DEGREES UNEDITED

# 1 [22 January 2010]

We at first had to decide on who would be a chair person, and secretary for the group, to give the group some order and organisation. We then decided what needed to be done first, and who wanted to do what within the preparation for the exhibition.

 Chairperson – Andrew Wu

Vice-Chairperson – Tommy McCaffety

Secretary – Sharon Ross

We established how often to meet and what day was suitable for all. We felt it was important to meet regularly so everyone had a good idea on what was happening.  We meet every week as a group, and meet every two weeks with our tutors, to inform them of our progress.

The groups we decided on were:

 1.           The Venue group – Tommy, Lia, Mark & Emma.

2.            Publicity Group – Des, Paula, Andrew, Felicity.

3.            Funding Group – Moya, Fiona, Vicky, Mark.

4.            Design Group – Sharon, Paula, Des.

5.            Installation Group – Paula, Tommy, Moya.

6.            Gallery Care Group – Everybody is involved in this

The first priority was the venue, the venue group looked at suitable areas for gallery displays which are reputable and have a good location. They will look at various venues that were suggested, such as: Novas centre - a purpose built art centre, and requires no building of walls for displays and lighting is in place. Another area to look at is Pacific road art centre, which will need lighting and building of display walls. Also the Williamson gallery will be looked at.

The pitfalls considered when looking for a gallery space were wall and floor space, hidden costs, for example private viewing prices. Also the venue needs to be decided quickly.

The venue decided upon was the Contemporary Urban Centre – Novas, in Liverpool.  The ground floor of this gallery looks ideal. A fee of £500 has been mentioned. This figure needs to be discussed further to find out what exactly it covers. Questions to be considered were;  are there any extras (hidden), time, mail shots, private viewing.... this list is by no means exhausted!  We also need to get the agreement in writing. Overall it was decided that everyone in the group should visit the venue and any concerns can be raised at the next meeting. The venue group are reluctant to confirm the booking until it has been viewed by everyone. Those failing to visit forfeit their right to raise objections. 

Another group running alongside the Venue group was the funding group, this was also a priority.  It is important to set up a bank account straight away, to get funds rolling. Moya and Fiona began to investigate various banks and building societies, looking at their business, community accounts. We need to make sure it is free banking.

Also Moya and Fiona started to collect an initial pot for the fund of £20 each; this was done as soon as possible. Next was the various funding ideas, we all pay subs. We held raffles, stalls, in order to raise sufficient funds to cover the exhibition, venue, printing costs etc. A record of all our proceedings was also kept.

The general feelings “were that we cannot do this, how are we going to raise all the money we need?” Also there were and are feelings of stress, which leads to conflicts within the group. However, so far we have managed to talk about any issues that have arisen.

So far we have the venue, we are on track with our funds, and now we are at the planning and designing of the poster and invites, programmes within the design group.

# 2 [22 January 2010]

Well the Venue is confirmed, which is the NOVA's the Deposit is paid and contract established. We need to establish what extra's we want for the private viewings nibbles drinks etc and cost.

The next thing to be done is choosing a name for the exhibition and design for poster. We have asked for suggestions on design and name, which is to be discussed in another meeting which is scheduled for a week’s time. Danielle has come up with the name JIGSAW, and so far has received a positive reaction, as she explained it was chosen as we are all from different backgrounds bringing a variety of skills and different works for display and was coming together like a jigsaw. What we also have to be careful of is to not use phrases such as spring exhibition, or numbers after the name as it implies more than one exhibition has been or will be arranged. We have had some interesting designs for the poster so far, and what we will also think about in the design poster meeting is if something just fits straight away with what we want , or use elements of one poster and mix with anther to create a new design. It will be a visual brain storming session and everyone will have a say if they attend the meeting.

What we have realised is the poster and name needs to be thought up and designed fairly quickly and be ready for distribution towards the end of Feb. It is only 7 weeks to the actual exhibition. We estimate about 100 or so posters, enough for maybe 10 each to distribute. Invites will be dished out two weeks before the exhibition and tends to be a smaller scale of the poster.

We need to draft a press release, which will be released via the college public relations officer who publicises events for the college; there is advice on the artist network on how to write a press release if anyone is interested.

We are also constantly thinking of fund raising ideas, and we are organising another tombola table which has been booked for the 11th Feb, it will have a valentines theme, so we will be selling soppy love stuff, chocolates, perfume toiletries cuddly toys etc. Also we will also have a go at designing and printing some valentine’s cards to sell on the stall, Michelle will help with the printing etc.

# 3 [3 February 2010]

Hey this is Tommy McCafferty from Wirral Met. We are currently in the second year of our fine art degree. We are part of the Gallery Practice Venue Group which means we have to look for a venue to exhibit all the student's work. (Em and Mark are also part of the group). We have to visit as many venues as possible and Liverpool seemed the natural choice. Lia and I met most days and visited various galleries. We walked (yes walked!) all around the city centre, arranging meetings with people at galleries such as The Blackie.

