At last we have broken up for the Easter and the dissertation is handed in. After checking and rechecking the damn thing I could no longer see words – just shapes!
We had to do a presentation on Tuesday, which was a complete disaster. My Mac’s system is either out of date or super whizzy modern (I suspect the former) and as a result it scrambled my presentation in front of the class – hideous. Roger my tutor very kindly tried to find the wretched thing but to no avail. It meant a trip home and then a failed re-run. Fortunately a fellow student came to my rescue and it was sorted and the presentation finally made.
Another student Sahra Carter (www.sahracarter.com) came up with the most amazing presentation. She had hidden envelopes under our seats, which we had to read out in order – this was her proposal for her final unit. She had also created amazing goodie bags with her case studies in and competition details that she thought would be of interest. It was the best presentation I have witnessed – if only they were all like this. Its amazing how many presentations are just someone reading from the slides!
But now all that is a distant memory and creative work takes over. My mind becomes clear once I can create. It is like having a long cool drink on a hot day – pretty crap given that it’s snowing outside!
My husband thinks the attached image looks like calamari but I am happy where it’s going and he can only think of his stomach – must be lunch time!
A productive week with successful experiments made in wax for my degree show. It is good to know that I understand what I will be doing over Easter in my studio at home.
Professional Practice – Done! Dissertation – Done (well, almost)! Now I can really go for the final big unit – at last. I am so happy to be creating again. A trip to the V&A’s cast halls offered a visual treat and further background for my research file.
I had a great tutorial with Jane (one of our lecturers) who really told me to pull my finger out and stop procrastinating – said in the nicest possible way of course! I think it is easy to get into a spiral of panic when you have so many plates spinning. I had simply lost the ability to plan my time – home was neglected and I was worrying that I was neglecting my family and friends too. A good session in college last week led to a very sobering talk with a fellow mature student who also has children. It made me realize that we are all roughly in the same boat – all with worries and troubles of varying degrees. We only get one bite of this cherry so we better get on with it!
Dr Gilda Williams from Goldsmiths came to talk to us last week about the Curating MA. She was an amazing character with a rich background and knowledge. I have the distinct feeling that the whole class was left feeling overwhelmed! Some of my fellow students told me that it had dawned on them what small cogs we were in this vast ‘art machine’. I felt pretty much the same. I have not been disheartened – she has opened my eyes to a life outside the studio and it has left me a little curious.
Last week’s experiments involved expandable foam and dripping wax (pictured). I am so keen to keep on messing about with wax – it is such a versatile medium. I like the fact that it can be melted down and used again and again if I want. The live paint has not come to life just yet but, seeing as it is snowing (again) it is probably just a little chilly for it to start growing yet.
I am looking forward to a new week at college. I have changed my studio space. It was in what could only be described as a passage/corridor/thoroughfare, which was distracting to say the least. After a day making a mess I feel it is now my own. I hope that now I have cleared the last two units I can now properly focus again…
