Crossing boundaries ...

I spent the bank holiday weekend camping in Wales with my husband-to-be, which is something I haven't done since I was a child! Apart from the first day when we put up the tent where it was windy and rainy, we were lucky enough to have some really nice weather. We did loads of walking along the coast and the beaches as we were on a peninsula going through Morfa Nevyn, Pwllheli, Criccieth and Caernarfon.

We also went to Rabbit Farm on our way to Criccieth which had some really cute baby pigmy goats and alpacas! It was really nice not to have my mobile or any access to the internet for a few days and a really nice feeling to know that I was leaving everything in my tent when we went off for the day knowing everything was there when we came back! On the last night we had a BBQ and a fire on the beach accompanied by a glass of red wine watching the sun set ...

After returning home from my trip I have been staying in Chester with my family and noticed these two chaps in my parent's front garden!! I had to include a picture because it was really random ... the nearest water is the River Dee which is a good mile or so away so I guess they had been flying and needed a rest. They seemed a bit disorientated and spent the evening wandering around the garden and dozing. I gave them a bowl of water and some bread which they quickly devoured and then carried on their journey!

On Wednesday I attended the Crossing Boundaries Symposium in London at the Royal Geographical Society in association with Insitute of International Visual Arts which explored concepts of mapping and the interstices of cultural geographies, social geographies and the visual arts; blurring the boundaries of science and art. The symposium explored new approaches to mapping; counter-cartographies, repositioning, fragmentation and space, connectedness and the world as a multi-layered space. There was a fantastic key note by Professor Irit Rogoff who discussed cultural and visual socio-political re-mapping, language and the representation of a multiplicity of experiences.

The symposium ran alongside an exhibition at the RGS called Creative Compass and the Whose map is it? new mapping by artists exhibition at InIVA. I really liked Agnes Poitevin-Navarre's work and her 'Proustian Map of London' which was part of the Creative Compass exhibition. Mapping is a concept that I am particularly intersted in my own research but has not been explicity and critically examined in arts practice; I think I am more interested in it as a process rather than as representations of map-making. I also had a quick gander around the RGS library which was amazing ... there were maps that were around 800 years old written in latin and hand-made maps that included beautiful and ornate drawings as well. 

It was a really interesting and thought provoking day in which I met a lot of interesting people. After the symposium, I had to make the most of the beautiful weather and after a quick look in the Serpentine

Gallery, sat in Hyde Park writing my research diary and reflecting on the day; disseminating the many thoughts that I had.

Methodologies, sunsets and surprise gifts

I attended the bi-annual saturday conference at BIAD yesterday which is for the staff and research students across the Art & Design faculties there. The conference focused on methodology, which is something that is particularly important in my own research. I thought it was really interesting to discuss how method and methodology can emerge as the research unfolds academically; particularly in relation to epistemology and how theory and methodology can be constructed as you go and develop implicitly through experience and gaining knowledge. I think this is particularly important in art and design and particularly my own research which is grounded in notions of perfomativity and ideas unfolding and emerging in alternative spaces. I have also been asked to deliver a session to PhD students in the next academic year about methodology as part of the Postgraduate Certificate in Recearch Methods in Art & Design course that I took in 2008 at the start of my PhD which is both scary and exciting!

Making the most of the beautiful weather I went for a lovely walk in Cannock Chase on Saturday evening as the sun was setting. I saw loads of deer and rabbits as well! I really appreciate being able to go for country 

strolls yet being so near cities such as Birmingham and Manchester.

I finally completed a handmade book with photos that I took of my cousin-in-laws-to-be Nick and Suzy's wedding. They got married in March and I took some really nice photos and had been meaning to make

         

    

them a handmade book with a selection of photos for ages ... as it took about three full days to fully make, I became quite attached to it, but have now sent it off to them as a surprise! I think the photos of the book itself looks quite nice against my Cath Kidston tablecloth!!

Back in the game ...

