New Creatives

New Creatives has already finished, but I wanted to do a little concluding post about it. Firstly, the photo to the right is taken by a press photographer from The News Portsmouth. It's just a lovely photo of myself and Oliver Merkin and one of the students from Portsmouth College. 

Secondly, I never mentioned this on my blog, but at the preview night I received some vouchers from Denise for taking part. I had no idea I would receive anything so I was incredibly surprised and grateful. One of the vouchers was £50 at Blackwells, a bookshop. So far, I've bought two books from the voucher. The first is "Photographing Dogs" by Lara Blair. I've been really interested in dog photography, and as I mentioned previously I will try to do some proper shoots over the summer (of dogs that I don't already know). The second book I bought is "Setting Up A Successful Photography Business" by Lisa Pritchard. It's a book that my lectures have talked about countless of times and we've recently had a lecture on. I haven't actually looked at the book yet (I only got it today!), but from what I've heard about it it's really good. It's got all sorts of important things in there like copyright and model release forms etc. 

I do still have some money left on the card so I'll have to do some research on what to buy! 

New Creatives

New Creatives

Link of the Time Lapse shot at Aspex Gallery - my piece at Aspex Gallery.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQHX21GcFwY

New Creatives

Today I went to Aspex Gallery to help curate the show. When I got there, some students from Portsmouth college were busy creating a layout plan. I set up my camera to take a time lapse video of the work being hung up on the wall. The space Portsmouth college has is the cafe area. There are two walls so I shot two different time lapse scenes.

Havant college is set in the main exhibition space. Even though there were only 3 students, they have all produced more than one piece of work. Their section looks fantastic! Their development has been incredible from when I last saw it.

New Creatives

This is the poster for New Creatives. The preview event is on Friday the 8th of March from 6-8pm, and the exhibition will be on from the 9th of March until the 14th of April. Come and check it out!! I'll have a time lapse video of my experience in Aspex Gallery too!

http://www.facebook.com/events/554768554546085/?ref=3

New Creatives Portsmouth

 On the 25th of January Oliver and I went back to Portsmouth College to see how everyone is doing on their projects. There's beena massive improvement from last time. Sarah, the lady in charge at Portsmouth, has been the most organised person ever, making sure all her students had some work ready on a USB stick for us to have a look at before starting. We had a quick flick through all the work and everything looks great! There is quite a variety of work including photography, graphic design, fashion/textiles etc.

After Oliver and I were updated about everyone's project, we sat in one of the rooms and had a group discussion about each persons work. It was great to see that the students had gained a lot more confidence and were more able to talk about their projects. On the 1st of February, both Portsmouth and Havant college have to submit their labels to Aspex gallery, so they have to know the title, size, format etc. It's super early, since the opening is only in March, and because of that's it's hard to say how everyone's work will be presented. We helped students think of titles and had a chat about how to present their work.


After we spoke about everyone's work, I had a quick one-to-one with one of the girls who wants to do a photography project. She wasn't sure how to go about composing the shots so we talked about some techniques she could use.

Although the New Creatives brief says we should have three visits to each college, we decided it might be best to visit the students one more time closer to the time of the exhibition to see the final pieces and help out with the final bits and pieces.

New Creatives

This is a long overdue post. Before the Christmas holiday, both Portsmouth college and Havant college came to Aspex gallery to have a look around and to see where they will be exhibiting their work. It was nice for the students to look at the place and imagine their own work hanging on the wall. They sketched the area so that they could look back onto it when creating their final pieces. Whether they display their work on a white wall or on a brick wall could make a huge difference to the look of things.

Next week I'll be visiting Portsmouth college for their last tutorial session. After that we will all be selecting the 20 best works (although since the groups are smaller than 20, everyone can hang their work) and finally in March Havant and Portsmouth college will deliver their work to Aspex gallery. The exhibition will be on the 8th of March.

New Creatives

 I went to Havant college on the 26th of November so an afternoon to discuss what everyone has been up to so far and how their ideas have developed. This is the first time I've been to Havant College so I was really excited to meet everyone. Oliver explained that last time there were only 2 or 3 students there, but we should expect more this time. However, there were only three students once again. It wasn't too bad though because all three of them were very passionate about the topic.

