Friday 25th September

Today at 11:00, Glasgow's Film Theatre hosted it's first Fine Art Rally lecture of the year. Within this lecture we got introduced to the head of the School of Fine Art, Dr Alistair Payne. After his introduction he delivered a warm welcome to new and previous students. Alongside him were also a variety of other tutors from the courses within the Fine Art category of the school. 

The aim of todays lecture was to welcome in the new school year and find out what will be going on in the near future. I will be going to Glasgow's Film Theatre every Friday alongside the rest of the fine art students. During our time there, a number of artists and tutors from around the country will be coming to visit (which excites me a lot!!) The list includes Mike Stubbs, Ross Birrell, Oraib Toukan, Barbara Orton, Hugo Rivalta, Mike Finch, David Shrigley and Professor Rebecca Fortnum. 

During the lecture each tutor came up to the podium and listed their favourite piece of art and favourite song. I found this extremely interesting as it not only gave me inspiration, but gave me an insight into the tutor's personal mind and opinions.

Within the lecture three pieces of work stood out to me. The first is a video piece called 'Om' by John Smith that one of my Sculpture and Environmental Art tutor's, Paul Cosgrove chose. He said he chose this piece as it's very self explanatory, it's easy to connect to and even though it was created in 1986, it still relates to todays world.

The second was an audio/video piece called 'Thinking / Not Thinking (Work-1090)' by Martin Creed, created in 2011. Unfortunately the chosen tutor wasn't able to attend the lecture but they decided to have this as there favourite song. At the time I didn't know who it was, by the end I was surprised it was Martin Creed! This song was released on Martin's own record label, Telephone Records.

Last but not least is Diller and Scofidio's 'Blur Building' which was created in 2002. The tutor explained how from a far the building appears to be non-existent (a fallen cloud perhaps). As you walk along the bridge you're walking towards nothing. He also explained the cause of this. After the process of the water being pumped and filtered through Lake Neuchatel, it was then shot as fine mist through 35,000 high-pressured nozzles. As you enter the building all visual and acoustic references disappear. 

"an architecture of atmosphere" 

Tomorrow will mark my first two weeks living in Glasgow, it's been quite challenging but overall an amazing experience so far!!! 

I'm exciting to see what the future holds!!

The Ball With Five Sticks

During my time down South in July, I was drawn in by the idea of 

Hands

Your able to figure out a lot by studying the surface of ones hand. 

The texture for instance.
 Is it smooth? rough? dented with wrinkles or scars?

Hands started something for me

One day, I was sitting in Cafe Nero with my mum in the centre of Derby. As I was drinking my mango smoothie I gazed outside to see swarms of flustered people intertwining through one another, a usual morning in the city. I then noticed this man break from the crowd going towards one of the tables located outside the cafe. I observed him for a couple of seconds until he connected his eyes with mine. I felt a sudden rush to take a photograph of him. He was such an interesting character, their was something different and unique about him. I sat their for a couple of minutes trying to figure out how I was going to capture this moment as questions were swimming around my head.

Should I be doing this? 

What if he notices, then what? 

Should I follow the urge? 

What if he gets angry or annoyed? 

Am I capable of creating something from this? 

Can I actually do it?

What's the reason for me doing/ wanting to do this? 

I guess I can answer that!

I enjoy the process, the rush of wanting to capture something that's so fleeting and unprepared for. How they're part of your journey and vice versa, you're also a part of theirs. It can be the people who usually get unnoticed or rarely glanced at. It makes me think more about them as an individual. I get comfort in seeing how other people live their life. 

I grabbed my camera and decided to sit on the sofa behind where we were sitting. I looked through the view finder and started snapping away. In the end I felt as though I fulfilled my desire! 

With every click of the camera's button, I gained more confidence within myself and my ability to capture the public.

During my time away I decided to give myself a little challenge. Whenever I was out and spotted people holding hands, I was going to try my best to capture their moment. 

Expressing sincere emotions 

-

A couple of weeks later 

As I was rummaging through my art supplies, trying to minimalize my storage for Glasgow, I came across a rubber glove. It may only of just be a disposable item but to me it had a possibility to create something. I held onto it as I rummaged through my mind, trying to find any inspiration that may connect to something. 

The light switch within my head flicked and I started to think back to the subject of hands. 

I grabbed the yellow lid off my storage box for the background and placed it by the window, by that time it was the evening so the light outside wasn't the best. It ended up washing out the brightness of the yellow.

I started to take quick photographs of the glove from different angles and positions. Playing with the composition.

I then started to interact with the glove, lightly touching, grasping onto it's surface

To put on the glove is to fill a void

-

To ignite a connection 

Meeting The Bed

On Monday 20th July I said goodbye to my mum and dad and caught the 11:19am train down to London via Grantham, to spend time with my brother Jamie who is currently living down there.

As the course was coming to an end, Martin suggested that we should try and go down to London during the Summer holidays to see the famous 'My Bed' by Tracey Emin, as we both share an interest for the piece. 

Unfortunately we don't think it's going to happen.

I felt quite bad going to see it, without sharing the experience with Martin but I knew a chance like this might not come again. 

Since being exposed to her creation earlier in the my foundation course, it has made me think about the possibilities of art and what it can actually be. The concept of 'My Bed' intrigued me and still does to this day. 

After watching this I knew I had to go to Tate Britain to experience it in the flesh, in all it's glory.

As soon as Jamie and I arrived we checked the map to see where the bed was located and set off. I excitingly went around the Tate observing the other pieces of work on display, until Jamie called my name. I turned around the corner to see a room containing two paintings by Francis Bacon, a collection of Tracey's life drawings and of course, 'My Bed'. 

 I kept closing my eyes and reopening them, trying to capture my immediate reaction. I couldn't believe that I was seeing the bed in a 3D form, through my own eyes instead of seeing it through photographs and screens. 

I felt like I was meeting a celebrity. Is that a good or bad thing to feel? 
The question that has been rattling around in my brain is 'Isn't everyone's bed just as important as this?' 
Your bed is a reflection of you.

A Bed is a personal piece of furniture, it's a place where you're most vulnerable.
  A bed is suppose to be a place of comfort, security.

As I stared into her environment I started to imagine things that have possibly taken place within the bed.

Sadness, loss of faith, misery, perhaps even happiness. 
Passion, love, sex. 
The act of intertwining yourself within the covers, maybe alongside someone.
Sweat, tears.
Dreams and Nightmares.

Also the surroundings.

The dry saliva surrounding her fag ends and bottles.
DNA everywhere, from tampons, condoms to used tissues and slippers.
From blood stained knickers and towels. 
Heaps of crumpled up tissues. 

I wanted to stand there for hours, observing every detail of this piece from every corner, gaining a new perspective with every turn, but I knew I couldn't due to time restrictions. Hopefully I'll be able to experience this again within the future.

 It was a privilege to of seen this piece of art.