Second day at the Grain Warehouse. Before going down there I picked up another 200 flyers from the printers. I stopped at the Travel Lodge near the site and left some with them, too many really as they were not very friendly and rather unwilling to keep them. I’ll check in a few days and if they havn’t displayed them I’ll try to get them back.
The workers who are re-doing the cobbles outside the Grain Warehouse removed their railings that were bang in front of my windows and the building is now much better visible. They were very understanding when I asked them and showed some interest in what I’m doing. I starting to have a bit of a relationship with them.
Later on ‘Sutties Window Cleaners’ came to clearn the windows of the flats above. I asked them if they could clean mine too and they were extremely friendly and did it for free. In return I offered to mention them on Twitter and Facebook as the ‘very friendly window clearners in Sheffield’.
I carved 12 grains today, which is pretty good. Also, seven visitors came to see the project. Three of them while i had my lunch so I could talk to them. I find it hard sometimes to stay silent when people come in as everybody is always really keen to talk and ask questions. Luckely I’ve got my assistants.
Got my Grain book layed out tonight and it will go to printers tomorrow. Thanks to my friend Katya, who proof read it for me at 11pm.
First day open to the public today with Sarah Jane as an assistant. Fran came to do her first session documenting the project. As i was trying to get used to sitting there carving I felt the presnce of the camera quite strongly. She took some fantastic images from what I’ve seen.
Before opening up the space i picked up the posters from the printers and ordered another two hundred flyers. Also made a little sign ‘Artist remains silent’ to stick on my ‘caring trolley’.
There was one visitor who lives on one of the canal boats and he commented that the walls of soap bricks reminded him of an architecutural site where there is someting being excavated. I liked that comparison. I’m excavating the history and also redefining the space.
I carved ten grains today and I think I am gettng quicker, although that isn’t really important as it is about the process not the quantity I carve. I wish the work that is going on just outside the Grain Warehouse would move on as they have big metal railings up bang outside my windows. But then that’s life and it’s happening :-)
It wasnn’t a cold as I thought it would be considering I’m sitting still only my hands moving. Might still bring a hot water bottle to put inside my overall. Also, hot coffee for tomorrow!
I also met Eamonn again later at night to check the lights as I thought they wern’t bright enough for the events but it must have been that it wasn’t dark enough when I saw them the other day. Tonight as it was propper dark they looked really good. Wish I could lieave the lights on during the night.
After eight hours in the Grain Warehouse today there are still one pallet of soap (out of six) to install, mountains of cardboard boxes to flatten, soap rapping paper to put away, windows to clean, space for information material to arrange and pallets to dispose. I’m getting there. I remember walking into spaces that supposed to have an exhibition starting the next day thinking ‘that’s going to be a push’. Now I know that it’s absolutely fine.
That was the longest I’ve spend in the space. The wooden partition David Lobo has build looks really good as it’s riddish colour blends in with the brickwork around and it feels solid too.
The lights are a bit darker than I imagined and not as nocticeable from outside as I had in mind. I’ll see what I can do.
Finally, my risk assessment was assessed and the funding released. I can breath normally again and focus on installing the work.
The lights are up now and the archway is blocked. I sat in there and did some carving today and it felt so right, so natural. i can’t wait to start for real.
To take insurance out for the lighting equipment proofed impossible at first as the first quote I got was £2.400.- for the one month as the site is on a high risk flooding area. There is some light in sight though as i’m communicating with another company now and they seem more reasonable. Will have to make a decision soon.
