A Video of our Show at Crate - Job done!

Here is a short film of our setting up, and the redthreadtrail show at Crate, so that you can join in on our experience there if you were not able to come on the night.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQQFB3OAE5g&feature=youtu.be

All our hard work paid off. We learnt a lot and had fun.

Enjoy,

Jennie

PS and for the film showing on the monitor see the link :
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1ond9c2-jM&feature=youtu.be

Wednesday 17th April

Hi!

I feel as if I am still on a roller coaster. It is a challenge being an artist with non stop statements, proposals and a host of things to consider that seem to take over even through they might be secondary to the art its self. Having an exhibition has really brought home the importance of research studies. It is something that has been a real up hill trek for me, and I have had a real problem in justifying all the time and struggle. Now it is beginning to make sense.

Today I got together with Nadja and we looked through some of the film footage. There is a fair bit of editing to do!! She has taken some clips home so that she can satisfy her enthusiastically curious father who has been nagging her for images!  I have done a couple of hours of serious editing and I am left with just over 15mins of film which is really rather long. I will go back and do some more tomorrow. I am going to put it on youtube when it is finished so that we can create links. Today Nadja was looking like a work of art herself. All in bright colours a real joy to see around Uni. We had a nice natter and are agreed that we all did stretch ourselves. That wonderful bumble bee dream said it all. When I think that a year ago I was frightened to push the on button on, on the video camera; (three on's!) and when I edited I was constantly crying out in frustration! Filming seems no big deal now. Nadja's perseverance with her boxes paid off because they looked perfect for her concept and much more interesting on the floor.There is a great clip of her up a ladder hammering which I hope impresses her father. Rachael's work is up in the corridor at College receiving a lot of admiration, all due to an unchallengeable work ethic and single mindedness.
So it is time to relax. The holidays are on the horizon and they will be welcome indeed. New adventures with no assessment deadlines!

Speaking of which, I have an excuse to post a photograph. I stretched my blue painting on a frame.It does look different and much more contained. Much better. You have already seen it in the studio. (I have to admit that I did want to project a ghost like figure onto it and select a few lines painted in the same blue. I might have to try and do that before I take it down from the wall!) There were so many works in progress in my studio assessment I am not expecting a top grade. Too much energy went into the exhibition projects.

The rest of the time I have spent in the machine shop making a small custom made shelf for Come as You Go. The prints are not dry yet so there is going to be a last minute push, but I knew that.

I think that it is time to slowly wind down with this blog. When the film is done I will create a link and then if the others agree we might just use it to share and have a little catch up on our exciting holiday travels and projects.

So now I am homeward bound to go to a street meeting about parking and rubbish collecting.

This warmer weather is so uplifting. Enjoy your evening,

Jennie

So we conquered our Minotaurs and we defeated our fears! Now we have begun the reflecting journey back through the maze. So here I am to tell a bit of my experience of the Private View evening:
I had an early Friday breakfast after waking up from a peculiar dream very much related to our show.

Jennie and I were hunted by "killer bees" that looked like small bodybuilder-men with bumblebee wings. We had to hide inside one of my failed boxes, from where we stuck out a paper with the text "HELP" in the hope Rachael might find us.

I woke up feeling quite anxious and nervous. Everything seemed much brighter after I had met up with Rachael and gotten on the bus to Margate.
We had gotten most things done already on Thursday so it was mainly finishing touches that had to be done. We did spend a lot of time planning lighting and placing since we wanted the atmosphere to be just perfect; warm and inviting yet still mysterious and also we wanted everything to look professional and thought-through yet simultaneously random.
Visitors started popping in already fifteen minutes before opening time and then we didn't have an empty house until half an hour after closing time, most of the evening it was fairly crowded with a varied bunch of characters- classmates, friends, artists, bearded artists, people with no art experience whatsoever, people who had heard about us online or through the press and people who had just seen our poster and followed the thread, and this all I see as a success in itself. But even more importantly, we had really really nice guests who spread a friendly atmosphere and gave lovely comments on our work! For me personally the most touching and memorable comment I received was from an artist who said she felt inspired by one of my paintings and that she wanted to now search for her own "power animal" or "beast". For me there cannot be any higher bliss than the thought of inspiring others or helping them through rough phases. I also got other warming comments on all of my pieces and the general interest for my concept truly boosts my confidence! I ended up having a very enjoyable evening (which also was my goal in the first place).

