18 April 2019
First diary entry for A4. I have sent off my essay and supporting work so now it is time to move on. I am still trying to collect images for A2 but that will be an ongoing project. I now have cartridges for my printer so I can print out thumbnails and make a storyboard to see how they sit together. This is especially relevant given the comments in my assessment feedback.
22 April 2019
Easter Monday. Great weekend with grandchildren. Complete break from work. Did have detailed discussion with son about building the steps up to my new studio. He drew out plans for me. Now I have to order the materials. This is never as easy as it sounds when one lives on an island and refuses to have wheeled transport!!! I need sleepers, decking supports and a ton of three quarter down gravel….. How the hell am I going to get this up from the pier to the house…
Have started the day watching one third of the Bill Jay film.
What a great guy. Wish I could have known him.
Now I need to get on with washing and varnishing the floor of studio. Then I need to paint the last two shelves which my son cut for me. He has such an amazing work shop.
23 April 2019
Daughter has arrived in Ireland with little ones and, of course, adorable son in law (SIL as I call him!).
Am so enjoying this draw back from official reading and college work. Having a lovely communication with a fellow student on the whole pin hole work.
Hope to finish studio today and get all my ‘stuff’ in there. Will be great to have a place, for me, to work. But it is lashing rain at the moment while the rest of Ireland and the whole of the continent bakes in sunshine… Remind me why I live on an island in the Atlantic… The studio is out in the garden and all the material has to be carried out there and up the, as yet, unmade steps. But I will get there.
Am wanting to make abstract work too so will set up another personal project. Also I want to try out more collage following my visit to Mary Swanzy’s exhibition.
The studio got finished today. I brought all, or nearly all my stuff out. There seems to be sufficient room. I am so excited as I can now use my lighting set up without having to set it up and take it down every time. The access remains a problem but I tried to secure the stones a little better.
24 April 2019
Just finished the Bill Jay film. Thank you Andrea for alerting us to it. Everyone should watch it over and over again – what a man. Is there anyone out there today like him? I think not.
25 April 2019
Just listened to New Ways of Seeing (2nd Episode) Machine Visions. Really interesting. Must follow up on those artists trying to stop some of this camera surveillance.
Beautiful day with grandchildren.
26 April 2019
Storm Hanna arriving today so we got out early and finished what we needed to do – like cleaning gutters…
Then sorted the rest of my stuff for my studio. Strange that I have transported so much stuff out to studio but the shelves in our work area are still full – how does that work?
Call from my lovely neighbour, who is the island librarian, to say that my book, that I had ordered before I got back to Ireland, has arrived.
Now in the evening it is really blowing.
30 April 2019
Great weekend with family on mainland, babysitting and hangout out with daughter and family. Even did some shopping (a rarity for both daughter and self!!!) did masses of gardening in her beautiful garden looking out over the Atlantic.
Back home now but they are arriving here on the island for the day. Children very sad that Grandpa’s golf buggy is ‘hors de combat’ at the moment. Sun coming up so hopefully we will be able to have lunch out in the garden, then pay a visit to the beach. Should have re-read the video instructions for my D800 especially since I got positive comments for video in last assessment.
Interesting discussion on forum about studio work. Am really looking forward to having my very modest set up in my studio. Off to read this
http://studiography.blogspot.com/2010/09/family-of-angles.html
which is apparently a “How to” by Clive.
2 May 2019
Daughter gave feedback on essay yesterday – as always very insightful. I will not change anything until I get Andrea’s feedback today.
Almost everything now in studio will order Backdrop today. Have to think about a proper chair.
Looks dull today so won’t get much done in the garden. Will get on with exercises for assignment 4. Must write a review of Alter Ego book.
Had interesting email for a Director/Producer of the National TV about my Baltimore Industrial School Book. She is making a documentary and wants to talk to me. Wrote very nice comments about my book.
4 April 2019
Just listened to Martin Parr interviewing Jez South on “On the Sofa” really nice guy and a good interview even though I don’t like Parr!!!!
Working on ideas of how I can represent the third party trackers on paper in a way other than a photograph. Loving the idea. Also making a homage to Mary Swanzy as a collage.
8 May 2019
Time is flying by and I am running after it… Just listened to the Radio 4 James Bridle Wednesday “New Ways of Seeing” I have to wait till they are available to everyone so I am a little behind. Today is was Invisible Networks – fascinating.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000458l
I hope to be able to use some of this in my upcoming assignments.
Still mulling over how I should structure these assignments.