Hi I'm Lia (Celia Gentles) another member of the Venue Practice Group. As Tommy said we have been looking around Liverpool for the right venue for our second year gallery practice. There are thirteen students in all who must showcase their work during the second week in March.
 
It was very interesting and useful visiting the various galleries because some of us may have to liaise with professional people in the future - it's good to get a bit of experience and to know what's out there for artists. After some consideration we decided Liverpool was the right location for our exhibition - busy, central, and vibrant with art and culture.
 
The Arts Academy
 
The first gallery we enquired at was The Arts Academy in Seel Street but they were fully booked for February/March 2010. Mark, Em, Tommy, Des and I had a good look at the works on display. Also a local children's author and illustrator had a book on show and was there in person to talk about her work.
 
The Blackie
 
The staff at The Blackie were very helpful and quoted us some reasonable prices. As well as explaining there were different prices for different sized rooms they were willing to give discount to student groups in return for some voluntary work done in their Archive Department.
However, we decided that it wasn't quite right for our purposes - the rooms were either too small or too big. Also we needed to find somewhere with good parking facilities, and The Blackie did not have enough space.
 
I'd heard on Radio Merseyside that there was a new art gallery/shop opening in Clayton Square so Tommy and I went over there to have a nosey. It was much too small for our group and the owner dealt mainly in commercial style art such as portraits of The Beatles and other famous people. It might be worth bearing in mind if any of us wanted to show/sell pieces like that in the future.
 
The Gallery
 
We also looked round The Gallery, a new exhibition space in Liverpool 1, near to Cains Brewery. This had only been open a week or so and was displaying a collection of photographs based on the human body by an artist called Stephanie de Lenge. We just missed the artist in residence but were shown around by one of the organizers. It was a good size but a bit too much off the beaten track. We decided that the nearby Novas Contemporary Urban Centre was a much more accessible and "happening" place. There was parking space plus a bar and restaurant and there would be other members of the public going in and out of there for theatre and art events.

# 4 [3 February 2010]

Venue Search Continued

The Novas Contemporary Urban Centre.
 
Both Tommy and I called at The Novas in person a few times because it was always difficult getting hold of the Arts Team on the phone. They were busy arranging exhibitions, I expect! I had emailed Carla Weaver a few times explaining our needs and she said we were welcome to go there and look round any time.
 
 
 

One of Carla's staff members showed Tommy the larger exhibition space upstairs, and later took both of us (plus Des) round the smaller gallery downstairs. I took some photographs of this space, complete with current exhibition, to show the other students back at college. We discovered that this smaller gallery was the room which last year's Gallery Practice Group had hired, and decided that this space would meet our requirements especially as we are a much smaller group this year. The rest of the students agreed and approved of our decision.
 
A few days later Carla and Tommy made the deal and a fee was agreed on. Fortunately this fee was to cover the hire of the room for ten days instead of seven which we had previously arranged. Tommy, Emma and I returned again just before Christmas to sign the contract. Stevie, a member of staff kindly took us round one of their exhibitions by an American/turned local artist. Extraordinary Drawings by Laurie Lipton was a large collection of amazing pencil and graphite art works, based on real life crimes and events, as well as taken from the artist's gruesome imagination.
 
Tommy took the cheque to Carla over Christmas. Part of the money raised came from our Gallery Practice fundraising cake sale and Tombola - just before we broke up for the holidays. Michelle organized a table for us outside the lifts at Twelve Quays which we manned all day. And one of the third years kindly provided a huge box of fairy cakes which proved to be very popular. I made some flapjacks and everybody in our group donated unwanted gifts and festive goods for the table.
 
We are holding another Tombola event on the 11th February and will be donating unwanted Christmas gifts for this sale and raffle. I think this time we are going to improve on our system and have the winning tickets ending in a five or a nought (which is what the punters were all expecting last time!). We are aiming for a bit of a Valentine's Day theme and are hoping for donations of romantic candles, chocolates and sexy underwear!

# 5 [18 February 2010]

Hello I'm Tommy Mc,now in my second year ( Fine art degree ) at wirral Met. I am currently working on a large stick and ink drawing. My first idea was to portray homeless people, but i have changed the format a little, I am drawing a whole collection of discarded items, a massive rubbish tip, and I am incorporating people living and sleeping rough.I am using black Indian ink and numerous twigs and Branch's, it is more of a mark making exercise than a conventional drawing. It is very frustrating at the moment, a lot of the twigs are snapping plus I can't always get the marks I want.

# 6 [23 February 2010]

A blog on the design of the Gallery Practice Poster.

5/01/10-               Our first meeting  of the new term took place in Studio 121.  Amongst other topic of the agenda for  discussion was the mention of  the design for the  gallery poster now that the date for the exhibition is confirmed on the 8th March for 10 days.  Fellow students were encouraged to  submit designs for comment.  Information to be included in the poster is;  A title for the student group , dates, venue, logo for Wirral Met, sponsors.

