Tactile

As I plan to be working only with a few materials (as with a few of us in the group) , and our space could possibly be quite Blank, I have been looking at a few artists exploring quite a minimal theme...

Thomas Raschke; 'avid model builder' using a number of materials, frequently experimenting with iron-wire welded and soldered, his work questions edges and structures, lines and space.

Quite interesting, regarding the space.  Also, has a very thready characteristic, quite wire-y, something I am trying to achieve with my work...

Antonia Low;  Another artist from the tactile book...Amazing installations! They are, in fact, inspiring me to possibly work more with the wire/fabric/perspex element to my piece...

Very minimal qualities, materials and structures give an almost haunting feeling, a bit odd... I like odd.

Great book, as Mark said it was, so I will bring it in to the studio to see what peoples are thinking.

Ideas.

Trying to nail down some thoughts and concepts behind what I am doing...

-Reflecting the slow and and simple movements, that the hand has to do today in terms of technology, contrasted with the hand operated equipment of the telephone exchanges in the 1890's.

-Keeping things simple, representing the hand-operation, and the simplicity of the design contrasts the reality of a complicated system. 

-Fabric pieces and wire - they may (?!) look a bit 'otherworldly' connecting to the present wireless systems and waves that run through our transient and everyday spaces and places.

-Still trying to do things/represent things in MASS, regarding Mark Auges concepts on 'supermodernity' with the mass of equipment and systems/data/telephone calls and the mathematical element I have been working with.

I have been thinking maybe I should push forward with the wire and fabric/perspex in the week, especially as I will be lazering some sheets of fabric in the week, and I also plan to experiment with some ways of connecting wire and fabric/thread/perspex using eyelets/stitch/holes etc...

CV

CV : ANNA COLUMBINE

PERSONAL DETAILS

Name: Anna Grace Columbine

Email Address: anna.gracie@hotmail.co.uk

PRACTICE

My practice is very much art-based, where recently I have become interested in ideas surrounding the processes of making art, and experimenting with methods to create conceptual artwork, sculpture, artifacts or installation-based pieces.

My work is based around THE TEXTILE AS FAMILIAR. I am beginning to expand and challenge what  ‘textiles’ can be in terms of materials and approaches.

My blog on my current work is;

annagracie.blogspot.co.uk

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

Current –Ba (Hons) Textiles in Practice 2011-2014,  Manchester School of Art

Art and Design Foundation -Distinction (Manchester School of Art)

A Levels  - Textiles, Art (A*) History (A) (Holy Cross Sixth Form College)

GCSE's - Textiles, English Literature, History, Science (A*) Maths, English Language, Art,Science, French, R.E, ICT (A) Statistics (B) (Parrenthorn High School)

EXHIBITIONS

Tim Curry, Permanent  Installation, Font Fallowfield ,Manchester (December 2012)

-Site specific installation; A colourful thread-wrapped-twig sculpture in-keeping with the quirky character of the popular hangout in the centre of Fallowfield.

Textile Innovation, Blank Space, Hulme Street, Manchester (May 2012)

-Exhibiting alongside a collective group, exploring themes of science, space and structure. Responsibilities included  working alongside gallery owners, setting up the exhibition and running the gallery (opening, closing and invigilation).

Friends, Art and Design Foundation, Final Exhibition, Manchester School of Art (June 2011)

-Installation comprising of heavily intensive handstitched pieces (selfmade dress and shirt and artifacts) exploring numerous processes and ideas of making and concepts.

COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS

‘The Wrappers’ (From November 2012-Ongoing)

-  Collaboartive art group, comprising of others and myself from the Textiles in Practice Degree at Manchester School of art. We create installations with a theme of thread-wrapping,  which can involve wrapping objects, spaces and creating sculptural installations. Projects include a commissioned piece for Font Fallowfield

'Unit X' Manchester School of Art (March-May 2012)

-Worked on a live project 'Imagining It'. Involved working in a collaborative environment to produce a final piece working in smaller groups using collective blogs to generate and document work and inspiration. Learnt to support and work in collaboration with the group, which led to an independent exhibition, Textile Innovation.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Blank Space Collective, Gallery invigilator (September 2012-Ongoing)

-Regular invigilator and set-up assistant for previews, art exhibitions and events. Tasks include welcoming visitors, serving on the bar and invigilating spaces.

BBC ‘Meet the Crafter’ Pilot production assistant, Whitworth Art Gallery (September 2012)

-Fantastic experience working for the BBC Learning Department in assisting on the pilot  for new craft based show ‘Meet the Crafter’. I had invaluable experience understanding the workings of such a production, gained behind-the-scene insight, and developed and put into action co-ordination, organization and communication skills whilst helping and interacting with participants on the show and working with BBC Staff.

