University of Brighton

New drawings using my new pastels and inks. I’m still wanting to exhibit loads of drawings for the degree show. I love the new colours. I’m trying to draw directily in colour, rather than using pencil and then colour in. I have some soft pastels in baby pink and creams that I want to use in larger paper. I’m going to keep drawing and at some point I will have to decide which ones makes a better arrangement together. I really would like to frame them, going to ask in local shops to see if I could get a discount.

I’m thinking that maybe I might get some fabrics the same colours as the drawings I’m making. I like to create something that visually has an armony, in 2D and 3D, both bodies of work not to far from each other. The film with the armature will be around too.

I’m not sure whether to do large things or smaller. Assymetric forms like in some of the drawings, or something more figurative. Or maybe a mix? I feel I haven’t got much time and I can’t wasted thinking too much about it, otherwise I won’t achieve either! I will tomorrow make my way to Fabricland to see what I can get.

Easter crit:

I presented some of my pieces in the seminar room to help me to visualize a bit what the degree show might look like.

Because I went through a lot of mental discussion whilst making the “bird”, I wasn’t feeling too confident about the work I was presenting, so didn’t feel I gained much from it.

People liked the chicken on the pillow on top of the plinth, also the “bird”. But they all agreed that they prefer work that I’ve made before, more colorful, more in your face. So where to go now…??

The “penis glasses” they were fun but is that all? we didn’t go much into what every object might mean to me, but do I really now myself?

Is it okay to panic at this stage? I’m not sure what I’m doing yet, specially when it comes to sculpture for degree show. Oh well everything will be okay. I think I’m worry about what to do next when I finish uni and that and the stress of having to plan and make still for show it makes me feel nervous.

I haven’t been shortlisted for the Bloomberg New Contemporaries, which is a real shame, but hey! it’s life. At least I don’t have to remake all the stuff I send them! Phewww… I have enough at the moment to do.

Doing the Sealife Centre project was cool and fun but a lot of my psychical energy went in there! I hope having done this will bring me a bit of work later on to maintain my practice.

I have also applied for a studentship award for the MA Fine Art at Brighton. They will pay the course, FT or PT, plus you get £9.500 as a stipend. They want to interview me, so we should see what happens! A lot of things up in the air.

I made this piece for my Easter crit and I think I followed too many advices from too many people. The opinion of one of the visitor artists kind of demoralised me a little bit. He said that for him, this is not sculpture and more like a prop for a film or theatre or something like that. I said that I was doing a project at the Sealife Centre and perhaps I was more focused on making and learning skill than concept or ideas behind, he then said, yes the work looks more like for a children project. Perfect! I said, can you leave now? I agreed with him, however, (I think Ive talked about it in previous blog) that perhaps the work shouldn’t be so literal, like making a bird, or a chicken, etc… and it should be open for more options to read into it… but the word “bird” also have stories, it is used to depict a woman in our culture, it is also a Spanish said for cheeky monkey or someone that is quite sharp in tricking people. Chicken is said for someone that is a bit wimp, I see chicken as a mother lying her eggs… His comments made me think a lot, and even if he suggested I shouldn’t do a bird looking thing i carried on as I had to see what it will look like.

Completely chuffed about having commited to do all the feathers with the wire and tights. I used like 7 pair of tights, around 50 meters of fishing line and around that of wire. It took me 4 full days making feathers. I think this is the element craft that I’m trying to pursue at the moment. I admire and respect works of art that a lot of work has gone into, maybe i want to be in a safe position this way. But also I’m after more texture, pattern, and colour and I thought doing that will bring something new to this part of my work.

This work, starts having a presence, starts working together, I love the innocence, the expression of this kind of “bird”, it has a sad expression, and it makes it vulnerable.

Is this trying to represent my emotions, what story is behind here? if anything? or is it just a combination of objects made before put together? When should I stop and reflect if this is really what I want to represent? But what about when you don’t fell like saying anything and just make for the pleasure of making? But emotions can be understood from everyone. Is it okay to depict an emotion? what the hell am I talking about??!! anyway… time to breathe and move on.

