A-N MAGAZINE
I have not posted for a while. I feel guilty, but am trying to change that now by writing.
I am so pleased about appearing on the front cover of the a-n Degree Show supplement. It absolutely made my day. As I had not heard anything for a while after submitting my entry, I assumed that I would not be appearing.
I realised one morning, that the new issue of a-n must be out, and so went across the road to Borders to check. I tore open the packaging, and saw my image on the front cover. It didn’t register for a second, even though I recognised my image. I squeaked, danced, and disturbed a man reading ‘Grafik’ magazine next to me.
I have been published!
WORK OUT
I have uploaded some photographs for each of the artists’ work. It is completed, and it has been up to me to photograph the images in a way that suits the concept of each book/artist.
The first artist’s work to be photographed, has been Jörg Raab. I have taken the photographs concentrating on the problem of capturing a 3D object over a 2D plane. The painting becomes a book-like structure with a spine, foredge, and grain direction.
PRINTING, PRINTING, ALL DAY PRINTING.
I have begun my printing and binding of the three books, one for each artist/collaboration. I am making ten copies of each book, each as a single section binding. But there is the common problem of size…the size. I am worried that my books are too small. I am worried that they will shrink into obscurity when put on plinths. Do I make them all again, or will that crush my spirit completely?
I am also now worried about using Helvetica. This most mundane of details troubles me at night. American typewriter takes my fancy most evenings. Does it make writing seem slightly more ad-hoc, perhaps coming from a more studious angle? EEEEEEEK. BRAGGADOCIO. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I’VE EVER WRITTEN USING THIS TYPE. It SCREAMS. But’s it has been done hasn’t it? It reeks of faux-trendy exhibition posters advertising a ‘genuine vintage experience.’ You’d think I was doing a typography degree. But I’m not.
I have got through 8 ink cartridges for my printer so far, and am pleased to report that it is taking pride of place on my desk. Papers surround this temporary shrine to my insanity, while scraps of letraset, book cloth and string cling on at the edges. I have also grown to love Grafik magazine, even if we do have to a slightly masochistic relationship. I whimper into my coffee as I flick through pages showing glossy design companies’ books and exhibition catalogues. I wonder if it might have been more profitable to whore myself out for a couple of months to afford a proper designer. Do I really need to be making the books myself? After all, its not about the craft, its about the concept isn’t it? Or so I hear.
MYSPACE PAGE
I have done it. I have got myself a myspace page. A myspace page for the Touch This Press.
http://www.myspace.com/touchthispress
I have begun to notice more and more small publications appearing on myspace as a way of marketing and publicising themselves to a wider, more targeted audience. Fashion and music magazines in particular have a smaller, more personal D.I.Y version online. I was curious as to whether I could, and should do this for the Touch This Press; an virtual version of a fictionalised concrete version.
I had originally decided to build a website for the TTP, but decided in the end, that a myspace page would be in keeping with a very young press, that wishes to attract emerging artists, and will have a relatively youthful audience.
Having almost completed the page, I am wondering whether its associations with myspace devalues it and makes the press and entire project seem kitsch or cheesy, or whether it works as a space to promote the TTP’s artists?
I wish there was feedback available through this blog. I sometimes feel slightly isolated writing it, and find myself wondering whether anyone ever reads it, or has an opinion on any of my ideas.
TIME. TIME…. TIME………. TIME
I am so aware of how little time I have left, and yet it seems to stretch out endlessly in front of me. I am compiling endless lists of things to do. They all go something like this;
Buy film
-Develop film
-Find out how to get large sheets of vinyl lettering
-Decide on wall colour for ‘gallery space’
-Work on sketchbook
-Finish sanding down wall
-Build website?
We have been given our degree show spaces. To say I was disappointed when I received mine was an understatement. It appeared to be a meeting place for corridors, and also in the middle of a fire escape route. I fumed about it to anyone who would listen for days, and finally managed to speak to my tutor who agreed it was awful. Not only would I not be able to put anything on the floor, despite having specified the presence of plinths, but there were five exits and entrances coming off the space, which would hardly make it the ‘self-contained’ space I had wanted.
After a weekend of waiting, I was informed that my space was a designated self-contained space, and that I could do whatever I wanted to it, which includes painting walls, and covering the floor. I am still highly dubious about this, and am just waiting to be told by the health and safety man, that I am causing a fire hazard. Sigh. If I wasn’t so aware of the fact the this blog is public, I would probably air more of my feeling on this subject. However, I am aware of the idea of compromise, and that fitting in 130 people for a degree show space is no easy task.