Woke up Saturday morning feeling slightly dazzled but very happy. Once again I met up with Rachael for the bus and we talked the whole journey about our experiences of the PV. When we arrived in the gallery it was already cleaned! Jennie had arrived early and cleaned away the mess from the evening. Well luckily it had never been that messy in the first place and we did have time to help out with other chores so I didn't feel too bad about it in the end. Saturday was a quiet day if put in comparison to Friday but we still had a couple of visitors coming in. And quite honestly I had nothing against having an easier day. We sat in the sun outside the gallery and had tea and talked whilst waiting for visitors to stroll in. Then after 5pm we cleared out all our artworks and cleaned the space. It took us just 1hour 30 minutes from start to finish which I found a bit impressive actually. We did have help though since Rachael's parents arrived to pick up Rachael's and my work and they also helped us with carrying out work and such. And then they gave me a lift home together with my work, thank you so much for that!

Sunday morning I took the train to London to pick up my grandmother who came to visit. She lives in Helsinki and I don't see her too often nowadays so I was delighted to show her around, first in London and then Canterbury, even though I was quite tired after the exhibition. Yesterday I carried my boxes to uni to install them in my studio for assessment. They are heavier to carry than I had estimated and it took me a while, but it feels so much better now they are there together with my other work. Then I gave my grandmother a guided tour around town in the amazing weather. Today she left for Heathrow and I immediately fell asleep on the floor when I was actually just aiming to lie down a bit on my bed of nails. Woke up almost two hours later and now I feel aching and exhausted. But still happy and light in my heart!

Thank you Rachael for inviting me to work with you even though I am difficult. It has been a joy and I hope we can maybe do something again in the future : )

Thank you Jennie for joining in and helping us achieve all of this. I have learnt so much from you and you have also been really fun to work with!

Both of you are truly hard working, intelligent, emphatic and loyal! A real super-team : )

Nadja

Monday 15th April

Hi!

Today was the studio deadline day so I decided to go into uni early to set up my work and pretend to be organised. Although when I got in, the door to the staff room was locked and none of the tutors were in, and I couldn’t remember which wall I had booked in the corridor space! After wasting a bit of precious time trying to find someone to help, I then discovered that someone had put their massive painting in my space as it had been double booked. She couldn’t move it as she wanted it directly opposite her other massive painting across the corridor. After a while of wasting more precious time and energy running around stressing out I found another wall which seemed perfect for hanging my 3 paintings in a row.

I was quite pleased after putting them on the wall and felt satisfied with the result and positive comments from passers by.... until I came back later and discovered someone had put rows of tall thin sculptures in the passage way right infront so you had to actually do a bit of head dodging to see my paintings. Oh well at least the tutors will have a bit of fun marking it!

So, panic over, all seemed well. And that was when I remembered what I had forgotten. My two small paintings to put in my studio space! After wasting even more precious time walking home and back I was able to install the rest of my work in my studio space. Which I have to say didn’t look like much work as my space was still quite empty.

But I’m happy now since I can relax for a bit and enjoy the sun. Yes there was actually sun today!

A few quick thoughts on our Red Thread Trail Exhibition:

I was really pleased with the outcome of the Exhibition and the way all our individual styles came together in a unified show. The private view was a really enjoyable occasion and I was surprised with the amount of people who came and supported us. It felt like all our hard work was worthwhile. 

Jennie has been a great artist to work with. Her constant enthusiasm and energy has kept us all going though the ups and downs. Her experience and creative ideas has helped this project come together and flourish.

 

Nadjas motivation and determination kept the project focused and organised. She has held the goal in her mind and has helped us all believe in ourselves that it was possible. I have really loved working with Nadja.

I want to thank you both for your support and say well done!

Rachael

Sunday 14th April

Still feeling that I have a lot to catch up on for our studio assessment tomorrow. I have been spending the day writing and rewriting my statement. I also had to write a short statement about my piece of work that I am submitting for Come As You Go exhibition at Crate. The concept of this exhibition is interesting and challenging. The timing is all a bit tight. I wrote the proposal about a week ago and it feels quite intense. I do like secrets so you will have to wait to hear about my proposal! All this statement writing and proposal writing has been a real learning curve.
Ah speaking of which here is a picture of one of the site/exhibition specific objects I made for my rethread installation. The other one I forgot to photograph as I was busy filming. But Rachael will have a shot of it I am sure.

This piece is going to be slightly altered as a  part of the new piece for Come As You Go. The time on the working clock was set at Finish time to honour the Finish member of the redthreadtrailers. I suppose it should have been set at Rome time to fit in with my Christian theme? ! 

 I wish that I had more photographs to post. The lane leading to the gallery was a mass of flowing threads ending up being posted through the letter box where more thread could be seen in the gallery spaces. At one point the wind blew one of the threads down from the hook on the wall just at a time when the Limbo crowd started coming to the gallery, and yes we saw some impressive limbo dancing !

