Not really that happy with laying the slabs, it started off as an idea for an installation space, I would have a whole room in which I would lay all the slabs within the space and have other work hanging on the walls, the viewer would then be forced (well, encouraged) to walk in the room to look at the other work, thus making it an interactive space. Having it outside means that people can dodge the work altogether if they choose. The slabs seem to be an unnecessary addition to the work as it’s the words that are the main focus…
But fear not…
I have found the solution and it has been given the go ahead by the lovely people in Estates. I’d heard there was a chalk pigment spray paint you could get hold of and it was a non-permanent paint, meaning that it could be washed off with water. Low and behold I have found it. Here is the email sent to Estates explaining my find and what it means to use it within my current work.
I wrote to you a while back explaining my idea for the Fine Art degree show, it was about placing down slabs on the pathway leading to the arts building. I would like to thank you for passing my details on to Mark as he helped me with my queries, however my proposal has changed somewhat now and now I am seeking your permission to go ahead with my new proposal.
The work itself is basically words on the path leading up to the entrance of the arts building, originally I was in contact with Mark about laying paving slabs on top of the path surface with words spray painted on and the H + S I would need to consider.
My work explores politics, in particular the common Buzzwords thrown around within the media and politicians, but taking emphasis on the printed words of newspapers, my proposal is to spray these buzzwords directly on the path leading to the arts building. My reasoning for this is because i would like the work to gradually be worn away over the duration of the two week art show, where news stories are remembered for a day and then replaced with new stories the next, so will my work as the flow of people over my sprayed words will wear away these words until there is just a trace of them, finally leading to them being forgotten.
I realise that there is an issue with spraying directly onto these paving bricks; however, I feel I have a solution for this. I have managed to find spray paint that is chalk based, meaning it washes straight off. It is a non-permanent spray that can be washed off with plain water or ideally a pressure washer which is available to me. I have the spray and am happy to give you a demonstration of how it washes off. I realise that if it rains it will wash off also but for me and my work that also reflects the fragility of the paper that the printed word is on.
I am very happy to talk to you in person about this and hope to hear from you soon
Karl Fountain, Fine Art
The reply I received was short and sweet:
It sounds like you have found an ideal solution, happy for you to proceed.
