Well, my residency has technically come to an end… but obviously with the display of my work taking place next year, its not really over. Feels strange to have left the college, where i have been both living and working for the past month, but i’m pleased with what i have achieved, and have really enjoyed it. I feel as though i only just got started before it ended…
Spent the day putting together the electronics for the audio element and have finally got the 8 mylar speakers hooked up to one jack, with the aid of an amp and a splitter box. Took quite a bit of soldering but i’m pleased with the results. I’ll have to finish it properly in situ, so time to pack it all away until i have an audience!
Walked through ‘Lime Walk’ to the adjacent campus earlier this morning. I love being up really early, before others are around… I noticed things i hadnt before: the beautiful tree overhanging the lake had its branches held with wires… like a huge puppet that never animates within sight. The pathway through the trees was so reminiscent of my grandmothers house – the woods at the end of the garden with that damp smell of bracken and the rumble of the airplanes. Theres a plant tangled withe the blackberries that produces cottonwool…
Picked up my final pestalozzi diagram, that i laboured on last night… i still cant figure out quite what it is about it that i like so much… the simplicity of the lines? I mean – i am not at all a mathematical or geometric fan, but there we go… a mystery.
Well, my time at the college is coming to an end. My meeting went well with the heads of college, so i’m feeling really good about it. They are keen for me to show the other works with the installation which is positive and will encourage me to keep going and try out the other ideas i didnt have time to do here…
Finished the cross stitch triptych, and sent the final Pestalozzi Disgram to the printers a few minutes ago, to be collected tomorrow. Then i’ve just got the audio wiring to get done once i am reunited with my soldering irons. I have a lot to sort out regarding the installation of the piece as the walls in the potential room are protected…. but theres time for that…
My order of audio components finaly came in today, so i popped into town to collect them. While i was there i went to see David Byrne’s installation “Playing the Building” at the Roundhouse in Camden. Its a piece i read about when it was displayed in New York, and has inspired quite alot of my work with sound and objects. A piano in the center of the space is wired up to parts of the building, pipes, pillars and beams, which each make different sounds. Its a surround sound experience, and how you hear varies as you move around the space. I waited patiently for my chance to ‘play the building’ and in the 20 mins i was there i was the only one to play solo…! I felt rather self conscious playing, with an audience of about 25 strangers…. it made me realise how people must feel when taking part in some of the performace based pieces i have developed, which can only be a good thing. Goes back to the idea that we should try to maintain the same mentality we were lucky enough to have as children, a lack of embarressment and willing to give anything a go. Something i must work on, not just for the benefit of my own self, but for my work too.
Back at the college, i am getting going with the final cross stitch piece, part of a triptych… i think i have run out of time to get a sound installation in the corridor, but i’ll give it a go, and can always integrate it with the installation piece later. I have tomeeting tomorrow – fingers crossed it all goes to plan – i feel the same sort of anticipation as when i had to meet with a producer in my TV design days.
Well, i have 22 papers left to fold… the end is in sight – thank god – my index finger looks about 20 years older than the rest! I’ll be meeting with the head of college on wednesday to discuss the installation. I think the plan may be to hold off on setting up the piece until April/May, to link up with Froebels Birthday celebrations (he was born 21st April). I’m actually quite keen for this as it means a larger audience and a specific event for the piece to be shown. Its a shame that there will be such a delay after making, but at least i’ll havea chance to come back and see the college in full swing…
With only a week left of the residency, i have been working night and day to get pieces finished off – as usual i was over ambitious and although having too many ideas is definately not something to complain about, its not always ideal for maintaining sanity! I sometimes forget to keep the balance between work and play, as i enjoy what i do so much…. i suppose we all sometimes throw ourselves into a project entirely and i hope it should be admired, but sometimes we can go a little too far.
I just hope that the department will be pleased with the end result when they return from their holidays after i leave. Its strange planning how to leave things, as the department will be empty until after my departure… in a way i feel like an elf or fairy or something, working away while no ones looking, and leaving a surprise for them to find when the come back…! Like a nice theif who gives rather than takes…. anyway, time to crack on….
