davidbroderickcommunity

[davidbroderickcommunity]

Our Mural at its current finished stage. Still need to figure out some touch ups and layer it with varnish. Then to make the arrangement for drop off at the surrey memorial hospital. Some of our thoughts of the experience:

-Not everyone is cooperative and professional, even if you are. Sometimes unexpected things occur and as artists we have to do our best to work around it even if it means compromising or sacrifice.

-Time management is crucial, especially when working in a group as you have to coordinate with each other’s schedules.

-Not everyone will agree on one idea, and that’s okay. Although Kelly seemed on board and enthusiastic about the project, Braden seemed to have different plans, that he did not share with us.

-Having a good and trusting relationship with the institution that takes you on is important and can dictate how the project turns out.

-The mural is now a donation to the surrey memorial hospital which will be put up in the children’s ward. We hope that it still bring joy to people who get to walk to by.

-Overall, we enjoyed the experience of painting a large scale mural and it turned out well as a collaborative piece. However we are disappointed that the hospital did not fully uphold their end.

[davidbroderickcommunity]

Sanem Guvenc-Salgirli and Amy-Claire Huestis

Sanem Guvenc-Salgirli and Amy-Claire Huestis make Deluze and Guatari theory accessible in their presentation by the activity in which we took part in that had instructions, a music clip, but the freedom in which how we want to follow them. Although there were instructions there was no structure, it was open to interpretation in which we felt it meant. The class had the opportunity to be in their own state of mind while going through a workshop that has “x” to branch off, adding to the Rhizome or perhaps breaking from it by going down a different route.

Rhizome is a concept developed by Deleuze and Guattari which is a complicated idea to put into words, however, in the presentation, Sanem used Lego to help explain what a Rhizome is which was helpful visually to get the idea across. It is seen to be a binding that is not bindable. There is something holding it but no possible way of it being something. There is no sequence or structure. A rhizome can be non-stable, easy to bring together, and easy to take apart. A part of a Rhizome may die off, but something else will begin to grow in its place.

An art happening event can be influenced by the rhizome, for example, the poetry word happening we did during the class. In which we all wrote our own two words and we placed it down however we felt suited. They could have been laid down in a perfect vertical line, a straight horizontal line, but instead, the class placed them down like an abstract poem that had words above words and beside words and there was no structure to it. This also made people start whoever the consciously decide, they can start from the most left, for the top, a word they think started a sentence, it was spontaneous and there was no right or wrong way. It just happened as it was and could be changed or broken however it wanted to be. It was like the idea of a map in which a Rhizome was also linked to, and how a map has no starting point.

[davidbroderickcommunity]

Worked on some depth, and bringing things to pop out a little more as well as paint in missing elements, slowly but surely coming along.

[davidbroderickcommunity]

After class Wednesday, Stephane and I worked on trying to patch in the small white spots while also bringing more of a believable colour to the path, grass, slide, hair, bench, clothing, and other small details that needed some layering, and we hope we can work on perspective next time.

[davidbroderickcommunity]

Wednesday’s work session went pretty well, although we were flabbergasted with bad news, we worked through the pain and frustration together and made the figures more dimensional and the grass more solid. We are satisfied with the productivity we are able to get done when we are all together, and the little things each other do to help make our group run smoothly.

[davidbroderickcommunity]

Worked on the sky and trees after Monday class, looks like it is coming together nicely. Tried to give the sky a fading out feel near bottom to be believable with horizon. Starting to make the trees look a little more life like with light coming from the right.

