Main focus still on applications at the moment. 4 down, 2 to go, 1 accepted, no rejections to date. Have been busy working on a series of traditional drypoint etchings which will form one layer of the final piece working with aspects of home and shelter still. The print shown doesn’t belong to the series but was accepted for the Wrexham Open Print Competition.
The virtual exhibition catalogue which forms the core of the dissertation is pretty much complete – I’m just waiting for some images from one of the artists involved now – they’re back in the studio on Monday and I should be able to sign it off then and order the Blurb book.
Meanwhile it looks like we’ve decided to go with the idea of a jewel mini CD case with individual cards rather than a traditional catalogue, cheaper, a more interesting object and the flexibility of being able to display the cards alongside the work, reuse as business cards and so on, we’ve engaged the help of one of the design students to assist.
There’s an early edit of a video attached.
not another poem about death
So Neg 2, the final practical module is underway. We have had our last ever feedback, yesterday we had the last ever group crit.
The dissertation essay is signed off, I’m in the process of actually putting together the Blurb book which will constitute the virtual exhibition catalogue. The artists featured – Carwyn Evans and Heather and Ivan Morison, continue to be incredibly helpful, this time with providing high quality images of their work. The director of Oriel Davies the gallery where the exhibition will notionally be held has provided gallery plans and photographs. The whole package should be signed off next week.
On the professional development front I have applied to two open competitions and have two more in the pipeline and I have booked a Peer to Peer mentoring session with a contemporary gallery and artists’ resource program to try and start the ball rolling for work and life beyond the degree.
Somewhere in this melee I’ve found time to shoot some video, take photogaphs and produce a series of drypoint prints for Neg 2, the final push to the degree show – evidence to follow shortly.
Meanwhile we still haven’t finalised the degree show catalogue format though we should have a decision by Friday. The choice at the moment is between traditional catalogue and a mini calendar jewel case containing an introductory card and individual cards for each of us. A nice sculptural object that we can re-use if we have any left over.
We also have a group show booked in the gallery in the local town which is something to curate after the degree show.
They told us last year was the hardest – they lie like cheap watches our tutors.
So here we are, where does the time go?
Neg1, the first major practical module has been and gone, the assessment went well (subject to moderation). I’ve just e-mailed the re-draft of my dissertation and yesterday I presented the proposal for neg2, the final practical module of the year/degree.
The proposal is a rather nebulous affair which aims to continue the multi-layered, multi-media approach of neg1. I’ve been intrigued by the way different media and processes can suggest the passage of time and take material out of the realm of documentary and into the realm of imagination and memory, as a direct result of my dialogue with Richard Taylor in the blogger profiles.
Initially I’ll be working in two areas: I enjoyed the more traditional drawings I completed at the end of gimme shelter so I’d like to keep that going, but I’ve also started editing together some video footage which looks potentially interesting
On the professional developement front, I’ve been cataloguing work, updating CV and statement and building a digital portfolio to try and move the work into the big wide world. I’ve applied to an open printmaking competition and am fine tuning the applications for two further major competitions.
Finally, we’re as a group, finalising ideas around catalogues etc for the degree show. To catalogue or not to catalogue? That is the question.
Neg1 part2
Here are some more views of what the other guys have been up to for the Neg1 assessments.
