GHOSTS & ZEITGEIST 'The Past in the Present'

'On her return that evening I had forgotten just how much i had missed her  - she was a mirror to all of the strangeness in life - from the top to the bottom  ... the up and the down - 

Hers was a life so full of flavor and so beautifully spent. She wasted so little of it' 
''

( Copyrighted Image & quoted text from short story collection 'The beauty factory' by markmanning 2009



Research brief:
GHOSTS & ZEITGEIST
The Past in the Present  ( special collections )

CREATIVE PRACTICE  

Tutor; Mack Manning 

Research Task assignment

Research brief:

GHOSTS & ZEITGEIST

Question:  Contemplate how artefacts can hold emotion or intrigue ? Muse on these questions when you handle your object.

T. S. Eliot said; ''We shall not cease from exploration - And the end of all our exploring - Will be to arrive where we started - And know the place for the first time.'' 

4 Quartets 

Select one item or a set of items from the Special Collections visit & talk from Jayne on Tuesday  - choose something that RESONATES with you and has a a potential story ?

TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS & if you wish MAKE notations & DRAWINGS -  ( Purchase on ebay a similar object for you to keep and work from )

Try to choose an object with the potential for deep research 

Research the CONTEXT and possible narrative of this object - related stories

By Context we mean this ....

The Social & Historical context - what was the sense of place like then and what space did this object inhabit ? EVIDENCE THIS - current trends and breakthroughs, Writers, Poets, Genres etc ' The Zeitgeist of the time - The Spirit of the Age ?

Is there a Personal history ? Use, Owner, Story - lifespan ?

Aesthetic - and design - evaluate it - it what does this say of the object ?

The connotations of the objects LOOK and its design - form. colour, pattern, symbolism - emotion or Utility

Can you imagine a personal narrative for this object - A PLACE . A domestic space , a HOME  and what of its owner ? or its SENSE OF PLACE in time ?

Research the STONE TAPE theory ?  ( see BBC film DVD 1960s ' The Stone Tapes' )
and read for artistic inspiration the following article 
http://www.parascience.org.uk/articles/musings.htm

Research the Social and Anthropological context of your object and its 'Era' and its ZEITGEIST and evidence this on your BLOG by considering and contemplating the above ideas - use images to support

Consider GHOSTS - read Rachel Whitereads work on edifying lost space ( also Boltanski, Hiller and Cornelia Parkers work)

We encourage an amalgam of analysis and of possible optional Creative writing - objective research and Personal 'Subjective' artistic research are all encouraged - be responsive. 

EXPLORE and Research your object and its USE - its History and ITS PLACE - socially and Historically.It is not required that you make practical work but do TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS & MAKE DRAWINGS if you wish to supplement your blog findings

The photographic image above is a Close friend to me. I own the photograph and took it in 1877 in Yorkshire.

''Smell is a potent wizard that transports you across thousand of miles and all the years you have lived.'' Helen Keller

Consider the life of the inspirational Helen Keller,American author, political activist and lecturer, both Deaf and Blind - read her book and perceptions of the world and of objects and nature - all via touch

''Helen Adams Keller was an American author, political activist and lecturer. She was the first deafblind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. The story of how Keller’s teacher, Annie Sullivan, broke through the isolation imposed by a near complete lack of language, allowing the girl to blossom as she learned to communicate, has become known worldwide through the dramatic depictions of the play and film The Miracle Worker. Sullivan taught Helen to communicate by spelling words into her hand, beginning with d-o-l-l for the doll that she had brought her as a present. A prolific author, Keller was well traveled and was outspoken in her opposition to war. She campaigned for women’s suffrage, workers’ rights, and socialism, as well as many other progressive causes. 

Helen Keller was born in this small cottage on the Keller family's Ivy Green plantation.  Located in Tuscumbia, Alabama, it is also the place where Helen lived with her teacher, Anne Sullivan, after Miss Sullivan first arrived at Ivy Green.

Whiteread "Untitled (House) 1993", a concrete cast of the interior of a nineteenth century house in East London 
Also see GHOST at National Gallery click this link http://www.nga.gov/fcgi-bin/tinfo_f?object=128234.0&detail=none

and also re look at my added article on Paranormal STONE TAPE Theory here for creative thought

http://www.parascience.org.uk/articles/musings.htm

Ben Shahn & Timorous Beasties

Some more drawing to aspire to - by the great Ben Shahn: Tutorials Tuesday as planned on moodle for Lev 4/1 with Mark B ( Mack in PM for tutorials for Lev 4/2 and 1 but by sign up email ) Your Drawing is still key to this assessment - your 3d ideas are experimental and a finalized 'idea' visualized ( not made ) is requited for hand in assessment and a maquette where appropriate. Show us material and samples if it is to be a textile piece or dress or similar BUT your drawings will be key to evidencing your process and also your final designs - PRINTING an image onto material is acceptable as a 3d piece. But your drawings again are key here to the success of this so KEEP DRAWING ! A full 'Portfolio of drawing is to be handed in for this unit - and will be graded on quantity, quality and bravery - experiments and mistakes.

