My first attempt at spreadsheet art. I want to make abstract images using excel after realising that within my job role, choosing the colours is my favourite bit of building a spreadsheet.
1 square foot
Getting that excited feeling about my work where I’m thinking about it all the time. Have been practising making squares with my feet using tape. Like the idea about making floor based work. I would like to show documentation as part of the work.
Got a few ideas up my sleeve for the stall, potentially involving spreadsheets.
A difference of opinion
I have just read an article written from one persons perspective about the best way to run a studio group. I don’t think an oligarchy works for me. I only recently learnt how relevant the word oligarchy was when talking to a friend at work.
I think democracy in a studio group is a positive thing. Being able to discuss ideas, share decisions and allow everyone to have a chance to have their say is great. I can appreciate that in a large group of people there is going to be more debate and disagreement, but it’s worth it if people feel valued and a part of something. A few people making all of the decisions without election will lead to others feeling frustrated, under valued and truly duped. I am a huge fan of the vote and if something is voted out of my favour, I am happy to stand down. It’s when there isn’t a vote in the first place that I struggle.
Lunchtime
Went to the studio this evening and felt really productive. Probably had a lot to do with the studio being warm enough to have the window open, rather than so cold you turn into an icicle. Was a delight!
I sat on my new comfortable waiting room seat (it has taken me many months to upgrade from camping furniture) and wrapped string around my hand for 30 minutes, the amount of time I spend on my lunch at work. It became really heavy and tedious. I then did the same for 3 minutes, the time it takes me to walk to the bus stop in the morning. Really looking forward to building up a collection of them to be displayed on the floor. I’m trying to figure out the best way to display the titles- need to experiment.
Had a new idea to make a piece called 1 foot squared. Looking forward to trying this out.
New Artists
Christian Frosi
For my train journey to Birmingham I decided to look through the yearbook for ‘Frieze Art Fair 2007-8’. It was interesting to see how Artists are described in one paragraph. I found 6 artists I want to look into and realised I haven’t done this for a while.
At the moment I am looking at Tara Donovan ‘magisterial sculptures, made from found materials’, Gabriel Kuri ‘explores what might be called ‘commercial ephemera’- items left over from commercial exchanges and Christian Frosi ‘creates environments that address the potential of objects and images to lose their meaning.’
I also had a chat with my friend Jo about the idea of art being sold and how I cannot get my head round it. At the stall in our Sherwood Arts week event I am thinking about selling cm rulers for measuring items smaller than a cm and include some suggestions of things which are smaller than a cm. I would like the items for sale to be a sellable extension of my work but we shall see.
In the shower thoughts
String wrapped around my hand for the length of an advert break
I was thinking about my ball of string idea where I want to wrap string around my hand for periods of time. I like the idea of timing everyday activities like having a shower and measuring the time with string.
With most things you do, you have an understanding of how long they take or you project how long you think things will take. Two people in discussion will not necessarily agree on how long something will take e.g. waiting for a bus. One person might have had the unfortunate situation of waiting and waiting to then have three buses turn up at once and thus project that waiting for a bus is a lengthy process.
If I had a lot of balls of string in a room that represents different activities, they would become relative to each other, a bit like two people discussing the passing of time. Each ball of string will be representing their own abstract period of time.
At this point I thought I better get out of the shower and go to work to earn money to pay for string.
Memo Holder
Spent the evening in the Robin Hood which is a lovely pub in Sherwood with Katie and Adam. Feel really positive after being a little lost about what I’m making for Sherwood Arts Festival. We’re having an event/exhibition at White Rabbit Studios which we’re all in the process of making work for.
I cannot believe how link happy I just got. I’m very excited about having this space to jot down my ideas and progress.
I have been trying to make a Memo holder using wooden rulers and combs. Today I realised that I don’t like using glue to stick the ruler to the comb and i’m getting frustrated. I either need to get more patience or try different materials. Perhaps string or tape. I might even start to make different objects with the wooden rulers as I’m falling out of love with the idea of a memo holder. It’s starting to feel a bit daft and would like to work on other ideas.