Prepping my studio for some serious project planning

 

Goodbye Carliol House

It's been on the cards for a while now, but the time has officially come for The NewBridge Project to move from Carliol House and into its new home, The Shieldfield Centre. 

Packing has been a time consuming and onerous task but today I put my last bag of studio rubbish in the bin and handed in my studio key. It seemed really strange to pack the van with all my belongings and wave goodbye to it until we get our lease in mid June. 

Huge thanks to Lucien, Jon, Ruby and Rebecca (who have permission to be in our new premises) for unloading and depositing my studio belongings into my new space. I look forward to having a studio again with the luxuries of central heating, hot water, and toilets that are fully functional!

Studio sort-out (for covid-19)

As I shut the entrance door to the University Medical School Library last night, my colleagues and I pondered when we would next be allowed back to work. During the week, the Government Guidelines have become stricter given the increase of Covid-19 victims in the UK, and the University have reacted responsibly by asking staff to work at home.

The NewBridge Project has similarly responded appropriately, by postponing all public programmed events and group events. Thankfully, at the moment studio use is still permitted, and this remains my safe haven. 

It's been on the cards for a while now, but yesterday seemed the ideal day to have a bit of a studio sort out, get rid of unnecessary things, clear some space in the hope that it would also help de-clutter my mind and aid my ability to focus on the writing that I am currently working on.

Ongoing studio experiments

I have been experimenting with using pre-existing patterns and structures to provide me with a basic framework to work with.

I used a sheet of gridded paper to as the basis for this watercolour. I left the gridded lines unpainted.

Laura White artist talk at The NewBridge Project

Last night I attended an artist talk by Laura White at The NewBridge Project. "Laura White’s practice focuses on a negotiation with the world of STUFF, i.e. interactions with materials and objects, exploring ideas of value, profile, association, meaning and behaviour of materials, individual and collections of objects. Things are explored both as material stuff and anthropological signifiers, that are capable of revealing the human condition - vulnerabilities and capabilities, value systems affected by consumerism and material status, and object/human dependencies. Her works occupy a fluid space, on one hand demanding critical discourse, and on the other their own ambiguous and intuitive logic.

Laura White’s practice is interdisciplinary including sculpture, installation, drawing and photography. Her web site ‘Tenderfoot’ launched in 2017, is an on-line space for exploring materiality through her own writing, forums, events and a curated space where she invites contributions from artists, writers, and makers. White also runs participatory events for example, 'What it means to handle stuff - auto-pedagogy - a course in butchery’, which saw White bring RCA students and staff from Raven Row Gallery London together to learn butchery skills under the guidance of a professional butcher, here looking at what it means to learn a skill and to deskill, the environment we learn in and the groups we learn with and skills we can access both as an amateur and as a professional."



The tone of Laura's talk reflected that of her practice; she spoke with generosity and honesty. It is clear that Laura knows her stuff, and approaches her practice with a great deal of rigour. However, the work is rooted in the everyday, and I find that the familiarity of the materials used helps me engage with the work.



Laura is currently working with a choreographer to explore the body in the work. Up until now the body has physically been absent from the work, but is present through the making of the work. By working with the choreographer, Laura is exploring whether it is too literal to have the body within the material.



Laura spoke about the three elements to her practice:

FIELDWORK - research, out and about, with other people, everyday encounters

STUDIO - playing with materials, investigating materials, processes

WRITING - reflecting on interactions and experiences, sometimes writes site-specifically and then leaves the writing to be discovered in the situation. 



Laura uses her website, Tenderfoot as a place to share her writing. Every three months she invites a guest to contribute to the website. Tenderfoot also shows documentation of workshops that she has done with other people (DIWO - Do It With Others). 

http://www.laura-white.co.uk 
http://www.tenderfoot.co.uk

Studios available at The NewBridge Project: Gateshead


Become a Studio Member of The NewBridge Project

Artist Studios & Co-Work Space now available on Gateshead High Street


The NewBridge Project has recently transformed a former shop unit on Gateshead High Street to provide affordable studio and workspace for artists and creatives. Come and join our creative community. 

