The Bay Project

The Bay Project has moved...

2011-02-12T16:13:00.001-08:00

It can now be found here:

http://thebayproject.tumblr.com/

Thank you

Katie

It's here...

2009-05-20T12:35:00.000-07:00

It has finally arrived... I say 'finally' but I haven't really been waiting long at all. It's all rather exciting. My book is here! The one I spent about a trillion hours faffing over.

See you on the 19th of June when all will be revealed... Unless you're the examiner of my degree, and then, lucky, you get to see it on the 18th!

Drawing Two

2009-05-15T07:59:00.000-07:00

Drawing two is now complete. Hoorah! Well, it's at 95% which is what the aim was. Now I have just under five weeks to concentrate on the next drawing which is going to be a real challenge. I haven't got photos of the drawing in its completed state at the moment, only of it during the final stages on Wednesday when I NEARLY got it finished, but not quite.

Before

This was Wednesday morning. Most of it I wanted to leave the same as it was all working rather nicely, but I selected this particular part of the location for my composition as there is a section of the rocks that is sunk back, and can get so so dark at times. I wanted to recreate this in the piece, so the middle of this drawing is going to be the heart of the work, and the main focal area.

After

And this is how it looked after a good few hours at the drawing board... It's given it quite a bit more presence. I spent most of yesterday working on the drawing as a whole so that the viewer can appreciate the entire composition instead of being drawn in by the dark section. I didn't want it to detract too much from the rest of the piece, so I spent a number of hours ensuring it was really balanced. I forgot to take my camera with me though as I was super tired, and I tend to get complacent when tired. Will post some pictures of the 95% finished article next week... Back to the written work now. These evaluations won't write themselves.

Also, if anyone has any good suggestions on artists I should look up, please hit me up... Send me an email or whatever. Thanks.

10/05/09

2009-05-12T10:27:00.000-07:00

This is the best photo from my trip to the headland yesterday. I was laid on the ground when I took this, and it was really lovely. To me this epitomises Spring in my favourite place ever.

Drawing One

2009-05-12T10:04:00.000-07:00

I have very nearly finished drawing one. I've done pretty much everything that can be done to it at this stage. I'm going to take a couple of weeks out from it, and focus on the next two drawings I have under way, and will then return to it. I may need to add a little bit of surface detail here and there, but the bulk of the work is done. I'm quite happy with it too which is surprising considering about two weeks ago I wanted to set it on fire... Not sure if it will be a part of the degree show. We will have to see how other things progress. Here are some snaps...

In other non-related news, this warm weather needs to go away and take all its pollen with it. Also, The Autumn Film are amazing, and you should check them out. Three free EPs up on their site here. I seriously suggest you download them all, now. Now can someone please stop my Mum from singing to Queen... That is all...

Pebbles

2009-05-10T03:19:00.003-07:00

One of my favourite sub-projects that I have done during the course of this semester is scouring the beach for a variety of different pebbles. On February 18th I went down to the bay without any real purpose. I wanted to find something to do as it was a mild, still day, and they are the best for productivity. I walked around, taking things in, still none the wiser as to what I was actually doing there other than enjoying the atmosphere. After a while I noticed how incredible the branches of the hawthorn bush at the end of the bay looked against the grey winter sky. They almost looked black as they fell against the sullen backdrop. I took a photo, and began to think about the possibilities around me. I began to look for naturally occurring linear forms in the rocks near by. Lines that looked almost drawn. Possibly even something I could take influence from. It was then that I decided analysing pebbles would be the most interesting way of doing this. Pebbles are one of the key features of this bay, and as this is a thorough study of what can be found here it made sense to include a small project that would show them off. A couple of hours, and fifty photos later I was happy with the results. I also couldn't feel my fingers, so it was a good time to be happy with the results. You may be wondering why I am telling you this, but I have my reasons! Yesterday I finished the layout for a book of all these photographs, which I have ordered ready for the degree show! I am excited! I hope it turns out well. Fingers crossed. That is all.

Recommendations.

2009-04-14T14:16:00.000-07:00

I have been reading the most incredible book for the last week or so. It is so good that my brain can barely comprehend what it is taking in. It's difficult to explain, as I can understand every word of what I am reading (which is rare), yet at the same time the book absolutely messes with my mental boundaries... It completely blows me away. This book is far too big for my head, but in no way is it overly intellectual. Quite the opposite in fact. It is so beautifully human that it pains me sometimes. It is saddening, enlightening, and thought provoking to say the least.

Check out 'A Field Guide To Getting Lost' by Rebecca Solnit if you want to go on an epic journey. I think I have read two or three chapters and I have already been to places that I didn't know existed.

My other recommendation is the song 'Lakes Of Canada' by Stephanie Dosen. All I can say is woah.

Goodnight people.

Let me just add...

2009-04-05T14:39:00.000-07:00

this link

It almost follows on from what I was just saying. It's a good read.

Today

2009-04-05T13:11:00.000-07:00

Today I took a different approach to the headland. The very same route, just, a different approach. As petrol has gone back up AGAIN, and as I am soon to be out of work I decided to ride my bike to the location. I am slightly out of practice it must be said! The beauty of cycling is much like the beauty of walking. It exposes your senses to this new level of engagement that one can only achieve when out in the open air. There are many factors that are the same for both walking and cycling. Cycling is not as good however. It is still a bit quick... I suppose one could cycle slower, but where is the fun in that? Cycling also provides a slight detachment from the surface of the land. A barrier if you will. There is no barrier between you and the land when you are on foot, other than the soles of your shoes. No one says you have to wear shoes though...

