Julie James-Turner

black on black

Ive been experimenting with different shades of black thread on black taffeta, to create digitally embroidered feathers but there is black and then there is black! Threads look very different tones of black in different lighting. So after contacting Maddie Ive decided to go for a set of three tones of black for the embroidery. 

Ive also made a prototype for the glove.

 My idea has evolved from the poem and been inspired by black crows messengers of the afterlife. There is so much symbolism attached to crows they are fascinating creatures.

Laura Wake - Final 6

Here are the final six images to be exhibited  alongside my sound piece! They will be labeled in roman numerals from I-VI. The order of which will be decided when I hang them. The sound piece will also have 6 second gaps to tie in with the theme of "Six" ( 6 sides of a dice/chance etc) The sound will be played on a tape player through a usb which contains the clipped/cut and mixed sound taken from the original tape.

Maddie Smith- Decisions around the beachut

I am struggling with the beach hut. I am working into it bit by bit in short bursts that last less then an hour. I am struggling with the positioning of it and have played around with this. I feel it might need to be taller. I am seeking outside advice.

I have thought about laying it down and resting it the box. This suggests a brokenness. I'm not sure if this is what I am going for, although it does create a certain tension.

I have to think. Do I want create a more peaceful sculpture? The box of painful memories sitting by the sea, resting. Or do I want to think about this tension created by a more dismantled beach hut, that almost suggests a threat?

Julie James-Turner - Starting on my next piece of work

So Ive started pondering my next piece of work, which is also in response to my original poem 'Song'. I'm fascinated by black crows and am pondering how I can convey a sense of their mysteriousness and their symbolic link to the afterlife.

So far Ive digitally embroidered feathers on crisp black taffeta, a fabric often used in Victorian mourning garments. Ive used different shades of black thread and broken the colour within the same feather to suggest the sheen on black feathers.

 

Julie James-Turner - Five Dresses

Maddie Smith- Poem and analysis of materials

This poem explores the therapeutic concept of "Boxing it". Putting painful memories away and choosing not to deal with them in the present time.

This poem has become the inspiration for my installation.

 

She wove roses around it

This box is made up of pieces of driftwood,

A broken pallet,
Scattered in sand,

It is ragged and worn,
Like the years it tore her, the years it drove her to drink.

This box is made up of pieces of driftwood ,
Containing a dress of regrets.
A scar that is healing with each breath of the hour ,
Weighted words spoken on dark, smoky nights.

It once was a wound that she wore on her shoulder,
That ouzed out to people that she tried to love.

She wove roses around it,
And wrapped it in ribbons,
And left it to sit by the shore, by the sea.


Analysis of materials-

Roses- symbol of love. Dying roses (roses will be wove around my installation and left to decompose) time passing, death, but comfort in death- the end of suffering, healing.

Sand- time passing, grains of sand passing through an hour glass, gritty, sometimes soft.

Driftwood, broken pallets- aged, weathered, carrying something with you for a long time.

Ribbons- White? (Still undecided on colour) bandages, healing, extra protection.

This installation overall explores an attempt to create beauty out of something painful, but also to protect it, keep it safe.

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Thaleia Kavvada - Video post-production

I’m currently working on the post-production of the video for my primary piece. I shot several videos depicting different backgrounds/environments, changing the lighting in order to achieve a projection result as realistic as possible.

Although my initial idea was to have a woman sitting on a rocking chair reading the poem,

I ended up with this...

And after a couple of hours experimenting with various actions and movements, I decided to have the actor walking around the space.

I then had to find the lighting that would give my projected video the most realistic effect.

While projecting the videos on the curtain, it was clear that the most effective one was the one with the strong light towards the curtain. But in terms of the aesthetics of the image, I prefer the one with the floor lamp and the rocking chair at the background. So I decided to go for that one. At the moment, I am working on Premiere editing the video, a still of which in its current form is this:

Laura Wake - Newcastle

Had a flying visit to newcastle today to grab some shots for my double exposures - beautiful day - very quickly edited - now to combine them with some portraits.

