University of Sunderland

After a twelve hour day of painting white emulsion onto dark grey walls (a legacy from a graduate last year who didn't return to paint them over), and a five hour day of the same yesterday, I am shattered! I am also fearful that my nasal passages have been irrevocably damaged from the fumes. I seem to be tasting and smelling paint constantly. However, the cavernous space is starting to look like a degree show area and tomorrow I plan to get started on the installation process. It's an anxious and exciting time – there are a few of us around in the sculpture area and it's a veritable hive of activity. Watching the work coming together and supporting each other during confidence or technical wobbles makes it feel like a true collaborative effort. A group of us went to the Newcastle University show last Friday and it made us feel a little down – it is a little disheartening to visit an institution which utilises a stunning facility like the Hatton Gallery for part of its degree show. That being said, it does make the Newcastle show seem somewhat unbalanced between the students who exhibit in that space and in other locations around the university buildings, so it is not necessarily the professional boon it at first seems. It was good to be able to see what our peers in the region have been working on. There were several of us living in fear of seeing something too close to our own plans on show. Luckily, there were no close shaves. There was some interesting work on display though and we spent a good amount of time viewing and discussing it. We seem to be in a far more positive collective frame of mind this week. I hope to feel this positive this time next week…..