The NewBridge Project : Gateshead is equipped with individual studio spaces and co-work space for hot-desking, hosting meetings, events and workshops. 

NewBridge Studios offers space to artists at any stage of their career, working primarily within the field of visual art, with a desire to be part of a diverse and critically engaged community of creative practitioners.

NewBridge Studios promotes exchange and support in an engaged and discursive community of artists. The shared workspace is a critical and collaborative environment that allows artists to discuss and develop new ideas and projects.

NewBridge Studio Members will benefit from:

•   A new support network from which to cultivate further opportunities and develop work. We 
are committed to NewBridge Studios remaining a discursive and productive working 
environment
•  The opportunity to be a part of an exciting and vibrant community of visual artists
•   Affordable 24hour access studio space 
• The opportunity to help shape NewBridge’s programme and future direction through our artist committees and steering groups
• Access to our pioneering artist development programme, Practice makes Practice, offering opportunities, training and mentoring
• A range of facilities offered to NewBridge Studio members including bookable project space, production and making space, co-work & meeting space, social space and a darkroom


The NewBridge Project : Gateshead is also home to NewBridge Gallery Space, a gallery and project space with a programme of contemporary exhibitions & commissions and The Collective Studio, a graduate development programme in partnership with Newcastle University Institute of Creative Arts Practice.

How to Apply

If you are interested in becoming a studio member at The NewBridge Project : Gateshead please complete our online application form. 
We currently have a number of ground floor studios available (10m/sq) and we will be assigning them over the coming weeks. 

We think it is really important that our studios and facilities are as affordable as possible for artists; the studios in Gateshead are priced at £70 per month (inclusive of all utilities).

Deadline for studio applications: Thursday 9th November, 12pm


Please note: You can apply for our studios on a rolling basis but we will be assigning the available studios in Gateshead based on the applications we receive by the deadline. 

Please specific on your application form that you would like to be considered for a studio in Gateshead. If you have already completed the form previously you do not need to complete again.  

If you have any questions please contact Studio Coordinator, Clare Gomez on admin@thenewbridgeproject.com or call 0191 232 8975. 

Use our Co-Work Space 

Become a NewBridge Hot-desking Member to access our shared Co-Work Space and other facilities. If you’d like to have regular access to the Co-Work space please complete the application form (insert hyperlink to form). 

Our Co-Work space is also available for anyone to use for workshops, events, talks and socials – if you’d like to use the Co-Work space for an event please get in touch with us. 

Collage

Collage

Some studio experiments with Melinda McGarry

Artist Melinda McGarry and I spent a productive afternoon in my studio drawing and experimenting with some found materials.

We had been discussing our approaches to making work, identifying the similarities and differences and strengths and weaknesses. We agreed that it would be useful to spend some time in the studio together, responding to each other, working with each other and supporting each other in the creation of some new work.



Melinda's background is in painting, and it is only recently that she has begun incorporating sculptural elements in her work. I really admire her drawings, her use of colour and line.



After the month of paperwork that I have just had, it was particularly good to get drawing and playing with materials again.

Banff Spoken Word Residency - Day 7

Sunday, April 23

Trip to Lake Louise
Individual Studio time

The Community Services department at the Banff Centre had arranged an optional bus trip to Lake Louise, and so a group of us took the opportunity to visit somewhere outside of Banff.

We were dropped off at the Lake and then had a few hours to spend at Lake Louise before heading back to the Banff Centre for the Arts and Creativity. 



The lake was completely frozen and people were able to walk over it. Lake Louise is dominated by the huge Fairmont hotel, so Isabel, Bea and I decided to escape from the busyness and touristic nature of the hotel area, and hike up to a viewpoint overlooking the lake. 



The snow was really deep and few people had ventured on the beaten track that we took uphill, so it really did seem that we were out in the wilderness. 





The group split, with half staying at the hotel for the afternoon and the other half (including me) returning to Banff to crack on with our work. Danielle kindly drove us back. It was good to get some solid time in my studio to work on my writing.

Studio Setup

On Saturday night I go away to The Banff Art Centre for a two-week Spoken Word residency. Amongst all the preparations for my visit I have been trying to get my studio sorted. I've finished painting the walls, cleaned and hoovered, discarded some unwanted items and put my desk in place. I've ordered some shelving which should come while I am in Canada, and when I am back in the UK I want to bring in some plants and make it comfortable and as uncluttered as possible.

