David Ogle talk.

Today I got the opportunity to go to a talk from artist/architect David Ogle.

This was a great experience and really inspiring, due to his really interesting drawings and installation work.  Ogles drawing technique was the thing I found most inspiring and is something I'd like to reference in my own drawing work as he uses repetitive processes such as drawing around an object for a length of time to produce these works on quite a large scale. He then takes these lines/colours and compositions into his installations in interesting venues, which is a way of working that really appeals too me.

Drawing and Film Week 2.

After a group tutorial, I have realised that my drawings are working well, and there are many options of developing them. The concept of revealing, layering, masking and distorting is what interests me in these drawings and I think this is influenced by my inspiration from the impact of time on memory.

Drawing Movie: Masking tape and white ink. from Katie Simms on Vimeo.

Stop motion drawing.

The documentation of my drawings in both live film and stop motion being produced is the way I would like to continue to use film for this project. I think the films will be alongside the pieces being made as a support rather than the films being the finished product.


Sachin Tekade's architectural paper models.

HACKENBROICHARCHITEKTEN

In terms of development, I can see my drawings and films progressing into larger scale, much more detailed pieces. I have always been inspired by paper installation pieces such as the two pictured above, as I am fascinated at the way such an everyday material can be used too create beautiful pieces of art.

Drawing and Film Week 1

This first week of my new project area has been really exciting and inspiring, and unlike anything I've done before.  It has also expanded my mind too think of textiles in a much broader context, rather than simply fabric and techniques.

A group meeting too look at the flip books and initial research other students had done was really inspirational and exciting too look at how other people approach a set task.

Drawing to sound.

This idea of the fragility of marks and surface, and the technique of masking and revealing relates too the idea of memories and the past which I have been thinking about in relation to the archive visits last week, so I think this is something I'll be exploring further into the unit.

my studio space.

Having the chance to use an area of the studio to display work and ideas on for this unit is definitely going to benefit me. Not only will it allow my tutors to get a feel of what I'm doing and what my work is about, but will also help me to make links within my work and create new ideas for development. 

Drawing on/over film.

plain 16mm film.

drawings on the plain 16mm film.

Already shot film before drawing/scratching/painting.

Hole punching the film.

Scratching away the emulsion.

I think that I liked both the drawing and painting onto plain film and the drawing/scratching/editing of the already shot film equally for different reasons. I loved the imagery and marks produced when the drawn on plain film went through the projector, but I really like the concept and action of scratching away and revealing or hiding parts of the already shot film so I think that I will take inspiration in my further work from both of these ideas.

Manipulated Film- plain film drawn/painted onto. from Katie Simms on Vimeo.

Manipulated film- editing of already shot film by scratching/painting/hole punching. from Katie Simms on Vimeo.

Chethams Library Visit.

Chethams Library

Scrapbook Page

Scrapbook page

Belle Vue Guides

Another archive visit I have been too this week was the collection of Belle Vue pieces held at Chethams Library in Manchester. This was really interesting as I've been really intrigued by Belle Vue after finding out about it in this weeks lectures- so getting the chance too see some original photos and guides was a great experience. I particular like the huge scrapbook of images and pieces of paper with writing on etc. made by the original owners of Belle Vue - the Jennisons.  I'm really interested in the memories people have of Belle View, both positive and negative so i think that this is what I will be focussing on through unit x, but in a broader context of memories and time. 

Belle Vue

We have also been focussing on the history of Belle View Zoological Gardens. After a couple of lectures focussing on Belle view this week I have become really interested in it and the way it holds both positive and negative memories/feelings towards it and the way some people never even knew it existed, due to a lack of history. The way that such a huge gardens can be demolished leaving no trace and not be spoke about much at all in Manchester’s history is unusual. 

Open from the 1820's up to the 1930's, Belle Vue was a huge attraction, filled with thousands of people each day from all over the country, made possible by the 4 train stations situated on the grounds. With everything from a circus and fairground too a ballroom and even a speedway track, there was something for everybody.

Belle Vue holds great family memories for people. When I questioned my Gran and Granddad about it, they spoke of how if they went their they felt like the where going on holiday, and although they can't remember it in detail they remember the scale of it and the different things available. This idea of it being like a holiday too people was very true, as back in the 1800's people would have 2 weeks holiday a year known as "whit week", the owner of Belle View at the time - Jennison, used this too his advantage and ensured Belle View was advertised in the right areas at the right time too increase popularity and custom. 

Although there is a lot of positivity when looking back on Belle Vue, there is also some negativity in terms of its collapse in the 1900's and its treatment of animals. Animals are said to have lived in very small cages for their size, including lions, giraffes, bears etc and many where made too perform/dress up. They were nervous animals due to the firework shows at the gardens each night, and only had about a 6 week life span which is disgusting in comparison to what their expected life span should have been.

Pinterest Link

http://www.pinterest.com/katiesimmstip/unit-x/

Unit X

Blackpool Pleasure Beach History & Archive Visit.

As a starting point for Unit X, we visited Blackpool Pleasure Beach for a tour of the park and the archives which hold thousands of old performance costumes and pieces from the park, collected over the centuries.

When walking around the park which was closed too the public whilst listening too a brief history of the park by the tour guide I was inspired and interested by a number of things.

Being in the Pleasure Beach without people filling it with noise, screams and queues felt peculiar, and in some ways eerie. As the tour guide explained the history of the park and the developments they have made too keep people coming back, I realised that people are not only important in keeping it open, but also too the overall feeling and spirit of the place.

Also, the contrast between the construction and design of the rides, both old and new was really interesting, as seen in the photograph above- the old Art Deco "big dipper" has a different presence compared too the much newer bright blue ride in the distance.

Old photographs from the Pleasure Beach.

Having the chance too look around the archives that Blackpool pleasure beach holds, including thousands of old performance costumes and old fairground pieces such as carriages was an excellent opportunity. When looking through the archives there's definitely a feeling of nostalgia and memory which really interest me, from the old photographs and ride design plans too the huge feather head dresses, all of these things represent something that used too be and what was.