MA 1 Visual Enquiry

26/03/2018 - Exploratory project - revised outline with notes.

 

  1. What are your starting points? – be specific
    • What am I thinking about? The fundamentals of the Everyday - to date practice has addressed a concern for the decay of social decorum and the prevalence of neglect for the Everyday. - systematic disintegration leading to encasing the chaos in a confined space. Lefebvre, Rhythmanalysis creates a science of analysing daily rhythms,  inherent in my work. control, space, confinement, touch, personal space, routine, space of routine, repetition, chaos, fragmentation...
  2. What are you curious about?
    • What am I reading, what is drawing me in? What artists am I curious about? What materials am I curious about? What techniques do I want to explore? Time and consumption of time in routine.  Negotiation of routine, time, place. The chaos of routine, how routines are shaped, deconstructed and reconstructed. Textiles and routine, domesticity, the sense of touch and everyday life, pattern, repetition and fracturing/fragmenting. Books, layers, lines, disruption, neutrality, binary, repetition, paper, paint, wet, dry, encrusted, texture, touch, comfort, weight/wait, time passing. fabric, stitch, fragility, density, opacity, fibre, cloth, natural/degradable, dissolvable...
  3. What strategies will you adopt?
    • How Am I going to do this? Be structured and methodical, keeps clear notes - use the work to document the work. ROUTINE. Keep to the timeline, reference it regularly, make a time planner to map out slots during the weeks to accommodate each task for the course and other commitments. Photograph, document, upload, repeat... 
  4. What are your personal risks?
    • What scares me? Is it practical risks, theoretical risks or personal/private risks? This scares me... being distracted. Not producing enough, not understanding or misinterpreting the task or feedback. Underachieving, I know what I am capable of but seem to hold myself back, becoming self-critical and apprehensive until I give up as it feels like the safest option. Comparison scares me, wanting to achieve and understand things in the manner of my peers.
    • What challenges do you anticipate? Time, organisation, overwhelm, distraction, feelings of impostorism, insecurity, comparison, fear.  

 

