Adinkra bowls

Evaluation of W.i.P  27.11.16

To practise what I teach I thought of using the evaluation sheets devised for students to use as a plenary towards the end of an art lesson. I thought like for the students I teach, that this would be good way to help me with my reflection.

1. What I did today

Made hand made bowls with very few tools. The exception of the tools that were made with technology by use of the laser cutter and a makeup

sponge.  This is based on my discussion with Michael Eden back in August this year, where we talked about tools and just using the hand as a tool.  I could have just simply made a pinch pot. But I also wanted to explore where digital can be used with pottery at a basic   level.

2. What I learned today

Smoothing the porcelain clay with a brush causes lines in the clay. Using my fingers that was first dipped in water then I have more control. I abandoned the brush. I did use the make up sponge another tool. I learnt that dabbing the sponge onto the clay piece, very gently helps the clay to form a concave shape.

3. What I did well.

I rolled out the porcelain clay to a even thin-ness of about 2-3millimetres. I used left over pieces of clay to make small petal shapes. I tend not to through away any left over pieces despite not having a clay bin and extruder.
4. What I must work on next

Laser cut more Adinkra shapes and frames two be used for applying decoration and form to my bowls. Evaluate what techniques works well.

5. What I may need to consider

How to be more sustainable when making. The 3D ceramic printer is digital tool to create various forms. In a long-term I consider using one. For now,  to think of digital tools I can make simply to be used with clay. Plaster moulds or 3d scan of mould to 3d printing a mould or extruder shape.

Overall thought.

What I have learnt in this process that if I create intricate and contrasting shapes using illustrator I can then laser cut these be used with my clay forms.

Thinking of Erin Furminska’s application of stencil shapes on her clay forms.

Yi’s Leaves

A quick post, but to recognise that I have been inspired by Yi’s approach to her working on leaves. It is a time-consuming process, like pottery, but using leaves are dependent on the change of season and daylight to get things done.

In pottery club I got the children to press leaves into a slab of clay and to form a bowl.
I particularly like the colours.

Acceptance 2

Family life and work has it’s demands and expectations.

There are (in teacher talk) non negotiables. Above all, family comes before everything. There’s the reality of being employed and there’s the desire for self fulfilment. I acknowledge that I have to negotiate my time with family and work. A balancing act. No a juggling act of a mixture of things I have to be done. Self fulfilment is not in the form of digits in an account, a grade, paper or  additional letters to a name.

I am aware, know and accept that I will not be able to achieve all the things I would like to do or do things as well as I would like due to circumstance of time. Being able to split my time several ways and maintain good health and energy.  With this acceptance I can let go of certain anxieties, knowing that there is no failure in trying. To have fun, enjoy and value the experience of doing.

Interim [PopUp] Show: 2

Showcase of inspirations

Last year I was unwell and did not get to see much of the work on display at the Interim Show. So on this occasion,  was happy to I make the most of looking around to see what others in MA Visual Arts are up to. I missed out on taking more photographs due to being caught up in conversation whilst looking around as well as to not having enough storage in my phone to take pictures. However, I have included with some commentary on work I had managed to capture.

Interim [PopUp] Show: 1

Quick (on the spot) display

The last five weeks have been a bit of spin, in fact, forgetting the hot pants, I’ve been spinning around like Kylie! It has been a relentless lead up towards the interim show thinking back to October 5th research paper submission, Contemporary African Art Fair, Frieze Art fair, Liverpool trip, school deadlines for assessment and HTM (Half Term Monitoring) a second trip to Liverpool, trying to get things made, celebrating Terry’s coming of age and of course my birthday too.

Looking through this that paragraph it sounds mostly fun, which it has been although a juggle and often having to compromise with time. Anyhow in my determination to have something to display for the interim I managed to get a few of the Adinkra tiles fired in time and out of the kiln once I got back home from school to pick my daughter up. Two weeks ago the electricity power in the whole neighbourhood had gone down whilst I had work that was firing in my little kiln, needless to say, that delayed my progress. My daughter and I then made our way to Peckham, to pick up my mother before heading off to Camberwell College. Quick (on the spot) albeit rather last minute way my display. I placed the Adinkra tiles in Conservation’s display cabinet, thanks to my daughter’s intellect to work out how to open the darn thing. Quite fitting really, that they should be displayed in the cabinet outside of the conservation rooms. As again my thanks to conservation department, for they had allowed me access to use their press to make the tiles. Also in terms of conservation, I see the Adinkra tiles are like an ancient piece where the codes and their meanings are to be kept alive.  I also have ‘Navel’ on display in the Raum Gallery, but I wanted ceramic work to be displayed as directed as the medium that I will be using thinking ahead towards July.

 

Acceptance

Despite hopes, wants, dreams and ideas sometimes we have to accept that there are some things we face that:

• may have to accept to release us from frustrations that challenge, that comes in our path.
• may challenge those hopes, wants, dreams and ideas, caused by either situations and circumstances.

For me,  acceptance is not a defeatist approach or form of giving up but recognising and acknowledging that there may be certain things or situations that we may not like or agree with that we are unable to change or control.

My acknowledging is based on a dependency of time. That I cannot change. Most things are a matter of time and therefore temporary. Then the temporarity (if such a word) of my situation both excites and frightens me.

Time Management

Time management for me is key. There is the struggle of the juggle at the moment between the work life balance scenario. I must add quickly “I’m not complaining!” Just acknowledging and accepting. Anyhow my juggle is family & home, study school and overall WORK.

Struggle of the Juggle

The juggle:

Preparing pack lunches (well some mornings) and ensuring that my daughter and I have a decent breakfast. Coming home after a long day, to the office otherwise known as the kitchen. There I’ll put my earphones in, my mobile phone in my pocket and make phone calls whilst I work. This is mostly to my mum or my son who is at university and other important members. Weekdays it’s a dance of work, travel, and study and more work. Weekends its managing the home, being a chauffeur and keeping fit some family time and planning or preparing for the week to follow.

Loud voices…

…and little ones.

Pre tutorial with Jonathan.

Jonathan email came through a few days before my tutorial with a link to unit 1 feedback. My inbox had another email from UAL with a link from the finance department to pay my fee’s. I could not pay my fees and just terminate the second year as “who am I kidding?” I should save my money and do something more useful. Things need doing around the home. “What am I playing at?”   Maybe I am just swanning around, pretending to be doing something important. Being an artist is not like being a surgeon.

Ignore. Pay you fee first then read your feedback.

“Who am I kidding?”

Part of me couldn’t help reading my feedback like a school lesson observation or mark book scrutiny. Immediately I looked at the grade boundary assessment criteria that against the given grade like I was reviewing a student’s work other than my own.

“See not that bad despite feeling impossible at times to get things I’d like done”.

I look at areas that I need to improve and think of ways how that can be done. Good thing I paid my fees.