North West Film Archive!

(02/12/08) A small group of us from our course went to The North West Film Archive on Chorlton street within Manchester. It is here that many moving images including cinema newsreels, documentaries, educational films, travelogues, advertising/promotional material, corporate videos, regional television programmes, and hundreds of films shot by enthusiasts and local families have been rescued and now protected. By enabling their survival these moving images can now be used for educational or/and entertainment use.
While at The North West Film Archive we saw various moving images including:

• Thomas Edison-showman in 20th Century (people would walk past the camera in order to be noticed and then they would pay a penny to see them selves on camera during the show that would take place the following day-that would be how the showmen would make their money!)
• Blackpool 1938-Hindley family scenes-only the wealthy during this time could afford cameras.
• A City Scene-Withenstone and Hulme-1870-housing development.
• 1933-changing life of Salford.
• Yuri Gagarin's visit to Manchester-1961.
• Examples of broadcasts using NWFA material-Second World War in colour.
• The way we were series-Raise a family-the way we used to be... Peter Sykes-1950's domestic routine.
• Granada News- two luxury cruise liners.

As you can see from the list above there is such a variation in the moving images that are available from The North West Film Archive. To be able to use these facilities could come on really useful for future projects. As there is so much out there that I could base my projects on-knowing this makes the Art Degree even more exciting!!!

In relation to the North West Film Archive I need to remember the following:

1. You can search online using the catalogue for the particular theme, object etc, that you want to find as a moving image.
2. Once you have looked on the catalogue-have no more that 10 titles in mind and then fill in the comments and enquiries form on the catalogue-should then get a response soon after.
3. From choosing the moving images that you would like and recieving them it could take up to 6-8 weeks-the images are kept in storage and they have to be transferred into format that will then allow you to edit it as required.
4. Copyright is really important!!! You should contact the person's who the moving images (material that you want to use) belonged to-ask for their permission-you may need to pay a fee-get proof of the conversation between them so that The North West Film Archive are aware of this. Then when you have used/edited their material if allowed make sure that you use full credits to: people who it belonged to and The North West Film Archive MMU!!

Screen printing!

(01/12/08) I have done some screen prints which I can then use as well as photographs of my paintings in order to create some postcards which will reflect Llandudno as I see it. Using photoshop I will build up layers on my work that highlights Llandudno and incorporate text in order to hopeful create an interesting outcome.
The images that I am using to screen print are of the following:

• Fishermen


• Postcard Stand in front of a shop


• The view of Anglesey, Puffin Island from Llandudno.
  
• I have chosen these images as they reflect objects/views that I think of when I think of LLandudno!

Painting of Llandudno during sunset!

(27 + 30/11/08) I decided to complete this painting as I was moving away from the traditonal picturesque views that are present within postcard pictures.
This painting is of the sun setting behind the the row of buildings not far the coastline.The deep yellows that portray the sun that is disappearing below the horizon create a warm feeling as the colours look similar to that of a fire! In the distance you can see a bird gliding in the sky, I think this creates a kind of peaceful feeling. To me this composition highlights one aspect of Llandudno's character (calm, enjoyable, atmopsheric) and with it reflecting an evening it is unlike atypical sunny picture within a traditional postcard.

Manchester Christmas Market!

(26/11/08 + 17/12/08) During these evenings I went along to the German Christmas Market near St.Peters Square in Manchester! It was spectacular to see that I had to go back the second time so that I could take some photographs as it only comes round once a year.
There were lots of stalls, selling traditional German food such as sausages, meats, cheese, mould wine etc. There were also stalls selling gifts: including candles, soaps, chocolates, sweets, jewellery and festive gifts: tree decorations, ornaments, Christmas trees etc.

The market was full of people talking, laughing, eating, drinking-generally having fun and smiling. It was held near the cathedral and there was a big Santa placed high upon the building covered in thousands of lights that could be seen from a mile away.

Each stall was covered in lights and decorations warming customers towards there stall to give them a glimpse of what they are selling.

The place had a very welcoming, lively festive atmosphere, a place that you wanted to stay in for a while!! Well worth a visit!!

Ideas to take my project forward!

