Private View, Wiverton manor, Blakeney.

'The Last 9 Months' exhibition by artists Tom Lamprell, Francesca Perkins and Louuis Hudson was situated in a lovely old stone barn on the grounds of Wiverton manor in Blakeney. Across the crumbling brickwork the artists works showed a good variation of techniques, mediums and subjects but the way they'd been curated made the show a success as all the pieces worked well next to each other.

Louis Hudson works with salvaged wood and incorporates them into painted canvas' giving them a 3D, growing feeling but the works spoke of ecological questions in the local environment.

Francesca Perkins paints large landscapes on canvas using thick brushstrokes through deeply applied acrylics which reminded me of David Hockney's latest collection of large countryside views.

Tom Lamprell looks at the local people in his portraits but the way he paints gives them a sinister, creepy look which I think adds a bit of an edge and gives the viewer more to question about who and what they're looking at.

MA Show 2014.

The MA show was a really interesting collection of paintings, drawings, sculptures, video and photography. Set in the art factory studio spaces, the show flowed easily with each artist selecting the best of their work from the course.
In a darkened space entered through a black curtain, Leila presented us with a gripping, intense video piece entitled 'They believed the river did sing'. This piece concentrated on feelings and experiences in sound and vision and as usual with Leila's work it was impossible to leave before it had ended. I personally got the feeling I was in the trenches during a war and the heavy sounds, clattering, bright explosions of light and eery noises all added to this feeling. Glimpses of fluttering birds of prey blended with dark landscape close-ups gave a feeling of excitement and unease which I like in artworks.
Her other photographic images were taken from the 12th floor of the soon to be demolished council building in Leicester and looked at changes in time and location.

                                                                                                    Leila Houston. 

One of the works that really stood out to me was the sculptural lightworks of Mark Boot. Entering into a darkened space I was greeted by the warm glow of red, green and yellow lights breaking through the surface of large sculpted pieces of polystyrene foam. This room was exciting, comforting and the glowing colours gave off a visual warmth but the work had a technological side to it. Mark's work looks at the way we have developed a coded system throughout the world and our lives and the way it affects our culture.

                  

                                                                                                                            mark Boot

Various interesting and playful wooden sculptures littered the floor in one of the spaces and on close inspection it was apparent that the pieces were combinations of man made and natural materials working together to hold the sculptural forms in place. Some of the pieces were made to encourage viewers towards moving the components around thus creating new and fresh sculptures throughout the show. The works were both simple and complex in creation and Edward Vernon's ideas of 'natural complementing man made' came across in each piece. 

                                                                                                  Edward Vernon

                                                                                    Edward Vernon

'According to Henry Mattise, colour, even more than drawing is a means of liberation exists in itself'.

The opening statement from the artist Lydia Manship highlighted the ideas behind her colourful projected installation. blending through endless colours, the squares and circles of her simple compositions kept the room alive with just subtle changes every few seconds. The work was all about colour and what happens to it and to us as the tones appear and disappear before us and reminded me of a scene from an old 60's pop art movie. 

                                                                                                                              Lydia Manship

One thing I noticed about the whole exhibition was how professional it all looked. Each artist had stuck to their guns and only exhibited what they thought were their strongest pieces. Each room was different and the whole thing was a good experience. 

                                                                                                                                 Dee Sowden

                                                                                                                                   Dee Sowden

                                                                                        Lulu Zhou

                                                                                                                            Chiara Enzo

                                                                              Chiara Enzo

                                                                         Stefania Laccu

We lucky or what?

"10men9women15children" Photographic image, size variable. 

new work

Our nation has become a land of followers. We devour slogans which are directed at us constantly and over time we believe and we start to follow. We don't need to vote for the next big thing but we do. We're told to.
 Celebrity is created through constant media download. Commercials instruct us to buy the things we simply cannot survive without and TV show adverts tease us with whats to come. Inevitably it results in an anti-climax.
We've become a nation thats easily led by slogans, messages and signs.

'Do As Your Sold...no.1',   Household paint on black canvas, 60cm x 30cm.

This gives me the idea that we can change a persons attitude with a simple set of words. One single word, whispered or shouted, can in an instant enrage someone as-well as calm them. The constant pressure of being told to 'VOTE NOW' can eventually see you making that call or sending that text. 

I like the idea of using these words and creating signs to alter peoples attitudes towards the day ahead. The traffic moves slowly along the busy road every morning. Cars are filled with job hating workers heading toward what they already regret. Can my signs change this? I doubt it very much but just for a second they may encourage something, start the ball rolling and bring the idea to life inside someones head. 

These are my hope signs; 'Highway Observational People Empowerment' signs. 

I like the idea of them popping up at the side of the road for people to see on the way to work. Of course, they don't all have to have a positive message. My mood for the day can change the sign I put up, thus changing the mood of the people reading it. 

All week you see positive encouraging signs then on friday one that reads

 'You've got to do it all again next week"....

I want the signs to be seen and questions to be asked by the viewer of themselves and the lives they live. Viewers can use them. Be inspired or encouraged but then at the same time the possibility exists that the signs can anger you, make you realise things, empower you. They have multiple meanings.

I'm interested in the way the words become 'owned' by the viewer. The actual signs stay fixed to one spot but the words go with the viewer. They look at society today, the way we live and survive. How many people hate their day to day routine but in this world of job shortages, huge mortgages and recession can't do a thing about it. 

The words can be placed in situations to create an atmosphere. This garage door would entice you to look inside but at the same time you'd have the feeling that something terrible may lie inside. A simple message that works in two different ways. Because 'no one should see'... I want to see. 

charcoal work.

The inevitable black expanse and the point reached.

Frontrunner Research, Evaluation of Audience Engagement.

Weds 6/8/2014.  Meeting with Dr. Sophy Smith. 
This research is to highlight and Evaluate the role of Audience participation and engagement at  exhibitions housed in the gallery space of the Phoenix Arts Centre.
Our first meeting was to discuss, with Dr. Sophy Smith, the processes, direction and outcomes for the project and gain an overview into previous research carried out last year.
The focus of the research is to assist the Phoenix and highlight the experiences of people entering, viewing and participating in the digital art exhibitions and produce a paper detailing our findings.
'Video cued recall', questionnaires and verbal feedback will be used to provide insights into viewers thoughts and feelings towards the exhibited works.

Fri 8/8/2014.   Introduction meeting.
Met with other front runners and the frontrunner team to discuss the projects we'll be working on and get an insight into what's expected and how to get paid etc, Essential info!

Thurs 14/8/2014.  Team Meeting.
Met with Dr Sophy Smith and Professor Ernest Edmonds to discuss the reasons behind the project and outline the artists who might participate in the research. Also had the chance to watch the previous research footage which had been filmed in the gallery space at the Phoenix centre. The footage was accompanied by written transcripts and statements collected from visitors and participants and was a good indication of what we'll be aiming for.

Mon 22/9/2014 Meeting with the artist.
Today was a chance to meet and discuss the project with the artist Esther Rolinson.
Esther is a well established visual artist working in public spaces to create site specific installations in various mediums. Her work engages the viewers experiences of built and natural environments.
Her installation piece for the forthcoming October exhibition is a very interesting combination of sculpture, technology and light and the visitors will be able to walk amongst the piece when its installed in the Phoenix Centre. The main point of todays meeting was to establish the questions she'd like to ask visitors to the space and to look at the proposed installation and her very in-depth creative process she has used to reach the finished piece.

'Untitled', house paint on paper, 90cm x 90cm.