Coast collection
Coastal walk on Friday, found three pieces – black rope, cord and nylon thread. I liked the variation in thickness, texture and colour- especially the faded and frayed heavy black rope.
Recent Beach Finds
Recent finds on the beach -autumn tides had swept up lots of seaweed on the beach. Fewer finds – just a small set of small things.
Ask the Dust- photo set
Ask the dust is a series of pieces using the dust specific to a space- the basement of the Deans residence in Derry. The works are temporary and ephemeral, needing to be be remade as the exhibition progresses and uses plaster dust from the decaying walls, ash from one of the fireplaces and coal dust form the coal cellar. From the exhibition catalogue-
Ask the Dust is a series of pieces about the memory of a place, referencing the lives once lived there. The objects suggest the shapes of domestic forms, of utensils and vessels set to one side in the daily rush of life. The pieces are made from the dust specific to the space- decaying plaster, ash from the fireplace and coal dust from the cellar by the kitchen. Formed from this remnant matter, these pieces are delicate and ephemeral, able to be blown away in an instant. Like the lives lived there, little remains but these little traces in dust, while the space itself endures, holding a faint echo of the past.
- Ask the Dust- Coal Dust
- Ask the Dust – Ash
- Ask the Dust -Plaster Dust spoon.
- Ask The Dust- Plaster Dust
- Ask The Dust -Plaster Dust
Finds- Derry Cathedral grounds
Objects found in a rusted pile beside Derry Cathedral.
Beach finds 19/9/13
Today’s finds on the beach- circles and stoppers. The weather is definitely turning autumnal.
Finds
Oh and I found this lovely length of rusted wire at Boomhall while documenting other artists set up for Mak9. Lovely tones on it.
The Deanery, dust and setting up
The last few days I’ve been working on my piece for Draw On The Walls exhibition with my applied art group Mak9. Together with the other two members – Gail Mahon and Heather Wilson, we have been helping the participating artists install and record their work. I got to install some dust drawings in the Deanery basement using the dust if the decaying plaster and ash from the fireplace. Everything is very ephemeral – just pressed together using constructed formers. Below is a sneak peek – I’ll do a full photo set when the exhibition opens. Additionally I’m finishing up a set of works for Setting The Scene in the Craft Study centre in Farnham – all go! More later..
Beachfinds Whiteparkbay
Took a trip up to Whitepark Bay and Ballintoy harbour on the North Antrim Coast. The scenery is spectacular – one if the joys of living in Northern Ireland. Collecting wise what was interesting was the most common material was fishing textile material. I found lots of fishing line in a variety of colours, as well as rope from nets and boats. Very little other material – no driftwood of note, little other human related debris, not a lot if shells. The textiles are very interesting- I think I’ll return to gather more. I’d like to do a set of works using these textiles relating specifically to that place. The fishing materials really embody the human link to the area and were such a strong visual feature- very inspiring.
Beach Finds 6/9/13
Yesterday’s finds, weather turning Autumnal.
Play/ arrangements
Playing with arrangements, looking at different elements and the weight of the marks and materials side by side.
Stuart Cairns 