(26/11/08) After speaking to my tutors, the cross corse crit and creating a mind map I have come up the following ideas as to how I can carry on with my project on Llandudno:

• Research into mail art and do some of my own based on Llandudno-which I could sent to other people who are interested in art and see if they respond or/and to friends and family of which some of them have been to Llandudno before. It would be interesting if I asked them to send me back a photo or to write down what they remember from their experience there.
• Create a shell box-using shells, stones that I ahve collected from my visit to Llandudno-include items inside that reflect my experiences there-make it personal-maybe have sound coming from it when you open it-sounds of the waves that I recorded while I was there-like when you put a shell to your ear and you can hear the sound of the waves!
• Look at images -attractions that represent Llandudno to me-rather trhan just images that are typical postcard images of this place.
• Look at the history of Llandudno e.g hotels along the front, mines, orme, work-employment, people who went there on holiday-beach-it's formation! - could find out more about the place by finding out if there is a museum/library there.
• Compare the sounds that I recorded of the waves and people walking across the stones to the sound that I made using cereal, rice etc as I tried to create these sounds before I actually went to Llandudno.

Whitworth Art Gallery Talk - Karen Knorr!

(25/11/08) (With reference to the summary of Karen Knorr's work-present on the sheet available a the Whitworth Gallery on the tuesday talks) Karen Knorr has carried out photography work for over twenty years now, her work-includes critical and playful dialogue in order to explore representations of class and tradition in Britain and Europe. The black and white images that she created in the 1980's highlight aspirations and lifestyles of the thatcher era. Examples of her earlier work include: Gentlemen 1981-1983-questioning-What does it mean to be British? What does it mean to be a 'gentleman'? Exploration of English Upper class-fear of social disorder and unemployment.

Recently her work reflects conceptual art and feminism-it explores man's relationship to nature and animals in various sites such as the zoo and museums. Using the photographs that she has taken of the animals she computer manipulates them and inserts these animals into places in which they are not using found-for example zoo animals within rooms of a museum.

E.g Where have all the sparrows gone? Is a photograph of a bird in various stages of flight positioned in front of a photograph of a room with a museum-reflecting movement.
I think that is really interesting how she has positioned animals in a place that they are not usually found-it looks realistic in the fact that it doesn't look computer manipulated but then you do question it as animals aren't usually found in these places. Her photographs play with the illusion of space and dimension.
The photographs almost create an imagery world were wild animals are present within a human surrounding which looks peaceful and natural. Ironically it isn't natural as the images have been changed on the computer and do not show reality.

The computer manipulation part of Karen Knorr's work is an aspect that will be present within my work as I create my own postcards using the photographs, paintings and screen prints that I have done. After creating my own postcards I may even put them in a photograph representing where they would actually be found-for example upon a postcard stand outside a shop in Llandudno.

Letterpress Induction!

(20/11/08) The inductions that I have been on recently will allow me to use the workshops that I have been inducted in for the following three years. Even though there are chances to do many of these inductions later on in the year, I took the opportunity to do as many of the inductions during the first couple of months to enable me to have the access to these facilities as soon as possible. Meaning that I can keep my options open for what ever I choose to do in as we start are individual projects.During this letterpress induction I learnt the following:

1. A general introduction in to the Letter Press workshop including health and safety, a background in to letterpressing, the machinery and facilities available to use and how they are used correctly.


2. What letters and style of fonts there are available the use and where I can find them.


3. How to layout the letters that have been chosen on to a galley (looks like a metal tray, with a rim to be able to carry it around) and use the magnets to ba able to keep the letters into place. There are some pieces of metal that are used as spaces between, before or after the letters in order to makesure that the letters are the same width as the magnets so that they don't move when they go through the letter press. There are various names for these including: quads and hair and thin line spaces.


4. The next process of covering the letters with ink-only a small amount of the ink is placed on the mixing base using a spactular and then with a roller is rubbed evenly on to the surface then ready for use. You can mix colours together, use white to make a colour lighter or even use tint tint medium to also make the colour lighter but by just changing the transparency rather than the colour. The tint tint medium makes the colour clearer rather than more white/creamy e.g a lighter red rather than pink can be made). A roller is used to apply the ink to the letters.