I’ve found this info about why we use story telling and is very interesting. It is giving me a lot of thoughts, specially when it comes to start planning the video with the armature.

can I cry yet? Loads to do…!

Why is Storytelling an Effective Technique to Use?

Telling stories has long been recognized as an important part of healing, self-knowledge, and personal and spiritual vehicle for connecting us to other people and to God. . . . it is a means for understanding ourselves and our place in the world.

We conceive of our lives as a web of stories – a historical novel or a mini-series in the making.. . . . We tell stories in order to live. We use stories to construct meaning and communicate ourselves to another. Stories help us organize and make sense of the experiences of a life.

Stories are mighty, however, not only because we shape our lives through them but also because they have the power to unsettle the lives we have comfortably shaped by them.

Weaving together the human and the divine enables us to hear our own stories retold with clarity and new possibilities; our lives are transformed in the telling.

Stories have the potential to build authentic communities of shared meaning and values.

Myths: refers mostly to meditation and reconciliation. It performs the task of mediating irreducible opposites. Myths allow us to dream and believe in a future better than the present. E.g. Beauty and the Beast

Parable: Parabolic narratives show the seams and edges of the myths we fashion. Parables show the fault lines beneath the comfortable surfaces of the worlds we build for ourselves. Myths may give stability to our story, but parables are agents of change and sometimes disruption. Parables are often unsettling. They stop us from living in a dream world, call us to comfort the present, and deter us from trusting in any hope that does not face the hard reality of the present. E.g. “the meek shall inherit the earth.

Quotes from Mighty Stories, Dangerous Rituals by Herbert Anderson and Edward Foley

But why stories? Why not simply explain the difference between right and wrong to your children? Why not supply them with a list of dos and don’ts?

Such explanations are important but they fail to touch children on the level where it matters — the level of imagination. Imagination. The word comes from “image” — a mental picture. When a moral principle has the power to move us into action, it is often because it is backed up by a picture or image.Excerpts from Books That Build Character by William Kilpatrick and Gregory and Suzanee Wolfe

http://www.teachingvalues.com/whystorytelling.html

I will use the blog too, to do research as I think I’m stuck with meaning and why I do the things I do.

I like the idea of playing a role, to be an actor and play a character, is this all about? I think it is worth exploring? Hot hot hot

What means character?

1. The combination of qualities or features that distinguishes one person, group, or thing from another. See Synonyms atdisposition.2. A distinguishing feature or attribute, as of an individual, group, or category. See Synonyms at quality.3. Genetics A structure, function, or attribute determined by a gene or group of genes.4. Moral or ethical strength.5. A description of a person’s attributes, traits, or abilities.6. A formal written statement as to competency and dependability, given by an employer to a former employee; a recommendation.7. Public estimation of someone; reputation: personal attacks that damaged her character.8. Status or role; capacity: in his character as the father.9.a. A notable or well-known person; a personage.b. A person, especially one who is peculiar or eccentric: a shady character; catcalls from some character in the back row.10.a. A person portrayed in an artistic piece, such as a drama or novel.b. Characterization in fiction or drama: a script that is weak in plot but strong in character.11. A mark or symbol used in a writing system.12. Computer Sciencea. One of a set of symbols, such as letters or numbers, that are arranged to express information.b. The numerical code representing such a character.13. A style of printing or writing.14. A symbol used in secret writing; a cipher or code.adj.1. Of or relating to one’s character.2.a. Specializing in the interpretation of often minor roles that emphasize fixed personality traits or specific physical characteristics: a character actor.b. Of or relating to the interpretation of such roles by an actor: the character part of the hero’s devoted mother.3. Dedicated to the portrayal of a person with regard to distinguishing psychological or physical features: a character sketch.4. Law Of or relating to a person who gives testimony as to the moral and ethical reputation or behavior of one engaged in a lawsuit: a character witness.tr.v. charac·tered, charac·ter·ing, charac·ters Archaic1. To write, print, engrave, or inscribe.2. To portray or describe.