University Centre Folkestone

I have been super busy lately what with the school holidays and all. I have managed to get some decorating done before my youngest finished school.

I have also put up a new exhibit in University Centre Folkestone – ‘Mondien’ which kind of means world person in French. The title refers to my interest in ‘Home’ and where we feel we belonging. I don’t really care about Nationality but I do care about home, which is where I am now.

Where do you feel belonging, a place i mean? Do you have a special place? Are there a number of places you consider to be home. The question relates to ‘Heartlands’ places that mean something to you.

In my M.A. which I hope to start next term I will continue to investigate ‘Heartlands’.

Do come along to U.C.F. if you can and see the show. My friend Lola Godoy is exhibiting in the show too. So its a two for one offer.

Just in case you have’nt noticed the Folkestone Triennial in taking place here too. Lots of great art and artists, international and local Fringe.

So all you students out there, come to Folkestone on your summer hols.

Bye for now

Yvonne

So much has happened since my last blog. I hardly know where to start. I was very lucky to win one of the first student awards at U.C.F. along with three performing arts students. It was a lovely evening with drinks and snacks and the mayor came too. I was glad when my daughter arrived for moral support. Chris Price our campus director (rides a Triumph Bonneville!) presented the awards in his usual casual friendly manner. I found out that I had been nominated by Course Director Katrina Maclean (runs the New Inn!) and I would just like to say thanks. I have really enjoyed the course, so getting an award was an unexpected bonus.

My B.A. final exhibition was held in g19 U.C.F. and ran in conjunction with Lola Godoy’s under the title ‘Weapons of Mass Creation’. We also were accompanied by the second year student exhibition. The Uni. looked great for having all the art work up around the building. I shared g19 with two second year friends Lynne and Debbie. Lynne did a super large colligraph and some prints all on the theme of industrial decay. While Debbie had a great musical instrument/ water tap wall piece – you could blow it to get a note.

My exhibit consisted of three papier mache spheres of influence and ‘The Watcher’ a small sphere with eyes. Two large framed drawings – ‘Settlement I’ and Primal land I’. Three paintings – ‘Darkling Plain’, ‘Inside Outside’ and ‘Primal Land II’ (unfinished). Also two floor pieces ‘Dem Dry Bones’ and ‘Lid City’.

The work was received well generally. Most people I spoke too liked ‘Darkling Plain’, though most did not notice the beach was also a woman until I pointed it out. This really surprised me!! The installation floor pieces went down well too, this was also a surprise to me. People really liked the lids especially when I explained they were the un-recyclable waste from my families use. People were interested in what product they came from and the story of consumerism and families that they implied. I gave out my business cards and enjoyed chatting with the people.

My final exhibition is over and I have just taken down the work and brought it home. It was a bit of a job storing everything but I have just about managed to fit it all in.

I am looking forward to the Folkestone Triennial and my exhibit at U.C.F. in the first two weeks of July while the triennial is on. Also I am planning another exhibit during the Triennial, hope that comes off, more about the Triennial later.

Really enjoying reading all about the Venice Biennale. I really like Christian Boltanski’s though it was nice to Cindy Sherman there and I would love to wander around Mike Nelson’s ‘Labyrinthine’. It would be so amazing to go.

Speaking of going – bye for now. Yvonne



OMG. It all so exciting and I am so shattered.

Our studio is being re-painted for the exhibition. we have just removed all our stuff. I didnt realise I had so much. Am I turning into a collector?!!!

Check List: flyers & invites done . Business designed but not printed. Sending more invites. Content & layout of exhibition – generally sorted. Personal Professional Portfolio generally done. Just sat exam – phew thats over. I think I am on track – hope so!!

I am applying for a B.A in Fine Art at Christ Church Canterbury – just cant stop pushing my boundries. Also applying for a studio bursary in Folkestone’s Creative Quarter, which I really need.

Good News is I have recieved a Student Award from U.C.F – Wow! I was surprised and somewhat embarressed but really gratefull.

I went to The Turner Contemporary at Margate today. I really enjoyed getting away and having a break. Its a great location. It was a super light filled building, very minimalist and contemporary – just as it says! Fantastic circular window overlooking the sea. I do love all things circular! The shows were super with excellent presentation and lots of breathing room. The highlight for me was Russell Crotty’s Spheres. I researched his work during this last year as part of my practice. He is a surfer dude from California who specialises in drawing – on walls and giant sketch books and I mean giant. Also of course on ‘Lucite’ spheres – which I love. He is inspired by the califorinian landscape and astronomy. This show consisted of three sketchbooks and three spheres. The spheres were landscapes. which were very apt for the Turner.

I would recommend a visit to anyone. It was agreat day.

Good luck to all other graduates.

Signing off.

Yvonne

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Good intentions aside, here I am again writing a blog.

Why am i writing a blog when i have about million things to do before my final exhibition and the exam !!. Well actually I hope it will help clarify for me what is going on.

My moulds – (which is now apparently the proper English spelling, rather than Molds which is U.S.) have been on my mind. That is the new ones are growing on me. They are less perfect, rougher, smaller and a matt finish, unlike the previous shiny perfection. I think I will make more casts from them, I like the degrading of perfection. As the cast are meant to represent units within a system and systematic repetition is prone to degrading, flux and entropy, I think they will be great. I intend to use both the old and the new together along with the emergence of some coloured casts to represent emergence. I have worked out a layout I like by printing some patterns. So that’s settled.

My large spheres are pretty much finished with a new hanging system of nylon wire which is unobtrusive and will hopefully makes them appear to float. There have been some comments on how ‘peaceful the spheres are’ which was not really my intention. I don’t want to shock (so done) but I think some disturbance is needed. Slow movement would help i think, it would help with a certain planetary mass and weight. How? I would like a motor to turn them, though that maybe very difficult to achieve at this late date. Hand cranking with a Pully system on a central pivot could be an achievable alternative. Also I have made some stuff with spikes which is nicely dangerous.

Speaking of spheres, they are everywhere at the moment, I heard on the grapevine another student at Christ Church is doing some, another artist in the creative quarter has produced some. A tutor mentioned the Turner Contemporary at Margate. So I thought I would check it out as its now open. The place is full of spheres and circles. Giant circular windows are built into the architecture – georgous. One of my inspirational influences, Russell Crotty is actually exhibiting there, cool. It seems it’s all Turner’s fault and I quote ’The Sun is God’. I thought it was just me who is obsessed with round things. They have a wonderful unitary symbolism. Also think clocks (time), the round table (democratic), the hermeneutic circle, the cyclical nature of life et al.

That said I am planning the exhibition space. What to include? Mmm ? What hangs together well to create cohesion? I am considering: Breathing room, lighting and a path of viewing, possible poetry quote on the wall and some sounds music and/or the spoken word. Lots to think about…

Be back soon

Yvonne