5. Put the paper on top of the letter after previously being covered in ink, place on to the coveyor belt of the letterpress and then pull the roller over the paper, which then prints the letters onto the paper.

N.B If I still want to keep the letters upon the galley for future prints then there are some cords within a draw labelled 'Tie up Cords' and these are used to keep the letters in place. The cords are used instead of using the magnets as there aren't many magnets. A form is to be filled in and left on your galley and there is a maximun of two weeks that the galley and letters can be reserved for.

More than one colour can be used on the letters as long as you use different rollers to apply the ink and clean them after use, using a cloth and turpse.

Essay writing!

(12-20/11/08) During these two weeks I focused on the 2x1000 word essays that needed to be handed in for the 21/11/08 to count towards our final marks for this year. One of the essays was to:

Choose one of the essay's set for the Seminars on the course and critically analyse this reading by considering the following questions:

1. What ideas and assumptions underpin the argument made in the text?
2. How is the text relevant to contemporary Visual and material culture?
3. How might you use this text to understand the social and cultural world around you?

In order to answer this question I decided to choose the reading that highlighted icons by Martita Sturken and Lisa Cartwright. I decided to focus on the following question that was within the reading:

'Marita Sturken and Lisa Cartwright suggest that images that become well known icons are therefore expected to be recognised universally however what would it mean to question the assumptions underpinning these concepts of the universal?

To make sure that I wasn't going off on a tangent I made sure that went convenient I reflected back to this question in order to highlight whether what I stated supported or disagreed with the above question.

The second essay question was:

Choose one image or manufactured/designed thing that you think is interesting and important, and discuss in terms of the following:

1. What does it look like?
2. How it was made?
3. By whom and for who was it made?
4. What purpose was it meant to serve?
5. What wider historical and social conditions are relevant to understanding it?

For this question I decided to focus on the painting-'Liberty Leading the people' by Eugene Delacroix. I had seen this painting while visiting 'The Louvre' gallery in Paris and I was particularly drawn to it and interested since then to find out more about it. In order to complete both these essays I did a lot of research some information I found on the internet but I also search in numerous books. Bibliography can be found in my Journal!

Artist's books!

(18/11/08) Within the All Saints Campus Uinversity Library I went to see an exhibition of handmade books made by various artists. It was fascinating to see such variation in the books that these artist's had made.
There was a paricular piece that caught my eye which was a set of four books (bottles) which were made as part of the Oxford Road Project by and artist called Gaye Smith. They were set up as a collaboration between art and design courses at the University! Manchester Royal Infirmary is oldest buildings upon Oxford road and it was the history behind it which gave Gaye Smith the inspiration for these books that he made. Each of the Pharaceutical bottles (what the nurses used on a dialy basis to dispense treatment) include strips of text which highlights a different nurses day to day routine and achievements within the hospital. The way that the text is positioned within the bottle makes it impossible for the full story to be read, meaning that part of the story can be kept secret and therefore only the nurses themselves know the rest of it! The bottles are represented as being book as they have text trapped within them.

This then makes you wonder what is it that makes a book a book? For something to be classed as a book does it just have to contain text? As a traditional book and something that comes to my mind when I think of a book is text upon pages that also have a cover keeping the pages together!! For a book to just mean something that contains text means that everyone-especially the art, illustrative world is open to endless innovative and creative inventions in the creation of a book!!

After speaking to a lady who knew more about the exhibitons I found out that within the library they have an archive of all sorts of interesting things which I would like to take advantage of in order to seek insipration during future projects!

Voluntary work!

(12/11/08) I am currently doing the Duke of Edinburgh Gold award and for my service I am doing some voluntary work for a group called AFSL (Action For Suistainable living). AFSL runs an organisation/programmes called AFSS (A Few Small Steps) which invloves people from AFSL going to Primary Schools and raising the awareness of how we can live sustainably. Part of rising the children's awareness of how we can take simple steps to change the way we live to make the world better for future generations is through assemblies and activities- a way for children to get involved, learn and have fun.

