Hand in your journals:
to the blue bins in Geoffrey Manton UNLESS you are submitting anything larger than A4 then you MUST, MUST hand your work in to the COURSE WORK RECEIPTING OFFICE in room 114 GM. This is in case larger items block up the bins.
The cover sheet, complete with correct date can be downloaded from http://coursework.mmu.ac.uk
The COURSE WORK RECEIPTING OFFICE will be open between 9.30am and 4.30 pm, but the staff may be away for short periods due to operational necessities, etc.
The BLUE BINS will be available until 5pm.
Good luck and remember the motto for this week is KEEP IT IN PERSPECTIVE!!!
The next reading group will be in the Interactive Arts studio on Wednesday 9th May at 3.30 pm. We will be reading Chapter 2 of the Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire. I also suggested that since this is quite short you could have a look at Chapter 3 if you have time.
here is a link to a blog with a pdf of the book: http://libcom.org/library/pedagogy-oppressed-paulo-freire
All Welcome (especially all those with home made cakes!)
I have put together the following FAQ about the Journals. I will add to it if anyone asks any questions that aren’t here already so check the space for updates.
Please also see Phoebe or Faye about your journals and bring them to any tutorials you have with me as well.
Please check the blog for the journal handout which has descriptions and the check list of what needs to be in it.
Remember each journal is a reflection of who you are and you are ALL different.
If in doubt ask!
How long should the journal be?
The word count is a guideline, so use your common sense. Remember we are asking for this journal to be professional and well edited.
How long should the project evaluations be?
We have asked for 2 project evaluations. I really don’t think they need to be longer than a 1000 words each and they could be a lot shorter. You could use bullet points, a timeline and the captioned visuals to help you tell the story.
How long should the contextual research section be?
Again I suggested 1000 words, but use your common sense here too. Remember you are being asked for the narrative of your contextual research ‘journey’ not a review of every single thing you have looked at. We want to know what you covered and why and the highlights of this. Pick out the things that were significant to you and explain why. We are more interested in what things mean to you, what you learned from them, how they influenced your ideas, rather than an in depth account of a visit to a gallery, or the whole story of a film.You can summarise everything in a list of sources (like a bibliography but you could include books, alongside exhibitions, films, artists, lectures, things you have observed, ideas, philosophers, inventions etc etc. but don’t just stick things in for the sake of it. It is quality and critical thinking that in the end that matters.
What is contextual research?
Particularly for Interactive Arts students this can be very wide area, and depends on each individual practice. For some of you this might not involve artists or exhibitions at all, and for others this will form the bulk of your contextual research. Most of you will have a mixture of things.
What did you mean by design and visuals?
These are things we will look out for when we mark your journal. You should include visuals and you can spend more or less time on the design of your journal. Remember that the design can enhance the experience of reading the journal and can make it more enjoyable for you to look back on but in the end it is the content that you need to focus on first.
What kind of form can I fill in for the Professional Research section?
The form should be for a job or opportunity that is in your creative field (not Burger King etc). It should require you to present yourself and explain in detail why you want the opportunity, write an artistic statement, proposal, funding or bursary application or something else that challenges you to think. I am really keen that you use this opportunity to do something that will be helpful to you in the future rather than ticking a box. Think about how this works for you.
What is the portfolio?
This will be different things for different people. It could be a showreel or website or blog or a presentation booklet (or indeed a portfolio case) which includes a selection of your work. This would be the most successful work and an edited selection at that. On the whole this would be documentation rather than original work, although in some cases there won’t be any difference so you will need to use your judgement about this. BUT please don’t submit lots of valuable originals. The portfolio sums up your best achievements and would be appropriate for the industry or context you wish to be part of or want to address with your work. Consider this as something you would take to a gallery, a masters interview or show a client.
Some tips:
- Look for examples of artists statements, exhibition and funding proposals etc on the internet. Sam found this artist statement website useful: http://www.mollygordon.com/resources/marketingresources/artstatemt/
- Print out your journal work in progress so you can check it: get yourselves a red pen! This will help you to avoid repetition and give you more of a sense of what it is like for someone else to read it.
- In your artists statements: avoid feeling like you have to take the reader all the way back to the beginning of time (eg when I was in my high chair I played with finger paints). Edit out things that anyone in your position would say (eg I have a passion for art). Try to focus on the exciting, quirky, unique things that make your practice stand out. Also see my previous post about the statement.
Monday Meetings
16th April, 23rd April & 30th April all at at 1.30
After 30th you will be notified of days, times and venues.
Journal Hand in
4th May 4pm
BANK HOLIDAYS:
Monday 7th May
Monday 4th and Tuesday 5th June
Get Out of Studio Day
TBC
Move into Holden
TBC
Assessments
Thursday 31st May, Friday 1st June, Wednesday 6th June, Thursday 7th June & Friday 8th June
Degree Show Opens
TBC Friday 15th June
Show Closes & Work Must be Removed
TBC Wednesday 20th June
End of Term
Friday 22nd June
After a one week gap film club is back with a special screening.
See you at 12 noon in Chatham room 101 this Friday 23rd March
For more info have a look at http://www.enjoypoverty.com/
To mark the end of term we will hold a final knit in. We have a guest, who is Katie Barnes mother, who will be doing a demonstration for us.
Bring your work in progress.
Meet at 12 in the Holden Cafe, this Thursday 22nd March.
Here is a brief list of do’s and don’ts for artists statements (we talked about this on Monday last week):
- DO check and correct spelling.
- DO keep it short.
- DO write about your current practice or project. This makes it easier to focus your writing.
- DO write or adapt statements for different purposes and keep changing the statement as your work evolves.
- DON’T exceed a word count if you are given it.
- DON’T use jargon!
- DON’T be chatty, pompous, patronising or obscure!
- DON’T over-explain or hype your work!
- DO write in the first person.
- DO consider your reader/audience and the conversation you want to have with them.
- DO write for GENERAL READERS (not specialists!) who have never seen your work.
- DO use the artists statement as a chance to reflect on your practice.
- DO have fun writing your statement, get friends involved, get opinions, be creative!
- Finally, DO read and review other artists statements to see what you think works.
There are plenty of resources online about writing statements. Be discerning when using these resources.
Here is a good example of what not to do: http://www.artybollocks.com/
And a fine illustration of the pitfalls: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v8DbLWAXvU
Not far to go for this show of Rapid Prototype sculpture, hosted by MIRIAD, in the Righton Building until the end of April.
Holmfirth Arts Festival 2012 Open Calls for Proposals
* Call for Temporary Empty Shop Projects
* Call for Silent Short Films
* Call for Musicians & Sound Artists to Live Score Silent Film Night
* Call for Artists’ Books & Zines
* Call for Zine Library / Book Stand Commission
All deadlines: 30 April 2012
There is more information about this on MOODLE
