Placement Day 2

Thursday 14^th February 2019 

10.30-12.00pm

Today was a quick session, considering I had to go to an artist talk at university by the lovely Rosalie Schweiker at 12.15pm. Before I arrived at Airspace, Charlotte and Glen finished the painting job that was left the day before.

Charlotte within her work as well as exhibiting hand-made bollards, she has a projection. Knowing that the day light will affect the projection, she considered ways to make the screen visible (whether having it on the wall or some fabric). She then decided to go to the local fabric shop, Abakhan, and pick out some fabric which could enhance the projection. I tagged along to familiarize myself with how curatorial challenges can be tackled and to help her decide what could work best. Abakhan has a variety of fabrics, gradient of each colour, vast selection of materials, from the smoothness of velvet to nice and firm denim. I've done some research in the past on the best colour and material to project on, which was really useful when it came to helping her select. She then proposed to split up and have a wonder through the fabrics: I came across two that could perhaps be of interest. One was a black out fabric, usually used for curtains to block the sunlight, which had a black side and a cream side. I used my phone torch as my projector light mimic to see how well the fabric would absorb the light, as Charlotte didn't want a material that would make the projection leak through. The second one was a beige fabric that had a soft white lining, it also absorbed the light quite nicely. Once me and Charlotte met again, she showed me what she found (canvas-like fabric) and I showed her mine; she was quite happy with my finds and we took the rolls of material to get a meter cut off from each.

Back to Airspace we did not hesitate to see which fabric would make it to the exhibition! Charlotte poked some holes on the top two corners of the three materials and fed some string through them. We tied the strings to the light supporting rods and stepped back to see the resolution. We repeated the step for each fabric and took some pictures to compare them. In the end they all did the job! They all managed to do what Charlotte wanted, so now it was down to decide..which one? 

Charlotte called Glen to forward the discussion of hanging fabric or to just use the wall. She was then talking about her visions: how she would like the fabric to be hung from a string or wire and be held by metal clips or attach it to some wood (top and bottom) and have down to the floor, swaying. Her ideas were concentrated on the industrial side of her work. A conversation started happening in terms of the positioning and material and if the use of them would either enhance or detract from the original concept.

As it was time for me to go to university, Glen offered to give me a lift  since he is a very loyal artist talk 'goer' himself. I had the luxury to ride on the passenger seat of a white van! This also gave me an opportunity to get to know Glen a bit more and his role at Airspace. He mentioned that Airspace is artist-led and he is part of the management. Him and the team design exhibitions and pay artists, they do not sell work as they are not commercial. While being at Airspace you get the chance to rent a studio room, participate in workshops and engage in artist talks. I learnt that, if necessarily, the Art Council could support with some funding, so I think its good to know that you have the support from the local authorities.

This session definitely allowed me to communicate more and open up with Charlotte and Glen, which in a way has made the go very smoothly.