Week Ending 24 October 2014 – Sample mosaic

Studio Practice 2

The scanning of photographic images is time consuming and need to be an ongoing project.  An initial approach for business cards has begun.

Research

A Newspaper article “Doc reveals how dementia patients designer dresses reminded her of happier times - A wardrobe full of memories” links layers of clothing to memories of celebratory events time & place.  

Reading the local rag reveals a local hospital appealing for memorabilia “to give patients with dementia the chance to back in time.  A bid to spark patients’ interest and help people... encourage social interaction” source http;//nhsforthvalley.com/thanks-for-the-memories/

Is it a coincidence that contextual research reading of John Berger’s “Ways of seeing” came in handy for the project? 

“Seeing comes before words.  The child looks and recognises before it can speak” p.7

Another coincidence with Grayson Perry’s Channel4 television series on identity entitled “Who are you?” 

http:www.channel4.com/news/who-are-you-grayson-perry-video.

 

Perry’s work looks at identity and included a couple living with Alzheimers. Perry spend time with the couple and was given insight into their lives

 

 Sample Development

I was inspired by Layers of research to sketch ideas exploring 3 dimensional vessels.

Layers of treasure box memories - audio memories.  Rolls of photos visually reference the film reel. 

 

3D Paper machete added height

Layers of Paper folds

Sample Development

Layers of buttons -Links to contextual theme

 

Sample Development

Layers of textiles -Identity of era and person

Layers of photograph/ double sided tape/ foil

                                              Isolate clothing-

 Photomontage -  3D block imagery

Sample Development – sketches

Clothes tell a story/life stories inspired by Exhibitions - Diaspora & John Shankie Refractory and Refrigeration

Ideas:

 Further Research: Photo Mosaic (research source David )/ Audio / smart phone apps QR reading

Contextual Studies

College Moodle Download

Critical Theory 1 PowerPoint – Signs of the times - an introduction to mythologies - Roland Barthes Part 1 Book “Mythologies” Roland Barthes 1915 – 1980

Class Notes:-Influences public relations/ existentialism/Marxism/structuralism/psychoanalysis

The Essay proposal received Positive tutor feedback –I really can get started now!

Week ending 17 October 2014 – College term holiday

The Time plan had allocated this holiday week as an opportunity to Review the whole Studio Practice project and to continue with further experimentation.  

I feel this is an opportunity to focus the project’s PLP aims and objections and make adjustments to the Project’s time plan.

The project’s PLP drives the focus of the research that directs the experimentation sketchbook.

Research ideas and practical samples have eliminated or inspired further investigations.

Samples -Further investigations

Cobweb scarf layered with Photographs /organza

 

Samples -Further investigations

Buttons Sample:

Inspired by Research: Lee’s love of fashion that unlocks her memories.  Contextual research of visual “Seeing comes before words”

Buttons

 

Analysis

Strengths: Layers of buttons from past clothing links memories of celebratory events, to a time and place. 

Weakness: Essential principles and elements of good composition. 

Action Plan

Scan Family album Photographs

Contextual Studies

Research and e-mail submission of a revised draft essay proposal.  Requested tutorial to discuss revised draft.  I will keep my fingers crossed that this revised proposal will be successful. 

 

Week ending 10 October 2014 – Woolly week

Studio Practice 2

Research for this mixed media textile project continued in wool week

http://www.machineknittingmonthly.net/index.php/news/university_welcomes_knitter_in_residence_for_wool_week/

Feelings

As a child I have many memories of my mother knitting for myself and other family members.  The sound of click, clicking of knitting needles binding wool together while chit chatting about the day events or family.  Standing for hand measurements for a cardigan or Doll’s dress that were a unique signature of my mum’s talent.  Many times my doll’s outfit were the envy of my friends and many a knitting order for their dolls given to mum.  The personal memories of knitting that are unique to me but I am sure are universal for many others. 

The memories that knitting week invokes confirms the layers of memory loss found in everyday objects.  The bad point is the physical demands of knitting restricts my participation due to my disability.  

The knitting research has demonstrated how knitting patterns decorate everyday lives. Knitting layered with memories that are unique but also universal.

Conclusion
 

I will eliminate knitting as a project solution due to physical demands.  I will take what I have learnt about memories into the project.  