Laura Wake - Further experiments with double exposures

Some more experimenting with self portraits and the 6 different locations

Top to Bottom 

Lake District

Lake District

London

Pulborough

The last image was an experiment with colour which i don't think works very well  as it seems too distracting- confirming I am going to keep the images black and white throughout the series.  The Second image is too light and does not bring the silhouette of the portrait out enough. I quite like the other two but don't particularly like the portrait staring back at the viewer. I still prefer the overall look of the image from my last post. More experimenting needed!

Maddie Smith- Building the beach hut and the box

I made some adjustments to my idea of suspending an arch like beach hut, following a visit to the gallery. I have decided to work instead with half a beach hut that works as a suggestion and is free standing.

I am also continue to work on the box and am attaching driftwood.

Julie James-Turner Work in progress

Working hard on my art piece.  I underestimated the amount of dyed lace I would need to use as a decorative organic style trim, so I have been really busy creating much more. I’ve also found I’ve needed to over dye the lace as I haven’t achieved the colours I wanted with the first application. I’m now happy with the colours achieved and have started applying the lace to the garments’. I want each garment to be slightly different, but it is a balance of differences and similarities.

I also need to decide on structure, specifically the seam in the shoulders when the garments are hung, this is important as I want to retain a softness and fluidity of drape that is a unique quality of textiles. But I need the garment to retain its shape and form or I will loose the reference to a figure.

Thaleia Kavvada - Poem Selection

Preveza

Death are the crows that bash themselves

against the black walls and the tiles,

death the women, who are being loved

as if they were peeling onions.

Death the dirty, insignificant streets

with their big, glorious names,

the olive grove, behind the sea, and even

the sun, death within the deaths.

Death the police officer who is folding

to weigh an “insufficient”portion,

death the hyacinths on the balcony,

and the teacher with the newspaper.

Base, Guard, Sixty-soldier Unit of Preveza.

On Sunday we’ll listen to the band.

I got a bankbook

first deposit drachmas thirty.

Walking slowly along the quay,

“I exist?” you say, and then “you don’t exist!”

The ship is arriving. Flag raised.

Perhaps Mister Prefect is coming.

If only, amongst these men,

one died from disgust…

Silent, sorrowful, with humble manners,

we would all have fun at the funeral.

Kostas Karyotakis (1896-1928) is considered one of the most representative Greek poets of the 20^th century and one of the first to incorporate modernist themes in his work. His poetry conveys a great deal of imagery with traces of expressionism and surrealism, and reflects his existential, pessimistic and satirical tone. He killed himself in the Greek city of Preveza, shortly after writing the titular poem.

K. Karyotakis was working as a lawyer, on the control of land donations from the Greek state to refugees from Asia Minor War of 1922. His attempt to bring to light the corruption and squandering of money behind the programs providing care for refugees, had caused the rage of the then Minister of Welfare and led to his adverse posting to Preveza.

The poem displays an insistent, lilting epanaphora on the word Death, which stands at the beginning of several lines and sentences. It is shot through with a pungent awareness of the gallows, in the tiny mediocrity of life as the poet felt it. Mortality is measured against insignificant, black, bashing birds, or the town policeman checking a disputed weight; it is identified with futile street names, or the brass band on Sunday, a trifling sum of cash in a bankbook, the flowers on a balcony, a teacher reading his newspaper, the Prefect coming in by ferry.

The poet walks and wonders whether he exists, whether his life has any value or could count for something; questions that he answers himself with the overwhelming ascertainment that he does not exist!

Maddie Smith- Building the box

I am building a box, covered in broken pallets and driftwood. I will wrap ribbons around it and nail roses to it for the exhibition. I will scatter sand over the top of the sculpture. These roses will need to be replaced during the time of the exhibition but I will allow them to dry out to a degree.

I have plans to build a beach hut and have gathered some pallets.

I have some decisions to make as I build.

Do I want to experiment with colour or just use beachy coloured wood. What colours would I use in places? Blue? White? Do I want to use some stripy fabric on the inside of the beach hut. If I do it will probably be burnt into the wood.

Do I want one side of the beach hut lopsided?

I am a bit concerned about it looking an arch and for this reason will not be placing roses around it. I will experiment with scale.

I will probably be piecing the beach hut together in the gallery, unless I use collapsible fastenings.