Open Resource Lecture…..

Alice Kettle.(Contemporary Textile/Fiber Artist) Click Here.
Methods of Inquiry.

Alice Kettle is a Research Fellow at the Manchester Institute for Research and Innovation in Art and Design (MIRIAD) Click Here.

It has been a joy to be exposed to other makers, people that are living by their making. Though Alice Kettle works in a media that I know very little about, it is great to get an insight into how other makers think and work. After these weeks of research there were names and theories mentioned in her lecture that had connected with my own work, so it was fascinating to see from another maker’s perspective, the ideas that they were connecting to.

In particular, Tim Ingold a Social Anthropologist whose ideas and writings I have been drawn to. For Alice Kettle it is the ideas of line as an exploration, as connections are made between walking, weaving, observing, storytelling, and drawing.

Alice Kettle – Allegory ‘Pause II’- image from http://www.alicekettle.co.uk

The idea of narrative and mythology depicting the human condition run through her work, often in the form of huge figurative tapestries. The line is the thread, telling the story through a narrative form, navigating the story becoming a living organism.

An Idea of scale – image from http://www.artsu.co.uk

 

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Results and all round general bad days….

I am sure that we have all had those days when we know we should have just stayed in bed, well this week was full of those days…

The week started on a mixed note. I received the input about the essay’s from my tutor Helen Felcey. Although there was nothing negative about it and in agreement we decided that I could increase my word count enabling a more thorough response to the essay titles and research, I somehow felt that perhaps it was just not good enough, self-doubt is never pretty and sometimes it is an emotion that I give into to easily. I think that this tainted the rest of the week for me; or rather I let it effect me in this way, how to keep hold of confidence when you find it?

The test pieces will be out of the kiln by now so of I go full of discovery and a mix of excitement and apprehension. Hoping that the alchemy of the kiln has produced some wondrous results, though having a small nagging feeling that the result could equally be ……..Yuk!

So I was a little thrown (sorry for the potting pun!) when none of the above scenarios where played out, instead replaced with a catalogue of mis-communications and a ride on Bev-leys very steep learning curve. Lessons (and lots of them) have been noted, recorded and learned.

The test samples for the gas kiln had still not been fired as they where waiting for enough pieces to fill the kiln…….. Initial disappointment was replaced by lessons learned, after conversations with the Technician (Anna) she felt that there was no need to use the Saggar as the gas kiln would not reach such high temperatures. So this meant that I could take the test samples out of the Saggar.

The test samples from the electric kiln where a different story, they had gone into the kiln in the Saggar, which had subsequently fused together…….. So close and yet so far. So Anna, in all fairness had left the fused Saggar for me to solve not wanting to damage anything.

   

Feeling ever so slightly frustrated and that the Potting Gods where testing me I set about trying to set my test samples free. I found a quiet place in the kiln room, not sure where to go in case I made a mess and or a fool of myself, so with some head scratching and with screwdriver in hand I was not going to let the Saggar win. Have I mentioned before that I have a tendency to be kack handed and a bit on the clumsy side…… Lighting matches and always cutting, chopping towards me. As I try to hold the Saggar and welding the screwdriver I can hear my husbands exasperated tones and I realise that I could end up with the screwdriver in my hand. So an alternative strategy is formed and I give the Saggar a gentle bash with the handle. To my surprise off pops the lid, heart in mouth I take a look inside, the adrenalin of getting the lid off and now to discover the results is almost too much to bare (I know, I know I have to get out more…) and it is with surprise and a wave of disappointment that I discover actually very little has changed and in fact the sandstone has not melted but has fused together slightly retaining it’s granular consistency, will this rollercoaster of emotion ever end?

Through discussions with Anna and another Tutor (Joe Hartley) it would appear that the kiln hit temperature (1240 degrees) as the Parian Porcelain had glazed but that there could be too much Quartz in the Sandstone, meaning that the melting temperature would be too high, so I now need to experiment by adding materials that would decrease the melting temperature ……. Back to those chemistry books.

I had also left the pieces for the Health and Wellbeing project to be fired, though I had now withdrawn from the Option I was still excited and curious to see how the pieces had turned out. Oh dear, more conversations with Anna, I was beginning to feel bad. I had left the pieces on Saggar lids, as I had carried them down from the studio in them, I had not thought to talk to either of the technicians’ about what they where or what material. So of course they went into the kiln in the lids and of course the Parian Porcelain melted and fused to them so when taking them off they have chipped. COMMUNICATION BEV-LEY!!!!!!!!! More learning, I think that when leaving things to be fired it is my responsibility to take a conversation with the technicians’ about materials, temperatures and techniques, their knowledge is an important part of my own learning and understanding.