Layering Research

Tutor suggestion to research layering out with the textiles medium coincided with radio programme reporting on research of birds’ nests. 

 http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/news/archive/2014/title,250244,en.php

Wasp Nest layered with subtle colour variations

Cobweb Layers 

It’s spooky how things seem to occur when you are looking for inspirational ideas. 

Design Journey

·        PLP and Time plan

·        Mood board

Layers of memory /Layers of mixed media textiles /Recalling lost memories a celebratory response /Sense of self /Sense of place

Sketch ideas

 Interpret Layers of memories /Day to day objects /Encapsulate memories /Context Explore Purpose /Consider composition: possible isolate subject or place with other objects adds to the story /Context gives added meaning /Multiples amplify /Layers engages with composition weight

Sketchbook Samples

Playing around with samples to develop the art work will be recorded in the sketchbook with visual photographs and annotation of practical experiences that will evaluate the good, the bad and the ugly.

Preparation

Safe working environment

A protective surface to prevent damage to working environment

Reduced Costs and environment impact by using recycled cotton sample

 Secured cotton sample to prevent slippage

Homemade Moulding paste materials purchased

Use of recycled equipment reduced environmental impact and costs

Safe working practices using hot equipment tools on heat proof surfaces and ventilation  

samples

The cotton sample with smooth moulding paste achieves the best outcomes with sewing machine and inkjet printing.

The cotton sample with moulding paste will need to be reconsidered due to stiffness and cracking.

 

·        Cobwebs layers

 

 
·        Cobweb Felting scarf Layering with photographic imagery - Inspired by Felting Workshop by Ann Ross

 

 

 

 

Feelings

Cobweb symbolises threads of life –recalling the essence of a visual memory.  Brushing away the cobwebs. 

Evaluation

·        Strength: vivid colour palette.  Felt tops vary in colour convey mood.  Creative visionary to bond layers of lightness with felt without density.

·        Weakness: A viewer might not understand the meaning.

Analysis

Opportunity to resolved weakness with cultural associations of visual imagery.    The process of teasing out the felt is a metaphor for teasing out memory. 

                                              Conclusion

Sample has layers of texture and visual memory.  The natural felt possibly combining with synthetic organza. The danger of personal imagery not engaging viewers’ interest.   As a solution select generic images.  Strengths of visual and tactical texture sparks memories.  That cobweb layer links context symbolical of threads of life

Action Plan

 

The cobweb felting scarfs have layering possibilities with photographic imagery.

 

Contextual Studies 

 All the hard Graff for the essay proposal crashed and burned with the negative feedback from the tutor.  Overall a very disappointing day.  Back to the drawing board with positive thinking to revised another draft essay proposal.

 

Action Plan

Select & scan photographic images 

Revised draft essay proposal submitted via e-mail 

College holiday - October Week

 

 

 

 

Week ending 3rd October 2014 – Sample Beginnings

Studio Practice 2

The project’s draft (PLP) Personal Learning Plan received positive comments from the tutor with only a few tweaks with the wording.  What a relief I can begin the project.

 Beginnings 

Project preparations

Budget control:

·        Sourcing and costing of materials - Support Local Businesses when possible 

·        Review Internet websites for Specialist materials /        Recycled material

·         Purchase Materials retain receipts 

Equipment/materials safety:

·        Review health and safety procedures

·        Safe Working practices

Review idea sketchbook:

·        Gather inspirational ideas for mood board

  Inspirational film “Before I Go To Sleep” links to  identity and memory.  The loss of identity with the loss of memory.  This film conveys the confusion and fear with memory loss.  The story line use of photographs to inform the character reveals an identity.  The photographs layered with false imagery to create false identity.  How we identify our surrounding with objects.
 

                                                  Samples

Moulding paste

I was inspired by Wren Redmond Article entitled “textured fiber photography” in the Quilting Arts Magazine to make use of light weight moulding paste. 

 

 

As I was unable to source this moulding paste material locally.  I found an alternative home made solution via the internet. 

 

3D mould paste sample

Mixed media Textile sample

 

 

The sample processes were photographically recorded to help with the project’s progress.  I feel that a visual record and a physical sample will help focus my analysis annotation. 

 

Action Plan

·        Further sample experimentation of materials

·        Research

 

Contextual Studies

As there was no formal class I requested redirected study and submitted the essay proposal via e-mail to the tutor.

Action Plan

Research for essay proposal

Selected artists