  1. Outline:
    • Week 1 Feb 18th Complete Mapping the territory, print large scale mindmap to work in to, use to outline concepts, generate ideas and moving forward. Produce outline plan first draft, produce some experiments regarding initial thoughts from current practice.  - Done!
    • Week 2 Feb 25th Begin research reading and gathering, use Textile reader (Hemmings, 2012) and Everyday Reader (Highmore, 2002); texts related to touch, histories, colonialism, colour, routine, textile usage. Explore artists already working on my exploration (also links to contextual study).  Continue production experiments, break the process down and source materials. - Done!
    • Week 3 Mar 4th  Reflect on current production, note relationship to readings, additional areas to explore or possible changes in direction etc.  - reflection happened but not as productive as I wanted to be. Focused on Contextual Study.
    • Week 4 Mar 11th Continue with production, once each moment of production is 'completed' as such, reflect immediately to stay on top and also revisit and compare with previous productions - Mon 12 Mar: Tutorial AR  - Production stopped. Life happened. Frustrating. the tutorial was helpful but quick and felt rushed which didn't help when everything is feeling so rushed at the moment.
    • Week 5 Mar 18th Be aware of burn out or possible stopping points, challenge with an activity from the list provided to move work into another dimension/area/scale/technique. Mon 19 Mar: Tutorial DK  ART WEEK DUBAI  - the challenge of balancing activity and work. Home balance has been difficult and pressing needs for employment have taken time away from activity. Tutorial with DK, really helpful, clarified points for productions.
    • Week 6 Mar 25th Production, again being aware of reflection and managing the other course commitments, refer to course-mates for progress and feedback, communicate strengths and weaknesses and possible areas for consultation Mon 26 Mar: Exploratory Project - Challenges and Learnings - Seminar  THE PLAN FOR THIS WEEK: 
    • How to create chaos? what are chaos and define terms?
    • feedback from DK was to follow my instinct and move into 3D. To show evolution and progress must remember to do all the stages. 
    • stage 1 - continue tracings - black out edges leaving the connected space - use black lines on paper and grey to select space. 'space awareness'
    • stage 2 - cut out the grey space in another series, overlay and photograph. - collage effect. 
    • stage 3 - using card cut the lines out completely  - make into mini 3D pieces that can be photographed. 
    • stage 3A - 3D in a 2D plane - velvet flocking, DeVore fabric, raised textiles, the density of stitch, padding, puff paints, 
    • stage 4 - layer card to make 'square' or block pieces/forms - glue together
    • stage 5 - consider scale and enlarge - possibly using boxes instead (foil wrap box is a good size. 
    • stage 6 - consider materials - subversiveness - thinking textiles, soft sculpture - foam and felt - stitched - embroideries - stuffed. 
    • YES, THIS IS PRESCRIPTIVE BUT IF I WANT A COHERENT PROJECT I NEED STRUCTURE. I APPROACH ART LIKE SCIENCE AND MY STEPS NEED TO BE PLANNED SO THAT I DON'T MISS THINGS OUT AS I AM OFTEN CRITICISED FOR 'MISSING LINKS'. WITHIN THIS STRUCTURE I AM FLEXIBLE AND WILL REVISIT AS AND WHEN NECESSARY. HAPPY ACCIDENTS ARE A WONDERFUL PART OF BEING AN ARTIST. 
    • Week 7 Apr 1st HALF WAY POINT good time to review the current body of work, what is successful and what isn't. Can anything be 'rescued' or needs to be cast off? is it fulfilling the initial concept and ideas? Does it need to? Has it produced new ways of thinking? Changed direction? What unexpected things have emerged? Have I challenged myself? Does this still feel safe? How can I take even more risks? Prepare for making day. Create a list of questions to pose to the group for structured and meaningful feedback. Sat 7th Apr: Making Day 
    • Week 8 Apr 8th Production, again being aware of reflection and managing the other course commitments, move forward using findings and feedback from making day. 
    • Week 9 Apr 15th Production, utilise activities list if stuck or needing an extra challenge. Prepare for Group crit next week. 
    • Week 10 Apr 22nd Production, self-reflection and future planning. Prepare for a tutorial with AR next week Mon 23 Apr: Group Crits 1/2 cohort 
    • Week 11 Apr 29th Production, again being aware of reflection and managing the other course commitments, move work forward using critique from tutorial  Mon 30 Apr: Tutorial AR  
    • Week 12 May 6th Reflection and assessment of progress, prepare for group evaluation, clarify thoughts and findings, plan for future development of practice Finish: 11 May: upload images by 24.00 for group evaluation and seminar on 14 May  
    • Week 13 May 13th  Deadlines for contextual study and PPP, thinking about submitting work for assessment, evaluate progress and outcomes. Mon 14 May: Exploratory Project Seminar/evaluation - Mon 4 Jun: DEADLINE FOR PRACTICAL WORK SUBMISSION - End of unit review AR/CW 
  2. Meet in a small group at least twice throughout the project. MZ, RF, KVW - GCC collective (although that is an actual collective that exists so may need a new name!)

  

