Finding the beauty in an everyday object

On the TV the other night was a rather interesting report on the BBC's the 'One Show' 

It was reporting on all the benches that had been erected in memory of loved ones in a public park. 

This man who often walked through the park with his dog had taken to photographically documenting all the benches. It was rather touching seeing them complied all together; some were very sincere while others focused on the humourous side of a departed loved one.

This park however, has so many memory benches erected they have had to curb the introduction of any new ones. 

A bench is a very ordinary object really but the context in which it's placed does reveal a story, an insight into other peoples lives and how one place can become so significant to a person. 

Jerwood makers exhibition

I went a visit to the pier arts centre the other day to have a look around the Jerwood makers open exhibition.

 The artists featured were: Maisie Broached, Linda Brothewell, Roanna Wells, Adam Buick and Nahoko Kojima. 

Very varied in mediums between the different artists. 

Was particularly interested in Buick's video installation of a white bell placed in a sea cave and filmed at different times with the low and high tides. A very simple premise but was rather soothing and relaxing to watch- the sounds of the waves and the bell as it moved in the breeze. I didn't sit and watch the whole thing but you could hear the sounds in the background as you went around the exhibition. were constantly being reminded that the bell was gently swaying in the breeze in a sea cave somewhere. How there is always more going on somewhere than what you can see in front of you just at one time. 

But what really captivated me was the beautiful 'Byaku' created by Kojima. She used the very intricate process of Kiri-e to create a polar bear, simply stunning. 

A very jam packed sketchbook!

...Shame it's not a sketchbook that will be handed in for my college work!

Last years work- identity and boxes

This is a point of reference to my previous work when I speak about the boxes. I got so intrigued with the box idea; after being given an ordinary cardboard box how your imagination just soared! Boxes to me is how I live my life. I like to be organised, everything has it's place, both physically and emotionally. My life becomes a box- live in a box, work in a box etc. just becomes endless!!! 

Boxes

Cutting maps and making boxes!!!! Deja vu from last years work! I need to take it a step further though, the tops of the boxes look a lot more plain than what I would have liked so will need to rethink this idea slightly

A photo I came across

I love this!!! 

Highly edited photos, very simple subject matter. Birds on a wire has become very clichè on patterns and such like, but despite it being 'cutsie' I still like it. Often think what like it would be to be a bird, can just fly off to wherever you wanted, whenever you wanted....*sigh* 

Also with birds there are feathers and I have a bit of a thing for feathers, always been drawn to them as a subject matter

Lots of lots of PVA glue!!

Love the simplicity of these 'sculptures' sticking with the idea of lines and connections. Also have the idea of global travel in the back of my mind- it's a simplified globe really! 

Procrastinating away from my Marxism seminar research....

When I should be working on my research for my seminar paper, I am looking at artists for inspiration for my own work; such as Barbara Kruger (as below) This incongruity of ideas is so striking and bold. Simple use of text and imagery along with a limited palette is very successful at capturing the audience.

Also looked at Jenny Holzer who uses projections mostly in her work. Striking also, but on a far larger scale to that of Kruger's work.

Inspiration can come from anywhere!

Flicking through a Louis Vuitton magazine whilst waiting to pick up my Chineese takeaway and came across this lovely idea...was very taken aback of such a classy magazine being in the local Chineese- but yeah, inspiration can be found anywhere!! 

Lines, words, travel... Things turning more 3D

Lots of experimenting going on- exploring words in my work, which is a relatively new concept for me. Lots to try out! 

Ball is rolling.....

Ideas becoming clearer....

Been looking into artists such as Joyce Kozloff and Guillermo Kuitca - and have found them to be quite interesting with techniques I would like to explore myself.

forgot about this from survival workshop!

If you've got a spare 30 mins, then this video by Fischli and Weiss will keep you hooked - entitled 'The way things go' So captivatingly simple, but get hooked onto what will happen nexthttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MF1fh7V5ivY

Creative block

This is how I feel right now!!! Have a big creative block- not getting anywhere fast