Keep calm and carry on!

Hospital Corridor

Foiled glass (not soldered)

This has been a very busy week.  These deadlines always approach quicker than expected. I always find the amount of work leading up to Christmas very intense. I'm sometimes running to stand still.  I've been getting lots of textile materials together, choosing colours and textures. I've also made a macquette for my design lay out. It still needs some changes, but it does what I want it to do.  I'm starting some hand stitched, machine stitched, and free knitted samples this week. There are so many options I want to make sure I choose the best ones for my project.  I've also cut, smoothed and foiled some glass for another sample. I've got loads to do for this brief as it involves mixed media and textiles.  I visited the hospital to get an idea of position/light etc.  I now know that I want my work to be wall mounted.  I previously thought about hanging the work in front of a window, but I don't think that would be possible after viewing the space available. Health and safety laws might prevent the window areas from being used.  My next step is to cut the abstracted shapes for my design, and fix them into position on a  mounting board. I'm organising all the data for my essay which I've been collecting from various sources for a few months, and desperately trying to find time to finish two research books for the essay.

Colours for Project

FORGING AHEAD

Prussian Blue Dale Chihuly

My PLP has been approved without any amendments.  This allows me to proceed with my ideas and practical experimentation.  I have been looking at the work of glass artists this week, particularly Dale Chihuly, John Piper, and Frank LLoyd Wright. They differ greatly in style, but all utilise glass to great effect.  I have also looked at some modern, random glass triptyichs.  Dale Chihuly is my favourite of the ones mentioned.  His work is vibrant, full of movement and alive. His use of lighting with the glass is amazing.
These water droplets below are like glass beads sitting on the leaf. I like the reflections and light on them.  The honesty seeds remind me of the HIV virus image I have in my sketchbook. Enough glass, I could go on all day! One more comment---I love the way the fused glass is woven to create spaces. My next task is to start experimenting with various textiles, perspex and glass. Some samples will go in my sketchbook, others will be small macquettes.

Weaving with fused glass Dale Chihuly

Virus

Honesty seedheads

Water droplets on Hosta leaf

IST Brief of THIRD YEAR

We received our new brief this week-'Alive and Well', world aids day (1/12/13).My initial response has not been good. I couldn't get past the misery and death caused by aids. I'm glad to say that I have now moved on to the positive aspects such as huge improvements in the treatment and control of the condition, optimism for the future and 'happy' thoughts regarding patients and ways to lift their spirits.  I'm looking at the qualities of stained glass, light and reflections as well as bright colours. I have decided that what ever I do will be bright and comforting to the viewer.
I enjoyed our first lecture from David.  Although it was repeated from last year, I feel I absorbed the information better this time.  I wish I could say the same.about a book recommended by David (On Longing by Susan Stewart).  I've been reading it during the holidays, but I struggle with it sometimes, nevertheless I will continue until the end-- hopefully it will all become clearer by then.  Some examples of aids posters.  Food for thought!

5/9/13 http://baruchsbreeze.blogspot.co.uk/2012_07_01_archive.html     hug me poster   

5/9/13 http://www.avert.org/media-gallery/image-210-can-you-get-aids-from-a-toilet-seat-poster

5/9/13 http://evilcakehead.com/2012/09/06/edible-aids-awareness/

5/9/13 http://scepticemia.com/2012/12/01/world-aids-day-getting-to-zero/

5/9/13 http://healthfavo.com/hepatitis-a-virus-structure.html