3 WEEKS TO GO - MA UPDATE

It’s getting really close now and things are moving at quite a pace! Let me fill you in!

This week in my studio…

I had a fantastic day with a tree surgeon/wood sculptor friend to talk through my accident, and to get back to using my chainsaw and angle grinder with supervision. I came home not just with boosted confidence but with 2 wooden pods finished.

I’ve made more progress on the foam pods, one of them now incased in plaster, the other with some gorgeous spikes, ready to be covered in black lycra.

My daughter has arrived home from uni with all her stuff so all my work stored in her bedroom has been transferred back to my studio, which is now piled high!

Here's my studio visit video from this week...

The biggest news this week is that I’ve been given the green light for the space I wanted for my show, the space I’ve designed my work for. This is all really exciting but comes with a “oh crumbs this is actually happening” feeling! Here is a mock up picture of what I am aiming for the work to look like.

Here is a link for you to read through my EXHIBITION PROPOSAL if you like reading that sort of thing.

How’s it going

• Full transparency - I’ve been starting to feel the impact of the effort, and the pressure of lots of family commitments on top of the MA work. Both arms have ached from carving the big stuff and now Carpel Tunnel is causing problems in my wrist/hand from the small stuff. I also had to take some time out on Thursday due to a migraine. I’m trying to take care of myself (and will continue to) but the amount of work is significant, time is short and I’m actually really enjoying myself!
  
• Now I have the space for my show agreed, the next thing is to talk details of construction and logistics with the technicians, I’ve thought it all through but my ideas need approval, which I’m hoping to get this week.
  
• Because my piece is quite sizeable I’ve been told that the sooner I get it in situ the better, so I’m working on bringing this forward from planned, which is requiring some adjustments to my schedule. Saying that, the gallery is currently having its giant windows replaced which is followed by a floor revarnish, so I can’t physically get into the space yet.
  
• Next week as well as continuing to work towards finishing off all the parts of my installation, I need to give time to the construction of the piece - learning to mix concrete to create weighted feet for my tent pod, buying the rope and chains to attach/hang everything, buying and creating the scaffolding core for my totem pole sculptures etc.
  
• I’m really looking forward to this weeks significant practical issues being dealt with and resolved, I’ve done my best to think ahead and work things out ahead of time but many things can only be known when you actually try them in the space.
  

Facts & figures:

• 3 weeks until I install my show
  
• 20 pods finished (14 still to do) & 6 seeds finished (189 still to do)!
• 1st September my show opens
• 16th September show comes down + supporting documentation is handed in
• 7 weeks until my holiday!

To find out more about my project click HERE where you’ll also discover some lovely merch I’ve designed especially for the show! You could even order your very own bespoke seedpod sculpture from the show

AND please join my NEWSLETTER LIST so you don’t miss out on my news.

See you next week for the next instalment!