25/03/2018 - Professional Practice Plan: UPDATED

NEED TO DIVIDE INTO 1 YEAR, 3 YEARS, 5 YEARS ETC....Profile Katie Venner-Woodbridge (b.1982, London, U.K.) is an interdisciplinary artist living and working in Dubai, U.A.E.  She graduated with a BA(hons) in Textile Design, followed by a PGCE in Arts Education and is currently completing her MA in Fine Art. Venner-Woodbridge’s work explores the ways in which pattern and routine facilitate human life, but also the ways in which breaking sequences and systems can provide both opportunity or discontent. It challenges the boundaries between beauty and awkwardness, and between manageable quiet spaces and the uncomfortable containment of chaos. Venner-Woodbridge is a member at Tashkeel, Dubai, participated in Campus Art Dubai 2017-2018 and exhibited in various group shows in both the U.K and U.A.E.Personal DevelopmentAction points before submission:Business card - important for networking in Gulf region.CV – relevant to art http://katievenner-woodbridge.com/pagecv/Website – katievennerwoodbridge.comSocial media links:Instagram used most often and most comfortable with.Facebook used to share articles occasionally, and Instagram posts are shared automatically.Pinterest used for ideas and resources. Yet to share my own work on the platform which I aim to do as I have a large audience in this occasion.Twitter not used. Can link to both Facebook and Instagram but have yet to.Behance run by Adobe, not used at the moment. I am aiming to share more commercial work such as repeat patterns and illustrative work.Dribble design platform similar to Behance. Profile is set up but currently not used.Research further on how to develop these profiles and online presence, which to develop and why - attended Dubai Lynx, 11-14 March 2018, a creative industry event which was exclusively aimed at the advertising and marketing industries. It was useful to see the ways to use social media to develop an audience, develop interest and possible sales.Online sales and promotion: Drawdeck founders based in Dubai, had a few sales from the platform. Need to send updated and larger files to the site to promote sales.Society6 work is uploaded but no sales generated.Redbubble account is activated but I have yet to upload work.Pattenbank  account is activeted but need to apply to sell which I have yet to do.Residencies and programmes:Critical practice programme at Tashkeel: funded opportunity. Applied March 2018, will announced the participants in April or May 2018. Three or four participants are selected to be in residence at Tashkeel with the support of selected mentors and use of studio space. Programme is designed to offer developmental and critical support to existing emerging practice.Apply for residences and open calls which are outside of the gulf. Look in to and enter international open calls, residences, and proposal for gallery; making sure its right for my work, that they are interested in the work you make. Use following resources: ResArtis (http://www.resartis.org/en/) — Axis (https://www.axisweb.org/) – AN The Artists Information Company (https://www.a-n.co.uk)Complete MA - most importantlyCommunity Future plans – applications:Sikka - art fair in dubai, runs parallel to Art Dubai but not as commercial,Artist In Residence (see above point)Postsecret (how do I get in?), what programmes are similar?Critical Dialogues - continuation. The group have opted to close and not open to new members so becoming a cohort in itself. The next session will start in September 2018 with a syllabus of feminist texts and works relevant to feminism both globally and in the MENA region. The goal of this term is to continue building our rapport as group and work on a piece of writing together, a Manifesto.Campus Art Dubai Core 6.0 Oct 2017-Feb 2018, 'graduated' at Art Dubai fair in March.Project Space M Proposal, - consider as location for installation piece if work is becoming large scale.Acquire an arts related job for stimulation - applying for arts facilitating and art teaching jobs as they appear.Research Proposal for ProfDoc -not a current concern.Proposal has already been written and submitted, feedback gained. Explore research further and make it more specific to arts, consider making it more focused; a smaller question. Contact tutor on course as she has offered mentorship regarding future application. Feedback has already been very promising and was considered for supervising team. PHD may be a better option, as it is research heavy and not practice based. Prof doc – what’s the purpose? What will it give you? Year 3 contextual study will become proposal.Reflection Don't lose myself in the list of accomplishments or things to do. Maintain creativity and joy in work.Need to put in time frame and concrete goalsBe aware of personal needs and development deficiencies.Utilise help availableHave more confidence in what your doing and don't stop due to lack of confidence.Practical Issues Finances,location,access,family,TIME,career and availability of time and resources while managing job and family.

