icafest

[icafest]

Day 14: Evaluation

Production

Very mixed feelings about the weeks before we actually got started on the exhibition. Everyone contributed to some extent; either in small ways or greatly. 

Despite being the largest team, getting the whole team together was rarely possible because even when we were supposed to have lectures dedicated to the festival, it would usually be only around 5 people present (reasons for absence, ma nafx). It often felt like the festival was taking the backseat to all the other units, but this was no one’s fault; we had a very intensive last semester from hell. When we more or less enough present to actually discuss, we did generate some good ideas and everyone completed the tasks I assigned them, albeit after chasing them and constantly messaging, and to a varying degree in quality. 

There were instances where I would have explained from A to Z, and somehow, someone still managed to take a different direction. The biggest example of this was the lighting and carpet request for the tent outside; I provided all the information in a post, yet quotations forwarded to me were beyond ridiculous or containing incorrect information.   

I employed a system of sending a weekly update on our facebook group so that those who weren’t present, knew what we had discussed in class, as well as to assign tasks. Since Sherilyn and Sarah were in our FB group as well, they could also see the interactions. This also helped me keep track of who was doing what, so that when I messaged them individually, I knew what to ask for. 

The general feeling was that some people put more effort than others in the team, which I hope is evident in their blogs. There were instances when I asked the team to do certain tasks towards the concepts proposals and after, but they were mostly not done. After the proposals alone, the only work that was actually done with exhibition spaces was the podium (on which myself, and 3 other people worked).

Implementation 

Despite the lecturer’s speech that we don’t have a lot of time, and everyone needs to stay late so we can hurry up and finish, we still ended up a few people working in the rooms (excluding those obviously working on Documentation, Art Direction & Promotion). This was very demoralising, because myself or Sherilyn posted everyday what needed to be done, and asked often for people to bring tools and help out later. 

Again, despite this supposedly being the bulk work for the exhibition spaces team, only less half the team were actually staying till late. The bulk of the work was carried out with people who aren’t even exhibition spaces; like Deborah, Sherilyn, Nikolai, and David to name a few. From my team, Adam was the one staying late almost everyday. I myself, have done everything from sewing, carpeting, ironing, hammering, cleaning, to painting; cutting wood was the exception. 

In light of this, we worked very well together and got a lot done, amidst a lot of laughs and tired jokes. Genuinely, if it weren’t for this small team of people, we would have not managed to finish construction in 10 days; and that includes a special thanks to Andreas and his step dad for doing the podiums in a morning which saved us a lot of work.  

I believe that through coordination with Sherilyn and Deborah, we managed the spaces and everything that had to be done well enough that when one of us wasn’t present, the other could pick up. Constant communication with the lecturers also helped so that whenever we had any issues, they were tackled immediately. 

Despite being an exhausting experience, I am very pleased with the result of our rooms, and am hoping that lighting works out today. I believe the spaces as constructed highlight our work well, and even though it is not on the level of intensity that PIPE was last year (anything on that scale would have failed to be completed in 10 days). hope the visitors in the coming days appreciate and enjoy our work and spaces. 

[icafest]

Day 13

We had a brief meeting in the morning where Mr Duncan explained what was happening, and encouraged everyone to stay all day to finish off the wayfinding. Yet again, a lot of people left around 14:30-15:00, and it was more or less the same people as usual.

With regards to lighting, there was a bit of muddle, to say it politely. Sherilyn had explained on Friday in my absence what we wanted, but colour gels had been suggested and she had requested a sample. Without our knowledge, this was approved so today the lighting guys came and were going to apply these gels to the class lighting that was already there. We spoke to the lecturers, who agreed that this was not what we had requested and that keeping the class lighting made it seem very unprofessional. We then spoke to the director to settle the issue, and then there was a rush to arrange with procurement to get what we had requested. Hopefully Friday, we will pull a miracle.

Wayfinding stickers were not done with enough space between each class name, so we had to do them all over. I contacted Drew and arranged to reprint the ones we had to redo with him. I went to collect them.I peeled off the first set of letters, along with Adam and Mr Mamo. Michaela and I then retouched the paint on the strips. I helped Michaela apply a set of stickers on one strip. 

[icafest]

Day 12

Counted hours with Sherilyn for everyone and set roster. The aim was to see who did the least hours, and give them shifts manning our space during the festival to make up for it. 

