feeling of panic now.  I'm not sleeping properly, my head is full of degree show, degree show,degree show - and doubt.  That's never a good bedfellow.Anyway - the biggest worry is the space.  Not the physical space any more, that at least has been resolved.  I am aware of the where!  However, the 'what state' question is as yet unanswered.  One of the current second year occupants may not be reliable in terms of scraping a load of plaster off the floor - a considerable load that said student has put on the floor in the first instance.  I haven't said much about my degree show installation as yet but there is potentially a lot of magnetic tape involved.  My guess is that magnetic tape would love a whack of plaster dust and it would try its best to keep it.....  This would ruin the finish on the tape (which is hugely important) and I am concerned that the student in question has become the Scarlet Pimpernel and cannot be contacted to get things in order asap.....DEEP BREATH!!On the plus side, my lead melting and pouring went extremely well.  Having spoken to my peers, I am also well aware that panic is not my speciality.  We are all practising hard to perfect it it seems.....

# 8 [28 May 2009]

The past week has flown by - clearing studios, trying to ensure that things required for show setup will be in place (electric sockets functional, scaffolding booked etc etc) and of course veiled threats to the second years who were meant to have vacated the studio spaces by last Friday.  Due to the rather large space I have been allocated (which held six second year students in all), the space has been left in a fairly mixed state.  Hence, most of today has involved clearing up leftover pieces of work, detritus and mess.  The technicians have not reached that studio to reconfigure the walls yet so painting them is out of the question as yet.  The sheer scale of the preparatory task is somewhat daunting and I am scouring the corners of my brain for a list of people who may be available, willing, able and ultimately obliging enough to help me at a point where I may be devoid of simple things like reason, humour and rational thought.  I'm off to buy my paint and associated DIY gubbins this weekend so will return next week heavily laden and hoping hard that the walls have been removed/built as required so I can forge ahead....  After a fairly sleepless weekend last week, I submitted my Professional Practice portfolio this Tuesday and am relieved to have it beyond my interfering reach now.  The urge to rewrite, to change and to modify that pesky critical evaluation verged upon a manic desperation.  Perhaps my degree show concerns were being transferred to thewriting required for the portfolio?  No matter, tis now gone and in the hands of the tutors marking it.  To be honest, despite the stress of the time constraints placed upon preparing the show, I am cautiously excited and looking forward to exhibiting my work.  Newcastle University Fine Art Degree Show opens on Friday night and I am looking forward to seeing what my peers there produce - not to mention hoping that nothing there seems too like my own plans!

# 9 [2 June 2009]

After a twelve hour day of painting white emulsion onto dark grey walls (a legacy from a graduate last year who didn't return to paint them over), and a five hour day of the same yesterday, I am shattered! I am also fearful that my nasal passages have been irrevocably damaged from the fumes.  I seem to be tasting and smelling paint constantly.  However, the cavernous space is starting to look like a degree show area and tomorrow I plan to get started on the installation process.  It's an anxious and exciting time - there are a few of us around in the sculpture area and it's a veritable hive of activity.  Watching the work coming together and supporting each other during confidence or technical wobbles makes it feel like a true collaborative effort.  A group of us went to the Newcastle University show last Friday and it made us feel a little down - it is a little disheartening to visit an institution which utilises a stunning facility like the Hatton Gallery for part of its degree show.  That being said, it does make the Newcastle show seem somewhat unbalanced between the students who exhibit in that space and in other locations around the university buildings, so it is not necessarily the professional boon it at first seems. It was good to be able to see what our peers in the region have been working on.  There were several of us living in fear of seeing something too close to our own plans on show.  Luckily, there were no close shaves.  There was some interesting work on display though and we spent a good amount of time viewing and discussing it.  We seem to be in a far more positive collective frame of mind this week.  I hope to feel this positive this time next week.....

# 10 [5 June 2009]

Please excuse the quality of my images today - they are mobile phone specials!  However, it is to give an idea of the sheer amount of grey I have covered in the past few days.  The pictures were taken during the first and second coats so it does look better now, I promise.  It has taken four coats and a lot of Elvis Costello, but the walls are now passably white rather than light grey.  Such a relief!  I have the technicalities of my projection screen worked out now  so the task of building the thing looms but in all I'm feeling pretty positive and looking forward to my degree show experience.  Sadly, it's taking its toll on relationships around the building as tensions run high and boiling points are reached (over small things like gum strip disappearances etc) but I don't believe for one second we are the first year or indeed the only institution to experience such things.  It WILL be alright on the night I'm sure.....  Anyway, keeping this brief today as I have a screen to build and a floor (a HUGE floor) to paint so not a lot of time for online procrastination.  I hope all is going well for everyone else at this stage and that those who are finished are enjoying contemplation of their next step.  Again, I apologise for the quality - or lack thereof - in the attached images.  Must try harder (ie - remember to bring decent camera)....