Viewing Class Exhibitions: Archives of Intimacy

Viewing Class Exhibitions: Candybalism

How the exhibition was staged
Theme
Impact of the space on the show
Promotional material and information in the space about the show
Basically everything you are putting together for your exhibition
Critique in general

Exhibition Opening

Setting up the Exhibition

Zine/pamphlets

Helping Sayydah fold the pamphlets. 

Preparing Easels

Because we cannot put any of our works on the walls of The Roxy, we decided to display our works on boards that are placed onto easels. To help them look more professional we are painting them black. 

New: FINAL Bio for Zine

Name: Gin Sparrow
Role within Team: Producer, communication, event hire, documentation 
Skills and Interests: 3D modeling and sculpting, texturing and traditional art making (pencil, charcoal, pen)
Explanation of work for exhibition (movie song choice, narrative of series, what each work depicts/expresses from the music)

• Song: Gangsta by Kahlani from the Suicide Squad movie soundtrack
• Narrative of series: A visual timeline of the Joker's and Harley Quinn's relationship, showing the stages, how they interact with each other and influence each other. My series shows the process of how they love each other and develop as a couple while facing the world. 
• Each work depicts/expresses from the music: 
• First Work: This piece is an introduction of the Joker's and Harley Quinn's relationship starting from a professional relationship to a forbidden love. I showed this juxtaposition of the two stages in a subtle playing card format with the professional relationship at the top of the piece and the love interest upside down. The professional relationship is the right way up to communicate that this should be the way their relationship should be and the upside down stage communicates that their relationship shouldn't be.
  Second Work: The second work in the series depicts another stage of their dysfunctional relationship. Harley Quinn is getting electric shocked by the Joker and is the reality of the start of their relationship. The top half of the work is the Joker and Harley Quinn in their traditional costumes dancing together. This is what Harley wants their relationship to be and maybe how she views it now. In the original series Harley's character was introduced as a narrative of abusive relationships. This physical abuse from the Joker and the reflected traditional costuming introduces this underlying theme of abuse Harley suffers at the hand of the Joker although she doesn't view their relationship in that way.
  Third Work: In the third piece we only see the Joker and no Harley Quinn. The Joker is portrayed at his most insane moment. The lack of Harley Quinn communicates that the Joker is really only in this relationship because it benefits him. He is inside a huge laughing mouth that is upside to down to show his insanity and his mental illness. 

Hanging Up Posters Around University

Sayydah and I hung up posters around uni. 

Emailing with The Roxy

Bio Draft for Zine

Name: Gin Sparrow
Role within Team: Producer, communication, documentation 
Skills and Interests: 3D modeling and sculpting, texturing and traditional art making (pencil, charcoal, pen)
Explanation of work for exhibition (movie song choice, narrative of series, what each work depicts/expresses from the music)

• Song: Gangsta by Kahlani from the Suicide Squad movie soundtrack
• Narrative of series: A visual timeline of the Joker's and Harley Quinn's relationship, showing the stages, how they interact with each other and influence each other. My series shows the process of how they love each other and develop as a couple while facing the world. 
• Each work depicts/expresses from the music: 
• First Work: This piece is an introduction of the Joker's and Harley Quinn's relationship starting from a professional relationship to a forbidden love. I showed this juxtaposition of the two stages in a subtle playing card format with the professional relationship at the top of the piece and the love interest upside down. The professional relationship is the right way up to communicate that this should be the way their relationship should be and the upside down stage communicates that their relationship shouldn't be.
  Second Work: The second work in the series depicts another stage of their dysfunctional relationship. Harley Quinn is getting electric shocked by the Joker and is the reality of the start of their relationship. The bottom half of the work is the Joker and Harley Quinn in their traditional costumes dancing together. This is what Harley wants their relationship to be and maybe how she views it now. In the original series Harley's character was introduced as a narrative of abusive relationships. This physical abuse from the Joker and the reflected traditional costuming introduces this underlying theme of abuse Harley suffers at the hand of the Joker although she doesn't view their relationship in that way.
  Third Work: In the third piece we see the Joker's and Harley Quinn's relationship as of now. They both are at their "most insane" moment but are happy about it. Keeping to the playing card format, they are morphed into one being with the Joker on top and Harley Quinn at the bottom. This shows they have a very strong connection to each other however the Joker being at the top shows his influence over Harley Quinn and also his dominance. One of the Joker's hand is clutching Harley Quinn's arm showing his abusive side in the relationship but also his desperation to keep her in his life.

Mock Up Posters

Sayydah is on poster and zine layout but I felt like making some quick little mock-ups too. I don't know grid and I am not a graphic design person so these are just roughs.

Meeting During Class and Tanya Feedback

Notes:

• Video option open but cancel including filming everyone creating artworks
• Start writing bio for zine
• Look into lights: floor mounted lights from the Toystore (contact Durgy), Bunnings
• Plan schedule, what needs to be done -from big to small tasks- person's name next to each task, make Google Doc
• Marketing out by next Monday (Facebook, Instagram, invites, flyers, posters), have at Mirimar supermarket, library, community boards etc, Remember different dates for public in comparison to open night guests
• Check health and safety at venue, displays would only be the health and safety issues

First Completed Artwork

All artworks are around A2 size completed in charcoal on off white paper. Style inspired by artist Jim Dine. 