[davidbroderickcommunity]

Sylvia Grace Borda & Keith Donnelly

Sylvia Grace Borda’s art practice consists of photography, video, and emergent technologies. She works through the process of a photogram. Through this process, pictures are produced with photographic materials, such as light-sensitive paper. There is no camera involved and with this, she can explore a wider range of possibilities. Keith Donnelly with a civil engineering background has a practical knowledge of materials within art and architecture including industrial grade ceramic, iron, glass, granite, aluminum, and concrete. The two artists were able to take Sylvia photogram process and Keith’s technical skills and knowledge to collaborate in making art pieces. Sylvia photograms become ‘negatives’ for Keith to use in order to make the sculptural molds. That is how the two are able to collaborate in order to make the Lumsden Biscuit successful.  However, it took a lot of problems solving and selecting the proper wood. Together they changed an entire process and created the first edible photographs, Photography was taken into another medium thanks to Keith’s help.

 Their work methodologies as Sylvia says is to learn what the communities choice of drink is and then having a drink with everyone in the community in order to get them all involved. Sylvia does the main research and figuring out the community and how she can create new relationships within the communities. Keith more executes the idea into action and makes it happen. With the Lumsden Biscuits, they created the community to have a more meaningful contribution to the community being that they had their own Scottish shortbread biscuits that the other communities did not. They also brought seniors and teenagers together, in order to bring support to one each other that can be carried on. The Latvia wall mural projects were giving the community a new aspect and idea of how the land of apple trees could be viewed. With that, they were able to change the communities perspective in a way of seeing the apples as an opportunity, not a negative object. With this, a project emerged of blending the buildings in with the land of apple trees.

Sylvia PowerPoint stated that when we are in dialogue with each other we have a greater interconnectedness, capacity, and confidence to start processes of change. I believe that this is true because the more people on board on a project creates a hype and energy between each other that motivates one another. It also helps to see other peoples attitude and perspective change or contribute to making something better. Keith said that if someone is honest with themselves, they will be willing to change their style to maximize their opportunities. I think a lot of artists who are established are trapped in making a certain art that they are known for. I know have been told to focus on one medium and target a certain audience, however, if I did not explore another material I would have never known what other capabilities I had or what conversations I am capable of making.

[davidbroderickcommunity]

We drew out the main layout and brought the canvas to school yesterday.We started the painting process after class where we all worked very well together and we were able to block in colours and cover the canvas up in paint! It seems to have moved a long fast with the time we had together, we will continue to talk about continuing the painting; but it was a successful day.

[davidbroderickcommunity]

EOI plus our final submission for Capture Photography Festival. 

David Broderick

14447 chartwell drive

Surrey, British Columbia, V3S5E3

(604 916-8672

david.broderick@email.kpu.ca

Eva Yang

304-288 Hampton Street

New Westminster, British Columbia, V3M5L9

778-829-0330

eva.yang1@email.kpu.ca

14th February 2018

2018 Capture Photography Festival

Purchasing Manager

Main Reception Desk, City of New Westminster

511 Royal Avenue

New Westminster, British Columbia

V3L1H9

 Dear Purchasing Manager,

We are two Fine Arts students at Kwantlen Polytechnic University working towards our Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. We are writing this letter in response to the “2018 Capture Photography Festival” listing posted on the City of New Westminster website. With the skills and abilities obtained from the institute, we believe we will be great assets. As burgeoning artists, we would like this opportunity to contribute to the celebration of our region’s vibrant art historical roots.

With vast experience showing our artwork publically and preparing for gallery exhibitions, we have the ability to meet strict deadlines and budgeting our expenses.  

As residents who live in this region, we strongly support vibrancy and community wellness within the site. Our technique in use of colours as well as abstraction will bring environmental awareness to the city. We hope to lift the community through the artwork on the fence as they walk by as it will be both aesthetically and educationally appealing.

As New Westminster being the first community established here in the lower mainland alongside the river, we believe in the importance of giving the community a sense of place and identity while establishing city pride.