On my bike I felt tired, but free. My legs ached, and my chest hurt, but was nice to feel free. It was nice to feel the sun, and the wind, and smell all the different smells that lingered in different places. I didn't really enjoy the smell of horse manure down the country lanes, but I suppose it's hit and miss as to whether you experience beautiful smells or ones you really could live without. My vision was flooded with new sights. You realise when you are travelling slower than usual that you actually miss so much. You are in a big car, travelling quickly through the landscape. You are concentrating on the road, trying not to crash in to other objects and people. There is no time to take things in. Besides, when you're in a car you are only exercising one sense when attempting to take things in. Seeing alone is not an experience. Seeing alone is boring...

I started reading 'Wanderlust' by Rebecca Solnit a couple of weeks ago now. I may have got distracted by another book or two that came through the post since then, (for your reference, these were 'A Field Guide To Getting Lost' by Rebecca Solnit too, and 'No One Belongs Here More Than You' by Miranda July) but after today gave me so much to think about I picked it up again. I think the whole purpose of this post is to share some of the quotes I have found with you. I have only read about six pages so far, but already I love this book, and get all giddy when I read something so very human, yet so very profound. I think 'Oh my, that is so simple, yet so completely brilliant! Why didn't I think of that?!'. I think I will post these in a reverse order of discovery.

When I think about driving my vehicle through places, this is the quote that seems most appropriate - 'Many people nowadays live in a series of interiors - home, car, gym, office, shops - disconnected from each other. On foot everything stays connected, for while walking one occupies the spaces between those interiors in the same way one occupies those interiors. One lives in the whole world rather than in interiors built up against it.' She writes this after telling the story of a friend of hers who had her van stolen. Everyone they knew thought it was a disaster, except for the woman whose van it was. 'There was a joy, she said, to finding that her body was adequate to get her where she was going, and it was a gift to develop a more tangible, concrete relationship to her neighbourhood...'

Actually, I will leave both you, and myself with these thoughts. Why is it that we lose this sense of being able? Why do we forget how to walk as soon as we get a car? Why do we let ourselves feel as though what our body has to offer us can't complete the task at hand properly? We are a complacent bunch...

Exhibition

2009-03-31T11:47:00.000-07:00

Hello.

Some of my work is currently on display at The Royal Oak in Bath. It's only a very small collection of photos and a few drawings which were produced with the exhibition in mind.

You will find the work, in here

It's really lovely. Being a non-drinker means pubs are really not my thing, but this place is so old and wonderful. It has real log fires, and old creaky wooden floors. You should check it out, if not for the work, at least for the building. And if you like beer, then you're all set.

Address and contact info can be found when you click the link provided.

I hope you enjoy it.

Neglected...

2009-03-31T11:40:00.000-07:00

I've realised that it has been months since I posted on this thing. Not really good enough, I'm sure you'll agree. I've decided with my degree show coming up, and the prospects of having to enter the big wide world looming ever nearer, I should get my act together with websites and blogs and things. This will be where I will do most of the updating as my html skills are very much below par. Fingers crossed to a website coming soon... Watch this space...

Look What The Tide Brought In.

2008-11-27T13:13:00.000-08:00

After an inspiring series of lectures on environmental concern, and what we as artists can do in order to make communities more aware of the issues we are facing, I decided this would be an interesting feature of my current site specific study.

Located on a stretch of coastline along the Bristol Channel, Sand Point unfortunately ends up gathering whatever detritus washes up on it's shores. Approximately ten miles across the water from Cardiff, the Severn Estuary distributes all sorts on these predominantly deserted beaches. Home to many species of birds, and other wildlife (including live stock), this beautiful headland requires no intervention from man. In the time I have spent there I have seen more rubbish in the form of flotsam and jetsam than I have from people actually visiting the land. At this time of year people are scarce, but rubbish is plenty...

Here are just a few of the objects I have found so far. This series were all taken on the 25th of November after I noticed the sheer abundance of debris scattered throughout the ever present ridge of seaweed...

Fishing Line and Float

This was nestled in the grass verge that surrounds the bay. Entangled with not only the grass, but also some seaweed, this fishing line, complete with float stood out due to the incredibly vibrant colours of the line. As much as it troubles me to find this sort of object just left around, I find it difficult to remove it. I know it is only a temporary part of the habitat, and of course it poses a threat to local wildlife, yet, I don't feel as if I have the right to interfere with the location by taking it out of there.

Wooden Gate

Probably the best piece of detritus I will ever find. I really wanted to claim it as my own, and take it home with me. This one object held so many narratives within it. It was all I could do to just stand there looking over it, and like a small child, I conjured up numerous tales in my head about where it was from, and what it's previous habitat was like. It was truly beautiful.

Beer Crate

One of the last things I would want to find in this picturesque setting, but such is life. The thing that caught my eye as I approached it was this text on the side. I was really hoping it would give me some clues as to where it had come from. Unfortunately, it did no such thing...

Welsh Whole Milk Carton

...And then I stumbled across this, and what I had previously hoped for was written there on the label. The Welsh Dragon was a bit of a give away too.

Parachute Man

This was the last thing I found that day, hidden amongst some rocks over to the left of the bay. I couldn't work out whether he had been washed up onto the shore, or dropped onto the beach from the cliff above. Either way, I'd be gutted if I were the kid that lost him!