Layers of paint

Thanks to Elliot for sharing this image with me. It's layers of paint that broke off wooden spoons used for mixing.

http://imgur.com/icG8HnS

Zing install process

I realise that during the Snippet installation week, I was so busy that I never shared images of the experimental process of creating Zing.

These images show the decisions I made and how Zing came into being.

The Front Row debate - Are artists owed a living?

An interesting discussion...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0536jp5

Are artists owed a living? John Wilson hosts a public debate with dancer Deborah Bull, playwright Richard Bean, economist Philip Booth, commentator Ekow Eshun, sociologist Tiffany Jenkins and an audience at the Hull Truck Theatre to mark the launch of the BBC's Get Creative campaign and to open a national conversation exploring the relationship between the state and the arts.

Jez Riley French

A couple of weeks ago, sound artist Jez Riley French gave an artist talk at Newcastle University. He spoke very honestly and openly about his approach to making work and shared his working methods with us. He brought along a number of different microphones that he uses to record his work.

I found it remarkable to listen to the sounds of structures such as bridges, particularly so as he does not edit the footage in any way.

Following his teaching at the University, Jez contacted me asking whether he could provide a link to my work.

Here is a link to his post which includes a little mention of my artwork!

http://treasure-hiding.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/newcastle-visit-further.html

Jez' website is

http://jezrileyfrench.co.uk

and his blog can be seen at

http://jezrileyfrench.blogspot.co.uk

Testing install options

With a week to go before the preview of the MFA and Culture Lab exhibition next Tuesday evening, today I began to move some models into the gallery. My casts are extremely heavy and require two people to lift them, so I have been using the moulds and scale cardboard models to give me an idea of how the forms work in the gallery space.

Of course, the exhibition is a group exhibition, and so the reading of the work will change in relation to what else is shown. I am very conscious that the space could easily become overcrowded, and so it will be a careful balance.

Beautiful spillage

A friend kindly sent me a link to this video, thinking that I would find it pleasing.

Oh how she knows me well!

Post by Nova 100.

Sabina Sallis : The Source of Resilience : NewBridge Project Space : Exhibition opens Friday 20th February 2015

I am delighted to be working for Newcastle based artist, Sabina Sallis as her Artist Assistant.

Sabina is working on the final preparations for her solo exhibition, The Source of Resilience, at The NewBridge Project which opens on Friday 20th February (more details below)

Sabina Sallis : The Source of Resilience  NewBridge Project Space Saturday 21st February - Saturday 28th March preview: Friday 20th February 6-9pm

Magnificent Obsessions on Front Row

I have a fascination with, and am attracted to collections. The psychology of collecting interests me, as well as the method of displays.

Damien Hirst, Birds display

 Danh Vo I M U U R 2, 2013 (detail)

The new exhibition, Magnificent Obsessions at the Barbican in London is featured on the BBC Radio 4 programme, Front Row. The exhibition focuses on the artist as collector. Many post-war and contemporary artists are represented, including the possessions of Howard Hodgkin, Edmund de Waal, Damien Hirst and Peter Blake. The show's curator Lydia Yee gives John Wilson a personal tour.

Edmund de Waal from the collection of a private man, 2011

Sol LeWitt, Autobiography, 1980

Featured on the BBC Radio 4 programme, Front Row, 11th February http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b051s2m1

Acting on an urge

Sometimes I have ideas or urges to do things that, at the time, do not have a clear reason or rationale behind them, but later these can be explained or understood.

I think it is important to listen to these urges and venture on the path of discovery and unknown as this opens up new possibilities and can be exciting.

Today I acted on my urge to create a three-dimensional foil shape.

I am drawn to the crystal-like qualities and the way that colours and light are reflected and refracted off the surfaces.

Second tetris cast is revealed

After the excitement of revealing the first of the tetris casts on Friday, today I dismantled the second tetris mould.

I had built a clay form at the bottom of the mould, over which I poured the layers of coloured plaster.

Removing the clay was a slow process!

It's all part of the process

As I was waiting for one of my layers of plaster to set, I had a much needed sort out of the space under the table in the casting workshop where I have been storing all my moulds and materials for the past few months.

I dismantled all of my old moulds, and began to sort out the moulds that were suitable for re-using, and those that were destined for the skip. 

As I glanced at the two piles of melamine boards stacked on top of each other, I was attracted to the traces of coloured plaster that remained on the sides of the sheets. The trace of the form that was contained within the mould is present on the edges of the mould.

Such unexpected discoveries are exciting and rather than throwing the moulds into the skip, I have now gathered them together and will be exploring ways that I can use these remnants in an installation.

The Big Reveal

Over the past month I have been working on a couple of casts that have tested my mould making and mathematical skills, not to mention plaster mixing.

After adding the last few layers to the T-shaped tetris mould, I was ready to reveal what was contained within the melamine walls.

Collages by Andre Yi

These collages by Los Angeles based artist Andre Yi are made from paper, paint, pencil shavings & hot pink tape. 

I really like the mixture of textures and the flashes of bright colour amongst the natural browns.

http://www.thejealouscurator.com/blog/2015/02/03/andre-yi/