DEGREES UNEDITED

# 31 [16 June 2008]

I suppose that firstly I should mention that I have received a kidney transplant and this has influenced the way I work and approach things significantly. There was a point where doctors told me that I would have two weeks to live if they didn’t intervene. This intervention saved my life in no uncertain terms.

In my work that I have on show for the degree show, I play with this intervention and suspension of the inevitable. The public reaction to discovering a kidney on a plinth in a gallery space is often interesting. They suddenly become aware of the reality of what's before them and question the kidneys authenticity. I can assure you it is real. They still want to investigate it though and numerous people take a sneaky poke to affirm their suspicions. 

In Yellow Makes Me Smile (Poke) Smile a momentary glimpse of a wasp on a greasy lump of I Cant Believe Its Not Butter has been caught. Silently still. It rests on a thin length of wire delicately balanced almost just out of reach to the eye.  When you spend time looking at it, you become aware of the sadness that exists within the work. It suddenly dawns on you that it poses no threat other than reflections of your own mortality. It’s kind of moving in that way. The title lightens the work. Suggesting that on a surface level there maybe a humour to it. The use of ‘(Poke)’ suggesting the brutal investigation of ones curiosity.

The works that can be seen in the degree show are as follows

(the numbers referring to the attached map)

1

Suggested Intimate Action

Metal pole, clamp, plinth, castor wheels, plughole, cardboard, sewn ham

2008

2

Epilogue

Plinth, kidney, stainless steel

2008

3

Pin

TV, plinth, wood, fly video

2008

4

Yellow Makes Me Smile (Poke) Smile

Wire, tinfoil, I Cant Believe Its Not Butter spread, wasp (dead)

2008

# 30 [16 June 2008]

So the degree show aye...

Well its up. I'm happy. I have my grade. I had the most amazing time at the friends and family opening. It was a blast. Ohh and I hear there maybe a few photographs of me kicking about...oh dear haha! 

I have had a wee mention (kinda a fantastic one) in The Herald with loads of really funny remarks on their web comments form. I urge you to add your own.  

yeah... I've been sitting watching the gallery all day today 10am till 9pm... wooohooo mind killer! but it is funny still seeing people react to the kidney on a plinth. And yes it is 'really real'. haha!

i will write more when i dont want to jump out the window.

Over and out...for now. 

www.garybolam.co.uk 

# 29 [31 May 2008]

woohoo... not long to go! Monday is the hand-in deadline for assessment. Now, how late can I leave documentation before I really need it done? I might start tomorrow.

So, having got over the crap on the floor, my space has been painted (by myself mostly I might add...) Everyone seems to have got their helpers to do this task. Anyway, I've been living in that space recently and developing my work on site. Here is a wee sculptural drawing currently on the wall...

I've realised I'm working with literary theory and  formal art presentation and display through use of the plinth and other gallery protocol. I'm using the familiar object to help aid and provoke internal narrative. It's all a bit interesting I thinks.

On another random side note. I managed to cut my foot open last night with a can that I knocked out of the paper bin in my room. How totally inconvenient, it really hurt and all day I was having to hobble around. Not good. So anyways... it's time for sleeps me thinks.

www.garybolam.co.uk 

# 28 [26 May 2008]

Dear First Year tape user,

It is with much haste that I take my thoughts to paper as I sit here scraping the adhesive off the floor. My haste comes from the need to stop scrapping at the floor but also in anger as my fingers hurt and I am tired, very tired.  I am most tired of discovering new additions to the tape and other bumf that is stuck to the floor in my degree show space formerly your studio.

My letter comes with the need to remind you, and in some ways curse you, to having the chain carry on. I am sure I have unwittingly added my fair share of bumf to the floor in my studio but I am also sure that my studio isn't ever going to be a degree show space...(aww thank god for the crappy but amazing Barnes building.) This tradition will carry on. So it is with both joy and a slight disheartenment that I tell you of the tedium this tradition causes. 

Yours,

The tired 4th year.

www.garybolam.co.uk 

# 27 [25 May 2008]

Lucky Socks

www.luckysocks.co.uk

This is my online experiment just now. I need to show it for assessment but they have decided it'll cost £50 if we want to borrow stuff from EMA for the show. gerrr... I might just not borrow a computer. 

Anyways my printer has been running nonstop for the last few hours... woo for research printing time. I'm loving the run up to the end. I have decided what I'm making for the show. I will have several elements, an ox kidney, sewn ham and a video of me and a fly propped up with wood. It's all a bit exciting.