For one of the assemblies I dressed up as a ploar bear called 'Snowy' (the head part of the costume makes it hard to see around!!) who is the mascot for AFSS. The idea of the polar is linked with the changes that are occuring within the world due to the consumption of our fossil fuels and particularly the effect of the melting of the icecaps-home to the polar bears. During the assembly a power point was shown which included various questions linked to global warming, with the 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' theme tune in the background. Four children were chosen to sit on the stage and asked these various fun but still informative questions, e.g what will climate change effect 1. David Beckham's hair style. (Which I found really funny!!) 2. Melting of the ice caps...etc, with ask the audience also as an option. I sat on the stage while the powerpoint was being shown and waved, put my thumbs up, made sad gestures when it talked on the effect of Global Warming and generally tried to get the audience involved.

It was a great experience being involved within the assembly and the thing that I found interesting which I had forgotten about since my childhood how younger children reacted to someone dressed in a costume. It was fascinating to see how some of the children didn't question how it isn't possible that it isn't a really polar bear and they just wanted a reaction from it (a wave, happy gesture from me). It could just be that this particular assembly was rather different to their usual one as I am sure they don't often get to see a 'Polar Bear'. However it was great to see the younger children's reaction and how nice it is for them just to accept (perhaps to imagine, believe or may be they just didn't quite understand) compared to the older children who saw me at the end of the assembly and hadn't seen me previously - asking if I was the polar bear. Children just like adults are very curious!!

This then made me think about my art projects and how when I complete a piece of artwork I need to think of the target audience if I do have one and to consider the thoughts/feelings my work my provoke. If there are certain thoughts/feeling I want to provoke then I would need to consider how I would do this!

Journal Talk!

(13/11/08) During this talk we learnt more about how to complete the Journal that is a requirement within our course.
It was explained how the journal is a continuous process and should contain evidence of curiosity and who we are! During the 1st year we should obtain a broad range of information, the 2nd year it will be mainly one area of knowledge in more depth and then in the 3rd year we will be likely to have specialised in one particular area of knowledge-for instance one art discipline-way of working, interest etc.

The Journal should consist of the following things:

• Journal contents list.


• Blog: online diary-includes dates: based on own projects, exhibitions, museums, talks, lectures (ideas and questions they provoke) and even other works-film, plays, gigs, nature, buildings, politics, fashion or personal areas of study).


• CV:reflect on experience-can adapt on CV previously created for part time jobs-such be focused towards area of work that you are aiming for.


• Personal map: all my interest not necessarily relating to my course could be interests outside of areas of study, e.g sports, cinema aswell as painting-Monet-Landscapes.


• Project Reports: on going reflection, summary carried out at end of each project (project evaluation).


• Source List: books, readings, websites used.


• Course Forms


• Review of my year

N.B: The Journal should contain sections taken from the blog.
The blog can be used as a day to day diary to comment on things that have inspired or interested me and as a way of remembering websites that I have looked at.
Journal/Blog should include images and can be photographs, images from the internet (be careful of copyright) and/or scans of pages of sketch book.

Silk Screen Induction!

(13/11/08) During the silk screen printing induction we were taught how to:

1. Remove an image from a screen for it to then be used again with another image present on it:this is done by using a special emulsion which is poured into a trough and tipped on to the screen which is on an angle until it is completely covered. It is left an hour to dry.


2. Transfer an image on to a screen:get the image that you want on the screen photocopied black and white onto acetate. Open up the exposing unit (large machine) turn it on at the wall, put the acetate onto the glass and the screen on top, close the lid of the exposing unit, fasten sides, turn on pump and pull right handle towards you-leave for 1 min 45 seconds. Then remove the screen and rinse of the emulsion-image will be revelead (wear apron and using ear protectors) and leave screen to dry-5-10 mins/


3. Mix the colour required for printing/correctly use a squeegy:choose the coloured acrylic paint required and mix with the acrylic printing medium (2/3 of the mixture should be the acrylic printing medium). Then use the correct size squeegy for the size of the image that you are printing. With the paper underneath-spread some of the mixture along the bottom of the screen and with the squeegy on a 45 degree angle push the mixture to the top of the screen so it is evenly spread and then pull it down to print the image.


