Filed under: session | Tags: aprehnsion, artist, langague, motivated, statement, viewpoints
I was not looking forward to revisiting the artists statement. On numerous occasions I have sat down and tried to get to the nub of what it is I’m doing and don’t feel I have ever got close. Hopefully things will get better this time around as I have really narrowed down my processes, ideas and direction of what I am doing.
Jane Bevan came to talk through the process of writing our statements to be used in our gallery packs, exhibition panels and beyond. I really enjoyed this session, looking at the why, how, what and who and looking at examples. I found the language guidelines particularly interesting – getting the right words, making them ‘fit’ and keeping people’s interest.
Through an exercise I had done in a previous job to help people see what others see we gathered comments from everyone else in the group in a sort of secret comment pass the note game. I think this proved useful, bringing out words and sentiments about our work as viewed by others.
I’m quite motivated to go and give this statement a bash.
I managed to get a couple of pieces complete in time for yesterday’s photography session with David Bryson at Markeaton Street.
I was amazed that more of us didn’t turn up as this was a great opportunity to get our work photographed professionally for free.
I feel I learned a lot about the lighting set up, angles, ways to set up a mini studio at home.
I’ll try a home set up and see what results I get using my old Olympus SLR and my less than up to date digital camera. Might have to think in investing in something a little more solid if I’m planning on doing this myself in future.
I’m really excited to see the images and use them in my promotional materials, it is just a shame I didn’t have more creatures with me.
Filed under: session | Tags: editor, events, journalist, launch, magazines, new work, press, publicity, sales, stylist, website
New Year – new focus. Onto the business of promotion and sales.
This session was packed full of really useful information. All the things that I had a basic understanding of laid out and listed. It is going to make me look at magazines in a new light – through the eyes of an editor / stylist / journalist.
My notes will be refered to again in te future – there is no doubt. The beauty of such a topic lies in that it can be used for anything you are doing, from events, new work, website launch, workshops to pure selling.
Whilst looking around the internet on hunt for further advice I came across this site which might be helpful in the future: ART INDUSTRI
In my visit to London for New Year celebrations we went fo a trip to the V&A. The main reason was for an exhibition on the life and work of LEE MILLER. It was fascinating to see how she managed her various roles as model, photographer and journalist and how each role fed and informed the others. Due the nature of the media, the show was very ‘clean’ and information was limited to text panels at key stages of Lee Miller’s life.
There was also a free exhibition showing, entitled OUT OF THE ORDINARY: SPECTACULAR CRAFT. This was an unexpected and exciting surprise. I was not previously familiar with any of the 7 makers in the show and came away with a very different idea of how craft can be seen in a gallery space. Each piece was more of an installation rather than a craft object (i.e. for sale, for use, for decoration alone). Each artist used craft techniques to make large scale pieces that were fascinating and beautiful. The show made me think about the scale of the objects I make and how these larger pieces serve a completely different purpose. Craft skills + fine art ideas.
I was particularly taken with ANNE WILSON and her lacemaking skills used to create a landscape which for me had strong links with mapping and the imagination children have when drawing treasure maps. Her creation of animations using pins and threads with wonderful soundtracks were mesmerising yet simple.
My ‘take home’ item from th show would have to be one of ANNIE CATTRELL‘S glass pieces from ‘Conditions’ (or all of them). They were so delicate yet solid.
