Slide Projection!

Evaluation of Slide Projection

In Friday’s lesson we had a slide projection workshop. I really enjoyed working with the old, low-tech equipment, and thought that the grainy, old-fashioned effect which the projectors created went well with the derelict surroundings of the shop.
It was interesting to see the tiny details of the objects the light picked up which we can’t see usually.I liked using the overhead projector in a way I haven’t used it before, by creating a stencil and casting an image across the room. I think it’s a really good way to set an atmosphere and grab peoples attention, as the image can be projected large across the whole room. We looked at artists like Tim Noble & Sue Webster to gain inspiration for this project. I would really like to work in the way that they worked, using objects to create images in the shadows.
I think everyone put a really big effort into their projection tasks, but some of the most effective ones I think were Kate’s, as she played with placing the image of the stairs on the stairs, Corrie’s, who used a really well cut stencil to create mesmerising shadows on the wall, and Dean’s, who created his own slides and displayed them small-scale and intimately on the wall using the old-fashioned slide projector.

Typographical installation: matches and cardboard

For this workshop I explored inventive and different ways to create text using unlikely mediums and the site. Firstly I discovered diverse ways to use match sticks – through structures and pattern. I chose to further my study by spelling out the word “S***” using the match ends with the coloured tip; this proved successful as the overall shape was hard to decipher however when closer inspected the word could be seen. I chose this particular word because i felt it was a clear response to my perception of the site.

For the second part of the workshop, my group and I were given a task to create a word on response to the site using the space effectively. We chose the word “Flops” and i was assigned the letter “p”. I chose to create a large letter out of a square cardboard box – the shape of the P being cut out to leave an almost TV-like look. I selotaped the front of the box to giv it a sheen, this reinforced the idea of the television. Lastly I tipped the box on a point and placed a small support at the back to give the illusion of the box almost falling. I feel this exercise would have been better if everyone in my group worked in a similar style – this would have resulted in a more powerful and eye-catching piece.

Matchbox Workshop

The BRIT V&D department are currently working within an old derelict shop in the “Whitgift centre” in Croydon rather than the studio at the BRIT school site. The shop before it closed was called “Legends”, for those of you that don’t remember the shop it’s just by the underpass in the whitgift. Being able to work in a shop and using the space as our studio for a two month period is invigorating to say the least. So much has already been learnt and produced- 3d works, portraits of the public etc etc. Working within the community allows us to experience what it would be like to have a studio within the public eye. At first I was optimistic about the public’s interactions and interest but so far so good! Everyday people stop by and look at what we’ve displayed in the shop windows and if they see us out and about drawing they always ask about the project. When i’ve asked the public about their reactions to seeing the shop open and being used as a studio most say that it’s good to finally see the space being used after the shop being derelict for 3 years. The following is an account of one of the workshops we have completed on site in Croydon.

The matchbox workshop was amazingly successful as is allowed us to make Individual outcomes whilst experimenting with and considering typography and 3d elements. Our task was to create a 3d character- that can be found on a keyboard- through using only a matchbox, its contents and masking tape, no other materials could be used, however we were able to use the surroundings to our advantage- holes in the shop wall for example.

I chose to make the letter “F”. To make this letter I made a robot that from the side resembled “F”. I used the main body of the match box to make up the actual body of the robot then used matches as legs and arms. From a side view of the robot you can see directly through it, this makes the letter more interesting to look at rather than just a block. I chose to make an actual character from the matchboxes because I wanted something different- and at first I thought that I had to make a character rather than a letter, but fortunately with a little bit of fiddling around with the placement of the arms and legs a successful “F” could be seen.

I placed the Robot “F” on the main counter inside the shop because to view the letter properly you had to be at the same level as the piece. I think that overall my piece was successful as I considered the placement of my piece within the shop and how i could used certain raised areas to my advantage, I also fulfilled the task as I totally finished and set up the piece within the time limit.

TYPOOOOOGRAPHY

Typography 1

We were asked to bring in a match box then on arrival to the shop we were given another. We were then asked to create a letter using these matchboxes and install it considering the space amd surroundings. I used an old changing room and the mirror inside, reflecting my fallen matches therefore creating the letter A.

Typographic Installation

Looking at the typographic and installation work of artists such as Corriette Schoenarts and
4Creative students were asked to view and use the space together with basic and limited materials to create interesting typographical installations. The words chosen were inspired by the space and the students worked both indivually and in groups to connects the words with the materials and surroundings. Their first take was to create a small scale typographical form using a matchbox and consider its placement within the space, followed by a task focusing on extentions. Students created a typographical form exploring the physical and aesthetic space of the site and utilising materials such as cardboard and plastic.

A Gift of a Portrait

Inspired by the artist Lucy Harrison's portrait stand in Strafford station, where the artist drew passengers and later placed their portraits in a community newspaper, Brit students spent a day drawing visitors and shop workers in the Whitgift Centre. The students then invited the visitors to come to the Shop and receive a free copy of their portrait. The original was placed on the Shop window for all to see and guess who was who!

First week onsite

Well, it's the end of the first week onsite and things have been understandably manic, exciting and just a little bit scary!
We've really been using this week to get to know the site and its surroundings, students have been recording and documenting in a wide range of media and materials as well as getting to know a little bit more about social, economic and practical effects of the credit crunch, recession and the context of working within a shopping centre.

We've also had a visiting artist and practitioner Sophie Risner in to talk to us about creating zines to document the process and evolution of the work we are doing and the fruits of this documentation will be adorning the windows for all to see as well as being published for the public to take away.
And finally we've been looking at exploring the history of the area and the site by making good use of the local studies library.
When we return from the easter break we'll be able to make a start in enerst on our work in and around the site, with some great workshops in drawing, installation, 3D typography, projections and zine making.
See al of our other pics from this week @ our flickr account