MIMA- Middlesbrough Contemporary art-collage lecture ( Hamilton. Perry, elephant dung et al.......!!!!)

After a week incarcerated with my 20th century art text books felt it was time to experience the real thing, as well as attending a lecture to explain one aspect of the period-collage!!!!!

So I set off for Middlesbrough, to find the MIMA (Middlesbrough Institiute of Modern Art).  I found an unexpectedly spacious modern building, in the middle of a large expanse of green , near the Victorian gothic style town hall (a symbol of past civic pride and the taste of that period). Quite a difference from the last time I visited that part of town!!!

I spent the time before the lecture looking at the current exhibitions. Despite all  I've learnt,over the last few weeks, can't say I was impressed by the 'personal' images produced by Ben Nicholson, apparently 'one of the major figures of British Modernism'....... I did, however, stand in awe of the technical skill and tenacity of 'nationally recognised' local artist Richard Forster. He had produced amazingly accurate pencil drawings of  photographs he has taken of the shoreline at Saltburn and the construction of Bauhaus designs in Germany.

The lecturer, Dr. Anderson, took us on a bright and breezy whistle stop tour of COLLAGE in the 20th century.  With its roots in Print room decoration (lovely local one at Rokeby Hall if you like that kind of thing-I do, probably more than Moderism!!!) and Victorian scrap book making, it came into it's own in the 20th century. It peaked twice in popularity and useage.Initially developed by the Cubists Bracht and Picasso, it was taken on in the early part of the century by the Dadists for political means. Later it was again used extensively by the Post Modern Pop artists to raise questions about art and current concerns such as feminism.

Having briefly looked at the main exhibition of collage art- Transformer and Receiver, prior to the lecture I returned for another view, with the benefit of insights provided by the lecture. Must admit, although most not at all to my personal taste, it was interesting in its diversity, (film, printed banners, Grayson Perry vase, sculpture and many different kinds of traditional paper based collages, by many well known artists) as well as the varied messages the artworks were attempting to convey.

I think my personal favourite-if you can call it that, certainly wouldn't want it on my wall- was one which dealt with rape.  A large scale work, it consisted of about half a dozen coloured copies/replications of  famous past representations of women by the artist, under which were genuine newspaper articles, underneath those were simplistic sketches of articles and below those hand written transcriptions of rape accounts. I am sure the reason I took more time to 'look' was because one of the copies was a picture by the artist I researched for my dissertation. It gave me a new slant and made me think differently about the attitude of the original artist, as well as past viewers of art and representations of women. I guess successful art for me is that which engages us on a personal level, something that makes us stop and take notice rather than just walk on by........
The elephant dung picture (Pop corn) unsurprisingly left me cold, whatever it was trying to say!

Oh dear........think all that art speak is beginning to have an effect on my blogging ........................

'Six weeks' John Lewis-Stempel at the DLI

Having visited New College Durham, to attend my initial OU tutorial, I decided to go to a lecture at the DLI. I am ashamed to say it was my first visit to this small, beautifully located,modern museum, which is devoted to the history of the Durham Light Infantry (with an art gallery upstairs). I had been drawn finally to visit by reading a flier, which explained the 'Six Weeks' referred to the length of time a young officer was expected ton survive on average during the First World War.
With my background, interest in history and the war poets I was intrigued......

John Lewis-Stempel did not let me down. He made the trip to Durham worthwhile, with his very interesting account of the young men who volunteered  to serve as junior officers in the trenches during the First World War. He explained that every aspect of the public school education ensured they were both fit enough, as well as embued with all the attributes necessary to lead their men, despite minimal training, in the face of adversity. Classical schooling, the house system and sports all played their part in forming heroic young men who were willing to lay their lives down for their country. It also was the foundation for the unique bond and paternalism that existed between these young men, in their late teens, and their soldiers. As a result whole year groups from all the public schools in Britain, volunteered  endured horrific conditions and lasted for approximately six weeks before being either killed or maimed. By use of statistics, photograhs,poetry and extracts from letters John built up a sympathetic view of their predicament tempered with humour, to lift the sombre mood it produced.

I bought a copy of his book and will be using it as an escape, albeit sad one, from my challenging but very interesting 20th century art after I have finished reading about Effie's escape from a loveless marriage with Ruskin see previous post)

Modern v Victorian (Barnett Newman vThe model wife-Effie Gray)

Today is officially the first day of my course!!!

As I tried to get to grips with yet another 20th century artist (Barnett Newman),as well as  another art historians style of writing, a copy of 'The Model Wife', by Suzanne Fagence Cooper dropped through my letter box,courtesy of Amazons amaxingly efficient book service........ One sticky, long drawn out  20th cewntury art chapter later I was finally able to open my new book.......... and devoured three chapters in quick succession of the easily read and very interesting biography. Victorian won hands down!!!!!!!!!!!! Ruskin and Effie's doomed marriage and her subsequent marriage to Millais are set to be my guilty pleasure/light reading it seems!!!!!