‘CHROMA’ Space preparation assistant, Blank Space (June 2012)

-Assisted artist Liz West prepare the space for CHROMA . Involved preparing and decorating the space to high standards ready for her first major Exhibition.

‘Serious about Art’, Workshop Assistant, Whitworth Art Gallery (March 2012)

-Work Experience with Textile Artist Kate Egan, helping assist on a group workshop. I worked on a small scale collaborative piece, worked with the participants in exploring the theme of new ways of creativity, regarding textiles and stitch. I learnt about organising a workshop, and got an insight into how a practicing artists work with galleries.

Bury Museum and Art Gallery, Museum Collections Assistant (July & August 2011)

 –Volunteer at Bury Art Gallery and Museum, assisting museum staff documenting objects. Worked with a member of staff to put up an exhibition at Ramsbottom Heritage Society. This was a fantastic experience as I love working with objects, and I gained an insight into the workings of the museum and gallery.

‘Imagining Bury’ Group Project (October 2009)

- Selected to participate in a project ‘Imagining Bury' with the artist Emily Campbell. Worked with the artist and other selected students in a number of workshops to develop a public art piece as part of the new Townside Health Centre in Bury. We worked on photoshop and produced creative writing that was used as inspiration and became part of the artwork.

Part-time Job, Schuh (2009- present)

-Since November 2009 I have been working part time at the shoe store Schuh as a sales assistant. I have developed excellent communications skills with customers and experienced working with colleagues in a team-focused environment.

SKILLS

-I have a number of practical textile-based skills and I can use a laser cutting machine and the design software to go with it such as Vectorworks and Coral Draw. I can also use InDesign and Photoshop software to produce publications, books and ‘zines. I have good photography skills, where I can use DSLR and film camera, edit and manipulate images.

I feel I am very enthusiastic and highly motivated individual with a great work ethic. I consider myself to be very friendly and approachable which is valuable when working in collaboration with others. I am organised, have excellent time keeping skills and I ensure I put the best effort into everything I do regarding work and practice.

REFEREES

Kate Egan	Tony Ratcliffe
Programmer Leader, Textiles in Practice Chatham Building	Programme Leader, Art and Design         Foundation Chatham Building
Manchester School of Art	Manchester School of Art
Cavendish Street	Cavendish Street
Manchester	Manchester

Sharon Bansal

Director, Blank Media Collective

Blank Space

43 Hulme Street

Manchester

M15 6AW

Oh, decisions.

Fabric pieces? Which fabric? 

Decisions. 

However, I have been thinking, and I am going to test out some sheets of lazer cut fabric (lrk88) and possibly think about dying? But it could just be best to leave white and clinical. Keeping things clinical is quite central to ideas relating to our possibly exhibition/space in a few weeks time, but I could experiment with off white, and greys...

I don't want to mix the types of fabrics, and the images just show the experiments hung up in Hotspur, to see which is best!

I think I would like to combine the stitch, and then thread the wire through a number of sheets, which could also be an interactive part.

I am also thinking of continuing my plaster pieces, contrasting handmade plaster blocks (and hand stitching on the fabrics) with the man made - lazer cut- processes of engraving onto the blocks (cutting out the holes on the fabric)... I'm not 100% sure of how these are going to correspond with each other, but for now, I need to make!

Problemo number three: actually making is appearing to be a problem. Lazer cutting is v. busy -time of year etc...And I have no experience with ceramics/ plasterworks, it's important to me that things will look a little bit professional and well made, SO THINGS ARE GETTING TRICKY. We will see what happens...

Wire.

Tutorial today, and the main thing to do is start to think about what I actually want to make, what elements I want to include in my exhibition.

An interactive element with both the fabric laser cut pieces, and the small plaster casts could be quite interesting...

1. This goes right back to 'representing' the telephone exchanges which was first disscussed in tutorials weeks back...

2. I think it can fit in with interpreting, and the ideas that have come from reading 'Non-places' and about the connection between history and objects...

3.It can be achieved, because, I can forsee threads being pulled through the lazer cut sheets, representing the connections, places and transient spaces? And making blocks and the placing of them, fitting into slots.

This also would nicely, directly relate to the surrounding ideas of the handmade/manmade; the hand-operated telephone exchanges which were once up and running in manchester (a few photos from moise a few previous posts...) together with the hand of people moving threads/wire through holes contrasting with the manmade proccessed materials and construction of what I have made and the new forms of todays telephone exchanges...

But if there is a hand  element with the lazer cut pieces, I would need to consider the role of the plaster casting, I think I still want to include these in some way as they link to the idea of being able to interpret.

I plan to get into the studio, start hanging, testing and arranging.

Blocks.

Studio Time.