 We sat down around a table and got some A3 sheets and just wrote down everyone's idea. Then we went around the group and each talked about what we liked about the idea and how it could further develop. It's surprisingly hard! The three ideas by the students were very different from each other. After we discussed the ideas, we gave the students some time to work independently on their ideas. Do a bit of research and start with a general idea. If they had any questions they could easily approach us. We finished off with having a quick chat with the students individually and see what they had been up to.

I really enjoyed the day and am definitely looking forward to how their ideas have progressed next time!

New Creatives

On Thursday the 15th I had my first New Creatives event. I went to Portsmouth College for a little introduction meeting. Oliver started off by introducing himself and he opened up his website and chatted about his work and how he creates his work. After that I introduced myself and also showed my website. I talked a bit about what kind of photographer I want to be and explained what work I've been doing since on the course.

After the introduction we all sat around a large table, each of the students got some post-it notes and wrote their initial ideas on there. We went around the group (about 12 students) and everyone talked a bit about why they wrote this idea down. The theme is "Does making things make us human?". We started to think about this that make us human. Some of the ideas that people brought up were babies, emotions, dreams, clothes and much more. After we discussed some ideas, Oliver asked the group which idea they are most interested in from the ones written on the post its. A lot of people really liked the idea of emotions and dreams.

For the next workshop we will start to discuss some of the ideas that people have come up with. I spoke to Oliver about how we do this at my university and told him about the 5 thinking hats approach (couple posts back). You start off with general information about the project, then everyone gives a positive opinion, then you start to think about the project if you had no restrictions (eg. all the money in the world). After that you discuss the critical things about the project, so what can still be worked on, and finally we'd sum op the project and think what each student could do next. Oliver really liked the idea and said I could lead the next workshop! It'll be really exciting to lead the workshop and it'll give me valuable teaching experience.

New Creatives

Oliver Merkin sent me a list of some of the dates he'd set up with the colleges on the opening day:

Havant College

·  12th November Monday 4-5pm - Introduction talk by myself followed by Q&A and introduction of the theme (Oliver Visit #2)

·  26th November Monday (time TBC) - Workshop 1 (Oliver Visit #2)

·  12th December Wednesday 12pm - Visit to Aspex galley

·  14th January (time TBC) - Workshop 2 (Oliver Visit #3)#

·  4th February Monday (time TBC) - Oliver, Mimi and Chris to select final 20 works for exhibition

·  25-28th February (Date TBC) - Delivery of artworks to Aspex

·  4th-6th March (Date TBC) - Curation and installation of works in the gallery

·  8th March 6-8pm - Preview Event.

Portsmouth College

·  15th November (Thursday) 10-11am, 11am-12pm - Introduction talks (X2) by myself followed by Q&A and introduction of the theme (Oliver Visit #1)

·  7th December (Monday) 9.30am-12.00pm - Workshop 1 (Oliver Visit #2)

·  12th December (Wednesday) (time TBC) - Visit to Aspex galley with students

·  11th January (Friday) 9.30am-12.00pm - Workshop 2 (Oliver Visit #3)

·  8th February (Friday) (time TBC) - Oliver + Staff meet to select final 20 works for exhibition.

·  25-28th February (Date TBC) - Delivery of artworks to Aspex.

·  4th March (Time TBC) - Curation and installation of works in the gallery

·  8th March 6-8pm - Preview Event.

Unfortunately I won't be able to go to the introduction talk at Havant because I'm working from 3 until 6 on Monday. I will be able to attend both of the introduction talks at Portsmouth, so that will be very exciting. A lot of the dates haven't been confirmed yet, but I'm sure after the introduction talks everything will slowly start to sort itself out.

New Creatives

Here is some general information about new creatives:

New Creatives is an annual project led by the University of Portsmouth’s Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries (CCI) that showcases the creative work of young people from further education and sixth-form colleges in the Portsmouth region.  The project is launched at the beginning of each academic year culminating in a joint exhibition at the leading contemporary art gallery, Aspex in Gunwharf Quays. 

