I seem to only get a short way in actually creating art work before I am off researching again. Though the initial point for the research may seem straight forward to satisfied, it always seems to lead on to many more areas of interest or raise more questions requiring even more research!! It does keep the inspiration levels high, but my rate of production just does not keep pace with my ideas!
This was another research day.
A.M.
Visited larger library checking out loan books, reference books and what they call ‘the stack’ (which are books that have been taken out of use). Not at all ‘sexy’ research I suppose. I have however found numerous interesting images and lots of useful info. The 2 most exciting aspects were:
1) A large reference book on mushrooms, with species I have not found previously in other books.2) A smaller book still in the reference section which attempts to explain the meanings behind words used in the naming of plants e.g. Facetus means elegant etc.
I did find lots of other interesting images and snippets of information in many other books available and brought the usual stack home to plough through!
P.M.
Visited the local Museum to look through their Botany section, checking out specimens, but mainly just re looking at their styles of display/image recording and naming protocols. This was o.k. In some of the display cabinets they used a second smaller box to contain the specimen. These specialist boxes looked very much like the boxes I used in an artist book last year, (boxes used in taxonomy of various insects). So I think I will be re ordering some more, after checking out sizes first! This visit was of good use, but I may visit a museum with a larger Botanical section, I’ll check out Manchester or Liverpool. As I have interest in representing my objects so they allude to the whole scientific, taxonomic, Museum system of display. During the visit discussed the possibility of opening up the cabinets with a member of staff from the museum. As I expected I would need to speak with the curator (who was not available). I will wait before following this up as I need to be very clear about what it is I want as I have other ideas as to my display.
