Masters Degree in Fine Art - term 2/month 3

Well this term has certainly not progressed in the way I thought it would!
This current module was always rather complicated with many elements to juggle all at the same time. I was branching out into 3 dimensions, working with clay and the potters wheel for the first time, and with this project being a site-specific focussed piece, I’ve also needed to consider which site would be suitable for sharing my art and how this would work in their space.
Yes things were complicated enough before Corona Virus reared it’s ugly head, meaning that art facilities, equipment and materials couldn’t be accessed, potential sites for sharing my art couldn’t be visited, teaching moved onto Zoom (not a great platform for group discussion amongst 20 people) and of course homeschooling began!
BUT I’ve adjusted and adapted and somehow managed to keep making progress.

Would you like to see what I’ve been up to this month?!

Peer Feedback

Once my ceramic work was just about ready for the kiln I had my midpoint crit, which was a good chance for me to gather my work so far together to see where I’d got to. It was quite useful to hear knee jerk reactions to what I’d made, from my tutor and group. They were impacted by the fragility of the clay and the desire to pick up the rounded pieces and ‘care’ for them. They were excited once they discovered that some fabric mock up body cells were soft and not clay, and imaginations started flowing about a room full of giant blood cells you could sit on and falling from the ceiling!

With this module being about site specificity my aim is to show it in a women’s centre for either those who’ve been in prison or those with a history of domestic abuse. It’s a piece about being more than the sum of our parts ‘celebrating the value and awesomeness of each unique individual. From the cellular building blocks and genetic makeup we’re made from to outside influence shaping us. There is only one wonderful you.’ I wanted to share it with those maybe struggling with their sense of self worth.

Inspired by the responses of my group in the crit, I have designed an installation space as my final piece, which I think could work well in a community space, and I’ve been making their dream of huge body cells a reality!

Screen Printing

I started by creating a large fingerprint screen, which I used to print several sheets of material as well as various paper for collaging

Fabric Art

Then I cut the shapes ready for sewing and had a lot of fun with my very old sewing machine.

I think it helped having a medic in the family as I could see how fast things were about to change with the Corona Virus and I prioritised accordingly - I knew I needed to get together what I needed before limitations struck. I crammed as many hours into my last few days of access as I could, and created 30+ prints in the print room. I was also thrilled to collect my ceramic pieces fresh from the kiln to bring home.

Sadly our college have decided we have to continue ‘as normal’, although we have been given a 2 week extension and everything has to be handed in digitally - which creates a lot more work (videos, photos, editing etc). However this does mean that once I have my completed work in a digital format it will be available to share with you guys.

Setting up my installation

Once my fabric pieces were sewn, I collected large ball lights from my friend, I created a projection (using a projector I’d managed to borrow from my church before lockdown) and I found lots of soft stuff from around the house to bulk out the comfort of the space.
My intention had been to add a splash somehow to my ceramic tile to represent the personality and uniqueness - the ‘more’ bit of the phrase ‘more than the sum of our parts’. After playing with ideas in Photoshop I decided not to splat the actual ceramic piece as it would look too busy, but instead to make it look like it’s created a splash, by painting the wall behind it (this would be created from sticky vinyl sheet when I share the work in a gallery or one of the sites I’ve been researching).
I added a shelf of 5 separate pots each with different intricate things inside, as an interactive element. I used fishing wire to hang the smaller cells from the ceiling.
Here are some pictures.

It’s been quite a month but I won’t get much of a break until I get to my deadline in May. In my next monthly MA update I should be able to show you the conclusion to my work this term including a video of the installation.

Have a very happy Easter and stay safe.