Nina preparing her drawings and notes
We are heading back into project time. As we struggle to finish our bangles (our sample excercise for the term), we are all taking time with our head teacher Catherine Harrington to discuss our concept and ideas for our next project: an object inspired by postcards from the past. Our formal proposals and marquettes are due next week. We will be presenting our ideas as well, testing our public speaking capabilities... Yikes! Heavy emphasis is placed on proposal writing and presentation in this course and we are constantly reminded that these are as equally important as our hands-on skills to succeed as artists.We had been warned that second year will be harder than the first, but then, as first year students we thought how can that be possible? We're in the midst of it. And now we know.
So far this year has been a demanding and interesting journey. Through our sample excersices we have learnt how to use the hydraulic press to create shapes and textures we would have never dreamed of in first year. Our soldering skills have been pushed and elevated to understand and maneuver stick solder. If we ever thought we understood how to file, well, we know now what shallow knowledge we had. Ki has been sitting us at our desks for hours on end, teaching us how to flip our wrist, flex our muscles and understand the importance of our dear bench pins.
You don't really know Indigo 2 without knowing Ian
(but he refuses to be photographed)
Then we have been introduced to steel and welding. As I entered the welding room with my full Darth Vader gear on to tig weld my stainless steel cutlery, I thought, how did I end up here? Will I ever weld again in my life? As I was oxyacetylene welding samples with mild steel and sparks were hitting my face I was thinking, do I really need this? (both the skill and the experience). But everytime I am introduced to a new material and a new skill, a new world unfolds in front of my eyes. I will look at lighting fixtures, tableware, bicycles and various gadgets in a different light. Possibility of new jewellery pops in my mind with material I've never considered before. Glass specialisation class with Jane Morrisey invites us to explore yet another medium. Design computing class with Rik Juod teaches us the possibility of 3D modelling in the computer and casting our designs. There is an immense sea of combinations in materials and techniques. We are thrown out into the vast ocean. Where can we even start to explore? It feels like we are drowning in a sea of possibilities. Where should we place our focus? Then Catherine throws us a life jacket. She firmly but lovingly guides us to think conceptually and design with clarity and determination so we don't drown in the sea of possibilities. She shows us how to navigate our way through this knowledge so we can slowly but steadily understand where we stand. Hopefully, we will be proud owners of a strong ship that bears our names and owns a territory in the vast ocean that is unique and ours.
Then we have been introduced to steel and welding. As I entered the welding room with my full Darth Vader gear on to tig weld my stainless steel cutlery, I thought, how did I end up here? Will I ever weld again in my life? As I was oxyacetylene welding samples with mild steel and sparks were hitting my face I was thinking, do I really need this? (both the skill and the experience). But everytime I am introduced to a new material and a new skill, a new world unfolds in front of my eyes. I will look at lighting fixtures, tableware, bicycles and various gadgets in a different light. Possibility of new jewellery pops in my mind with material I've never considered before. Glass specialisation class with Jane Morrisey invites us to explore yet another medium. Design computing class with Rik Juod teaches us the possibility of 3D modelling in the computer and casting our designs. There is an immense sea of combinations in materials and techniques. We are thrown out into the vast ocean. Where can we even start to explore? It feels like we are drowning in a sea of possibilities. Where should we place our focus? Then Catherine throws us a life jacket. She firmly but lovingly guides us to think conceptually and design with clarity and determination so we don't drown in the sea of possibilities. She shows us how to navigate our way through this knowledge so we can slowly but steadily understand where we stand. Hopefully, we will be proud owners of a strong ship that bears our names and owns a territory in the vast ocean that is unique and ours.
Claire discussing her ideas with Catherine Harrington,
our Head of Department
2/3 of our lovely tool station staff, A Mi and Andrea,
who guide and support us through our voyage
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