October 27th 2010
It feels a real privilege to be working with Writle College/CADE a diverse, brilliant educational institution, where I can feel there is a true focus in the work they are doing. So I have to first thank the arts council for giving me the opportunity to not only progress my professional practice become part of the colleges fabric.
I have spent roughly four days at the college, a mixture of full days and half days. In between which I been fabricating the first of my drum structures in my studio @ Cuckoo Farm Studios in Colchester (completed 12 days ago). The work relies on the Autumn fall to create the visuals and sounds, a variety of drum-like structures will be used to collect the sounds but also act as an sculptural element. With the fall upon us, it was important to get the visual experimental work started.
Within my first days spent at the college;
– Met the CADE staff and some Writtle College.
– Firstly I set up a time-lapse camera to monitor a single tree’ process during the fall, this is progressing very well, with the majority of leaves fallen we are now eyeing up other trees to maintain the recording of this important natural event,
– Had a play with a thermal imaging camera which looks remarkably like a police speed gun (many visual possibilities await),
– Looked at many different of native and non-native trees,
– Taught how to use a complicated GIS mapping software,
– Sat in on Ruth Catlow’s discussion about digital web art networks and climate change (Bizarrely dovetailed with conversions emerging from an artist crit-group I’m apart off for firstsite (discussions on artists such has Heath Bunting etc)).
– Set up a large octagonal drum at the base of a conker tree,
– Helped to create boards illustrating the project (currently on display near the foyer).
There is almost an organic nature emerging within the residency itself, echoing the visuals. Hopefully throughout the project I hope to see a variety of connections between my own new media practice and plant science.
With the need to get the experiments underway, I’ve yet to truly engage with the students, so looking forward to that over the coming weeks.
All the visuals generated through-out the project can be viewed on my website www.timskinner.co.uk