I had the most interesting conversation with Health and Safety the other day in light of these elements. I was expecting 'no no no no...' but actually he was really positive and more concerned about my safety. He did mention biological hazard kits and risk assessment forms but basically he was all positive. Yeah I know. strange right?

so here is a few images of the plinth and the kidney for you to Ermm... Drool over, Ponder, hate? I'll leave you to contemplate it.  

www.garybolam.co.uk'

# 26 [19 May 2008]

 The pub. Now there is a social space of intrigue if ever there was one. 

Now getting more to the point, the  pub at lunch time. This is nothing bad. Nope. Having a little drink whilst enjoying a hearty pub lunch is acceptable. On the other hand, the pub at lunch time with no food is slightly edging on wrong, and if it isn’t edging on it, then it’s certainly toying with it. Haha. So where am I going with this thought? Well it was decided that we should have a night in with some home cooked food and a glass or two of wine. This was Saturday night. I was working in the cinema from 11am till 7pm then I headed over to Alice’s for dinner and a chance not to think about our degree show. It was good. 

We sat, we drank and we ate. Slowly the people were filtered down to only 4, some of those were less present than others hehe there is an excuse though. Gin, whisky and wine. All amazing drinks when sampled alone. Not when drunk one after the other in copious amounts with the novelty of slushy ice. I ended up rather drunk and headed home for about 4am. I saw a fox, a mouse and a drunk pigeon along the way. Hehe

To be continued....

www.garybolam.co.uk'

# 25 [19 May 2008]

Part two...

I was up for work the next day at 8am for an hour which I was surprisingly awake for. I was only there for an hour and then I went home and met a friend. I then had to go back into work for a 6pm till 10pm shift. This was last night. I got a txt asking what I was up to as a few friends from back home were off out the the big G. I was already walking home by this point. But I am such a pushover and I decide “yeah... Maybe it is a good idea.” so I get dressed out of my uniform and head out. We drank and we danced and had the most random of times. My two friends ended up having a falling out and walked the streets of Glasgow until the first train at 5.55am. I ended up talking away with a jeweller from up north. The next morning after a few hours sleep we have a quick vodka and coke and then head to the pub. That was this morning. I have now had a few moments of stolen sleep since then and am writing this. This is where my dilemma exists. This is all ok when defined as a student. These things happen, but when it comes to being a final year student and only having two weeks today to get everything finished it becomes a dilemma. Haha. Its all a tad funny though, and I'm off to work again in an hour. I'm working 6pm till 12.30am plently of time to muse over these thoughts.

www.garybolam.co.uk

# 24 [13 May 2008]

woohooo! I successfully fixed my  washing machine 

(check www.garybolam.blogspot.com for video and pictures!) 

... its now 2:30pm only an hour of my degree prep time  wasted poking and prodding the insides of it. haha. ohh i also have a sneaky peak image to upload... i say sneaky peak but it may all change. 

i have an interesting space it has two large windows and a narrow walk way area. i think i may have set myself a bit of a challenge in choosing it but  oh well... we'll see how it turns out in the next few weeks. its only 2 weeks and 6 days until i have to have it all finished. eak! 

www.garybolam.co.uk'

# 23 [13 May 2008]

Ok so it is 1:30pm and I'm working tonight at 6.00pm. My washing machine has just broke with my uniform still in it. I'll take that as a sign to phone in sick. 

www.garybolam.co.uk'

# 22 [13 May 2008]

Blah blah blah....

Art school holds the plague. Today I have been avoiding it at all costs. gerr...  I'm fed up of the elevated stress levels and the required commitment to be seen to be doing work every minute of every day. I'm fed up of the uneasy feeling around people as well. Everyone is on egg-shells around one another for fear of tipping the balance.  I need a rest from it all. 

Having said that, all I have been doing for the last week is 'resting' from it. I went to two openings last Thursday. A solo fourth year show and the group third year show. Both of which were impressive, almost scarily so.  

So I go along to both and its a sunny day in Glasgow and I feel in good spirits, maybe more so because of all the free alcohol haha but also because its a chance to chill out a bit with friends. i ended up getting slightly drunk with everyone else and going home to crash.

I was having crazy dreams. I swear I was actually working in my sleep. It was weird.

www.garybolam.co.uk'