One conclusive thought I have had is, that it was well worth while being well prepared. We had already discussed the installation and some of the important decisions had already been made so we were prepared.  Crate had been left in good condition for us. Setting up was a pleasant experience. However you never know what unexpected hitch might occur. Half an hour before the opening we followed advise that we could put on the rather noisy and not healthy sounding fires to heat the place a bit for our visitors without any risk. It was pretty cold and damp. (OK for passionate and dedicated artists but not for comfort loving guests). This seemed to have an unexpected and detrimental effect on the electrical circuit and the plugs all fused. Our films stopped and all equipment was rendered redundant. Just a moment of panic, enough for me to overcome my fear of electricity, and after finding one fuse box in perfect state I took some initiative to hunt for a second one. Phew there was one, and once the switch was switched on all machines re started! But it was a moment of sheer horror !

Now I must get out and have a breath of fresh air to give me the push to finish off assessment work.

Enjoy the sunny day.

Jennie

Saturday 13th April

Hello!

We made it to the Minotaur and back! Thank you Nadja for your recipe for those delicious crisp breads.

Thank you Nadja and Rachael for the collaboration. Thank you Nova and Aine at Crate. Oh dear, this sounds a bit like the Oscars but really I want to say it! It was a lot of work but really worth while.

Now it is time to take stock and to relax a bit. I think that it is fair to say that we were all happy with how it turned out. We had a good crowd at the Private View and a healthy mix of people. Friends, acquaintances and new faces. There had been a meeting at Limbo, and members of Crate and Limbo came to our exhibition afterwards. So there was a real buzz. Nadja remarked that there were rather a lot of men with beards at one point! The atmosphere was brilliant. I think that we received a great compliment when one of the artists thought that we were third year students by looking at all our work. He was quite taken back when I said no we were second year students, and he should come to see our degree show next year! Personally I was particularly happy with peoples comments about the different pieces in the installation relating well. That there was an obvious link to my video work and painting. The word poetic and narrative came up and that was a good response for me. People said that we had successfully made both of our very different works make sense in our space together (mine and Rachel's), and that all three of our work worked well together. That has been our big challenge. We had given a lot of thought to the lighting and the selection of works, but it is always good to hear that it has worked from the outsiders point of view. So all the feed back was positive and we feel motivated to pass onto the next step, and push our work further. For the immediate future I have quiet a bit of preparation to do for our assessment on Monday.

 There were some lovely moments and I leave it to Rachael and Nadja to share those with you. Rachael was our photographer for the show. I did most of the filming although we all had a go with the movie camera so we are all in it! Once edited I might put it on youtube.

And here are four taster pictures of our setting up.

 Our photographer Rachael

 Painting selected

Checking the lighting with Rachael's paintings to the right

Nadja experimenting with arranging the boxes

Before I go I could give you the recopy for my savoury cake.  Cake au Jambon et aux Olives

-3 ufs  (3 eggs)
-150g de farine  (flour)
-1 sachet de levure (baking powder)
-10 cl d'huile de tournesol  (sunflour oil)
-12.5 cl de lait entier (whole milk)
-100 g de gruyère râpé (grated gruyere...or just cheese!)
-200 g de jambon de Paris (ham)
-75 g d'olives vertes (green oiliness)
-1 pincée de sel  (salt)
-2 pincées de poivre (pepper)

Préchauffez votre four à 180C (th 6) (heat the oven)
Découpez le jambon et les olives en morceaux.(cut thé ham and olives up)
Dans un saladier, travaillez bien au fouet les ufs, la farine, la levure, le sel et le poivre. (wisk the eggs, flour, baking powder, salt and pepper together)
Incorporez petit à petit l'huile et le lait chaud. Ajoutez le gruyère râpé. Mélangez. (mix in a little oil and warm milk. Then add the cheese and mix)
Incorporez le jambon et les olives à la pâte. (add the ham and the olives)
Versez le tout dans un moule non graissé et faites cuire au four pendant 45 min. (put it into a baking tin and cook for 45 mins)

Nadja you can have fun with your French!
By the way, Rachael's biscuits were yummy!

A more conclusive summery of the setting up of the exhibition and assessment of the experience will have to wait. Just feeling a little exhausted at the moment.

Have a great evening.

Jennie

Good Morning everyone!

I am writing to you now instead of yesterday for obvious reasons, yesterday we were in Margate the whole day and evening and had our Private View. Later you will hear more from all of us Redthreadtrail-ers about that and also get to see some photos from the event.
For now I just want to say THANK YOU to all of you lovely people who came to see our show! I hope you enjoyed it and had fun, I know I had!

And to all of you also a reminder today we are exhibiting 10am-5pm so please do pop in to have a look!