 

Trying to put a general feeling of disappointment behind me I decide to throw more test pieces ready for the experiments, hoping that I would lose the feeling after a couple of hours spent on the wheel….I had obviously left my throwing mojo at home, I just could not get it right or when the shape and size was right when I took it off the hump I managed to destroy the form.

   

So instead I just threw, giving in to the material rather than fighting it, in this moment of calmness I reflect on the day and realise that perhaps it was not all so bad, and although it feels like a steep learning curve, it is about learning and that today has been full of it and now it is up to me to take that knowledge and to grow with it.

Material Tests…….

I have been preparing the material that I excavated from the Helsby Quarry, which consists of drying and grinding the Sandstone to a fine powder so that I can add it to test pieces to fire.

   

In my research I have been looking at how other professions document and record in the field. In particular Anthropology, Ethnography and Archaeology. So the material samples have begun to take on a slightly more scientific aesthetic, using test tubes and glass jars to keep and record them.

  

So I have added the material to both Parian Porcelain and Ivory Stoneware tests, some for the electric kiln and some for the gas kiln. I have put them in saggar’s as I am not sure what reaction the material would have in the firing and I did not want to damage anyone else’s work. Fingers crossed that something magical and exciting happens (makes me smile that I find it magical, one of the reasons I love ceramics, it’s the alchemy.)

      

    

 

Essays, New Tools and Eclipses……

Well after several weeks, days and hours, writing and re-writing, the drafts for both Essays are in. The cat was not so impressed, difficult to say if this was with the essays’ or lack of attention….

The Negotiated Option Essay is currently titled ‘Recording as a maker…’ and is a little over the word count (hopefully nobody will notice) It did feel that there was so much to talk about in a relatively short space, and I am not so convinced that I have done justice to the subject. I feel I have only begun to scratch the surface.

There was so much research and so many connections; the discoveries have really helped fuel the practice. Drawing similarities and being able to take theories and methodologies from other professions and makers, has been both refreshing and exciting. Now I need to spend time in developing the ideas and understand whether or not they will work in relation to my own work. The second essay, the Critical Reflective Summary is titled ‘Materiality of Place’ this time I more or less hit the word count, give or take 32 words. This essay seemed to really come together, from initially writing all thoughts and feelings to being able to clarify direction when preparing for the MA Review, to the final editing.

The process of writing this essay has really begun to dot the i’s and cross the t’s for me. I feel that I have come so far since starting the MA. From the overwhelmed shaky beginning I now feeling more in control and confidant. The research is beginning to take shape, there is something quiet natural almost organic in the way that it is evolving though I feel now is the time to take control and give some structure and order to develop a research strategy. Though I know myself well enough to know that I have to stay focused and keep being self-critical and reflective, asking questions about what is informing the work. And now I wait for the input…….

My own small excavations led me to research how other professions document and record in the ‘field’, there was the natural connection with Archaeology, so with romantic thoughts of ancient Egyptian tombs, and the idea of needing some kind of ‘kit’ to be able to have your recording equipment to hand, I purchased some tools (whilst in Delft) that could become part of this ‘kit’.

       

And joy of joy’s it was also the eclipse this week which meant lots of airtime of the ‘Beautiful Brian Cox’……… Some how making the stars so accessible. Though my own attempts at recording the event where not so successful, it was a bit on the cloudy side.

 

MA Review…..

Wednesday was spent preparing for the Ma Review; this consisted of bringing 3 to 5 pieces of work, plus a short presentation of your practice.. Having to prepare in this way made me focus on the main points and drivers of the work, it really helped bring things into perspective and also gave some clarity and shape to my essay.

Material Samples from the Quarry.

Photographic Studies.

We were asked to present in peer groups, to look at our own and each others work, in regards to the learning outcomes and give feedback. Filled with fear and dread, I was not looking forward to the prospect of talking about my work to a peer group that I didn’t feel so connected with………. how wrong I was.

I was in a group of four myself with 2 Photographers and a Glass maker ; tutors were lurking in the background to add their own inputs. The group was very positive about my work and ideas. Both my research and making are beginning to fall into place and a plan is starting to formulate, though the direction of the outcome is unknown at the moment. I am not worried about this as I feel at this stage it is more about the process and I am genuinely excited at the journey in front of me.