However, I am now aware of what abstract expressionism was about,  as well as the place of readymades in 20th century art (Duchamp having been the subject of the previous equally dense but also interesting chapter) which can only be for the good!!!

OU course......beginning to get to grips.....

Despite a late application ( well about four days before the cut off) the OU -with the efficiency I remember from days gone by- has already got my box of goodies  delivered to my door. So, although the course doesn't officially start until October 1st, I have been grappling with Book 1 and Modernity/Modernism/avant-garde/extended fields/aesthetics etc. etc. for the past week or so. It is all proving to be very interesting and thought provoking. I am sure it will inform future gallery visits, as well as explaining much of the contemporary art I have been looking at over the years!

Had to smile as I read that many regard such as the 'emporer's new clothes.....that was exactly what someone had written in the comments book at the Damien Hirst print exhibition I visited at the Bowes in January!!!:-)

Pascale Hemery -french print artist's workshop at the Bowes Museum

Had great fun trying to produce lino prints at Bowes Museum today!!!!!

Pascale, a lovely french print artist, come to England, with her partner Luc, to take a workshop as part of the activities associated with the John P Eckblad 'Heart of Progress' exhibition. John a collector of imagery associated with industrial subject matter has a number of Pascales prints in his collection.

A room full of eager students, including a large french contingent, (consisting of members of John's family and friends) assembled at 10 am and began to create designs on an industrial theme. Having transferred them to lino we cut in to them and, after inking them up, produced large numbers of prints, with the help of Luc on the press!!!

Although I found it very much outside my comfort zone, being used to producing detailed fine line drawings, I really enjoyed myself. The medium isn't suited to fine detailed and so simple shapes/designs have to be created. So I made a simple factory scene with lines and stylised smoke. It looked very crude, on the lino, as I tried to carve out the lines for printing. Somehow the print looked ok!!!!!

I attended the session because I have wanted to try lino printing after seeing the beautiful prints on Mangleprints blog. I am even more impressed by them having had a go at the technique myself!!

I really enjoyed my day out. Pascale was a very good teacher,who was supported by a very enthusiastic , knowledgeable and helpful member of Bowes staff called Pauline. I met some very nice people, had a delicious lunch in the museum cafe, learnt a new technique and produced some 'art'. What more can one ask of a day?! Perfick!!!!!!

Blog fame!!!!!!!! THRILLED!!!!! (Bowes Museum, Naseem Darbey Exhibition)

Can't believe it....my blog entry about Naseem's beautiful exhibition has been given a link on the Bowes Museum official website!!!!!!!

When I recently contacted Naseem, about the possibility of attending one of her workshops, I told her I had written about her work and hoped she liked what I had written!! She liked it so much that she has given a copy to The Arts Council (who I think must have given her funding-very deseradly so in my opinion).  Today I discovered she must have also given it to The Boews Museum who have included it, as a link, at the bottom of their entry informing visitors about the exhibition.

I am thrilled!!!!! Firstly, because I am so pleased to help such a talented artist in any way I can ..... Secondly, because, as my very talented textile lecturer (claire.a.baker.blogspot.uk) will remember all to well, I was absolutely terrified at the prospect of setting up a blog for my PPF module. Like the 20th century Art History I am about to embark on, I felt the fear and did it anyway!!! In fact I became a bit of an addict. Although I have finished my degree and have not managed to do any design work since then I have continued to blog about Art subjects and events that I have found interesting.

So, for anyone out there contemplating blogging ....give it a try! If I can do it anybody can (after the initial registration it is incredibly easy. especially if you have used Facebook).  It has been a very rewarding experience :-)

OU Art of the twentieth century................

Can't believe it...have just committed to another year of being a student!!!!!!

Some years ago I did an Arts based OU general degree. For various reasons I did not carry on to Honours. Having enjoyed the academic side so much of my revent Textiles degree I decided to look at options available to me, including OU courses....To cut a long story short I am taking this third level course in order to continue my general to a higher level, as well as continuing to extend my  Art History essay writing skils-in order to be able to study for a higher level degree in the future. This was something that was only a possible option/on a back burner until I made various enquiries about various options and discovered I could only afford (just about) to do this THIS academic year due to fee increases. £2,500 for this module, in autumn 2012 puts it way out of my league

So with some trepidation, modern Art being very much outside my comfort zone I had to make a very quick decision to 'feel the fear and do it anyway'.  So much for a relaxed year following my artisic whims and extending my design portfolion (though still hope to keep my skills by doing drawings etc.) !!!!!!

Now the decision has been made and forms filled in I am beginning to feel excited, like I used to when studying abroad with the OU, waiting for all the lovely new and, hopefully, very interesting and thought provoking materials to arrive! I don't have to like a piece of Art to find it interesting and I do like Dali, Warhol and some of the modern artists work.....so fingers crossed I've made the right decision!!!!