The second section is well under way now. This is just as well as it is being installed for the Big Draw in less than a months time and I have to be back at Middlesex University to resume my residency next week. I have temporarily installed the first section in the studio in Tottenham. We have Open Studios this weekend and it’ll be good to get some feedback on it.
On doing a bit of research on the history of the Barnet area I discovered that an early cartographer John Norden used to live in Hendon House . He produced maps of London in the 1600’s. (It still amazes me at the ease the internet allows you to find things out.) I have printed out (onto donated paper) some images of his maps for use in the work and I am hopeful that the historical theme of the second section is being made clear. I have decided to use a variety of paper within it though as it strikes me that to only use paper with historical detail on it is either going to be too limiting in terms of resources or too contrived if I have to print out too much. Enough now – I’d better get on with the making and photographs of the second section to put up here..
It seems the decision as to when I should leave this first section and move onto the second one has been made for me. I have an Open studios weekend coming up 1 – 3 October at my Euroart studio in Tottenham and I am going to install the work there this weekend. I need to get it out of the shed here anyway – although I have a great new wall in there (courtesy of my lovely husband) it is now nearly 2m wide and I can no longer photograph it in the house. The photo I have just put up is taken in the shed and I had to move to the side to get it. It’ll be good to see it in a different, larger space anyway.
I have had a bit of feedback on the work recently, a couple of friends (also artists) have visited. It was a relief to be able to talk to people about what I am doing – especially when the making process is an odd combination of being fractured and yet intense. Lovely to get a comment on this blog too. Thanks Claire.
Anyway – the result is I am feeling much more confident about the work and being ready for the Big Draw event at artsdepot on the 24th October. I’ll write more about that later…!
Just grabbing a minute to do this blog between feeding and bathing grumpy children! Managed to clear a little bit of space in the shed whilst the younger one had a nap – I am expecting a visit from a journalist for The Archer (local free press) on Monday to talk about the project so I thought it might be prudent to make it at least vaguely accessible! I have to admit I am pleased that it’s going to get a bit more local publicity – I still want paper from a wider cross section of the community and getting the public’s interest is the only way I can think might help with this. There is going to be a collection box for paper outside the gallery at artsdepot from Monday too – so please pop some in if your passing. Paper with info on local history would be good – but honestly I’m grateful anything really!
In terms of the work itself I haven’t done as much as I would have liked lately as I’ve been away for a bit, but the hours I have managed to snatch when smallest has been napping and small has been happily occupied have helped to move it on. It’s becoming a bit more sculptural now with areas being pushed up into high relief and the shadows cast are to do with the form of the work rather than the initial cut map. I can’t allow the work to get much bigger top to bottom but I need to extend it from the sides – you might be able to see I’m starting to do that already form the photos.
Thanks to Chipping Barnet library for the paper by the way.