4. Use the devise that clamps your material into place to be able to do accurate repetitive prints: Slide your screen onto the devise, use the newspaper to clamp the screen into place. Bring the acetate sheet over. Click the vacuum switch on-that is underneath the devise. Then print on to it-using the acetate you can then see where abouts the image will print onto the paper when you position you paper in place. Tip: use masking tape where the edge of the paper you have lined up is so that when you remove that first piece of paper you can get the others in the same place.
   
5. Choose the suitable material-you can print onto anything however it is better to print on to the canvas material before it is stretched to make a canvas. When printing on canvas you may have to press harder and it is better to print using the table rather than the devise that holds paper in place.
   

It was great that during the induction we could actually have a go at all the steps that I have explained above as the tutor was explaining it-I think to watch and have ago your self is the best way to learn!

Presentation Sheet and Cross Course Crit

(09 +10/11/08) The presenation sheet was completed before we did the cross course crit as a way of explaining to the group that we were in what we had done so far in our project and how we are to take it forward. With it now being present upon the wall it is a great way for people who pass by to have a look and therefore get the gist as to what peole are currently doing within there project.
The cross course crit involved us getting into groups which were made up of two first year, two second years and two third years within the Interactive Arts course. Within our groups we each took it in turns to talk about our projects with the answers to the following questions in mind:

1. What discoveries have you made?


2. Where did the ideas come from?


3. What ideas do you have that you would most like to develop?


4. Have you tried new methods or approaches?


5. What is the balance between Ideas generation, Ideas Development, Material/media testing, Refinement and Resolution?

After each person had spoken about their project-upon their cross course sheet we then had note down the following:

1. Something which has been successful.


2. Something which will hepl the presenter to develop their work, at any stage in their project. It could be-things to do, or things to look at, etc.


3. A second thing which has been successful.

I thought that the cross course crit was really benefical in many ways. It made me feel more confident speaking in front of afew people about my project-work + ideas. It was really good to see what other people and not just within my year are doing for their project and it was great to get feedback about my project-the strengths and weaknesses of my work and other peoples ideas as to how to take my project forward.

Some of the ideas that I got from the group crit that I would like to develop include:

1. Doing some Mail Art-including my experiences of Llandudno and to send them to people who have experienced that place with me too (family).


2. Looking at Llandudno in a different angle-look at more horrible things-tackiness, rubbish, dull weather.


3. Veer away from the typical Llandudno postcard paintings.


4. Looking at Llandudno in past years/centuries.


5. Look at macro and mirco for ideas for postcards.

I am really looking forward to trying out these ideas!!!!!!!!

Rusty Nails!

(08/11/08) My tutor Hazel is doing a project were she is getting people to find a rusty nail to give to her which will then be used with in a special exhibition at University. I have had a look on Hazel's blog at the nails that have been sent to her and there is such a variation in their colour/shape and where they were found-it's fascinating!! The two nails that I gave to her were found during the week of Bonfire night when I went to one of my friend's house-Widnes,Cheshire and he had a bonfire and fireworks. The nails were spotted by one of my friend's in the actual bonfire and that reminded me that Hazel had asked for one! The nails had been within wood that had been put on the bonfire so when the wood had burnt a collection of them formed at the bottom, when the bonfire had cooled I managed to retrieve it.

Black and white photography induction

(06/11/08) I learnt alot during this induction and I found it really fascinating and exciting!!!! We got to use a 35mm SLR Camera-and we learnt how to take photographs and expose and develop the film in the dark room. I mean even before the induction I didn't even know what 35mm meant in relation to a camera! Now I know that it means the type of film and you choose the type of film depending on the lighting conditions that you are working in and the subject matter. I also learnt about the different parts of the camera which was really interesting. Even though the 35mm Black and White SLR camera is quite different to the Digital SLR camera that I have, the names of the parts and the way that they work are the same. This is great in the fact that it has allowed me to understand how a camera works and will be really useful as I learn more abot how to use my Digital SLR camera.

Below are things that I learnt during the Inductions and are pointers that I need to remember for when I next do some Black and White Photography:

• 35mm SLR Camera-shutter speed controls light and motion-use dial on right hand side on top of the camera.


