Manchester Metroplitan University

Well – another week has zipped past. We’ve now been told that our degree show is not being extended and we will close on Sunday 22nd June. Bit of a sigh of relief really. Its been quite hard to focus lately with the weather being so great – I can’t wait till I can just go out and lie on the grass and read the pile of books I’ve got stacked up ready for some free time. But I’m not complaining at all about working hard – I’m still enjoying it hugely. I feel like I’ve got through the block I had – I’ve just moved on and am doing other books with a view to coming back to the one I’ve found so difficult. I’ve made one whose inspiration was the staginess of the character in the film – I’ve always found him a real old ham of an actor. I also had in my head the Pollock’s toy theatre I had as a kid – I loved cutting out all the scenery flats and layering them up in different compositions. So another one nearly finished. We were provisionally allocated our degree show spaces today as well – I am quite happy with mine, although I don’t think (famous last words) that its going to be so difficult to show my work. Plinths plinths plinths I should imagine. Everything is very tightly controlled – we’ve been told in very definite terms that this is a curated show and we have to conform. So no props, no colour – the walls have to be white. Even our portfolios have to look the same. We’ve also had a thorough briefing on presentation and mounting of work. So many rules……I realise that actually the only way actually to shock a tutor is to window mount a piece of textiles and put it behind glass. Oh how tempting. Even when we have installed our work – it appears that this won’t be the end of things and we might be required to go back in after its assessed and move it for the degree show itself. Well, I’m trying not to think about all that now and just get on with the next book. And my journal…and portfolio…oh, and update my website (www.sarahmorpeth.com) …and worry about what I’m going to do next…..