TRACES Exhibition at Artgene

Been taking part with Signal Films, as one of 12 people, in a series of digital art photography workshops over the last couple of weeks.  Artist Rebecca Lupton, who is based is Manchester, ran the workshops.  The theme given was Traces with a view to Barrow and regeneration.  I decided to take photos along the 'old line' path that I used to cycle a lot.  The path has now been extended at the Buccleuch Dock end and at the other you can carry on to Roa Island. 

I took photos over 2 days, one day walking with Nic and Alex, using our compact camera, very sunny afternoon too.  The other using Signal Films Slr camera, it was an dull and overcast day with showers.  Photos from both days were used in the final selection for the exhibition.  I met people along the path and asked if I could take their picture and most obliged.  I also took detail shots of foliage and structures.  I liked the cross-over of Industrial and nature on the path and tried to capture that. 

Technically alot of my pictures could have been better with use of a tripod and setting it up better beforehand.  However, I was walking miles with a two year old and I often had to just take the photo quickly so as not to hold people up.  Taking pictures of strangers was new to me!

Back at the office and looking at the photographs for editing was difficult, because I had taken 'snapshot' style photos I ended up with over 800 to select from.  I decided to display portrait along with detail images.  I chose three of my favourite people and associated detail.  Apart from cropping, no photoshop was used on the images.

Displaying my work was always going to be slightly tricky as I had opted to make it into an informal collage using gallery pins.  I wanted the combination to look right and flow for the eye.  I think this affect was achieved in the end.  I would have preferred to have had my narrative displayed with the collage but it was decided that it would have looked out of place alongside the other artists work.  I was pleased overall.

The exhibition preview was Thursday 14th October, it was well attended and people seemed to enjoy the event and the talk by guest artist Miskha Henner.  The exhibition is at Artgene in the Nan Tait building, Abbey Road, Barrow-in-Furness until the 24th October 2010.  It is free and open to all.

Click here for Traces Blog

Exhibitions & Sewing

The collaborative of work including my brothers through Signal Films had opened on Thursday evening with the preview.  We all turned up like the Dingles or the Clampetts as my brother says and ate and drank everything!  It was great.  Eddys work was used in the publicity material and was in the Evening Mail.  It was the best there and so many others thought too.  Although everyones work was great. 

Its on at Forum 28 until the end of next week I think.

I have also started looking at the photos I had been taking of things around Barrow to see how I can ake work from them.  I have made a new 'mock up' handbag using on the boats in the channel.

So I took this photo of the boat in the foreground and made simplified sketches until I was happy with an overall design.  The boat although not entirely like the original was clearly the same.  Then I set about looking through my stash of scraps of vintage fabric to make up the boat in applique form.  Then I cut out the bag using my adapted pattern.  I chose Laura Ashley white spot on blue fabric for the bag itself.  Using 'misty fuse' I stuck the fabric boat onto the bag.

Then I free-motion embroidered onto the boat and fabric with my sewing machine using cotton thread to animate it to life.

The resulting bag is cute and very usable.  I lined it in a heavy cotton as the outer material is not very thick.  I included a 'wash label' and design label.  Although these are old fashioned and don't really suit it.  I would like new labels.

I used a magnetic fastening on the tab opening but sewed a large vintage red button on the outside for decoration.  I also used vintage buttons for the tyres.

Just right for a little jaunty shoulder bag for essentials.  Plus it is a boat that exists in Barrow.