Sincerely,

David Broderick, Eva Yang

[davidbroderickcommunity]

Eva and I a few weeks back, made a site visit to the Sapperton Park chain link fence wall at 351 East Columbia Street. While there we were able to get a proper visual of the scale of the fence and the surrounding environment. With a church near by, and hospital near by, a playground and an overall friendly community. We even got to see the community out being active on a cold sunny day.  We spent some time there looking for opportunities to take pictures of people as well as explore and see if there were any interesting colours or buildings that stand out that could be Incorporated into our idea for capture the photography festival. After collecting a number of photographs we then went through them and tried to collage images together while also alters the image, and after many many alternations and struggles, a lot of undoes, a lot of risk, a lot of mess ups, we finally came to a final image we both were extremely happy with that we found did the community justice and included all the elements asked for as well as the made it site specific.  

[davidbroderickcommunity]

Access Art Gallery Visit and Artist-in-residence talk presented by Paul Wong at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Gardens.

On our field trip to two galleries, we first attended the Access Art Gallery.

 Artist-run centers are collectives and non-profit organizations run by artists that support innovative practices in the arts. The primary difference between Artist-run centers and Commercial galleries is that commercial galleries are privately owned and are meant for profit by selling artwork. Artist-run centers differ from institutions like the Vancouver Art Gallery because they do not charge admission fees. They are open to the public at free cost.

 “Warmblood” by Vicky Sabourin is about the intensely intimate relationship between human and horse and considers the potency of this noble animal as a symbolic motif, emblematic of the power dynamic man attempts to exert upon the world.  At Access Gallery the piece was a performance that included Sabourin removing stones from inside a felted horse and enters the cavity, laying inside with her legs exposed. For later viewers like myself, the horse was laying on its side in the middle of the room with the rocks inside it to make it look full.

 The documented performance of having the footage playing and the end result objects displayed allows the viewer to still have a connection with the original performance. The viewer still feels like they witnessed the performance and got to see the end result. I would not say I was that engaged with the performance pieces, or that it interested me. However, I can appreciate the gesture of trying to create an environment that still acts as a performance piece.

 The other gallery we attended was an Artist-in-residence talk presented by Paul Wong at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Gardens.

 Artist-in-residence is where artists are invited to work in an environment for a certain amount of time to reflect, research, and present themselves in a new culture. It is an opportunity to work in a new community and meet new people and explore new materials and experience a new lifestyle that can be used in a new art piece.

 Artists work with an organization in an established community to include the public in making the work visible by engaging with the diverse creative, spiritual, emotional, intellectual and material features of the city. The art is planned outside and accessible to all to encounter and engage with. It is important that the art is exhibited in a public space in order to be visible to as many as the community members as possible.

 Paul Wong’s site-specific art was portrayed to us through speaking about his vision for using the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden space. He was highly enthusiastic about creating a larger than life lantern for the center of the room. This lantern would mimic the ones already hanging. He would also use the already decorated framed windows in a certain manner. He also spoke about using Cantonese as the language for the text in respect of the Chinese in Vancouver Chinatown and how the first majority that arrived spoke Cantonese. I think being able to look back at history and show respect to a group through his work was a nice gesture. I think Identity-wise would be the only manner I could relate to and putting my own identity into my artwork.

[davidbroderickcommunity]

We went and got some supplies a week or so back. Still waiting for confirmation, but sounds like my group will just go for it, and hope for the best, as time is cutting down and this is going to be a lot of work in a condensed amount of time.

[davidbroderickcommunity]

Leah Weinstein

Leah Weinstein use of everyday objects and material to create sculpture is similar to my process of found objects which can also be seen as everyday objects in a work environment. I connect with her approach of taking something familiar and creating an engagement with the community through her artwork. I find art that engages the audience to be very rewarding and successful. I found her art piece, Working Holiday Chess, 2015 appealing as it presents itself as something familiar but not ideal. She uses foreign looking objects in a traditional set up of a board and leaves it to the viewers to put the two together.