And now by demand from the general public, I give you:
how to make Norwegian Cripsbread:

4 dl sunflower seeds
60 gram sesame seeds
60 gram crushed nuts
60 gram oats
2 tbs psyllium seed husks
1 tbs salt
6 dl water

Mix psyllium seed husk in water and wait 10 min. Then mix everything in.
Pour mixture on baking paper and put in oven 15 minutes, 160 degrees Celcius.
 take out and cut into pieces, than put back and bake 50-60 minutes

Nadja

Thursday 11th April

Well today has definitely been a labyrinth with lots of hopeful red threads and also a few tangled dead ends!

Ok, so at the moment my house smells like burnt baking. Maybe its good my housemates are not home since this would have ruined my reputation they always say they love it when I cook as it always smells good!) NOW it just smells like a disaster! I have attempted to make some white chocolate cookies for the private view and they looked quite nice from the top, lovely and golden brown....with black underneath...

 When they have cooled I am going to saw their bottoms off and make them a bit more edible. Not quite a dead end; I think there is a secret passage.

This morning I quickly rushed into uni to print some stuff and photograph my hidden art in the park objects. I was sooo keen I actually arrived before the receptionist! I printed a few posters we were going to hand out but the text had been cut off so it didn’t look professional. I will try and fix it for tomorrow though. It is not a dead end, just a few split ends.

Nadja and Jennie arrived at crate early to start setting up. I was waiting in Canterbury  for my parents to arrive so they could transport artwork to Margate. Traffic jams, road works and diversions caused a few knots in the red thread however we managed to get to crate around 12. A big THANK YOU to my mum and dad for their help in transport, it was a long tiring journey and probably not much fun. I don’t know what I would have done without you. 

 Nadja and Jennie were both really organised and on top of things so there was no need to panic or stress out. We all helped advise and support eachother so the afternoon went really smoothly. We got the majority of the exhibition set up so just finishing touches tomorrow. We all left together at 6.30. It was nice to get a lift home from Jennie, especially because it was absolutely freezing and I couldn’t feel my fingers or toes by that stage.

We have finally found the thread leading to crate and are going to run the last part with anticipation

Private view, Friday 12^th April, 6.30-9.00pm.

Dont miss out!

Rachael

Wednesday 10th April

Hi,

I have just got back from Crate and have the contract and the key so we are all set for curating and hanging our exhibition tomorrow! It is very cold and damp at crate so bare that in mind when you dress up if you are coming to the private view. Not a cocktail dress occasion! We will get a chance to warm it  up a bit, so nothing that should scare you away!

I will be packing up some sustaining snacks for tomorrow!

At college I have been tidying up loose ends both for my assessment, and for redthread.  The edited version of the blog is all printed out, ring bound with acetate covers, one for each month. Of cause it will be missing some of the last days posts but those will have to be looked at via this blog.

I have continued to work on my paintings. One egg tempera on board and the others canvas's. The egg tempura will not be finished, but I am happy about that as it will be fun to continue it at home in-between essay writing.   I was so rushed that I did not think to take pictures of the paintings. I will have to edit them in later.

Then I have been having a tidy up in my studio space so that when I go in on Monday I just have to put my work up on the wall. I had to put four layers of paint on the wall to cover the mess I had made. It now looks pristine.

Rachael, Nadja and myself had a quick get to gather, and we are all set to go.

See you there!

Jennie

Tuesday 9th April

Today has been a long but eventful day!

 I left Southampton coach station at 8.20 and arrived in London at 11.00. My mum and I headed straight to the Royal Academy to hand in my framed print for the Summer Exhibition. It was actually quite big and heavy with the frame so it was really awkward to carry though the busy tourist crowds and families on Easter break! It was only when I got to the hand in place when the enormity of the event hit me: we had to join a long queue of hopeful artists and there was a very organised system in place to cope with the thousands of applicants that a brave enough to endure the process. When I was let in, I had to unwrap my work and they scanned the barcodes on the two labels I had attached to the back. All of a sudden my work was taken from me in an instant and put on the racks with all the other artwork. Will it stand out amongst the crowd? That is the answer I will have to wait for, fingers crossed! I am pleased with the print and feeling hopeful. The whole process has been a learning curve, although I wish it didn’t cost me (a skint student) as much with all the travel, entry fee, framing cost and time.

 It also meant a day out it London to visit some galleries. I went to the Courthauld Gallery to see the ‘Becoming Picasso’ exhibition which was small but still worthwhile. I admire Picasso's painting style and the influence his work has had in the history of art and also on contemporary artist today.

I also had time to visit the National Portrait Gallery which excited me since I am focusing on portraits for my studio work.  It was good to see a variety of portraiture, from abstract to photorealistic, paintings, photography and sculpture, Renaissance to Twentieth Century art. It is great research for my project.

I arrived back to Canterbury just after 7.30. I am planning to go into the studio tomorrow to work on my painting again (I have been thinking about it and have decided it is not finished after all! tomorrow I will DEFINATELY finish my painting) I need to sort my space out for assessment as well.

Rachael