Smethwick blog

Ruskin House Workshop One/ Two and Three

Tue, 18 May 2010 09:10:13 +0100

Its been a little while getting these workshop organised but today we finally undertook some initial taster sessions.

Working with 3 groups in swift succession; we explored pattern making using the cutting techniques that we have already used at Holy Lodge. The intention is that work from both schools can be integrated into one artwork. Its worth saying that one of the pupils was formerly at Holly Lodge so he knew a great deal about its history and building.

The patterns that we made in paper will be translated subsequently into possible laser cut designs in steel or used as motifs for manifestations.

Holly Lodge Workshop Six

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 13:00:35 +0100

This was our third and final workshop - the last chance in the intial design stage to produce some cracking resources for further design development. We looked at tool outlines in more detail and used these as a starting point for specific designs for laser cut panels.

The resulting work could prove to be really useful in later stages as it more clearly demonstartes the links between the industrial heritage and the site. Mr McKenzie showed us some amazing glass fragments ( chunks ) that he has been salvaging from the build site. I'm hoping that we can retrieve a much larger quantity to possibly use in the structure. This cuttle - spoil from Chance's glassworks - is a direct link to the industry. Using a light source we backlit the glass which revealed interesting patterns and colours.

Holly Lodge Workshop Five

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 09:00:38 +0100

Holly Lodge Workshop Four

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 13:00:03 +0100

This was our second workshop in which we explored pattern in more detail. As with the morning group we followed the same session plan although it has to be said that this group produced some stunning paper cut patterns.

Mr McKenzie, as ever, delighted us and kept us on track with his humour and occasional operatic forays. It's quite a large group and the afternoon session can be hard work as everybody feels the end of the day drawing ever closer.

Holly Lodge Workshop Three

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 09:00:44 +0100

This was our second workshop in which we explored pattern in more detail. Having looked at examples of patterns such as wrought iron work, geometric patterns and artists such as Escher we then created symmetrical paper cut designs in black paper.

The concept is that these designs could be vectorised and subsequently laser cut to form panels on the eventual structure. Using these initial designs we then developed them further with adhesive vinyl on black card.

Holly Lodge Workshop Two

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 13:00:44 +0100

The second workshop took place in the afternoon with another Y9 group, again about 25 pupils. Having taken the opportunity to survey the existing building during the lunchbreak i was able to show some examples of victorian architectural detail - the iron gate and detailing on the stonework.

This second group followed the same design process as the first. At the end of the session each group came to the front of the classroom to present their ideas - a somewhat daunting prospect to some individuals.

Throughout the day the staff at the school were enthusiastic and helpful. A potential area for us to investigate is claywork. One of the technicians, herself an arts graduate, has a background in ceramics and this might be a useful departure point for further work.

At this stage the designs are lively and ambitious - later we will need to refine the concepts by developing models to test how they might be constructed and to what scale.

Holly Lodge Workshop One

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 09:00:28 +0100

This was the first workshop in the school so a chance to get to know how the school operates and the pupils. The first session began with a group of about 25 Y9 pupils in the Technology Department. We talked about the history of the area; particularly the industrial heritage and looked at photos of Chance's Lighthouse manufacturing as well as other victorian industrial innovations for which the area is richly famous. Mr Mckenzie, the Technology head has a mini museum of artifacts which were good starting points for the design process including a piece of lighthouse lens.

Pupils began by developing ideas for 'light' structures and then spent some time in evolving more detailed designs in design teams. Aside from Form we also looked at pattern and began to investigate what sort of processes could be used - wrought iron, brick casting and laser cutting.

This is a lively group but a lot of useful ideas were generated in the first session.