Exploratory Project - Wk 5 - 18/03/2018- 24/03/2018

    • Week 5 Mar 18th Be aware of burn out or possible stopping points, challenge with an activity from the list provided to move work in to another dimension/area/scale/technique. Mon 19 Mar: Tutorial DK  ART WEEK DUBAI 

Tutorial with David KeffordArt practice relies on uncertainty, being reactive – avoid catastrophism. Trying not to have the ‘big life decisions’ impact on practice. Finding the balance.Brief discussion on my background: commercial background, not being compliant, resistant/resilient – being confident in own skin – not worrying about where you fit in – an interloper – the knife edge of embracing or being interested in breaking boundaries. GRAYSON PERRY materials & context – overcome, uniqueness – allowing it to marinate, a long slow burnWhat do I want from the work – removal or inclusion. Feelings and emotions as part of the work – being incorporated without being confessional – ambiguity or elusive – not purely aesthetic – more human.-how to convey emotions/feeling through form – associations – memoriesDavid Keffords personal input: disconnect between audience & work is always unsatisfactory, create direct conversation - socially engaged – collab/performance – relational aesthetics – social spaceRoutine – maintain contact at Tashkeel – routine – how am I working with it, allow others to relate to – binary – order, chaos – organics – happy accidents – manifest – to what levels of extremity does this go? Create activities or task to push ie: drawing with opposite hand, mark making, doodling, regimented – a spontaneous act – be unknown, allow that to happen. Set actions, boundaries & structures to adhere to – ie: must be A5, in pencil etc. create own systems, what will the psychological affects be.Thinking of the square/frame as a cyclic form, allowing and recording the reflections – photos of the pieces – before they become pieces – the photos may be interesting.Immersive, environment – event – theatre – sensation – spectacle – all the tropes.Christian Boltanski – drawing on the senses, touch, materiality, incorporating it in.Franz West – Adaptives – kinetic work –Awareness that the professionalism of the art work and artwork have trapped me – not allowing work to expand the confinement of the frame/ the hand/ the art world.Caroline Broadhead – moving through the scale and work in to installation.Live performance – work into space. Take work and space out, remove from the commercial aspect, edge & messy – physical & mental mess.Cultivate an attitude of disruption – draw inspiration from the artists such as Turrell and Balka, move work from being easily digestible – move it in to discontent. Stop being the ‘good girl’ – move away from compliance, correctness, break the veneer – get under the skinMove in to sculpture – discuss the foam felt geo sculpture which looks heard but isn’t – subversive – artifice – ‘supposed to be this but actually this’ – think Richard Serra’s verb listMaking doodles etc,Project planning for spaceDiversify and expand into installation work.Actions (if any)

  • Move in to sculpture – discuss the foam felt geo sculpture which looks heard but isn’t
  • think Richard Serra’s verb list
  • Making doodles etc,
  • Project planning for space
  • Diversify and expand into installation work.
  • Create a system
  • Possible for performance
  • Research artist discussed and how they can inform work
  • Keep notes of reflections and discussions I’m having about my work.

  

Exploratory Project - Wk 4 - 11/03/2018- 17/03/2018

    • Week 4 Mar 11th Continue with production, once each moment of production is 'completed' as such, reflect immediately to stay on top and also revisit and compare with previous productions - Mon 12 Mar: Tutorial AR  

 Reflections since last tutorialStill getting caught up in research rather than making and using reading/organization as procrastination. Also holding back on making down to fear and overthinking so need to move on with this.Feeling more comfortable with MA Journal, but still can share more. Perhaps start to share more ad hoc using phone etc.Discussion and recommendations EXPLORATORY PROJECT: Don’t use the plan as a stick to beat myself with! It’s to go back to but not to stick rigidly to. Document stuff – add it into the plan. Where am I now? What do I feel about where I am now? FEEDBACK FROM AW: dipping books: making them more eloquent, became object & something more than books – more metaphorical, poignant – sad & out of date, no longer available, disappearing or collapsing, how it affected them, more poetic.Revisit and consider the material finish, edit out (or in) the successful ones. In evaluation they work but materials need to be refined, think about how they come across both digitally and in person. One problem can be that too much work is submitted and not edited to show the strongest practice.Think about what you did in terms of transformation.MA Journal: make spaces for reflection, revisit plan, not use as a weapon, meet with group. Agreed actions (if any)