I've still got some way to go, but it's beginning to take shape.

I have moved

After weeks of watching (and helping) studioholders from the other floors move the contents of their studios downstairs and out of Norham House, today was my turn to use the van and move the contents of my studio to the new premises at Carliol House. 

Thanks to help from Charlie, Bronwen, Ian and Holly, the process only took about 4 hours, and so I spent the rest of the day giving the studio walls a third coat of white paint.

I'm looking forward to receiving the keys to the studio and setting up my space.

The studio as a work in progress

A couple of weeks ago I was introduced to my new studio at NewBridge Studios and this is what it looked like. 

Since collecting my studio key I have managed to completely fill the space with lots of art stuff.

Boxes upon boxes have been filled and transported to their new home on the second floor of NewBridge Studios. They have then been moved around the room as I try to create more space and find logical positions for my possessions.

Yesterday I installed a set of shelves, which has helped clear a bit of floor space, 

and today I have managed to organise the space and get more on the walls.

A delightful announcement

I am utterly delighted to announce that I have been awarded a Graduate Studio Membership at The NewBridge Project.



"The NewBridge Project has always been committed to supporting recent graduates and early career artists; set up 6 years ago by two Newcastle University Fine Art graduates to create affordable workspace, develop artistic talent, provide professional development and exhibition opportunities and create a supportive network of visual artists."

As a Graduate Studio Member of The NewBridge Project I will have a free studio space for 6 months.



There are also a number of other benefits such as:

– Free access to Practice Makes Practice events

– Members only opportunities, such as residencies, exhibitions, exchanges and field trips

– Opportunities to input and shape the Practice Makes Practice programme

– An artist profile page on the NewBridge Studios website

– Access to the co-workspace in NewBridge Studios

– Access to the woodwork shop and darkroom in NewBridge Studios




As part of the graduate programme, I will have one-to-one meetings with an artist mentor on a monthly basis to offer guidance and advice, with the option of a group discussion afterwards. Workshops are also part of the programme which is something all members will shape together.





I'm looking forward to settling into my new studio and mixing more with the wonderful community that is The NewBridge Project!

Welcome to my studio (currently a film set!)

Over the past week I have been experimenting with filming in front of a green screen and a black background. This has been in order to be able to project my image against a surface so that it appears as if my image is in the space itself.

It has taken a lot of testing with different lighting conditions, camera settings, materials, and the continual adjusting of the distance between the figure and the background. Thank goodness that the room is big!

At the weekend I managed to shoot some good footage in decent lighting conditions, so now I am ready to commence with editing the animation. 

Setup for critique

I took the group critique as an opportunity to gain some feedback on the various experiments I have been doing in the studio with food. I set up my space with a variety of sculptures, collages and drawings.

I wanted to display the small sculptures in a way that they could be scrutinised from all angles. The stands that I made for speakers for a previous installation are an ideal height to view the sculptures, so I placed a plank of wood on top of the stands and used it as a makeshift plinth.

Earlier in the week I used the large scale digital printer to print one of the photographs of the sculptures.

I also hung a new work; a bird feeder bag filled with rainbow drops as opposed to the natural peanuts or seeds that are usually contained within bird feeders. 

Surface of Cheerios

I recently purchased a glue gun along with a supply of coloured glue sticks. My urge to use the gold glue stick led me to creating a surface consisting of Cheerios and Cocoa Cheerios.

Welcome to my new home - studio 5.12

Now that the Newcastle University Undergraduate Degree Show has finished and the undergraduate students have finished for the session (I'll miss them), the Masters students are reallocated into the now vacant studios. We had to complete proposals stating our top 3 choices of studio, and we have now been notified which spaces we have. These are the spaces in which we will be exhibiting in for our Summer Exhibition, and we are now able to move in to the studios and use prior to the exhibition.

My new space is studio 5.12. Here it is:

It is a lovely light room, with great windows that look out onto the Northern Stage and the Student Union. I look forward to spending the next couple of months in here!