Exhibition week of 5th November–notes:
Sunday afternoon: Went over a friend’s house and borrowed her paint brushes and rollers. Had a cup of tea, waved goodbye and walked home. On the way I past the local hardware store and thought I should buy smaller paint rollers, just in case. Also masking tape. Rubbish bags. Glue, gloves to paint in. Went into newsagent to buy snacks as my son is off school on Monday and will come with my boyfriend and I to the gallery. Must charge his Nintendo and bring paper and pencils to entertain him…
Sunday night: Hunted for old clothes to wear to install work, and packed paint, dolls house, furniture, scissors and today’s purchases.
After reading the following article I found the guardian website: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/may/09…
I thought more about small details and realised that I needed more dolls house furniture. Like a miniature version of Denis Sever’s House in Spitalfields, in which all the furniture, food, clothing etc., are laid out in a way that it still looks as if a family lives there.
So, I ordered a mini toilet. An oven. Two kitchen chairs, another kitchen table which also came with small drinking glasses, tea cups, plates, teeny-tiny spoons and even a pumpkin and a carrot . A tiny outdoor fountain and bench. And two very small welcome mats! I had no idea they even made things this–well this obsessive. But I’m turning into one myself…oh, and I ordered a second mobile phone, more on that later. Some things will arrive with guaranteed delivery on Tuesday by 1pm, perfect as I still will have two days left to set up.
I also need another two small trees brought from the architectural firm: Blueprint in Bethnal Green.
Monday afternoon–made it to Matt Roberts Gallery at about 3pm with boyfriend to help paint and my son who had an inset day at school. Turns out that the Flint’s Theatre Black paint had excellent coverage–it’s as thick as custard. My boyfriend painted my small room and floor while I put two coats on my plinth. We left the gallery late.
Monday evening-hot dogs and chips. Not a great dinner. My son and boyfriend will be having similar ones this week-no time to cook. Got my son’s uniform, P.E. kit etc ready for school tomorrow.
Tuesday morning: Waited at home for deliveries. Everything came in trickles. Then 2pm arrived and no mobile phone. Totally unlike Amazon. It was still in transit. They did refund me the extra charges for delivery, but when will the phone arrive?
Tuesday afternoon. We returned to the gallery to find that some areas needed a second paint touch-up. What to do about the cavernous ceiling that was quite high? Maybe something lower, maybe a cloth to make a lower ceiling. Need to make a trip to John Lewis.
Tuesday evening–left gallery late, missed John Lewis closing time. Frustrated, went home, ate and fell into bed, but not before looking on line for examples of lighting in a black room/theatre stage. Can’t really figure out how/whether to light the dolls house, the bulb that is in the space is too boring. Maybe a spotlight…
Wednesday morning: Mobile arrived, hurrah! Got to John Lewis later than I wanted, found black fabric for ceiling covering. Spent ages in lighting dept, debated with boyfriend about whether we should wait to buy a light. I won. We bought it and then carried it to the gallery.
Wednesday afternoon: Glued fake grass on plinth. Tricky for boyfriend to contort himself on wobbly stool to hammer fabric to wood shelf on wall and to fit spotlight–but he did it. Hours later, the room was ready.
Thursday morning–exhibition day.
I returned to the gallery to put the furniture inside the dolls house. That took over 2 hours, as I looked through all the items. The toy tv speakers and table I have look amazing. My mobile had a downloaded version of my video, and I placed it on the table. Swept black floor, put down large welcome mat.
Read next blog entry to see the results of my video installation and exhibition pics!