Design museum profile and write up here  http://designmuseum.org/design/timorous-beasties

http://www.vam.ac.uk/channel/people/textiles1/timorous_beasties_urban_fabrics/

Watch the film above. Paul ( with beard ) will be coming in soon hopefully for a guest lecture -  they are an Internationally respected duo so be great to have them guest if we can get them -  shop in Glasgow and London look on site and research their ethos and work

website here also http://www.timorousbeasties.com/products/Showrooms/

Look at the lovely Carolyn Gowdy work here  - drawings and prints
no copying mind magpies ! as Carolyn is part of my Magic Theatre collective and I'm protective !
we are showing in Norwich next - work is for sale via gallery and Carolyn

http://www.englandgallery.com/artist_group.php?mainId=59&media=Drawings+%26+works+on+paper

Magic Cabinets

Show now up and ready to visit - come in Monday or Tuesday and see Cabinets also 

For your first evaluative written task - do as discussed - or why not evaluate the Drawn line and small magic theatre shows in the Holden Gallery

Consider what it is emoting as a whole and the individual works and books etc 

write up 500 words to 1500 ( your choice ) for this first written task 

film book or show 

.................................................................................................................................................................

Practical Visual Language task 3 

Design an object that connotes the concepts of adornment and Celebration - evolve your ideas based on your drawing practice and design and make a first stage maquette - this should be 3d and scupltural in form using ANY material - we will discuss materials over the course of the remaining semester - you will make drawings working plans and a final set of 3d maquettes - experiment and choose to make abstract or representational objects ... Scarf ,Rug, Head , Jewellery, Paper sculpture, Textile, Cloth, Material, Metal, Stone, Soil, Sand, Clay ,Ceramic are all possible However your material should folow the magical ideas of your concepts and thoughts - to celebrate subvert or disturb - you choose - surprise us !

  Deadline end of term formative internal assessments mid December ( but mid crit in 2 weeks )

Look at:  Jean ARP, Joan Miro, Alexander Calder, Eva Hesse, Hepworth, Lucienne Day, Frink and  The Chapman brothers, Look at Rachel Whitreads WAX & RESIN pieces and Cornelia Parker 

Tuesdays Crit / Pin Up

CRIT Pin UP info;
see you Tuesday kick off is 11.30 - hang your work up however best and lunch at 1pm.
( here is a great insight for you in the meantime ) Mr Grayson Perry's Studio - an insight at www.TATE
http://channel.tate.org.uk/#media:/media/1218055017001&list:/channel/playlists/41803706001&context:/channel/playlists

Poets Selima Hill & Poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning (and son)

Regarding 'The Object' click and read this piece by Christine Barkla and note the refences to Roland Barthes book Camera Lucida and the Artists Boltanski and Susan Hillier 

http://www.plymouthfineart.co.uk/WritingsOnArtCBarkla.html

Tuesday UPDATES and contact Times

No late tutorials tomorrow for Lev 4/ 2  - postponed to next week as I have to leave at 5pm
New Students in Lev 4/1
Meet Up seminar groups at 12.00 -1pm  and another at 2pm - 3pm
YOU CHOOSE YOUR GROUP TIME FOR PEER DISCUSSIONS 
TUTORIAL INPUT with Mack 12-1 pm or 2- 3pm pm      
Just to confirm tomorrow is a good day to get on with your project task independently -  drawing in the studio or at the museum. Its up to you ? depending on what you are doing.
I will be around all day but we will have a sit down and look at what we have been doing later in the morning at 12pm or after lunch at 2pm day in small groups ot one big one  -we will see

USE your space -  feel free to work on the walls and to make the tables more suitable - into clusters or a grouping. See you between 10 and 3pm only
Please note: Our normal times now are;
Open studio access Tues: 10am to 5pm and sit down crits and pin ups with me occurring where appropriate in this time window
n.b ( evenings are not required for you L4/1 unless you sign up with me via email 
L4/2 will see Mack in Eve slots only sign up when posted next week is our first meet up at 5pm

TASK ONE Drawing the Object Drawing Perception

Frida Kahlo notebooks

  ( order it ) here http://www.amazon.co.uk/Diary-Frida-Kahlo-Intimate-Self-Portrait/dp/0810959542/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1317232507&sr=8-1