The group felt that the research was clearly defined, though I do feel that a framework and strategy are missing at the moment, something that I need to work on.

The group also gave me input in the form or words, connections and other folks’ work, to look into, in particular some photographers, Lisa Oppenheim, Christian Schmidt and Robert Mcfarlane, so far very inspiring.

Image from ‘The approach’ – Lisa Oppenheim.Landscape Portraits (Some North American Trees) (Version 3), Installation View at Frieze London, 2014

Image from ‘Welcome to this is 100’ – Christian Schmidt.

It was great to spend some time and look at the work from a new perspective and through other creative eyes. We also discovered that there were connections and cross overs between the work, around our table. Journey, reflection and place were ideas that filtered through all our work. It was also very exciting to see what the other guys were working on, there were some great ideas, photographs by moonlight, film reflected in printed glass and words and images. It will be really interesting to see how everyone’s work develops.

Many thanks……Julie, David and John.

Great times in Kendal….

What a great, amazing and absolutely fantastic beginning to the week. I have discovered a couple of exhibitions, up in Kendal at Abbot Hall that I really want to see. Boyle Family: Contemporary Archaeology, Boyle Family. And Memorious Earth: A Longitudinal Study, Richard Skelton and Autumn Richardson. See here.

So I contact an old Uni friend of mine who lives in Kendal to see if we can meet up. Blown away……..it’s only been 18 years since we saw each other, at my wedding in fact, which feels like a long (long) time ago. Obviously we are both older but not so wiser, and exactly the same. It was a very special time, a real treasure.

‘Haze of the Midnight Sun.’ My very talented friend – Helen Pateman.

This was the cherry on an already extra large cake. The Exhibitions were very inspiring, both very different but equally beautiful.

I was not expecting or prepared to feel so overwhelmed by the work of the Boyle Family. Combining real materials from the site with paint and resins, they take snapshots of the landscape with great accuracy and preserving the form of the ground. Seeking to present a version of reality without prejudice but as truthfully and objectively as possible. The Boyle Family documents the landscape in great detail without comment on its value or significance. See here.

I think it is the absolute honesty of the pieces and the scale, that took my breath away. Taking these sections of landscape and putting them in the context of a gallery wall, was very moving. We look up at the stars, at the city skyline and its architecture, the clouds and sky, what is under our feet is equally as beautiful and has an integrity and curiosity of its own. Who? What? Where? So many questions….

Image from Abbot Hall.

Image from Lacma.org

I also loved the use of film taking a section of the ground and filming it over a period of time. An area of beach showing how the tidal flows changed and moved the landscape. The other was an area of snow and this was filmed melting away to reveal the landscape underneath. Simply watching the ebb and flow, the cycle of nature and it’s fleeting fragility was completely mesmerizing. Boyle Family website here.

Image from SueHubbard.com

Richard Skelton and Autumn Richardson use a variety of media in their art, music and literature crossover and connect to produce a body of work that draws together these disciplines.Richard Skelton Blog See here.

They are informed by the landscape rather than being inspired by it. As the landscape has an immense capacity and ability to remember its history, through varying resources they try to discover a response that is multilayered.

Image from Down by the Dougie.

Image from Down by the Dougie.

Parish records and Census’, topographies, ecologies and histories are all used to draw attention to the lost and forgotten, those elements of a place that are overlooked. Bringing together words and natural artifacts to create ‘Assemblages’, there is something very moving and emotional about their relationship, the clumsy hand of man and the fragility of nature. It made me feel sad and yet optimistic that there are possibilities for us to re-connect to the landscape around us. See here.

Altogether a very inspiring, emotional and energizing trip……. until next time Helen, we wont wait another 18 years.

 

Back with a vengeance…..

So it was my first week back after working in Delft for the past 2 months. It’s good to be back in the MA saddle………. Calmness has been restored, as calm as I get.

Though I have to say I am feeling a little stressed and worried, that the way I earn my money, takes me away from all of this for weeks at a time. I think I am going to have to look into alternatives; it is just too much time away from everyone and everything. It really breaks up the flow and coming back and seeing other folks’ work makes me feel more nervous. Time to focus……..

So having to pull out of the Health & Wellbeing Option, as I missed the deadline, I have been working on a Negotiated subject. Initially I wanted to expand on the ideas from the   Health & Wellbeing project, which investigated connection and engagement, from the view of a practitioner working in clay. I want to be able to understand my own making methods and my relationship with the material. Researching into my own ‘Clay Experience’.