Wow! It's been a while since I last wrote ... one of those periods where so much has gone on, that writing my blog has kind of taken a back seat for a bit. I had a great time in Germany at Easter and then back to reality as I began teaching the last term of the academic year at College and the last leg of my PGCE alongside keeping up to date with my PhD. I've finally handed in my PGCE now, yey! I'm really looking forward to the Summer and being able to make some work and crack on with PhDness.

I went to Manchester the other week and had a really fab day catching up with my lovely sister Corinne. We went to the Northern Quarter and Afflecks Palace and it was really inspiring seeing all of the vintage clothes and being surrounded by so much 'alternative' stuff that you don't really find in Stafford.

I had to put in a picture of THE most delicious cake that we had. And of course, as I had a fresh ginger, carrot and apple juice, it was all part of a balanced diet!!

I feel now that I've handed in my work that my head is a bit clearer and I can make some more work and immerse my self in my research ...

Hidden treasures/Versteckte Schätze

Hidden away and waiting to be found. Little gems, collected through time; each object holding its own history. At the moment I am in Germany, visiting my lovely grandma! The house is like a little museum  ... full of surprises and quirky little treasures. I always feel at home here and love all the little knick-knacks around the around the house that I remember from when I was younger.

We have just had afternoon Kaffee und Kuchen and recovering after an epic overnight ferry journey from Hull to Rotterdam. I have a feeling that my week here will leave me refreshed and inspired and leave me in good stead for attacking my research when I return home ... 

Honesty is the best policy

I have been so overwhelmed with so much stuff to do that I haven't written for ages! Sometimes, you just have those periods where you get so caught up in everything that you forget the things that are really important to you. Simple things, like eating well and remembering to smile! Everyday when I have been walking to work, I have been noticing that the sun is shining ever so slightly more, the days are getting a bit longer and flowers are starting to bloom, spring-style! The more I was honest with myself, the more I noticed these small bits of beauty ... making me feel more inspired and comfortable with myself.

I have however, started to work into some paintings that I did a couple of years ago with colour and stretched some new canvases. Maybe it was getting caught up that helped me? The writing//painting balance is never at an equilibrium and more like a pendulum swinging one way to the next. At the moment, it's at the painting end and I'm quite excited about it ... so hopefully there'll be some images to follow ...

Wham!

Sometimes, things hit you, without the slightest bit of warning. There you are, minding your own business and then: WHAM! Whatever it is makes a remarkable impression on you; stopping you in your tracks. On Tuesday, whilst I was in Birmingham doing some PhD research before attending an evening lecture by Elspeth Kidd on Queer Theory, I decided, purely by instinct to visit the Waterhall Gallery, part of BMAG to see what was on. Part of me didn't want to; I remember checking out on the internet what was on in Birmingham and nothing in particular sticking out as something I must see. Yet, I was compelled to wander in. At first, I thought ... oh, it's only a Bridget Riley exhibition, nothing particularly special, but I'll have a wander around anyway ... and there it was:

" You cannot deal with thought directly outside of practice as a painter, doing is essential in order to find out what form your thought takes"

A quote, totally out of the blue, that made an unmistakable impression on me. Her quote made me think of the process of painting and the complex dialogue between doing and thinking and then reflecting and re-reflecting; a continuous cycle that is often so hard to articulate whilst in the midst of making/painting. She also describes the process of painting as including 'colour events' where she organises certain colours and their physical relation to each other on the canvas to create 'colour reactions' that trigger sudden bursts of colour and different experiences for the viewer. The more I thought about it, the more I admired her - a nearly 80 year old female abstract painter, who had iconic status in twentieth century Modern Abstract painting.

I was mostly struck by her piece 'Red on Red' (2007) and the colours and composition. Unfortunately, I wasn't allowed to take pictures in the gallery itself and even with the greatest stealth and avoidance of invigilators I've had to photograph the exhibition catalogue. The work itself is huge and its presence seems to overwhelm the viewer. The piece is technical and precise, and the process that it used to make it reflects this; being tested on graph paper or coloured shapes of paper that are moved around to 'test' the composition.

