Well the start of the Easter break has been really quite good so far. I discovered on Friday afternoon that my application to exhibit my work in Gallery North – the professional gallery based within Northumbria University -during the degree show was successful! This is a huge confidence boost for my current direction and was a pleasant confirmation of my ability to write an attractive exhibition proposal, I personally believe the proposal benefited hugely from the photographs that I took with help from a recent graduate and a Uni 5d mk2. I imagine these high-res photos helped the tutors visualise what I was trying to communicate in my proposal.
I was also successful in securing my first choice studio space. The space is a large, high-ceilinged space with stairs leading up to a mezzanine, my problem now is that I will really have to be creative in taking control and ownership of the huge space. I imagine this week will be spent constructing some macquettes and clearing as much of my work out of the space (the space also contains my current studio). I really want to make sure that I don’t rush into constructing some grand idea just yet and definitely want to test out some less-is-more ideas with my work.
So yeah, I’m in a pretty fantastic mood regarding my degree show spaces! I think pretty much everyone (in sculpture at least) got the space they asked for. We are currently located in a large annexe of the main building and although in previous years the public do tend to know where to go I would like to construct some sort of linking system. I always thought a clever idea would be a couple of coloured lines leading to the space, similar to that of a large hospital with lines leading to different departments.
But back to this week, I got a lift out into Northumberland to help set up the CON. show in Haltwhistle. My grass piece was taken out in a van on Friday and survived the 38 mile journey in one piece! The space is really interesting, essentially a converted barn in a community arts centre. One with brilliant flat lighting and a good amount of floor space and new clean white boards. The only problem was that the oil heater wasn’t working so we literally froze! Cups of tea and halogen heaters provided a little bit of respite but only temporarily… I should be heading back late today or early tomorrow to do the final touches before tomorrow evening’s opening. Hopefully the heater will be on!