Unfortunately living in a hotel for 8 weeks did not give me the possibility to explore the subject. So after discussions with my tutor via Skype and looking to expand my own width and breadth of research, I have turned to researching how makers themselves record and document.

How then do makers document their practice and processes? How do they write about their work? As a maker what is being recorded? Are we using writing as a tool? Is it reflective or documentary? Why do we record? Is it necessary? How is the documenting affecting the making process? What format is the documenting taking?

Essay writing….

This was actually a really good use of long evenings spent in a hotel room, when it’s raining, snowing and generally wintry outside. There was lots of reading and researching.

So I have spent the past week trying to turn the research into a 1500 word essay………. easier than it sounds. I had a tutorial on Thursday, this really helps me to gather (though I want to say wrangle, is that a word?) my thoughts and to decide what goes in what box and under what heading. My tutor Helen (Felcey) has a way of being able to help me herd my thoughts and ideas (not an easy task) or will ask why I have chosen to highlight that particular subject, which in turn helps me question my own thought process. This is something that I have to teach myself, to critically engage with my thoughts and ideas. I tend to get so excited about everything that I want to talk about it all, but loose all sense of order. I think that the Blog is helping me to create that order in allowing me to reflect on the process.

Glaze board, photograph courtesy of Louisa Taylor.

 I have had some great support and input from Louisa Taylor (Potter & University of Brighton) and Jane Webb (MMU). I am always blown away when people are so generous with their time and knowledge. Many thanks to both of them.

I have also begun to look into subjects that were very unexpected, Anthropology, Archaeology and Ethnography. It has been a real revelation looking into diverse subjects and finding connections between them and my own ideas and practice. Dare I say that I am beginning to enjoy this research malarkey, though it does not come naturally and I am constantly trying to find my way through the masses of reading. I have begun to edit and to engage with the research in a different way, I try to look at the surface to decide what is relevant and or interesting and dive deeper when I find something that ticks the boxes.

The Book pile grows….

I am also finding that this research is beginning to feed my practice in regards ideas about methodology and working processes. I am genuinely excited to be back and to bring the research and my making together.

Though I do have x2 1500 word essays to complete…….The second Essay is a Critical Reflective Summary about my MA journey so far. For this one I have just bought together some general thoughts and feelings, it has no structure as yet. We have an MA review next week so I am hoping that this will help put some meat on the bones.

Now that general calmness has returned I begin to realise that Delft was an inspirational trip. It made me realise that I have to find some kind of solution between making money and MA-ing, but it did give me the opportunity to focus and re-group my thoughts. After all said and done it was great to be back in Delft after 8-9 years, it is a beautiful little city I can highly recommend a visit. Some photo’s of Delft……

    

 

Nobody Panic………..Too Late!!

I am currently sitting in my hotel room here in Delft, darkness has fallen and the blue and yellow sign outside that shouts IKEA! Shines bright against the dark black, blue of the sky. It’s been a quiet day, grey, cold and wet, so I thought I would take the opportunity to read and rather proudly I managed to complete an entire book and enjoying it so much, I now want to take some words, ideas and meanings from it. (‘Dirt on Delight – Impulses that form Clay’. Click here.)

But now I am having a small panic attack as I have no note book in which to do this. Yes I could use my laptop, though writing helps me to remember my thoughts, yes I could use the one that I use for my ‘Reflective Notes’ and yes I have the one that I have been using for my ‘Option Research’, oh yes and there is also the one I use as my general ‘to-do’ notebook………. Soooooooooooo much anxiety over a notebook, What is wrong with me? And now I’m beginning to wonder if I am MA-ing all wrong and that I have no methodology or process and I am generally feeling very lost in it all. I procrastinate so much that I am fixating about a notebook??????? What is my problem? Calm down Bev-ley……..deep breaths.

I have now been away for 5 weeks, sitting in front of the computer for 8 hours or more everyday, I think it is taking its toll. I know I am getting paid for it and the majority of the time I love my job (though not as much as I love my clay) but I am exhausted. It feels as though the job is such a huge distraction from the clay and all things MA. Of course I give 110% when I am there and of course I have to earn money. Balance between my MA and needing money, when the job that I know and makes me that money takes me away from everything, it is not going to be an easy road. What to do? What is a ‘wanna be’ potter going to do?…..

Looking for that ‘Work – Life’ balance……