Francis Alys 'Sometimes making something leads to nothing' - Reflective Practice

Interesting to see work by other artists, involving the medium of ice...
As part of a PhD presentation this week, I discovered this work of art by Francis Alys
'Sometimes making something leads to nothing' - the title in itself is intriguing, particularly when looking at storylines for animation, that allow the viewer to meditate on their own thoughts about transformation and loss.

I love that when the ice finally dissolves, as part of this moving installation, it's pooled water legacy is enjoyed by some fascinated and cheerful street kids.....

Who knew that could possibly be it's final destination or outcome....

Paradox of Praxis 1 (1997) is the record of an action carried out under the rubric of “sometimes making something leads to nothing.” For more than nine hours, Alÿs pushed a block of ice through the streets of Mexico City until it completely melted. And so for hour after hour he struggled with the quintessentially Minimal rectangular block until finally it was reduced to no more than an ice cube suitable for a whisky on the rocks, so small that he could casually kick it along the street.
http://francisalys.com/sometimes-making-something-leads-to-nothing/

Leon Morrocco - Sketch books - Inspiration and reflective practice

For part of this week I have been teaching the International Summer Short Course students and we've been looking at storyboarding, inspirational images and techniques, both with pencil drawings and today creating images using a graphics tablet.

Jan Johnson (Fullbright Scholar 2015-2016) at DJCAD came to the studio today with a copy of the sketch books of Leon Morrocco...I actually thought I was leafing through a real sketch book and kept checking my hands for pastel dust! Leon Morrocco's sketches were absolutely stunning; the pencil line in places was heavy and without any line weight variation, which only added to the confidence of his sketches and the colours were vivid and Mediterranean in feel, sometimes applied loosely with Guache and sometimes obviously matted with sticky oil pastel....the detail in some of the architecture, objects and people was intricate and brilliantly proportioned.... and I was mesmerized....so much so, that I bought a copy of his 2003 sketchbooks on Ebay at the first opportunity and  later headed for the art shop to buy a square chunky sketch book, a 4B pencil and some oil pastels....

And to top it off, I researched Leon Morrocco and this is his abridged biography:

Leon Morrocco was born in Edinburgh, the son of an artist with Italian roots. He studied at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, The Slade, and Edinburgh College of Art. In 1968 he won an Italian government scholarship to study at the Accademia di Brera in Milan. He was lecturer in drawing and Painting at Edinburgh College of Art from 1965-1968, and then took up a similar post at Glasgow School of Art from 1969 and 1979. 

In 1979 he moved to Australia as Head of the Department of Fine Art at the Chisholm Institute in Melbourne. He resigned in 1984 to devote all of his time to painting. 


INSPIRED!

The Glasgow Boys - Reflective Practice

The Glasgow Boys exhibition at the Kelvingrove Museum in Glasgow...

"The Glasgow Boys consisted of an informal association of some twenty artists; its main figures were William York Macgregor, Joseph Crawhall, George Henry, Edward Atkinson Hornel, Sir John Lavery and Arthur Melville"

Great examples of diffused and non direct lighting - and themes of community and life.
I was particularly by the light in the sky on the horizon...it brings an air of hope and continuing life to this sombre scene..
In fact, on reflection, I think it's the lighting in all of the following paintings that caught my interest...as despite whatever the mood of the scene, the lighting is joyful.

A Funeral Scene in the Highlands - James Guthrie

A Sunny Meadow - E A Walton

By the Findhorn - Alexander Mann

The Last Turning - James Paterson

Helensburgh - Lavery. Love this sunlight. This looks like a scene from the Waltons

Repairing the Bicycle - Barclay Pringle. Love the 'ghost' of the bike and how delicate the wheels are painted

Inspirational settings - The Hanoi Bike Shop Glasgow

Inspirational settings...

The Hanoi Bike Shop Glasgow...compact, high colourful, hot and aromatic!
What a great sense of community. The seating layout was compact and enabled easy conversation with our neighbours about what they were having...
Hot summer evening in Glasgow - with a visual and edible feast of colours and flavours....

Particularly amuzed by the exterior seating; which also seemed to bear witness to some lively conversation held by the overhead hairdriers...

Infographics and Infogasms - PhD...A worthwhile pursuit into the unknown

So an interesting week seeking advice and direction with regard to further research and the possibility of a PhD; all inspired by the 'Transformative Practice' Conference at DJCAD 6-7 June 2016. http://www.dundee.ac.uk/djcad/events/
The Keynote speakers Dr Sunil Manghani (University of Southampton) suggested that we take notes in the form of drawn 'infographics....this is the second time I have heard this phrase. The first being at Pecha Kucha a couple of weeks ago by speaker Reif Larsen
 http://www.reiflarsen.com/Reif_Larsen/%5B%28%28mechanism%29%29%5D.html

(Paraphrasing Larsen) "an INFOGASM  is information in an Infographic format....providing an immediate sense of 'Wow!!!!.I now understand EVERYTHING'....followed by an acute drop off coupled with "Wait...do I actually know ANYTHING?!!!"

Here are my infographic notes upon the breadth and depth to an Arts Phd....I love the image at the top of the jetty facing towards an unknown shore, with the caption "A Worthwhile Pursuit of the Unknown!"

The Benefits of Failure - JK Rowling. Reflective Practice

A came across this short speech by J K Rowling, speaking at the Harvard Commencement in 2011.

Speaking of personal failure as a rock bottom, and that how that rock bottom can be a transformative processs, providing a solid foundation for future growth and opportunity was inspiring.

It taps into the background idea and storyline inspiration for my current work in progress 'THAW'...

Intresting to observe the audience's expressions as they listen. I have noticed when discussing similar themes at the recent conference on 'Transformative Practice' at DJCAD, that the audience often nodded with private identification...

I am intrigued and excited to see where this reflective practice and research path leads.....

Tutoring International Students

I've been given the opportunity to tutor some international students, from Michigan USA, who are studying a short course in the Animation department of DJCAD, for the next four weeks.

First step was a tour around the building with Phillip Vaughan and then delivering their project brief; which is to create an animatic for a 1 - 2 minute animation.

The brief is open, with no guides or restrictions, which will encourage them to define their own ideas and reveal their imagination.

After a good session of brainstorming a natural opportunity for a 'creative break' presented itself. Krish, shown in the foreground below, is currently shooting his final film.

One of our international students, Emily, found herself in the lead girl role! They all got 'live' experience and witnessed, and participated with suggestions, for camera positions, set ups and shot continuity.

I love this image below...it looks so 'American high school'; with the lockers, stripy flooring and a casually dressed student wearing a back pack....

So day 1, has really broken the ice and provided some great bonding experiences with the current Masters students...

Looking forward to seeing their ideas nuggets pitch, this coming Tuesday!