• Shutter Speed: number 1 represents 1 second in which the shutter speed id open for and the light is allowed in and the film is exposed. Everytime you turn the dial-number gets bigger and the shutter speed is then quicker meaning that the photograph will be taken quicker. Ideal for motion shots (sports) where the photo needs to be taken quickly-can create the blurred effect of movement if you use a low number on the dial-means that it takes longer for the photo to be taken.


• Ratio 2:1 with cameras/photography-numbers on the shutter speed: 1,2,4,8,16 etc-it skips a fw on the way-bascially 8 means 1/8 of a second and is quicker than 1/4 of a second.


• Apeture: the dial around the lens-when you fix the shutter speed you can get a good reading (outcome) if you use the pin that you can see when you look through the view finder-makesure that it's lined up in the middle.


• Lens-focus-the big dial around the lens that is further away from the camera-move back and forth until you are happy that it is clear and adjust apeture to the focus.


• Dial on the top of the camera-needs to match up with the type of film-for instance the one that we used during the induction was 400.

I also made notes after the induction that I can make reference to next time I do some Black and White Photography, these included:

1. Inserting a film.


2. The development stages.


3. The stages involved in processing/exposing the film and producing a photograph-including how long to leave the image in the developer, stock, fixer, water and drier.
   

More details on the above are present in my sketch book.

Paintings of Llandudno's scenery!!

(27/28 + 29/11/08)These two paintings are the first paintings that I have done within this project. I used photographs and postcards that I had taken and collected while in Llandudno. They reveal a beautiful and intriguing place to visit. The use of light and dark tone create a sense of depth within the paintings. This is particularly shown within the painting of the cable cars on the edge of the cliff and the the rocks. The use of detal is essential in order to create the sense of realism. I think the pleasentness of this place is particularly shown due to the varied colour palette used and the bright blue used with the sky-resembling a sunny day! After creating these paintings it appears obvious that they resemble typical iconic scenes within Llandudno. Next as I continue within this project I am going to experiment with the images that I use as a basis for my paintings and have a go at using images that resemble Llandudno to me rather than just using typical postcard images.

Wood Workshop Induction

(04/11/08) I learnt alot during the induction into the wood workshop and this now gives me access to use certain machinery and the space I may require during the 3 yr degree!

A couple of pointers to remember while in the wood workshop:

• Apron required at all times.


• Goggles are a must and it is your choice if you want to wear a mask but it is recommended to.

The 3 important rules involving the Band Saw:

1. Adjust the barrier/blade by turing the barrier and sliding it up or down-depending on the type/thickness of the wood. But still leaves a dlight gap to be able to move wood when finished.


2. When adjusting the barrier do it from the back.


3. Use the push stick for pieces of wood that are too small to push by hand.

Other pointers to do with the machinery:

• When turning off all of the machinery watch it come to a complete stop.


• Don't keep the emergency button on even if you only go away from the machinry for a short while.


• When cutting wood-use a hand on both sides of the blade and move hands away from you when finished cutting so you are clear from the blade.


• Turn on air ventilation to allow dust to be kept at a minimal.

Points to remember about the Disc Sander:

• When sanding wood make sure that it is against the bottom of the machine and that you are not holding the wood in mid air.


• Keep fingers well away from the machine-put pressure on wood and fingers are further back.

Air ventilation is the button at the back of the room which allows air sucsion for the dust. If you slide the metal piece towards you on the ventilation pipe this will allow the sust to be removed. The last person in the room is in charge of turning it off at the wall.

When using a power drill make sure that the drill needle is in the drill properly. You can judge this by the sound that it makes. With any of the power tools makesure that you keep hold of them to makesure that it stops properly.

We also learnt how to make a wooden frame and stretch canvas on to it to create our own canvas. It was great to learn how to do this as it will be really useful in the future when I come to create my canvases. It really helped during the induction being able to have a go at using the various tools as within a group and with one of the woodworkshop tutors we made a canvas. Having a go at the machinery gave you a chance to see how much effort is put into making them work as with the guillotine you needed to use your foot to press down and cut the wood-so next time I know that I need to put more pressre of the foot stand.