We continued clearing up around the spaces, cleaning.

[icafest]

Day 11

As vivas had started today, we could not do much in the rooms 

I asked Nikolai and Adam to start painting the wood that Jean Paul had cut for the wayfinding. 

Michaela and I painted the first set of strips for the wayfinding inside. 

Agreed with Sherilyn that tomorrow we would work on calculating the hours for all the students. 

[icafest]

Day 10

Went with the maintenance guy to PM Hobbies and a store for door hinges and knobs/handles so he could fix the class doors. 

We then went to Ritchie’s where I bought metal wire and loops to secure the tablets to podiums.

Got Jean Paul to cut the tablet wood to the size needed.

Shawn and I put together one tablet on a piece of wood with the brackets and all, and showed this to Nikolai so that he could do it later with the other people who had tablets. 

[icafest]

Day 9

We discussed what needed to be locked down for the tablets, and agreed on employing a system of brackets and wood like last year. Sherilyn and Drew went to RCG but he did not have any. Shawn sourced them later in the afternoon from an ironmongery next to him.

Complained again to administration that we could not move the iMACs into Room 3 as one door couldn’t be locked, as well as doors missing frame or broken keys. We were informed that maintenance would fix them all tomorrow morning. 

2nd lighting person spoke to us. I explained how we wanted to do the lighting, and he said that there would be too much light and it would look clinical. He suggested replacing the tubes already there, or using colour gels but I wasn’t convinced.

I was not present for the rest of the day, but Sherilyn, Adam and Deborah updated me on what was happening. 

[icafest]

Day 8

(Sourced from Adam)

I got my vacuum cleaner, and together with Sherilyn, we continued to iron out the creases then vacuumed the carpet clean in room 3. 

Michael, David, Deborah, Adam, Anthony (and maybe other people but I can’t remember) and I taped down the carpets in room 3. 

Sherilyn, Adam, Thomas, Anthony and I washed the floor in Room 1. 

We brought in the podiums into room 3 after the carpet was done, and into room 1 after the floor dried.

 Nexos came to speak to us to make an estimate. I explained how we wanted to do the lighting, but we were later advised that they had dropped out.

Sherilyn, Adam and I painted the big wooden box/podium that was needed to place a button for the interactive lights, as well as the It All Starts Here logo. 

[icafest]

Day 7

After discussion with Dr Caruana, we were given permission to cut it down to 9m strips. Today, we started laying out the carpets in Room 2 where Adam was measuring to cut, while I started ironing the carpet. This was very exhausting work. Then we taped down the sides and put double sided tape underneath to secure it, but this wasn’t strong enough. I had to leave a bit early, but I was informed that the carpet in Room 3 had been cut ready and just needed to be ironed and taped the next day.

[icafest]

Day 6

Unfortunately, there weren’t a lot of people to help out in the rooms due to the Entrepreneurship presentations, so not much was done today. 

Sherilyn and I separated the podiums for each room. We cleaned the rooms a bit. 

I took one of the 50cm squares and compared to the podiums that Andreas and his step-dad had constructed on Friday, and worked out that the corners needed to be cut to 2.4cm by 6.4cm each. I passed on the instructions to Jean Paul so that he could cut them. 

Rest of the curtains were put up today. 

We opened up the carpets on the floor to see how they would fit, as we could not cut them but they had to be folded over almost 3 times to fit the length of the room. We left them there to settle. We agreed that we need to clean and iron the wrinkles out of the carpet as it had been stored badly.

[icafest]

Day 5

In the morning, together with Nikolai, we started putting up the shelves in both rooms and then I continued with Adam, David and Patrick late in the afternoon after I had finished the curtains.

Spent all morning overlocking the curtains which was exhausting. Once I finished one, Deborah would iron the creases out. 

Very few people today so we struggled to finish stuff. 

I got Jean Paul and Patrick to drill and attach the first piece of wood above the window in each room so that they were all done. 

After that, we continued to put up the windows, but only managed 2 before I left, so I expected at least 1 more to be done to finish the room (Which they didn’t do -.-)

[icafest]

Day 4

Continued cutting fabric with Deborah’s and Rosemary’s help. They held the fabric straight for me to cut properly as I had been struggling a bit the day  before. 

Touched up some of the dots in Room 3 with markers and paint. 