Meanwhile my studio backdrop arrived and I found my instructions for putting together my lighting… Might get round t it this afternoon.
9 May 2019
Got my studio lights set up and working. Now need the material backdrop to be delivered – should arrive today or tomorrow. Then I can re-photograph the Third Party Tracker picture. It is so time consuming to get all this up an running. Luckily it was freezing out so no garden work to be done.
Just watched Bruce Golden on the sofa with Martin Parr.
13 May 2019
Reading the material on photo memes – I find it boring…. The whole idea unless it is extremely clever is boring. I need to re-read th article or find a more comprehensible up to date one…
14 May 2019
Mulling over the idea of re-thinking A2. Looking at Dublin around 1900 where my great grandmother was a dressmaker.
http://catalogue.nli.ie/Collection/vtls000168917/Home?lookfor=&type=AllFields&page=2&view=grid
Finished my first project reading on memes. Like the idea of the Occupy movement – never heard of it – where have I been….
College has published a Critical review Guide which should be useful for further essays:
https://xerte.ucreative.ac.uk/play.php?template_id=93
Looking at memes trying to get ideas for Exercise 4.3. I find them all either inane or totally boring – what will I do????
16 May 2019
I wrote my diary this morning but it seems to have disappeared. I created my meme and put it on Instagram. The ‘Likes” are even less than my normal photographs… I then put it on twitter and didn’t get one like or retweet. I guess no one thinks my meme is any good – boo hoo
17th May 2019
How bizarre is this? I am honing in on the idea of re working my A2 and using handmade book. The I open OCA Weekender and Andrea, my tutor, has an article on book making.
I am rereading my family material to see how I can best present my great grandmother, the dressmaker and how this fascination with sewing has passed down through the family. My father was a tailor and I made all my own clothes for years. My fascination was more due to my years of being penniless as a student, young researcher and young wife.
I was thinking of setting grandmother, Letitia Millet, in her time in Dublin city centre and weaving (excuse pun) her story into dressmaking in general at that time 1829 – 1902. Hope this works. It should work better than Chile mining as I have a huge respect for this unknown woman.
I will gather all the material I have of her. Gather research material on dress making in general during her time. Place this on the wall of my new studio and move it about to see how it works.
I.M. Pei died yesterday at 102 – the world is a more beautiful place because of his buildings.
18 May 2019
Need to get on with reworking A2. Looks dull so maybe I’ll have more time.
20 May 2019
Had a wonderful day birdwatching on our neighbouring island Cape Clear. We went with the West Cork Birdwatching group. It was a really informative day and I saw 2 Turtle Doves – a first for me. The group saw 42 species in total. This exercise cleared my head so that I am able to attack the A2 project on my Great Grandmother with more head clarity. I think I am going to enjoy this. The woman has always fascinated me.
21 May 2019
Very busy day ahead before I set off for Dublin en route to Cornwall. Am trying to order my thoughts before I go. Using the wall in my studio to put up images to try to get them in some sort of order.
29 May 2019
Arrived back from St Ives on Monday night after a very long and complicated journey. But it was well worth it. My two day study vist in St Ives was brilliant. I ill write it up.
Back at work first in the garden to get grass under control and then back to assignment 2 rework. I have requested some images for possible inclusion, from the Historical Antiquarian Society. I am awaiting information about Victorian material for the cover.
Horrible day but had to spend the whole day cleaning the house as we have a friend coming from NZ tomorrow…. House needed it.
31 May 2019\
Sad phone call last night to say my oldest brother is to be taken off all his cancer meds and has only, at most, two to three weeks to live. I am sad for my younger bother as he is close to him. I am not. He left home when I was 5 years old to go to naval school and spent most of his life at sea. I don’t really know him. When he came home I was already away. Strange that one does not really know ones brother.
Our New Zealand friend arrived last night having walked about five hundred kms of the Camino Way…… She is in fine form.
This is a strange diary as I am working away on A2 while it is titled A4 Diary. I ordered material to cover my hand made book – when it gets made. I ordered my Simplicity pattern to use in the book. I filled in a form to request use of some of the RASI’s images of old Dublin I now have a wall display of material so far and divided it into sections. Still not sure how or what I will use but it is coming together. I am developing the story at the same time.
Had a lovely French lady to visit the garden yesterday – she is a designer from Paris. Got some gardening done but my poor arthritic back is giving me a lot of trouble as the weather is damp… Onward and upward..