12/01/10              One design by Andrew Wu  is offered for consideration.    The title is suggested by Danielle is “Jigsaw” , representing  the 13 students of the Level 2 coming from different socio- ethnic background of the region.  Enclosed poster.   Comments were discussed.

More designs were encouraged and displayed on the studio wall for opinions and discussions. Decision to be made next  week.

19/01/10              One other design was submitted by Sharon Ross who had consulted Les  Rowe  for refinement .     This design was finally accepted by the group .   Andrew Wu will have the poster priced by different  printers and will report back to the group.   A5 posters for individual  mailing and A3 for corporate displays.

# 7 [1 March 2010]

By Fiona Philipps.

FA22-  I am planning to continue throughout this module with my research into the human body. I looked last module in particular at our bones and the effects caused by the food we eat.

I have decided to research further into the human skeleton and also my interest in bacteria, blood, skin and our genes.

I have been looking on the internet and in books for images and information. It is quite a difficult subject to research from life without x-rays and microscopes.  Sharon has lent me two of her anatomy books which have been really useful though a bit gory!

From my sketches I have started to develop a wire sculpture. I started off planning to make a large artery which I was then going to cover in a calico fabric I had painted to look blood stained. I made lots of different samples. I decided that this was a bit too literal and would maybe look just like a long tube. I have now decided to add more to my artery to create a larger freestanding structure. I have so far created a spine, arteries and part of the pelvis. The pelvis needs some alteration. When placed against the wall I really like the shadows the wire creates, they create another form.

I was really inspired by the work of Sophie Ryder whose work I saw at the Yorkshire Park and have wanted to try working with wire since then. It does take hours and hours though to produce even a small piece and it is also very hard on my hands, I have had lots of cuts, keep the plasters handy!

I am a bit worried that it is taking me such a long time and I am not sure yet if this piece will be a success and as I have to have work ready for our Gallery practice I am starting to get a bit panicky.

I feel a bit stressed and also nervous about our Gallery practice although I am also really looking forward to it. So far our plans and arrangements have gone quite well and I think that once I have created work that I feel ok about I will start to relax and enjoy it all a bit more. I think that it will be a really valuable experience for us all and we will learn a lot from what we do. It’s coming up a bit too quick though!

I have also started this week working on nine canvases which fit together to make one large rectangular shape. On each one I am planning to paint different sections of the skeleton to create X-ray type images. Again I am a bit worried about how this too and how will turn out.

I have lots of other ideas and would like to do some plaster work. I just hope I don’t run out of time.

# 8 [1 March 2010]

My Name is Danielle Mayo I am a 24 year old profoundly Deaf student. I am currently studying on the B.A Hons Fine Art coursed based within Wirral Metropolitan College.

I have recently been looking at works based around slavery and how the slaves were deprived and badly treated. This had such an affect on me I decided to research further into this area and chose to look into Sensory Deprivation. This is something I can relate to personally as I am profoundly Deaf.

The work I have chosen to exhibit in this exhibition are taken from my developmental stages of work.

My first piece of work is my own transcription of Sir Eduado Paolizzi 1924-2005”Mandarin Head” to create this I used Navy blue, Black and white oil paint. I combined all of these colours together to create the bluey grey colours and used both dark and light shades to create a depth and texture to my work.

My next piece is a strong image which was very strongly influenced by Eduardo Paolozzi’s “Michaelangelo’s David “1987.I created this monochrome image using  charcoal, the fragments of the miss jointed pieces were framed with much darker marks of charcoal. I also created the shadow, light and depth  into the image by blending and removing marks from the paper. My third piece of work was my own transcription of  Piccasso’s weeping woman. Which I also worked in charcoal to create.

# 9 [1 March 2010]

By Sharon Ross

My current work is based on the portrait. I am exploring various techniques within portrait painting. I like to capture the moment of a particular time and place, so I use photographs of the subject in my research. I am interested in the technical accuracy of the portrait, as well as the different brush work used in oil painting. I am focusing my studies on friends and family members.

My Influences are Tai Shan Schierenberg, Lucien Freud, Charlotte Harris, and Simon Davies. Although I am interested in the technical accuracy of the painting, I am not necessarily striving for the photo realistic look of the painting; I admire artists such as Chuck Close, Andrew Tift, Paul Emsley and Craig Wylie who paint with such skill, that I can only hope to dream to have a small part of their skill.

# 10 [5 March 2010]

By Vicky Jones

The work I am interested in re-visits art from the past as a means to explore Abstract Expressionism. It combines both figuration and abstraction, and investigates the fact that 'abstract' painting is not just free and random expression, it has to be skillfully planned just like any other form of painting. The paint is applied in an energetic 'expressive' way, quoting the abstract expressionist style using a range of brushes and pallete knives. A number of drawings and mono prints were produced prior to the final painting. These help by getting away from the 'reality' of the original, so not to make an exact copy. Artists who have influenced this work include; Willem De Kooning and Cecily Brown.