stART Space Gallery, Kirkby Library

A few months ago my friend Steph & I received confirmation that we secured our exhibition at Kirkby library! Wahooooooo! Here are a few photos of where we will be exhibiting;

Mirror Failure

Yesterday I attempted to cut my mirror to the size of the paper template ... buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut it cracked whilst using the mirror cutter =S oooooops!!!

Creating a template

Inside my corner well (for my assessment) I am going to be placing a mirror, I'm doing this to create a sense of curiosity for the viewer & to see how people will react. I will also be placing in a small cctv camra to capture the reactions of the viewer, opposite the well will be the plinth with a tv on. The view from the camera will appear on the tv, however the viewer will also see themselves in the mirror.

At the weekend I bought myself a large mirror for £2, I will be using my mirror cutter tonight to cut the mirror to the size of the template I created today.

Attempt Number 1 - Not Correct

Attempt Number 2 - Not Correct

Attempt Number 3 - Correct

Securing my plinth

I have borrowed a ready made plinth from my sister to use for my degree show for a tv to sit on. It is a collapsable plinth which can be secured using plastic brackets, the plinth required a little bit of tlc, which is still to be complete i.e. cleaning the plinth. Below are a few photos of the plastic brackets which had to be attached today;

PDP

In preparation for my final assessment on Thursday 28th April '11, I have spent today working on my Personal Development Portfolio (PDP). I've began to gather documentation from the various institutions where I volunteer, this includes;

• Novas Contemporary Urban Centre, Liverpool
• The Brindley Arts Centre, Runcorn
• The Bluecoat, Liverpool
• Tate Liverpool, Liverpool
• National Museums of Liverpool - World Museum, Liverpool
• Zion Arts Centre, Manchester

It also includes the art workshops which I have done at my local girl guide hut in Rainhill.

Response from 'Balloon No. 1 (Green)'

I was just checking my e-mails for my balloon launches & I have a reply!!!! Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey!!! When I released the balloons it was very exciting ... would I ever get a response? I didnt know.

Well! Just as I was about to doze off for the night I checked my e-mails & I saw an e-mail from a lady called Lynn from Mission (just outside Doncaster). Her e-mail read;

'Hi Paula, at 5.45 on the 31.3 11, I found a green balloon in my garden at Misson nr Doncaster, hope its traveled a long way, Lynn.'

The balloon was only up for just over 2 hours, I am guessing that the balloon travelled along the M62 (using the winds from the traffic), but this is just a theory. 

The Dream to Mission, near Doncaster (potential route)

I am so pleased to receive a response from one of the launches, this has been an excellent turning point in my 'Curiosity' work. I'm annoyed that the e-mail from Lynn came through on the 31st March '11 but only shown up tonight in my inbox. I still hope to hear from the other 3 balloon launches, but I personally think it is unlikely as it has been over a week now.

Experimenting with formations

While I was in my studio yesterday I was experimenting with different potential formations for my well for my final piece for my assessment. I have considered the following formations;

• A full circular well
• A half well
• A corner (quarter) well

I have also been considering the positions of the bricks, i.e;

• End to end
• Fan shape (side by side)
• Criss cross

Here are a few examples of my experiments;

To accompany the well there will be a plinth opposite with a tv on top. Inside the well there will be a cctv camera hidden, the tv will be showing the view from inside the well from the camera. My piece will either be titled 'The Curiosity Well' or 'Well'. I am intrigued by observing other peoples curiosity when approaching unusual objects and the unknown & recording their reactions.

I personally feel that this piece is symbolic of my other Curiosity experiments I have worked on over the last 4 months. I have a few more contemporary ideas featuring circular movements which will be recorded soon by the use of drawings.

This evening I have cut a piece of MDF to the size of the well's base, tomorrow I will be painting it white as to make my well stand out at the assessment.

Creating a fake brick

About a week ago I had an idea; 'What if I was to create fake polystyrene bricks instead of using real ones, for weight purposes...'. I decided to experiment, I acquired some polystyrene, shaped it into a block/brick shape (although it is bigger than the average brick). I then covered it in Polyfilla to create textures and definition & to make it look more authentic. Once dry, I applied water to some clay, then using a brush I painted the wet clay directly onto the Polyfilla brick as opposed to using acrylic paints. I think the experiment was time consuming and it would be easier to aquire bricks elsewere. This would also give a better finish/result. Anyway, I've included a few photos of the Polyfilla brick ...

Reflection about balloon launches

Since the 'Curiosity' balloon launches I have been reflecting about where the balloons could potentially end up.  

At the 1st balloon launch, The Dream, St Helens the balloon was heading South / South East when it was released, it could end up France / Italy way.

At the 2nd balloon launch, Zion Arts Centre, Manchester the balloon was heading North / North East when it was released, it could end up Norway / Sweden way.  

At the 3rd balloon launch, Pex Hill, Cronton the balloon was heading North East when it was released, it could end up Sweden way.

At the 4th balloon launch, Keswick, Cumbria the balloon was heading North / North East when it was released, it could end up Norway / Sweden way.

I think there is a good chance that the 1st balloon launch is the only one which could end up going South. Although I am hoping that the winds would have changed, and I never know what could happen. I havn't had any replies yet, but my fingers are still crossed!!

Here are the weights from the balloons, these, the videos & photographs are the only evidence I now have of the launches.

Balloon Experiment - Balloon No. 4 (Red)

Yesterday afternoon Andy & I took a day trip to Keswick, Cumbria to release the 4th (final) balloon for the 'Curiosity' Experiments. The time of the launch was 10:45BST. Whilst by the lake we took various photographs and a video of the launch, as seen below;

... and now we wait. So far I havn't had any responses.

Balloon Experiment - Balloon No. 3 (Yellow)

Yesterday afternoon Andy & I walked up to Pex Hill, Cronton release the 3rd balloon of four. The time of the launch was 18:15BST. Whilst at Pex Hill we took various photographs and a video of the launch, as seen below;

 

 

  ... and now we wait. Later on today (03/04/11) we will launch balloon number 4.

Balloon Experiment - Balloon No. 2 (Blue)

Yesterday afternoon I had a meeting at the Zion Arts Centre, Manchester as part of the Zion Young Curators Programme. Before going in for my meeting, Andy & I did launch number 2, the blue balloon. The time of the launch was 16:38BST. Whilst at The Zion Young Arts Centre we took various photographs and a video of the launch, as seen below;

  ... and now we wait. Later on today (02/04/11) we will launch balloon number 3.