…i had a hunch so i created this environment so these are the threads that i see have come from it…

the.pedagogicalimpulse.com – look at their research descriptions

my workshop=social practice

map process as you go along rather then preempting the final result

change of role – work/workshops/studio/researcher – how do they compare natural/artificial

socially engaged practice – cubes – recreate how is that different compared to presented in exhibit? is one more meaningful to me?

clues to pick up cube – how do people know

the workshop was a work of art

take from experience – how do i think about what the audience feels

the art object is pedagogical

am i interested in them picking up the cube or making them think – which one do i prefer?

mapping – what came out of workshops, how relate to previous thinking?

what is difference between a workshop and a lesson?

think about net of a cube for presenting research

possible chapter:

social practice

the cube in art

materials processes

instructions

pedagogical issues

issue – of to what extent is my practice pedagogical?

what is it that people are taking away or what are they leaving me?

start playing with format

and reflect on last year

find a narrative that is developing

TO DO:

start mapping my thoughts in regards to RiP/artists & cubes/my practice

look at pedagogical impulse.com and school of workshop.co.uk

research social art practice

write up what i thought would happen in workshops and what did…threads

write about enjoyment of people interacting with my cube/doing workshop

reflect on the last year – present

start typing up research notes

comments made by tutors

• ‘have more photos
• bullet point alongside
• different front sheet otherwise that’s what they’re picking
• can’t follow the instructions but can follow the pictures
• because they’ll want to be successful they’ll pick something that’s easier
• finding the instructions that don’t work is more interesting’
• art is about trial and error

comments made by students

‘remove simply from the instructions as it isn’t’

can’t stand being messy

my observations

pipe cleaners repeatedly challenges

silk one has been rewritten, works much better

maths sometimes a struggle – either when measuring 10cm or when planning how to cut clay

having noise can either focus or distract

video someone doing it then play it back to show them where they went wrong/stopped following the instructions

willingness.motivation.experience.passion

confident group but not cocky with it. were willing to partake in the activity even though it was not necessarily a huge challenge to them, but on the flip side the instructions were rarely followed which initially resulted in some mishaps – clay not fitting together, cork didn’t measure 10x10cm precisely – little discipline

incredibly quiet group, intermittent reading of instructions leading more variety in size, constantly comparing theirs to their colleagues

• cork – no one spots that cork needs to be glued with matching sized ones sitting opposite each other, even though instructions say pick 2 of each (if they had to cut it would that help them understand?)
• cork – applied superglue before testing out which piece went where
• clay – does it really need to be angled/scored?
• leather – need something to hold it together whilst sewing first 2 sides
• leather – needs to tell you how to stitch
• art straws – cut straight not angled
• art straws – have something blocking ends to stop glue running
• watercolour paper – tucking in difficult as too rigid
• watercolour paper – can’t use template as on tracing paper which won’t transfer so needs to be measured out
• tracing paper – very clear
• tracing paper – tucking in difficult as too flimsy
• tracing paper – double sided better than glue
• pipe cleaners – needs measurement correcting
• pipe cleaners – should’ve used a ruler
• pipe cleaners – didn’t look at size stated just did length of pipe cleaners so ended up far too flimsy
• wire mesh – need to draw it out onto mesh
• wire mesh – make lines drawn different colours for fold and cut
• wire mesh – needs template without tabs
• wire mesh – does it need to say do all folds before assembling?
• wire mesh – sharp edges

by breathing hard enough you will make the world ripple

by making the dream a reality, you will feel fulfilled

by doing something you love, you will become happy

by telling a story, you will become interesting

by looking through the window, you will see the view

by looking at old photos, you will remember the moment

you will have more than one brilliant idea

by breathing hard enough, you will make the world ripple

comments made by the group from observation of my work:

all different cubes in all different environments

materiality

glass cube = curious

groups is variety?

glass changes/cpatures a view

copper on plinth more limited than copper in flowers

jospeh beuys – narrative thru material

glass cube – going on tour, to places important to me

glass cube – reflects back/disappears/enclosure

window frame – all photos

forlorn

why glass separate? two pieces, similar language

are photos the final? with cubes as props?

plinths – one is archiving the other

4 + 4  – grouped so that textures speak to each other

why not on floor – force viewer to get on floor

visceral objects

made to become safe

more interesting on floor – could be freer, contrived on plinths

communication between objects keeps returning

limiting

documentation

screaming to say something then say sssshhhhhh

glass not wearing clothes – draped looks taken apart

work if less of them? or more space between them? difficult to see groups

interesting textures

just glass and one other

photos do same as covering

what is an object trying to say

emitting/admitting

contrived relation

autobiography of cube, of the cubes story

photos all external spaces

size of images? why is one focussed in on? if smaller such as postcard then evokes travel

what is next in the story? (sequence)

up close photo of glass cub most intriguing, object disappears almost – frame

strength

asking you to look in – domestic

photo spacing so viewed together, like stop motion. size of photos evokes cataloguing. what if really tiny (business card size?) what of photos square? make lots more – fill whole wall of photos

glass is an illusion

less is more

if just one it says something

why cubes this size? intentional? – hnadable/human

reliable about a cube, strong form

granite cobbes – cobblestones – history

units – could carry on indefinitely

but not the glass one – absent but present

pieces of materials on the wall

JG – look at object orientated philosophy

i have been avoiding the blog with intention after getting what i consider to be an awful mark. i still finding it hard to accept and move on, but my hand is being forced in that i have the group seminar next week, then the following two weeks are my research.

the research is to be a series of workshops with birmingham schools, which is an event put on by BCU every year, its just that this time i will be basing it around my theme of “how to make a cube”. again, this is something i have lost all motivation with and so it’s not ready at all.

i’ve spoken to hubby and friends, and they reassure me that everything is well but i’m still not convinced, although the anger seems to have subsided.

for the group seminar i am going to display, on shelf/shelves, a series of cubes that are a mix of two materials, a series of photos of the cubes out on location, and ideally the glass cube will be mounted on a stand so people can walk around it. my friend said “just play”.

the thing is that i was actually looking forward to it, but now i really couldn’t give a damn, and will probably get highly annoyed by the whole experience.

i don’t know whether to go back to the life lies, or whether to include text; my poetry or others; or to just jack it all in.

i know self doubt is meant to feed creativity but it is just blocking mine! also, i’ve realised that by giving my students ideas constantly on how to improve their work it means that by the time i get to mine, there’s no creativity left ‘in the tank’. maybe it would be better if i wasn’t doing the job i do, so that i could put all my focus in on this but equally i’m finding the whole deadline and criteria incredibly stifling.

off to see the summer exhibition on fri so hoping that will help.

anyway here are the photos i’ll be using for my group seminar:-