In this project, FE and HE students will experience the external influence of working with a professional artist, gallery, university, fellow students and to showcase their work in a wider cultural context by exhibiting outside of the FE environment.  The project has a proven track record of building confidence and broadening young people’s experience.  The objective of this exhibition is to inspire FE students, supporting their studies at college, giving them an added experience to develop their creative practice further and to encourage them to be more ambitious.  The experience of working with an artist and gaining professional practice experience is as important as the opportunity to showcase their work.

The exhibition can feature creative work in a variety of disciplines, for example, visual arts, installation, design such as fashion, graphics, 3d modelling or sculpture, digital media such as film, animation and photography, performance such as music, poetry, drama and live art.  There is no admission charge for taking part, for entry to the exhibition or to attend the preview event.

The New Creatives project has proven its value since its birth in the academic year 2009/10 and is now entering its fourth year bringing a wealth of experience that delivers creative engagement year on year in a responsible and safe manner, ensuring the well being of participants.  It has generated relationships, collaborations and a range of materials and interventions that are shown or performed as part of a work in progress, producing a legacy of creative partnership in the city of Portsmouth enhancing the region’s cultural position.  New Creatives encourages an exchange of ideas and 'visual correspondence' between the university, Aspex and the colleges which has resulted in providing a platform for a variety of projects, including the Cultural Olympiad and Creative Campus Initiative.

Role of the University of Portsmouth student ‘buddy’

University of Portsmouth students from the Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries will be selected to work as a ‘buddy’ alongside each of the commissioned artists in order to develop their professional practice skills, enriching their CVs. The work of the selected ‘buddies’ begins at the Autumn 2012 launch of the project, continuing at the artist workshop visits to your college, carrying on through to the exhibition Preview event in the Spring 2013 at Aspex.  The selected HE students will shadow and assist the artist, making a record of the experience, in their chosen form, for example, photography and/or blog.

28 September 2012	Commissioned artists appointed by UoP/Aspex
8 October 2012	University of Portsmouth student ‘buddies’ selected by UoP
22 October 2012 4pm	New Creatives Launch at Aspex Gallery – for college tutors, artists, buddies, University of Portsmouth & Aspex staff
October–March 2013	Artists makes visits to colleges/Aspex, accompanied by UoP ‘buddy’ -(Visits 1, 2 &4)  (Artists to arrange mutually convenient times with colleges and buddies)
December 2012	Aspex host a visit for participating students, artists, technicians and tutors (Visit 3)  (Date to be coordinated by each college & their artist with Aspex)
Monday 11 February 2013	Each College provides Aspex with Appendix 1 – Final list of 20 artworks for exhibition
Friday 1 March 2013	Last day for colleges to deliver artworks to Aspex
4-6 March 2013	Curation & Installation at Aspex (Visit 5) (Specific times to be agreed by artists, FE students and Aspex on one of these days)
Friday 8 March 2013 6-8pm	Preview Event of New Creatives – Celebration attended by parents, friends, general public and VIPs invited
9 March – 14 April 2013	Exhibition – opening hours 11am – 4pm daily (5 weeks)
Friday 19 April 2013	Colleges collect work from Aspex

New Creatives

This is my second post regarding New Creatives. On Monday the 22nd of October I went to Aspex Gallery in Portsmouth and got the chance to meet the other buddies, the three artists and some members of the participating colleges. There was a brief talk by all of the artists and the rest of the time we were there we could just chat with the artists and buddies and really get to know what New Creatives is all about.

The three buddies are:
Myself
Lauren Scott-Smith (BA (Hons) Illustrator)
Matthew Jackson (MSc Digital Media)
If you click on their names, you will be linked to their blogs.

The three artists are:
Eileen White (craft based visual artist)
Oliver Merkin (murals and large scale artworks)
Chris Jenkins (crafts man and fine artist)
If you click on their names, it will link you to their personal websites.