Emailing with The Roxy

 Invoice before my group discussed the tables.

Reply from Erica about adding the tables to the invoice. 

Planning my Artworks

Figuring out what I should create, what story/part of story I want to portray, composition, themes etc

I settled on the three final artworks being loosely set like playing cards (joker being on normal playing cards link). 
First Artwork:

• How Harley and The Joker met
• When they start to fall in love
• The Joker's mouth is bordering the scene

Second Artwork:

• On top half The Joker is electric shocking Harley
• Bottom half Harley and The Joker are dancing (reference to Alex Ross' painting, was also in the movie)
• Dark shadows border the picture

Third Artwork:

• When the Joker and Harley fall in love
• Top half is the Joker, bottom half is Harley in their insane (but happy) state of minds -they "complete" each other

Rough Sketches of Composition:

Email with The Roxy

Email with The Roxy

Meeting with Group

Rough Group Roles:

• Video Editing - Gin
• Social Media Advertising - Lilly & Roberta
• Documentation of Opening Night (interviews(?), photography, filming - To be confirmed (possibly all members, photography possibly a friend)
• Zine & Poster - Sayydah
• Presentation of Art - All members
• Scanning art - All members scan their own
• Organising audience made booklet print offs - To be confirmed 
• Lighting - All members 

To Do List: 

• Finish one artwork by the end of the first week of holidays (for poster and social media advertising)
• Finish all artworks by the end of first week back at university
• Write a list of who you want to invite
• Research how to display artworks

Themes in my Artworks

As a group we have briefly talked about linking our artworks to transformation even more by looking into transformation in the actual story to artworks. This would have to be talked about more as a group. If we did go with this idea I'd like to look into the transformation between Harley Quinn's and The Joker's relationship in Suicide Squad. 

• "Professional" relationship (Harley is The Joker's psychiatric doctor)
• Harley falls in love with The Joker
• She helps him escape the mental hospital
• He electric shocks her brain to make her insane
• He asks her if she would prove her love to him by jumping into a pot of acid
• She does and he jumps in after her. They then kiss
• They're in love but are separated (shes in a high security prison)
• While she's on her adventure with the Suicide Squad they plan to reunite
• They do, she thinks he gets killed in a plane crash
• The Temptress makes Harley Quinn believe her dream of marrying and having a family with The Joker can come true -it doesn't
• She discovers he's still alive and are reunited at the end of the movie

Artist Influence / Research

Jim Dine:
I am interested in producing charcoal drawings for the exhibition. I really like working within this media and I would like to explore outside of my neat pencil portraits. I think this more free and messy style will suit my chosen movie and song. My final song choice is I Need a Gangsta from Suicide Squad. This song is played during the introduction to Harley Quinn and the Joker so I feel this messy, insane style will do my project justice. However I will continue to look into other styles of art but I think this will be my final style. 

Emails with The Roxy: Catering Response

Exhibition Texts Class

Exhibition Texts:

• Write for audience
• Stick to hierarchy and word count
• Organize information 
• Engage

Media Release, short statement for print/social media

• Artist statement
• Exhibition statement 
• Posters (A3)
• Flyers
• Postcards
• Gallery sheet (A4) List of works
• Gallery signage
• Labels/numbers

Posters/Flyers:

• Name of Exhibition
• Names of group members
• Location/venue
• Time/duration
• Opening hours
• Opening night
• URL
• Sponsor's logos

Catalog: 

• Group statement/photo
• Artists statement/photo
• Epigraph quote

Exhibition System:

• Consistency
• Colour palate 
• Type
• Grid
• Stand out image
• Spell check

Documentary of Exhibition:

• Consider photography/film maker
• Crowd source photos/film
• Understand use of social media as archive 

Portfolio Reminders: 

• All documentation process -site visits, installation tests, art design references
• Documentation of released exhibitions
• Examples of ephemera produced in conjunction with groups project
• Art and design reference material and contextual support material
• Critical response to at least two peers exhibitions (other groups exhibitions)
• Critical response to two exhibitions in Wellington (choose relative to your craft) 
• Individual reflective document -should engage critical process and outcome of project

Health and Safety:

• Read Stream Health and Safety related files
• Fill out installation form on Stream (lights, display of works etc) 

Visiting the Loki Lounge

Notes: 

• Considered exhibition space (we are leaning toward The Roxy because of its strong link to our exhibition theme)
• We can have both rooms
• Has projector for video
• Can only use their catering
• Licensed venue
• Can move furniture around, add/take away furniture

Emails with The Roxy: Lighting, change of dates, Menus

Considered Movie Songs

• Suicide Squad - I need a Gangsta
• Edward Scissorhands - Introduction OR Death!
• Les Miserables - On My Own
• Love Actually - God Only Knows
• Sweeney Todd - My Friends OR Epiphany
• Burlesque - You Haven't Seen The Last Of Me