Looked at some of my St Ives pics. Made a collage in my physical log book – three pages … Must get on with writing up visit to Tate. Will be difficult with friend staying – she was a museum curator among other things in her life so understands the work but we have so little time to chat these days I want to profit from her visit. Living on opposite sides of the world from ones friends is difficult.
1 June 2019
No work done yesterday on book. My friend and I went garden shopping instead. I got my plants for my window boxes and hanging baskets. Weird day. So cold on the mainland but fine on the island.
We have an electronic music festival, Open Ear, going on here. Getting back on the ferry was a nightmare as there was hundreds of young people trying to cross. We have this festival every year for the past 8 years. The young people are very well behaved but they do bring so much stuff with them. They sleep mostly in tents and consume masses of alcohol….. But we do not hear anything as they are on the opposite side of the island and the prevailing wind is in the other direction.. I met the organiser and asked if I could photograph some of the more interesting characters today!. Weather not very promising.
Got reply from RASI about requested images. The person responsible is away for a week…..
2 June 2019
I wandered up to the Open Ear festival yesterday with our friend. Met Chris, the organiser, and got permission to go in and take some photos. They are a great bunch of young people – can’t say I like their taste in music – electronic music is not my thing. But they are all so super aware of being on a beautiful island with real people living here. They were most anxious about how I felt about their presence. They are very heavily warned about leaving no trace. I got some photos – not sure what they are like yet.
Got my images sorted for St Ives – will make thumbnails for my scrap book today. A2 Letitia is coming together. Have several bits and pieces ordered for it. Am looking forward to discussing, how I will draw it together, with my neighbour, on Thursday.
10 June 2019
Thursday with Deidre went great. I got my head sorted about the direction I want to go. So now it is about getting on with it. We have an open island week starting on Thursday. I am putting three framed images in for the general exhibition. Need to frame them today. Then the garden will be open and the studio so a lot to organise and do. We also have a postcard sale to raise funds for a kiln. Most of the money has come in the form of a government grant but we need to raise the balance. I did three postcards for this.
Spent the weekend in Borris at the Festival of writing and Ideas. What a treat. It is a gathering of the great and the good of writing in Ireland and from abroad. We could only afford to inscribe for one day as it is expensive and we need accommodation. We stayed in the stables of a big demesne. It was wonderful with a lovely young family running it. The festival itself has grown since the last visit about four years ago. I maintain it is the best kept Irish secret. But now about 1000 people know about it! It has just one problem. Too much choice. Talks run in parallel. Luckily for us we have very different taste in literature so we split up and come together periodically during the day. Then we have hours of interesting discussion about who and what we heard. The writers are mostly there for the whole weekend so you can chat to them around the grounds of Borris House. My choices were very feminist biased – not purposefully but rather accidentally. I will write up my impressions.
Got round to look at my Open Ear portraits. Added a couple to my Personal projects here.
11 June 2019
Fairly traumatic family day yesterday. My sister had an an accident in which she broke, badly, both wrists and got a knock on her head. Luckily she was with her partner who will look after her well. My oldest brother is in his last days which is very upsetting for my younger brother as they are close. I am worried about my younger brother – the older one I have very little in common with.
Our beloved pussy cat of fifteen years went off to die quietly somewhere on Friday. Impossible to find her on a wild island…. V v v v sad. We had discussed on Thursday to put her to sleep soon but we wanted just a little more time with her. I wanted to bury her in my garden beside my friends cat Barney. So now we have decided to put her favourite toy on Barney’s grave.
Got on with some work after helping hubby to cut down a Euonymus tree that had half fallen down. Have the InDesign template set up for Letitia’s book. Got permission to use old :Lawerence collection photo from National Library Ireland (nli). Working on family tree in PS. Everyone keeps saying I can make it creative – how???
13 June 2019
My elder brother died yesterday. I was working in the craft shop when I got the word. I will go to the funeral which is in Dublin. This involves a three day off island trip. But I will be there for my younger brother. My sister will probably not make it but I will be able to visit her.
Strange to add the date of death of my brother to the family tree which I am workig on at this very time for the book on my great grandmother.
The island artists exhibition is opening today. I have three framed images in for it. I also have three postcards for the blind postcard sale. This is to generate money for a new firing kiln and shed to keep the kiln in. I am happy that I will be here for the opening as I probably won’t have to leave ’till tomorrow for the funeral.
My garden is on the island trail but now I won’t be here for most of the two weeks the open islands festival is on.
13 June 2019
The Island Exhibition opened yesterday. There was a very good crowd. I was happy with where my work was hung.
Off to Dublin today for my brothers funeral.