  • revisit plan
  • document making
  • making more for the sake of it and let it evolve
  • evaluate materiality

 

Contextual Essay - Wk 4 - 11/03/2018-17/03/2018

  • Week 4 Mar 11th Continue with reading, reflect immediately to stay on top and compare with each other and practice - make links, why is it relevant? - Mon 12 Mar: Tutorial AR  

  CONTEXTUAL ESSAY TUTORIAL FEEDBACK:draft title: ‘The Material Culture of Everyday Life, using materials to sway emotion and confine chaos’.Define terms – Sway – to have an affect.Looking at list of artists narrow down to four that are more pertinent: currently considering Kiyonori Shimada & Machiko Agano as aspiring practice regarding installation and immersion, Ealish Wilson & Liz Nilsson relating to current position of practice and made artifacts, shared concerns, 3D spaces in drawings/2D works etc.Address the question ‘why is it important to me?’ rather than being confessional as this is uncomfortable for me make it into an issue of contemporary life. What does the work do, or creating the work do? Calming impact, emotions and confining chaos through making.Structure: Draft titleIntro: why you want to look at it ‘it’s a contemporary issue’, data points (calming emotions and confining chaos)2: ‘I’m going to look at these two pairs of artists….’3: discuss how their work does what I/they say it does4: how it relates to my work OR bring my work in to the previous two sections5: impact on my work6: Conclusion – go back to title & intro – reiterate why its an important issue and summarize why they do what was asked.QUOTES: two good ones – from philosophy, news, research. 

Exploratory Project - Wk 3 - 04/03/2018- 10/03/2018

  • Week 3 Mar 4th  Reflect on current production, note relationship to readings, additional areas to explore or possible changes in direction etc.  

Exploratory project is in fits and bursts. I had a productive week a week ago and made 9 little books, but since then its slowed down due to 'life' issues. I have ideas about materials and possible explorations but don't feel like I can pursue them as they require equipment to be bought which I can't fund at the moment.

I'm not sure how I can challenge myself with the making. I was thinking about some sculptural work in foam and felting, to look like they were hard structures but are actually soft. Or translating some of my fractures in to quilting designs. I feel like they need to be pieced together, this idea of breaking down and piecing back together; creating a pattern, breaking it and making a new pattern.

I just don't know if my work is interesting enough. I had a rough peer critique where one of the self-appointed tutors said my work was cold, looked juvenile and wasn't interesting. Unfortunately it's always the negative comments that stick and wear you down.

Contextual Essay - Wk 3 - 04/03/2018-10/03/2018

  • Week 3 Mar 4th  Reflect on current production, note relationship to readings, narrow down to key artists/works/methods.

 Regarding the contextual study, I think I have a working title, 'The Material Culture of Everyday Life, using materials to sway emotion and confine chaos'. I've happily discovered Maxine Bristow ( www.maxinebristow.com), and from that the Transition and Influence archive by UCA (www.transitionandinfluenceprojects.com) which I'm currently working through. I've realised today that a big barrier I have here is self-confidence, a lot of the artists that are coming up are ones I researched during my BA and as I had quite a negative experience I'm finding it difficult to revisit them without evoking self-doubt. That's certainly a challenge I didn't anticipate!I'm reading and actually do feel like I'm making some progress but it's a little muddled and I'm jumping around with it as I rocket off in to my thoughts as I get excited, having to work at reigning it in to keep the process coherent. I'm doing my best to give myself a break and the frustration levels are going down, but it's all a process.Thoughts: What am I doing thats new? How am I bringing value? Am I getting my exploratory project and the contextual study mixed up. How can I write about my practice at the same time as being pushed to challenge it? It feels like contradictory to almost set a practice in a tangible form through a contextual pieces while being expected to push the boundaries of where the practice lies.On material culture: Our homes become more comfort driven and softer as our businesses and education centres become open, clinical and hard: glazing, concrete, enamel vs woods, wools and rattan.Material culture of everyday life, using materials to sway emotion - comfort, fear etc. Immersion, immersive new media and textiles, could they work together to give a comforting or challenging experience?Artists:Sue Lawty:

19sl Stone Drawing: Series 0414, Sue Lawtynatural stone on gesso, 6 panels, 10.5” x 8.25” each, 2010, $7,400 (SOLD)20sl Woven Lead: Series 1210, Sue Lawtylead warp and weft, hand woven and beaten, plexi, 10.5” x 8.25” each, 2010, $7,400

Statement:‘I seek an understated restraint, balance, tension, rhythm: an essential stillness.

The work is rooted in an emotional, spiritual and physical engagement with the land, drawing on direct experiences of remote, raw, edgy landscape and specifically rock. It has been described as ‘meditative… a deeply contemplative experience’.

Constructed pieces and drawings in two and three dimensions are abstract and minimal. They explore repetition and interval; investigating territories of expression in raphia, hemp, linen, lead, stone or shadow.

Sue Lawty

‘…Lawty is developing links between contemporary use of unconventional materials and traditional practice… Cultural and personal narrative is concerned with the substance of things, the nature of cloth; it’s structure and feel. She is exploring ideas of individuality and universality, a single thread within a piece of cloth, or a single stone on a beach made of millions of stones. The mapping of place and space, the structure of the landscape, the sense of time…’ 

Professor Lesley Millarhttp://www.browngrotta.com/Pages/lawty.phpChika Ohgi:

vague sense of distance (2009)vinyl, my family clothes

http://chikaohgi.com/works/sense_distance.html

I am looking at the interface between the space and the objects.I consider the space as important as my objects.This is why I am interested in the edges of objects.Each object has a very subtle boundary between the space and itself. So the objects integrate themselves into the space.

I keep making, not knowing the consequence of my actions.The answer for my questing will only be revealed when it is installed in a space.My installations are gradually revealed to the spectators by the passage of time.

Chika OHGI

https://lha.uow.edu.au/taem/artistsinresidence/UOW220670.htmlMachiko Agano:

Japanese master weaving artist and artisan Machiko Agano is known for her elaborately woven structures usually created to be installed in a specific space. Many of Agano’s works use translucent or neutral coloured materials to portray delicate natural emotions, and allow the characteristics of the surrounding space to penetrate and reflect the work.

https://trendland.com/machiko-agano-textural-installations/Kiyonori Shimada:

DIVISION - 2009 - W

http://www.miniartextil.it/artist.php?post_id=254&lang_id=1

Believing that cloth itself, by its very nature affects our emotions directly, he creates monumental installations of stitched layers cloth. White, or red, or earth coloured, the installations surround the viewer, move gently and echo primordial forms.

http://www.directdesign.co.uk/testDD/transition_gallery/kiyonorishimada.html#Division

50/50 : DIGITALLY PRINTED TYVEK AND VELLUM CIRCLES  42" x 42"

My work investigates pattern and its transformation through surface manipulation. Influenced by travel, architecture, the aesthetic traditions from Japan and the Arts and Crafts movement, my textile constructions showcase materiality using a variety of substrates and structural form created through a process of continual manipulation.

The printed surface is where the manipulation starts. Photography plays an essential yet subtle role in my work. I capture imagery from daily life, various cultures and architecture to create my digitally manipulated textiles.

Using techniques normally associated with fashion, such a pleating and smocking, I work meticulously by hand to create structure, which starts to morph the custom-made textile into new iterations. Once, again, I turn to the photographic process to rework the patterns and print the transformed textiles onto cloth before finally pleating and smocking into my textile constructions. This dialogue between architecture, patterns, photography and material is the fundamental thread throughout my work, honoring the time to create beautiful objects that endure.

http://ealishwilson.com/g6fw3pdujgja4bq3zqad5wohhdkoiwLiz Nilsson:

“To Capture Silence” - an exhibition by Joe Hogan and Liz Nilsson, at the Source Art Centre, Thurles, 4th December 2014 - 31st January 2015.
These new abstract printed tableaux in grey tones, make reference to both the construction of life and the construction of cloth, threads and lines that meet, connect and move on - like the human process.The work is strongly linear, evoking a natural pattern and conducive of thought through repetition.

