DEGREES UNEDITED

# 1 [12 February 2010]

Well due to the moving housewhich happened at Christmas I have had no internet hence no blog so here's the story so far. I ended last module with a black and white film of a collection of images around an empty family home projected into a large kitchen cupboard from the location hung in a purpose built black room with only a narrow viewing space. I was interested in desolate domestic scenes, narratives, viewer interaction and film making/documenting.

This module began with me researching and making appointments to view repossessed homes, and taking photographs of these empty spaces and the objects left behind. I am interested in the loss of control surrounding repossessed homes, memories, lives lived in these spaces. The objects that remain in the houses have become increasingly interesting to me, I am interested in the reason for leaving them are they not wanted?, not needed? forgottoten?

This has drawn me to the idea of using lost property. I have looked at lost luggage auctions but they only seem to take place in London, however they remove anything of interest including footware, accessories, electronic items and they only leave clothing in. I am currently trying to contact Meresey Travel to work with them and their lost property items.

So hopefully next week I will have an update.

# 2 [17 March 2010]

I admit my blogging has been more than lax in the past few weeks. This is due mainly in part as my options print work which had to be in this Tuesday took priority, o.k so it's only 17% of the final mark but considering I hate essays I need every mark I can get.

I am not much further with Merseytravel, I have been put in touch with another person there who I am meeting next Monday.

I am hoping there will be lots of items I can record and take photos of to give me an idea of the kind of objects that get handed in to lost property.

After going to a Sonia Boyce talk I have decided to continue with my use of film and will be recruiting for my film.

Currently if all goes to plan I am hoping to assemble a large quantity of lost items in a space surrounding a film that will be running on a loop. But this could all change once I have been to the lost property depo.

If anyone could suggest artists to look at for my essay, I am considering the subject to be artists who use found objects(but really found or even photographed in situ like Richard Wentworth).

# 3 [23 March 2010]

Well I had my meeting with Merseytravel yesterday, it went well they were very helpful and took me to the lost property office.

All the objects are stored in large metal cabinets and the valuable items such as phones that have not been claimed get auctioned off for charity but everything else gets donated to Oxfam after 3 months. I have been given permission to intercept before the Oxfam stage and use to objects for my work and then when finished give it to Oxfam.

I can collect my first of 3 lots of lost property at the start of April.

I want to create a film to go in my installation of lots of people talking about an object they have lost, I want them to describe it, where it came from, what it meant to them, where they may have lost it, did they try to get it back. I want to use 2 cameras to film so I can have a choice of views. I am relying on volunteers it will take no longer than 10 mins very relaxed and only filming head and shoulders. I will publish a blog at the end of this week asking for volunteers on the a-n blog, and email members of my college on art and design courses and hopefully some ex-students can help.

If anyone has any ideas or suggestions please comment . Thanks

# 4 [13 April 2010]

I collected 2 bags of lost property last week, there are some interesting objects in there so hopefully my next 2 collections will be equally interesting. At the moment I am thinking about the displaying of my objects, I do not want to alter them in anyway. I want to show the objects in an individual basis rather than all together on one plinth or collection. I have also decided that my original idea of having a film of people talking about an item they have lost running along with the installation will defer the viewers attention from the lost property. I feel an audio piece will work in harmony with the objects and increase the viewers imagination as to the lives the objects had before being lost.

I am still looking for volunteers for my audio piece and would be grateful of any help, if anyone has software to record their voice and can email it to me then that would be great?

I have in a matter of a week had loads of ideas for display ranging from tunnels to market barrows. I have to take some photos of the gallery and possible ways of displaying my work as well as making a few models.

I am also considering creating a printed inventory to go with the work as all the items have to be donated to Oxfam after the show, currently I am thinking about descriptions and images being the focus of the inventory but that could all change.

# 5 [27 April 2010]

Originally I was planning a large scale plinth installation with each item of lost property on an individual plinth. I wanted the items which have been handed in individualy and had their own separate lives before being lost to be represented individually. I wanted all the plinths to be at different levels separating the items to more of an extent. I have been experimenting in my studio space with suspending the objects, I am really beginning to consider using fishing line to suspend my lost property at different heights.

 I would also want to include some prints of the objects because once I give them to Oxfam they will be gone forever. I like the idea of a pictoral inventory.

# 6 [28 May 2010]

Essay is well out the way and a distant memory now. I am installing my piece in the gallery on the 7th of June and have found it quite hard having to wait until then to see it all up and complete. I never realised this side of installation art was so hard, other people around me are busy making things and have something physical to look at and know how much they still have to do but apart from my preliminary work and arrangement development I will create my piece in the gallery.

I have been experimenting with suspension techniques and materials this week, I think depending on cost I will hire a scaffold tower for installing my piece it may seem extreme but if it saves me time may prove invaluable.Our catalogue is done and will be going to print next week.

I still ahve folder work, journal stuff and my statement for assessment to do, so this may be my last blog, well until its all up and over.