Rhea GaughanSemester 1 \\\ Independent Practice

I have used this brief to collate a book of drawings of everything I own over time. This is an on-going project and every drawing will be unique. This will allow me to, over time, develop my observational and experimental skills as well as enabling me to relax. I am thinking of compiling them at some point to produce a small booklet, alike the outcome from the ‘Old vs New’ brief, maybe to be sold at Homemade and Bound 2011.

\\\ Time & Motion

Exhibition visits with Wednesday typo workshop. It was a really good day out, I felt a strong urge to get motivated and working by the end of the day, which is what I needed. The visit to the British Library was spontaneous but I’m so glad I went, its amazing! Especially Gutenberg’s Bible; I would of quite happily stayed there all day. I have gathered some photographs from the day to show you a little snippet of what was on show; Kemistry Gallery: Lou Dorfsman- Gastrotypographicalassemblage (below) and JWT Advertising Agency: Type Directors Club of America Exhibition (right).

\\\ Exhibition Visit (27.10.2010)

\\\ Screenprinting Workshop

These were my first UCA prints of the year. I thoroughly enjoyed the workshop and the results were pleasing. I enjoy the process of printing, making mistakes and trying it again and again until it comes out right, or not - mistakes make good marks!

\\\ Food Models

I enjoy producing compositions from throw-away printed material such as old magazines and newspapers. Here, I have concentrated on mixing food with beauty or, the ‘super model’. Combining models from the front of the magazine with the food from the back of the magazine; forms and objects that are never really associated with each other, I found the results quite humorous and entertaining.

The Whitechapel gallery and The Concrete Hermit gallery. I payed a visit to the Keeping it Real: Act 2, The D. Daskalopoulos Collection, where the Whitechapel are holding a four part exhibition that I am keeping track of. Act 2, under the title ‘Subversive Abstraction‘ where artists have made work from everyday experiences and materials.

I found Dieter Roth’s work most interesting; cheese placed into a plastic sleeve which was left to mould. In my previous work and research I have found interest in waste and the left behind. After a little probing on Dieter Roth I had found that there were a series of works made with cheese and other foodstuffs. Roth prepared his works, undergoing a series of transformations: mouldy stage, bacterial decay, insect attack, and then stability as only nondegradable elements were left.

I also checked out This is Tomorrow. An exhibition showing archive material: photographs, promotional posters, press cuttings and documentary film from the 1956 exhibition, originally held at the ICA that highlighted the way new technologies, mass production and popular culture restored 1950s postwar Britain. Work produced by Richard Hamilton and Theo Crosby. The poster collection was striking; use of red and black with strong geometric shapes and grids. Styles that I have recently come across in my contextual studies.

\\\ Exhibition Visit (02.11.10)

My second visit was to The Concrete Hermit Gallery on Bethnal Green road. The gallery is small and fresh, full of prints, illustrations and postcard books. My most favorite, and reason for going was James Joyce’s Truth Is screen print. The colours are so vibrant. I wish I could afford to buy it! While in Libertys I also came across James Joyce’s Ruby.

\\\ Wednesday Workshop

This is an alphabet I produced during a Wednesday workshop using a homemade pen from an aluminium can and a paintbrush. It reminded me of Ralph Stead’s work; ghostly and blood-like. I really liked the technique, it took a while to get used to it but produced good results.

What I have learnt from Semester 1:

Initially I found taking on independent practice as well as studio practice quite overwhelming to balance. I then realised that independent practice branches off from my studio practice, this made sense and became more bearable. Gradually I become aware of things that I could take on board to include within my independent practice portfolio as well as developing previous work and themes.

I can appreciate how important independent practice is; not only to help develop our skills, to keep motivated and up to date with current design but also to discover what my interests are.

I propose that the projects that I have included will be ongoing. I am also working towards craft fairs such as Homemade and Bound 2011. I feel that working towards something such as craft/art fairs will motivate me to work rigorously and produce work that people can interact and be attracted to.