Using her experience as an artist, designer, facilitator and curator, she fabricates site-specific collaborative projects which investigate the connection between place, space and belonging.

Liz also have a strong interest in visual rhythm, pattern and repetition. She incorporates print, tactile mark making, photography and drawing in her projects, concluding in installations, printed compositions and socially engaged projects.

http://liznilsson.com/silence

Rhiannon Williams:

my-loss-red-lineshttps://criticalcloth.wordpress.com/page/2/

Patchwork as Critical Practice: 'I describe my own work, somewhat provocatively, as "intellectual sewing" conducted in the manner of a critique. My methodology supports the agenda for integration of theory into practice, arriving at an interdisciplinary approach that promotes mutuality of theory with practice as a working model.'

https://criticalcloth.wordpress.com/

Repetition and time are key elements in the work of Rhiannon Williams. Patchwork cloths created from newspapers and the detritus of modern life are used to reveal and critique aspects of the way we live.

http://www.transitionandinfluenceprojects.com/gallery/rhiannonwilliams.htmlAlana Tyson:

Installation view Ruthin Craft Centre, Lining and thread, inflatable, sound. 2.5m x 4m x 3m, 2015

http://www.alanatyson.com/interior/4589307860

Alana Tyson’s work attempts to make sense of the world she inhabits. Identifying herself as an outsider, not just because she is an immigrant to the UK, Tyson keenly feels the friction of everyday life and the contradictions and hypocrisy of society. Dismayed by such platitudes as "that is how it has always been," her uncertain questioning takes the form of performance, sculpture and installation utilising found, altered and constructed elements.

http://www.transitionandinfluenceprojects.com/gallery/alanatyson.htmlMaxine Bristow:

COMPONENT CONFIGURATION 010914 - CH2 2LB, STUDIO SPACE, UNIVERSITY OF CHESTER 01.09.14 - 26.10.14. Shown within the main studio space at the University of Chester, this presentation of work was the outcome of a period of speculative studio enquiry during the summer vacation period in 2014.

I am an artist and academic who draws on the material and semantic conventions of textile; using these as a point of departure for an artistic practice that variously takes the form of wall based objects, sculpture and installation. My practice, research and teaching experience, however, extends beyond the specificity of textile and is concerned more broadly with a material sensibility within contemporary fine art practice. Of central concern is material agency and the affective dimension of the aesthetic experience. I am particularly interested in the way that a material aesthetic opens up our sensuously bound encounter with the world and how the affective intensity of this encounter opens up a productively indeterminate space where boundaries become blurred and meaning is unable to settle.

http://www.maxinebristow.com/about-1/ 

Exploratory Project - Wk 2 - 25/02/2018- 03/03/2018

  • Week 2 Feb 25th Begin research reading and gathering, use Textile reader (Hemmings, 2012) and Everyday Reader (Highmore, 2002); texts related to touch, histories, colonialism, colour, routine, textile usage. Explore artists already working around my exploration (also links to contextual study).  Continue production experiments, break process down and source materials. 

So I have done some of the reading, and considered how to move my work forward. The asynchronous seminar felt like an unnecessary evil this week and was just a huge weight on top of all the other work. On top of 'daily life' as it were, it's been difficult to find a balance. Both of my other reading groups have come to an end, although Art Month, or March Madness as its affectionately known here, begins this week with exhibition openings and a plethora of talks, discussions and various other art events are taking place.

Actual physical work has taken a back seat this week as I tried to claw back some organisation ...oh and try to find a job! Arrgh!