Leah Weinstein tends to make artworks that are wearable or functional in a manner. Her Dress, 2001 is a wearable art piece that includes the individuals wearing it to co-operate with movements as well as become a performance out in the public to witness. Welcome: a mobile sculptural performance, 2013 was aimed at art in unexpected places. It was performance piece with dancers/performers who moved around with panels that created a sphere when together. Not only does she make art accessible to the public through performance pieces, but also a bus that she calls Site Factory. In which it is an artist-run gallery in a school bus that has been stripped from the inside to mimic an open space.  She uses this to bring art exhibitions and performances to unconventional sites in Vancouver.

An important statement that Leah Weinstein mentioned that as an artist, I believe I need to keep reminding myself and that is to “seek out opportunities.” Whatever it takes, to reach out to people. To send press releases, to submit, to always look and apply to stuff. I do spend lots of time trying to find something that I can show my art at or be a part of, but I do find it extremely hard to find opportunities.

[davidbroderickcommunity]

We visited the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Surrey Memorial Hospital a few weeks ago where we pitched 5images to choose from. Although a 4x7 and 4x4 idea were both very liked at the meeting, Kelly and Braden wanted to present it to the family groups that are regular and other employees in the department. Our 4x7 idea was liked but we were told that it would be appreciated if a baby was included, so we added a couple with their baby and stroller on a bench and some small kids playing patty cake. The 4x4 idea of a fun character like fantasy world was not as welcomed, and the family members wanted to see something that included nature, working off of a sketch of a tree we already had, we tried to work in nature as well as a family together enjoying the nature. The different family members can be seen taking care of one another and doing something. By using the father pointing suggests it is pointing something off the canvas which could suggest the other canvas, bringing the two together. However, it has been a number of days since we submitted our reworked proposal and we still await confirmation. Fingers crossed they get back to us with a positive decision and we can start on the murals!

[davidbroderickcommunity]

Carmen Papalia

The Five Tenets of Open Access are broken up into five categories, first being the reliance on those present in the environment and how one another can support each other, while also providing a sense of trust. The second is the acknowledgment that everyone carries a body of local knowledge and is an expert in their own right which can contribute to a common experience for a group. The third being a root system of embodied learning that gives each individual the opportunity to provide their point of orientation. Fourth bringing awareness to the limitation of one’s agency and potential to thrive and reconstruct the ability in another manner. The final tenet is a temporary, collectively-held space where participants can find comfort in disclosing their needs and preferences with one another. 

I found Carmen to approach open access to his performances and public interactions in a positive manner that gives people with disabilities the acceptance back into society. He takes this opportunity not to dwell on the subject matter but bring a fun, active, likelihood that shows that he enjoys himself. 

I never heard of the Gallery Gachet before but it sounds like a very positive organization and I’m glad to hear about its existence. I do think society is trying to make things more accessible, at least in my surroundings I feel that way. It is good to know that there is art being made out there that brings awareness to the subject matter in a creative way. 

[davidbroderickcommunity]

Had a good time working with my group for the KPU Happening. We got good feedback and a note was also left behind sharing the appreciation for the storyline and fun activity. Watching the students walk in the hallways trying to figure it out and then walk through it was a great experience. I agree that the starting point could have been more visible and acknowledged. Also, the bags with the items in them could have matched, however, we had already spent a lot of the items, we could only afford so much. However, I feel the colours of the string and tape brought a fun atmosphere into the hallways and brought life to the hall. Not only was the activity of the students going through the storyline being the KPU Happening, but as well as the setup and take down. Students were reading them as we set up and curious about what it was. When I came to the school the following day a few strings were hanging from the roof. Yet students walk by it like it is normal. It was interesting to watch. As well as the takedown, it was like a new KPU happening of the string being everywhere as students go down the hall, it became a silly interaction, and still, students would read the papers as the artwork was being taken down. It was an enjoyable experience.

[davidbroderickcommunity]

KPU Happening. Took us longer than expected to set up. Was pretty tricky and time-consuming to figure how to lay it out that creates it function-able and approachable. Video of the whole set up and the different items that were specifically chosen to complement the ending that the person who did the activity ended with.