Sunday 5 February 2012

Term 1: THE REVIEW/CRITIC _______

This week I have been gathering all of my work from Term 1 and preparing it for my Formative Review. 

Here is a picture of my little display:


I really enjoyed putting my display together. It almost felt professional haha....long wayyy off :) So, with Term 1 being assessed it has provided me with an opportunity to take stock of what I have achieved/learnt thus far.  Here goes...my honest and frank critic :/ eK! 



Signs, Symbols and Stories

This was my favourite project. I loved the brief and was thoroughly engrossed in my theme. I learnt that I have very strong research techniques and am able to challenge myself into a more diverse way of thinking i.e. interoperating the brief into more of a symbolic resolution than physical traits. Also, I learned that I am like a dog with a bone when it comes to something I like. I just keep going and going. In future, when I become excited about a project I feel it would be beneficial to take regular intervals to stop and concentrate on the direction the project is heading and what direction I want it to take.  This would ensure that I spent the majority of my time developing areas that were the strongest. Therefore, increasing my productivity in my development stage. 

All-in-all I am very pleased with my outcome for this project. I do not see it as a finished article and I am all most certain that I will revisit it in the future. To be cont... :)


X-School Project

Ah the lovely X-School Project. Esh... where to start. Lets start with the positive. I was challenged into working with a variety of different breads of Art students. It was interesting to meet people from different specialisms. It became an affirmation that I had chosen the right course. Each course has a certain type of folk that are attracted to it...lets just say I couldn't wait to be back at Skypark safe and sound with my fellow jewellers. I enjoyed the overall point in the project i.e. for us to think about our own artistic ethics. It made me think about how I want to practice once I graduate and how I view Art. I think art should be for everyone to enjoy. Hence, why I feel I would be more suited to a career in High St Jewellery, or community arts etc... I do not wish to be a gallery artist where the rich come to splash there cash. I want my designs to reach a much wider audience. It is important to learn these things now in order to aim/direct my designs to a particular audience. 

The negatives hmmm can I be frank? I personally do not feel that the project was delivered to the best of its ability. I understand FoCI had made changes this year i.e. instead of the group creating an object together, everyone makes an individual object. The group activity was to come up with a rationale. Lecturers were asking why no-one was using the space provided and simply it was much easier for us all to separate to make our pieces in our own workshops and then come together for the rationale. I think by taking away the group object it has provided a huge whole in the "group" mentality of the project. Also, no-one students and lecturers seemed to know what the outcome/criteria was meant to be. This lead to a lot of aimless discussions and very confused, stressed first year students. 

One thing that really annoyed me about this project was the grading system. It DID NOT state anywhere in the brief that the object created would have to be self explanatory. I received an overall grade - B2. The comment was,

"This wearable object suggests making connections, but the meaning is very subjective and open to mis-interpretation."

My object was meant to be subjective and open to and individuals interpretation. as far as I am concerned there was no right or wrong interpretation of my object. It was what anyone wanted it to mean, therefore impossible to be miss-interpretated. 

Most of the objects chosen to exhibit were books. Spoon fed art! If that is what they wanted, they should have stated it. The grading system should have been a PASS or FAIL. I hope FoCI ask for feedback as the idea of the project was good but delivery was poor. 

Overall feeling of this project...Glad it did it but never EVER want to do it again!


The Medal Project

The medal project was our first introduction to a live project. It gave the project a direct purpose and with the opportunity to win, it really up't everyone's game. We received a lecture via the British Arts Medal Society. It was really insightful and showed us how sought after art medals are. This is definitely a market that jewellers could tap into. 

I really liked my 'injection of nature' medal. However, I was unable to be cast into bronze because I had used a combination of clay and wax. I have learnt that when lost wax casting I really have two briefs to adhere too i.e. the brief from BAMS but also the limitations and requirements to cast successfully. Casting is more of a manufacturer method therefore pieces have to be designed with that in mind. Lesson learned! Must research the making process before finalising a design. But gutted my medal didn't cast. The silver lining is that I really enjoyed gathering my source material for this brief and I feel it could come in handy in the future.


49 Project 

Hmmmmm This was a Love/Hate project. Hated doing it but loved the outcome. I think I struggled with the repetitiveness and volume of work required. To create 49 pieces that were worthy of being put on show were a test and struggle. Most of my development stages are duds and never see the light of day. This project was kind of like displaying worst 'n' all. However, it made me re-think and observe drawings that I would usually dismiss. This proved very helpful as there was always some aspect of the pieces that would interest me which I could take on to develop. I have learned not to be so judgemental of my own work. Everything has merit and the majority of the time it is the little mistakes that guide me to the outcome. 


Text in Form

I really enjoyed this project. I was a little exhausted of working in paper from the previous project. This is reflected in my piece. This project broadened my understanding of Book Art and also highlighted that paper is a popular material used in jewellery design. 

I felt like I hadn't produced as much work for this brief as I had for all of the previous. This unsettled me and I looked for ways to develop my piece more. However, I really liked it the way it was and felt by developing it more it was becoming more of a hinderance. I have learnt that sometimes less is more and I should be more confident about my work. Quantity does not out weigh quality so I should let my work come to a natural end. 


Overall thoughts on Term 1

I think we have grown and bonded as a strong group. Even though it is not the most riveting experience thus far, I feel that we are being equipped with a strong foundation in design process. This will set in good stead when we move into Second Year. 

I am really looking forward to being in the studio on a Thursday during Term 2. :D 




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