Types of Advertising

• Online advertising; Facebook, emailing invitations etc
• Flyers
• Business cards
• Zine (at the venue, has profiles on each group member etc)
• Physical invites
• Posters (at the venue)
• Video teaser (15 seconds, could be posted on Facebook)

Seriously Considered/finalised Advertising: 

• Online advertising (Facebook, email invites)
• Zine 
• Posters 
• Possibly flyers

Notes from Class

Exhibition Advisor; Tanya Marriot:

• Does music work within the space, how could they link?
• What does the music invoke?
• Music from movies > links in nicely with The Roxy Cinema. Music themes, scores etc
• Book making links to venue > cut, link together > editing, cutting videos etc
• Your emotional response to song; fan art, abstract, communicate the story

Meeting at Roxy

• Have the option for the downstairs dining area or upstairs foyer (we want upstairs because the lighting is more ideal)
• $100 per hour
• Have easels if we want to display our work on them
• Can't hang anything on walls or hang from ceilings
• Have really big projector for our video
• Have sound system for our music
• Can set up at around 3.00pm for our exhibition at 6.00pm or 6.30pm
• Has couches and seating areas if we want
• Has a bar in the room if we want. Can have bar staff on (guests will pay for drinks) 

Roxy Cinema Event Hire

I got a email from The Roxy saying they are happy to have our exhibition there. We will be meeting them on Friday to discuss details etc. This isn't our finalized venue.

Photos of The Roxy:

 A bar at one end of the room is a nice touch. Depending on cost we could consider having Roxy bar staff bar tend our exhibition. We will also esquire about their catering. 

Tanya said we would have to watch out for the lighting in the event room. It is quite dim. If we have The Roxy as our final venue we'd need to figure out how we would get around the lighting problem asap. 

It is also a bit of a tricky room to display our work. We were really considering displaying our work hanging from the ceilings in "pods" that people walk around but in this room that isn't an option. This is another hurdle we'd have to get around if we use this space.

Emails with The Roxy: Venue Hire, First Meeting

Contacting Galleries and Spaces I've Contacted

Contacted: 

• Page Blackie Gallery
• Bowen Gallery
• Avid Art Galery
• Roxy Cinema

Unavailable Spaces: 

• Page Blackie Gallery
• Bowen Gallery

Awaiting Replies from: 

• Avid Art Gallery

Approved Spaces: 

• Roxy Cinema - We will be having a meeting with Roxy Cinema on Friday. This is not a finalized option. 

Video Projection Idea

We were thinking as a part of the exhibition to have a video looping on the wall. The video would have a mix of our group members creating their artworks, group members listening to their music, and people creating booklets (this is to get the idea in the audiences head to start creating books. 

I am wondering if this is just another layer to our idea/theme that isn't hugely necessary and could be a little confusing. We would need to discuss this with our tutors and get their feedback. 

If this idea goes ahead, we will film each other creating artworks etc and Sayydah and myself will edit the looping video together. The soundtrack would be a mix of all the group member's songs. 

Visiting galleries 2

Robert Heald Gallery

• Advertising at venue: Business cards, signage outside the shop
• Content: Original artworks, mixed media of painting and thread on canvas 
• How they display work: All work is hung by hooks on the walls
• People's reactions to art: No one was in there when I was there
• My opinion of art: I didn't like the artwork. It wasn't to my taste at all
• Other Info: This gallery approaches people for exhibitions so we cant' show our work here. The owner recommended looking at an empty place that is up for rent.

Avid Art gallery:

• Advertising at venue: Business cards, signage outside shop
• Content: Pots, abstract sculpture, paintings
• How they display work: Display their pots and sculptures on shelves and table blocks, paintings hanging on walls
• People's reactions to art: My partner thought one of the pots was funny because of the crude, naked women on it
• My opinion of art: I can really appreciate the time and skill that goes into making pots and sculptures even if not all of them are to my taste

Paige Blackie Gallery: 

• Advertising: Business cards, signage outside the shop
• Content: Paintings, drawings
• How they display their work: Hanging paintings on walls
• People's reactions to art: No one else was in the gallery a part from me and my partner -he didn't find the work amazing but didn't hate it either
• My opinion of art: I thought it was ok, not amazing either

Solander Gallery: 

• Advertising at venue: Business cards, flyers, signage outside the shop
• Content: Pen drawings, paintings, prints, sculpture, books with artists works inside
• How they display work: Hanging drawings and paintings on walls with hooks, sculptures on table blocks 
• People's reactions to art: My partner didn't like the sculptures and thought they were weird
• My opinion of art: Same opinion as my partner but I really liked the prints

Bowen Art Gallery:

• Advertising at venue: Brochures
• Content: Paintings
• How they display work: Hanging paintings on walls
• People's reactions to art: Found the black, red and white paintings interesting
• My opinion of art: I didn't find the work too bad