I've actually had a really productive week this week : ) Ive also found a video of my textstallation piece but I'm not really sure how to put it on here so I'm working on it ... At the moment, Ive been doing loads of reading about l’écriture féminine which is kind of framework for my research.

I started off researching it in depth and then linking everything to it to create my literature review etc, but Ive decided to start to re-delve back into it to see what connections (and re-connections) I can find. Although a vague plan of what I'm doing, I really wanted to let everything emerge and evolve quite organically, cyclically and relationally.

I also went to the private view of show \"home\" at the Air Space Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent which my PIC Rachel Marsden has curated. The exhibition is on until the 27th March and definately well worth visiting! It

is an exhibition of artists of South Asian descent exploring self-identity, locality, foreignness and origin and includes an exciting mix of work including video and installation. In the exhibition catalogue, Bassam Huaan interestingly talks about how a sense of otherness does not necessarily just exist between different cultures but within a culture, exploring multiple identities.

I also just HAD to take a photo of these amazing mittens that were given to Rachel by Georgie Vinsun. They are beautiful (and are uber comfy as I am modelling them in the photo!). Whilst I was in Canada over Christmas I started to knit again ... although still limited to squares/rectangles, I learnt how how knit lace and also decrease/increase. My aim this year was to knit a cardi and seeing Georgie's fantaastic mittens has inpired me to do it sooner rather than later!

I was sent this really lovely collection of poems from my friend Georgina Barney for my engagement - it is so beautiful

and has poems from Shakepeare and other poets. This is taken from one of my favourites by Stevie Smith:

I like to laugh and be happy
With a beautiful beautiful kiss,
I tell you, in all the world
There is no bliss like this.

Also, just some nice news to finish off ... and in keeping with the theme of LOVE. Ive just found out that my lovely friend Shell has just got engaged!!! Massive congratulations to the future Mr and Mrs Nicholls! : )

Glittery lights and engagements ...

I feel so far with my PhD that Ive kind of been bumbling along, cruising at a steady 20mph with the odd bit of accelaration and an intense journey; indulging in various bouts of binge writing. At the moment, that binge writing is in process ... I can't put the pen down and all I'm thinking about is writing, writing, writing! I'm still waiting to hear back about my PhD registration for my research - writing//painting; l’écriture féminine and difference in the making. The registration is the actual process where the research has to be registered with the academic research panel at the university so I still have my fingers (and toes) crossed!

I went on a trip, last week with the Art Foundation students at College, to Manchester for the day (I love going on college trips). I had a quick peek at the last exhibition at the URBIS and at a smaller gallery called the 'Cube' and then visited my sister Corinne at Manchester Met Uni who is in her third year of the BA (hons) Embroidery degree : ) I have only seen Corinne's work when she was on her Foundation course and was really looking forward to seeing her uni work! She's been working on drawings and paper-based/sketchbook work looking at illustration in children's books that have a slightly darker element to them such as Little Red Riding Hood and Hansel and Gretel before starting to create embroidery into them. Check them out! They are beautiful when you see them in person.

 

 

I also saw some really interesting work by other students when I was walking through the stuidios that explored text and made me think about the materiality of text itself and how it can become sculptural ... I know after the textstallation I did at BIAD, I have to visually push the boundaries of making that explores the interconnections of writing and painting.

I treated myself to a ride on the big wheel there as well and it was really nice to sit back and watch the busy city life underneath me. As I was wondering back to the coach, I also had a look at the cathedral. I absolutely love really old churches and I think the detail in them is so beautiful, but what struck me about the Manchester Cathedral was the brightness of the colours in the stained-glass windows and the scale of them when it was so grey outside.

Also this week Ive received an amazing proposal ... usually I would probably be writing about news of an exhibition or writing proposal, however this one is even more amazing. It was totally unexpected and particularly emotional as it was a down on one knee and will you marry me proposal! And for those of you who are wondering, I said yes : )