A step by step guide as to how to make the wooden frame and stretch the canvas is written down in my induction notes!!

Book Binding Induction

(03 + 11/11/08) The Book binding Induction invloved learning how to use various machinery (large guillotine), tools (bone tool, stanley knife) and different book binding techniques.
There are a few pointers that I need to remember and take into consideration when I do book binding:

• You can get a book binding box full of all the untensils required by handing in your student ID card in the workshop. This is the same for getting the key for the guillotine machine.


• Always check the grain direction before folding, cutting paper. This is found by wetting the edge and it is the edge that then crinkles the most-it is the easiest side to bend too.
  

During the induction we learnt how to create a zig zag book. Initally you need to layout the images/text that you want on the pages of the book, this can be done by measuring by hand or by using a software called InDesign.

If you were to use InDesign then the instructions are as follows:

1. Select a new document.


2. Go to file document, set up-orientation-landscape, A4 or A3.


3. Make the margins bigger at the bottom.


4. Use icon that is on the left hand side tool bar x to draw a box that will represent each page-change the meaurements to 85x85mm-command.


5. Use the arrows on the keyboard to position the box were required.


6. You can create a line (border) around the boxes so when pinted they can be used as fold lines-the box at the top of the toll bar above the colour box allows you to do this.


7. To be able to the create other boxes that are the same as the first box that you have created then you can select the box and go to 'edit' and then 'step and repeat'.
   

During the induction I wrote down a step by step guide as to how to create the zig zag book that I can use for future reference. During the second induction into book binding we were given the materials to create a zig zag book and how to make that a zig zag book is upon each of the pages of the book that we made.

We also made a book by folding paper in half (which made the pages), slotting a thicker piece of folded paper to the back of them (making the cover) and sowing through the middle of the fold to hold the pages in place. Finally we created a book were we used PVA glue and string for the spine and each page was sown together using a figure of 8 method.

Llandudno!

(01/11/08) During this weekend I took a visit to Llandudno as this is the place that I am basing my project on. While I was here I took various photographs of scenery/objects that are known to be iconic to Llandudno-typically seen on postcards that are sold here, inlcuding:

1. Llandudno pier.
   
2. Orme-trams.


3. Sea/beach-deck chairs.
   

Other iconic images include:

1. Happy valley.


2. Cable cars.


3. Picturesque views-from top of the orme looking along the front-seeing the coast line.

I also took photographs of places that come to mind when I think of LLandudno due to many visits I have previously been with my family. Some of these are in fact similar to the ones that I have already stated.

1. Punch and Judy show.
   
2. Pier-small stalls selling sounvenirs-rock, fudge etc, rides:inflatable slide, go carts, water gun(shoot the targets)
   
3. Sea/waves-beach
   
4. Cable cars, golf course, toboggan run, dry ski slope.


5. Orme-Trams.
   
6. Halfre Gardens, walks, small cafe-tea/ fresh homemade cakes.
   
7. Gallery.
   
8. Hotels-along the front, shops at the back.


9. Walk towards to coast leading to Colwyn beach-boulders within the sea/ nearby:old buildings dating back to the 19th century.


10. Picturesque scenery-along the front-hotels along coastline of Llandudno, opposite side views to Anglesey + Puffin Island.

I took some photographs resembling what Llandudno means to me rather than just of iconic images relating to Llandudno in order to make this project a bit more personal. The project should therefore look as if it is by someone who has been to Llandudo quite a few times rather than someone who has just been on a day trip there and this is what they got from it. If the project was done by someone who had only been once I think it is likely that they would have just been aware of the iconic images that are visible within postcards sold here, where as I was to create and insight as to the other places that there are to visit!

While in Llandudno I also captured some video footage-just focusing on the sound of the waves, people walking along the pebbles and the seagull. I was planning to compare this sound to the sound that I previously created when I experimented with creating the sound of the the waves using various art materials (beads, decorative glass stones) and food items (cereal, rice) with sugar puffs creating the closest sound to the waves.

During my visit I also collected sticks, shells and stones which I have used to create a small mobile as I was experimenting to different pathwys this project could entail.

Illumination!