The participating colleges are:
Highbury
St Vincent
Portsmouth
Havant
Fareham
Chichester
South Downs

After meeting everyone we got the chance to choose who we wanted to work with, and I'll be working with Oliver Merkin! We will be working with Portsmouth college and Havant college. I've just contacted Oliver to see whether he was able to set up any dates on Monday and we will be discussing who we are visiting when. I'm really excited to get started.

I'll continue to blog about the whole experience, and try to include photos as often as possible. For more information you can visit the other students' blogs and the new creatives website: http://newcreatives.org.uk/

New Creatives

As you can see from the facebook snapshot to the left, I've been quite busy. I got myself a part time job at Subway, I was selected for a program called New Creatives (explanation below), I heard back from Fergus Heron and I will be assisting him on a photoshoot, I've done a large format shoot, made a time lapse, I have a job interview for The Body Shop, my cousin came over to visit from Holland, and I think that's about it. Other than that I've been trying to memorize all the subway sandwiches, do all my uni work, attend lectures and that general stuff.



I received an email saying the following:
The University of Portsmouth, Aspex Gallery and six FE colleges/sixth form colleges are jointly inviting Creative and Cultural Industries students to work with a commissioned artist for New Creatives 2013, an artist-led exhibition project aiming to inspire FE students and exploring ‘Does making things make us human?’. Please note this is an unpaid, voluntary work initiative.

What’s in it for you?

Three selected CCI students will each work as ‘buddies’ with a commissioned professional artist who will lead the students in two FE colleges each, from the period September 2012 – May 2013. The participating colleges are South Downs, Highbury, Gosport, Havant, St Vincent and Fareham.

The external influence of working with a professional artist, gallery, Faculty member and FE college will build your confidence and provide professional practice. You will experience how creative professionals work in education and learn how a ‘creative brief’ can be delivered in a wider cultural context, at the same time as learning personal skills such as negotiation, organisation and communication skills.

The project will give you the opportunity to make your own creative blog in support of the artists which will be linked to from the New Creatives website www.newcreatives.org.uk

What’s the job?

If selected you will be asked to:

•       Attend a launch event on 22 October 2012 at Aspex Gallery.
•       Liaise closely with one of the commissioned professional artists on your availability.
•       Shadow or buddy the artist on two visits to FE colleges, observing, recording and assisting where necessary.
•       Remain in contact with the CCI Faculty Promotions Manager as a link between colleges, artists and the University.
•       Record your experience as part of your professional practice as a student creative practitioner.
•       Act as an ‘ambassador’ for the Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries in a key regional cultural project.
•       Attend the exhibition preview at Aspex on Friday 8 March 2013.

How can I participate?

Please send a 200-300 word ‘expression of interest’ plus your CV, including your contact details by email todenise.callender@port.ac.uk.

Deadline for submissions: Monday 8 October 2012.

I don't usually go for opportunities like these, but figured I might as well try and if I get it I get it, if I don't I don't. I wasn't really expecting to hear back because my CV isn't really the best and I'm not very good at writing why I should be chosen out of however many people apply.

Anyway, I just tried and wrote a little statement explaining I've been looking into jobs when I'm finished with my course, and explained that all employers are looking for experience, and that helping out with this would be exactly the kind of experience I need. I went on to explain how I've set up a gallery in groups and added my blog address.

I applied on the 1st of October and heard back on the 11th of October:

Dear Elaine

I am delighted to inform you that you have been selected as a buddy for the New Creatives artist-led exhibition project.

Please take some time to make yourself familiar with the website and the attached document which is a guide aimed at the participating colleges, but will also give you and understanding of how the project operates. There are some key marker dates on page 3 which you should make a note of. Vicky Chiswell at Aspex and I would be delighted if you could attend the project launch on 22nd October at Aspex at 4pm. Please confirm that you can attend.

I would like to meet the 3 selected buddies for a coffee meeting in Eldon Building Arts Cafe next Wednesday 17th October at 1.30 pm - please also confirm if you are free to attend this.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Tomorrow I will be attending the exhibition at Aspex and I'll meet the other artists. It's all really exciting and will be a massive benefit to have on my CV.