19/02/2009

Still working on FYP proposal. P.M. Mathilde and I began our collaboration today, we recorded video footage of our performance/sound piece. We also had a good quality microphone but lost a lot of good recording because we didn't know how to use it ! We experimented making sound with various different things; a bowl, spoon, table tennis nets, chairs, pedestals, bag of money etc, etc, etc. It was our first day, on the whole it went very well, I can see us producing some outstanding works.

18/02/2009

AM. working on FYP proposal. PM. CCS. We also had an introduction to the research facilities in the library by Ann the librarian. Some of us thought what is the point of this but we actually did learn some new strategies for approaching research. Ann was very helpful and mentioned that the library staff are more than willing to help us with any queries that we may have. It is very much appreciated. I will put my proposal on the blog when I have it finished.

17/02/2009

Had a tutorial with David Brancaleone today, regarding the final year options, he gave me some very good advice, which was much appreciated. He reiterated again that it was indeed 'options' and advised me to research the requirements for possible masters placings. The proposal is due tomorrow but I am just not ready, it's as simple as that. I am not going to rush into it just for the sake of getting it done. I am going to consider my options over the next few days, as to what exactly to investigate/research. One of my colleagues was going to throw away an advertising board that she was using in her experiments. (This is the second one I have got off her). The thought occurred to me that she took her experiments as far as she could/needed but now,I will take this work as far as I can (to a certain degree of satisfaction), then I am going to pass it on to my colleagues one at a time,and ask them to add their own unique work to it. When everyone has finished, I will present the work for assessment at the required time. This I will do with a sense of trepidation, as I am going to call it my own work. My reason for this is I suppose to raise questions about artistic rights, ownership, (like the Starling egg but slightly different insofar as I hope to actually ask for for artistic cooperation, and hopefully get it) etc,etc,etc. Technically I know I could call it a collaboration but then it could be argued that artists like Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst etc in a sense collaborate with other artists, yet call it their own work. I am hoping to do a few works like this, I hope my colleagues don't think I am being mean, after all it is just an experiment of sorts. I listened to the CD that Richard got for me (Max Richter) it was excellent, and another good source of reference for my work, he got another one for me this evening by Morton Feldman, which is a bit more obscure , however it is exactly the kind of thing that myself and Mathilde hope to be creating in our own way,Richard joked that he'll have to start charging me from now on ! In fairness though it is very decent of him to help me .

16/02/2009

Had a meeting with Mathilde today to discuss what direction we are taking. We have an abundance of ideas for our practice, I am convinced that we will produce a lot of excellent work. It still amazes me how 'in tune' we seem to be. (forgive the pun !) We went to have a chat with Matt Gidney, to discuss our equipment requirements, he was most helpful, and gave us good advice. Had a chat with David mac Burnie about the options, he was very informative, and cleared up a few uncertainties that I had. I decided that I was going to do a placement or a reflective journal. Unfortunately (perhaps that's not the right word)Aine has suggested that if we are considering a masters degree, A thesis would probably be more beneficial. (I can understand the logic). However, it is about options, and I suppose we would have to pick one that best suits our individual practice.We had a seminar with Aine in the Limerick city Gallery of Art, we discussed the work in the 'into drawing' exhibition that was currently running there, it was very intriguing, I quite liked the Eamonn o' Kane piece, the charcoal on the floor somehow made the piece more 'real' (you could imagine the artist actually working there). Stephen Brandes was very innovative, in his use of vinyl as a surface( as a reference of sorts to man made items). (I remarked to one of my colleagues that it appeared he had some 'religious issues' as there were images of churches in his three pieces). I also liked the artist Niamh o malleys' work, especially the fact that she uses video and drawing in her work. (unusual bedfellows!). Downstairs they had some video work by Clare Langan, I was impressed by the work, very 'out there' in contemporary art terms, I shall research this artist for sure.

14/02/2009

To my amazement,the gallery in Berlin which I e mailed, are interested in the notion of us (my colleagues and I) having an exhibition there. Of course this all depends on my colleagues agreeing to do this. I hope they will, as I believe this would be an excellent opportunity for us as a group, to exhibit in probably the most dynamic city for contemporary art in the world. The words 'gift horse' and 'mouth' spring to mind. Of course the logistics of the endeavour would take some 'imaginative' planning but where there's a will..................

12/02/2009

Had a chat with Mathilde today and asked her if she would be interested in collaborating with me in our art practice, she was very enthusiastic about this (as am I). We have so many ideas already, and we have not even begun! I firmly believe we can take this project very far, as i have said already, we have very similar thoughts and ideas about a number of things.
The Starling egg (its new name) is still a bit tacky, Des said to leave it for another while to dry, and then we can polish it up. Spent most of the day editing the Berlin videos, I have decided that I am not going to do too much to the 'night out' video, there's no point, it's too dark in the nightclub, and it is not really connected to my studio practice. The other video has a wealth of content that I can use in my studio practice.
I e-mailed an art gallery in Berlin who were looking for group exhibitiors. It would be a fantastic opportunity for third year painting if we were accepted, nothing ventured.........................

12/02/2009 Me with new hair, scan in background(Berlin)