18th June 2019
Returned from funeral on Sunday night in time for hangout which was great as always. I was a bit tired and had difficulty focusing on Kate’s work.
The material for the cover of my book has got lost in the post. Etsy do not seem capable of tracking the Royal Mail parcel – unbelievable. This is the second time Royal Mail have lost a parcel on me. I asked to change the address to a UK one but the material company could not do this. I am feeling so frustrated.
I have got a mock up of the book ready for my neighbour to have a look at. Awaiting a reply as to when she is available. I am still waiting for some license permissions. Not sure if I need to add more images.
19th June 2019
My neighbour, Deirdre, came and went through my mock up book with me. Got really good advice. This is my next step. Working in Craft Shop today so no time.
Will get my table for my studio on my way to work – hopefully.
Listened to the Simon Norfolk interview – love that guy.
29th June 2019
Difficult trip to Uk to visit my sister in law. It is so difficult to see someone give up on life, especially someone who was so full of life and so interested in everything. Keeping someone alive with medication cannot be the best solution.
Back home and straight into the garden which had gone wild in five days. it is that time of year.
Have my A2 book on my great grandmother almost ready for my neighbour to look at and advise about visuals. Bought a pattern for the cover yesterday. Just want to get it to bed before I go away to see my daughter next week. We have a couple of concerts on the mainland this week also.
30th June 2019
Getting back to the exercises for assignment 4. Wrote up ‘selfie’.
3 July 2019
Phew I got my A2 book finalised last night. Will make a Flip Book today and send to tutor.
Wonderful evening on Sunday listening to Barry Douglas playing Beethoven in Bantry House. What a wonderful setting to hear such divine music. Another two concerts today. Then off tomorrow to Dublin and on to Eindhoven on Saturday. Busy few days ahead.
Garden growing like mad but managing to keep on top of it. Son will come on 12th to put my studio steps in place.
9 July 2019
It has been a busy but very enjoyable week with family. Was able to spend some time with my sister who is making good progress but still carrying very heavy arm plasters.
Maastricht vist was fantastic. Grandchildren in brilliant form. Family time much appreciated.
Now I am mentally planning the A4, A5 and A6.
I have my title but that is about it for the moment!!
14 July 2019
Son arrived to make the steps up to my studio with his Dad. They started work at 7a.m. and worked through to 6p.m. They nearly finished. I need to purchase some decking for just outside the door. Also the hand rail needs to be put up but I think this has to await the completion of the decking. My husband can do this himself. Now begins the clean up around the site!!!! That’s my job.
I used the few resting minutes my son had to show him the A2 book on his great great grandmother. He had some suggestions which I have taken on board.
I also ran my idea for A4 by him and he agreed to be interviewed for it. He is a programmer. He started to program when he was about 12 years old.
17 July 2019
After the family departure on Sunday it was on to the Side-wide hangout. I had put up my Letitia Millet Book for discussion. As usual got some really interesting ideas. One was to make a book using the large instruction sheet in the pattern. I like this idea. This tied in really well with the Book Binding course I attended yesterday. I have written this up. From the hangout I learned that I could submit my printed and my handmade book. So I hope to do this.
I will have a whole weekend on my own when I hope to get all this sorted. It looks like it will rain so that will keep me indoors.
Went to mainland for the Bantry Literary Festival. This is an amazing annual literary festival. All the great and the good of Irish and many international authors are present. Because of time restrictions we only booked for two events. We heard Sebastian Barry, the Laureate of Irish Fiction, and Sarah Crossan, the Laureate na n’Og (Young people’s Laureate) being interviewed by Alex Clarke . It was an amazing evening. Both authors are very open and shared many go their writing procedures. They are both also committed to their work as Laureates. Both have worked to include the marginalised in their work. I was surprised to learn that Irish Laureates are very well funded by the Arts Council of Ireland. They earn four times more than their UK counterparts…
19 July 2019
Worked in shop yesterday. Really good and busy day. Today it is raining so I’ll get on with my work on finalising the book.
27 July 2019
Been such a busy week. Husband off at golf and cricket so I used the time to get the things done in the garden that I never have time to do.
Then I worked on the A2 book. My daughter gave her opinion of the first draft. With her and the hangout suggestions I am now almost ready to print. Am happy with it and don’t really care what others think of it.
30th July 2019
Am awaiting my graphic designers final word before getting book on great grandmother printed. This will happen next week.
Have worked on and finished my mind map for assignment 4. Will photograph and upload today and send off today.
Digital Image & Culture 