Task 1: From Tuesday 27th to Tuesday 11th Oct Seminar 

A; HOME / The Domestic: Select an object ( 2d or 3d ) an object that suggests a memory or a time or sense of place - respond to this object with drawing in inks and charcoal and paint Chalk etc use black and white - maybe colour later after 20 or so studies  - make notes - improvise

B; MUSEUM / GALLERY OBJECT Select a Museum or Gallery Object or even an Antique shop object in a staged environment - NOT AT HOME but a setting and a context where the object is classified as 'special' and therefore is 'displayed' and on view. Draw the quality or history that draws you to the object / Image - ask what do you admire in this object, Its history and its story ? - imagine ? make notes

Draw several objects from the above or be specific. The AIM is that you EXPERIMENT and cultivate your Visual Language so do consider and experiment with a variety of marks and scales and paper sizes and paper surfaces as discussed this week - look to communicate feeling texture and meaning ? make notes, Prose etc 

Plan for next week: Tuesday 4th Oct SELF DIRECTED MUSEUM Drawing & OR Self directed in Studio drawing - dependent on what work you need to progress and what objects you have developed

Meet Up seminar groups at 12.00 -1pm  and another at 4..30 pm - 5pm  Cancelled

YOU CHOOSE YOUR GROUP TIME FOR PEER DISCUSSIONS and TUTORIAL INPUT with Mack 12-1pm or 2- 2.45pm         4.30 - 5.30 Now cancelled   

The DEADLINE for Task 1; is Tuesday 11th Oct 

PIN UP Critique in studio 10.30 to 1pm     ( and at 2pm new TASK 2 BRIEFING )

Barbara Hepworths influence 'CLICK' on image to ENLARGE & READ THIS page above 

Samuel Palmer age 16

Liz Frink above Eva Hesse Below

Good article here http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/art-reviews/5948238/Eva-Hesse-her-dark-materials.html and get the Eva Hesse book I recommended on Tuesday

*RESEARCH HER WORK & ETHOS - see Amazon uk books for Eva Hesse book and see below

 

Tom Phillips LINK here http://humument.com/gallery/slideshow.html

The images above are from Tom Phillips ongoing piece The Humument, a treated tranformed and drawn on old Victorian book 

READING material Susan Sontag

Summer Project

Cecil Collins  Anima and Animus (1933)  Pen and ink with watercolour wash on paper 71cm X 53cm

Summer Brief 2011 


D U E TS  BRIEF  (for those without an area specific brief )


Consider the meaning and concepts of the word DUET and the word DIPTYCH ( especially in Art ) use a thesaurus and research the various possibilities and meanings of these concepts and how they have materialized in many forms in the natural environment and in human life and of course in the Arts , the 'mirror to life' ?


( A mirror image is indeed the childs first experienced 'self ' Duet - the self reflected portrait ! -  also see 'Anima and Animus' theory by Carl Jung )


A Mirror - your self and a pen or brush and a Camera, may be a good place to start this project work - do a quick series of fast self portraits - ( see Frieda Khalo and the young, much missed, Francesca Woodman's photography )


Make a sketchbook and Journal or sheets of drawings and visual studies for September - no expectation on amount or on quality levels from us at this point  - just enjoy being experimental and investigative with drawing and making your sketchbook - expand this into three dimensions or photography and explore materials if you wish.


Research relationships between two things' be they material organic object or human ?


Mind Map - a range of these things, ideas, stories, people or relationships in the real world or in the fictional mythic imaginary world .... famous duets - things that work as a pair or in symmetry


Consider:


The idea of complementing pairs by juxtaposition


The Idea and aesthetics of  complementary colours in Art textiles, craft and Fashion - Objects and Duets


The idea of complementing by a 'like for like' matched harmony ?


OR the idea of complementing by duality -and opposites ? different elements or traits making one harmonious pair - a holistic unity


For Example read about the theory of Anima and Animus by Carl JUNG and Munch's Alpha and Omega  


Look at Morecombe and Wise .... celebrate or deconstruct things !


Be broad and focus on an area that fascinates you


Remember this is a project to enjoy and to get you thinking and making experimental work in any media you feel strongest, to express your ideas and findings - make it personal and autobiographical if you wish - then we can also get to know you a little bit more


Look forward to seeing your ideas maybe via blogs next term.... Mac ( Mark Manning )


Literature List try, Khalos diaries, Sebald's Rings of Saturn and Demien by Hermann Hesse, Rilkes letters to a young Poet, Sue Sontag on Photography, and see below also 

FEMALE Wanderlust & Dreams - sensitive and dreamlike

LINK Free of machismo ! see Reviews view 'inside here -  good for creative inspiration £3 pounds on Amazon