Instructed Andre and Ryan to start marking the lines above the window for the wood structure. 

Together with Joseph, Philip and some other people, we started to work out how do the curtains, how much fabric to cut and so. Joseph drilled above the window, placed the cavigli and did the screws appropriately. We used the extra OSB board to make a template with masking tape, and place the fabric onto it to avoid measuring each time. The bottom wood was stapled and nailed to the fabric on both sides, then we used the template to measure and do the top part. 

Helped paint the ICA logo in room 3 with Sherilyn and Deborah till we finished at 8.45pm.  Nikolai assisted by patiently holding the paint for us. 

[icafest]

Day 3

As I arrived early, I went over my room plan and visited the rooms, and amended some positions after realising some constraints. 

Once the stencils arrived, I suggested how best to place them so they could pencil and then paint a full pattern rather than it being cutoff at a point. 

I went to the textiles workshop, where Ms Ancilleri examined the fabric and determined the best way for us to make the curtains was to cut on the tables, measure and mark, then overlock them. 

I cut 6 pieces of fabric with the assistance Sarah and then Rosemary replaced her. After Ms Ancilleri explained to me how the overlocking machine works, I managed to do 1. 

Explained the cutting of wood (for squares, and the shelves) to Jean Paul to get it done with Nikolai’s assistance in the workshop with Ray. When that was completed, explained how the shelves had to be constructed so JP and Patrick could glue them together. 

Anthony, David, Nikolai, Rosemary and others helped to get the carpets to potentially use,  thanks to Dr Caruana, and we started cleaning them out before I moved back to my textile work. 

We painted the wall in Room 2 peach today. 

[icafest]

Day 2

Got paint and ordered wood with Sherilyn, but then my car broke down in the car park (lol yep). 3 hours later, I arrived at school and went with Sarah and bought paint from Veegeebee, then to JB where we got the black blackout fabric. When we got back, I spoke to Ms Ancilleri about the fabric and agreed to get working on it in the textiles workshop the next day. 

After the wood arrived at school, I marked the chipboard wood for cutting so that Jean Paul could get these done. After Mr Duncan decided to pull a Rafiki move on the wall with the peach paint, Sherilyn, Deborah, Nikolai, Sarah and I painted the wall with a first coat of peach, and touched up the white around the rooms. 

Special thanks to Sher Photography Studio. 

In the evening, I prepared stencils for the dots and sent to Buzzer to be cut. Sarah would collect these in the morning. Carl sent me the top view of all our rooms, and I did the room plan for placing students. These would help with moving podiums and determining space for shelves as well.  

[icafest]

Day 1

Went to buy stuff with Sherilyn, Briefing, went to JB got white blackout sample for curtains, planning with Duncan and Mamo. Discussed with Carl the room plan, who goes where etc, and we settled on 70cm per person who has shelves. 

[icafest]

Week 16

Fixed the budget, and passed on lighting requirements to Mr Duncan and the Director. Not much was done this week with regards to festival as it is our last week of assignment deadlines. 

At this point in time, we agreed with the lecturers that the vinyl would be a last resort to cover the floors as they are the biggest cost, and largest hassle. 

[icafest]

Week 15

Helped out with the car wash on Wednesday. While I originally planned to do only 2 hours, I ended up staying the whole afternoon. It was fun, and we raised quite a bit of funds from it. 

Passed on model and measurements with an updated budget to Andreas so that he could speak with Paul Target, and he got him as a sponsor to cut the wood for us, but we would construct it. This would save us 2 days of work at least.  

Set timeline with lecturers and peeps present for what needs to be done, from constructing podiums to painting the walls and setting up. This was necessary so that we work as quickly as possible and keep to the schedule as we basically only have 10 days to finish.    

[icafest]

Week 14

I bought screws and brackets for the podium. Patrick, Jean Paul and I constructed the podium this week, and Adam replaced Jean Paul when he had to leave. It took 3 people to build the sides, and put it all together with the brackets. Since we didn’t have any glue, it wasn’t super stable. 

Discussed the podium with the classmates present. Friday worked on our list with Duncan, and sent printing and lighting, along with collected list of sponsor stand stuff. Asked Drew to get 3 quotes for lighting to pass on to Tyrone with our requirements. Went through the plan with Sherilyn to see what needed to be done.