(30/10/08) Illumination was an exhibition that I went to see which was created by Gary Peploe and Peter Nutley. It exhibited the work from over 30 recent graduates from the MA/MFA Fine Art Media programme at the Slade School of Fine Art, London including alternative and intriguing approaches to contemporary and traditional media-photography, film, performance, video, drawing and installation. The space in which all of the work was present was in darkness with each piece individual lit. By doing this is it made the non-gallery space really intriguing-I place full of new discovers and innovative ideas. There were afew pieces which really stood out to me they included:

1. Cinema by Peter Nutley-HD video projection-documents the Regal cinema in Northwich the week after the closing down. I found this short video really intriguing as it included static images that came in out of focus-catching my attention as I wanted to find out what the images that were blurred were. I found myself so absorbed in the video that it was only because I didn't have much time left to have a look at the other artwork that made me leave. I found it interesting that I was so inrtrigued by this video even though there was only a murmour of noise in the background and not many images that appear upon the screen-atypical of films/videos that I watch for pleasure.
2. Houndstooth II by Gary Peploe includes two computer screens which were positioned next to each other. There where cars on each of the screens and dialogue revealing a converstaion between each of the computer screens. This piece is fascinating in the way that it provokes various questions in which the viewer (I) wanted to seek the answers to, including: Is it the two screens that are meant to be having the conversation or the subject matter upon the screens? What is the idea behing the actual context of the conversation and the installation piece its self? It the piece highlighting/symbolising communiaction between particular cultures, societies?
3. Dark Blue by Yin-Ling Chen Digital Video-consists of images taken outside Chen's window in the beginning of 2008. Within this video you can see a tree slowly changing-leaves appearing and falling and the change in lighting. I liked the way that it focused on one particular tree and documented it's change. There was music present aswell as the images-the deep, low sounds reminded me of music that is present within horror films. The darkness during someone of the silm highligted this spooky feeling and the deep blues of the landscape were meant to reflect the artis's sombre feelings at the time.

Liverpool trip activity-how to analysis an image!!

(30/10/08) Within small groups which also included the 2nd year Interactive Arts students we had to decide on an a painting/installation/mixed media piece etc. that one of us had seen during the Liverpool trip that we could analysis. The image that we decided upon was the Queen and Country installation by Steve McQueen. We had to come up with 10 questions that we thought of when looking at the installation and then try and answer the questions. This was a similar activity to what we did while in Liverpool however it was great to be able to work in a group and see the differences in the questions that were thought of. There was a variation in questions especially since some members of the group hadn't actually seen the installation while in Liverpool and where curious to find out more from the person within the group who had actually seem the piece.
Below are the questions that we came up with:

1. How much did it cost to make?
2. (Question for Steve McQueen) Are you satisfied with the final outcome?
3. Is the piece on going and never finished?
4. How did Steve McQueen make the cabinet-was he personally invlolved in the making of the cabinet-did he get a joiner?
5. How long did tyhe piece take to complete from start to finish?
6. How did the artist get the opportunity to make this piece?
7. How did the artist get the opportunity to exhibit this piece?
8. (Question for Steve McQueen) How did you feel emotionally while making this piece?
9. How has this piece been recieved by the public?
10. (Question for Steve McQueen) H0w confident are you that the 'Stamp Idea' will come into fruition?

We were unable to find out the answers to all of the questions as some of them would be unabled to be answered unless we were to speak to Steve McQueen and with these questions we can only guess the answers.

3. Yes, this is a working progress-one which will continue until Britain's current involvement in Iraq ceases and all breaved families have been invited to collaborate.

5. After he went to Iraq in 2003 till April 2007 which was his last entry (cabinet)

6. Imperial War Museum-Manchester International Festival.

7. Courtesy of the Art Fund.

10. It is my hope that one day these portraits will be made into stamps and in this way will enter the life and blood of the country.

This activity that we did was really interesting as when I previously analysed pieces of artwork I just looked at them and talked only about what I noticed straight away. By thinking of questions about the piece of artwork that you are analysing and then trying to seek the answers makes you think ablot more about the image and it encourages you to look at other sourecs in order to find out the answers: internet and books . It therefore broaders your knowledge on that particular piece.