Plaster Workshop; Mould Making. 29/10/2009

A really productive session; spent all day in the plaster workshop; demonstrations from Rosa on press moulds for creating shallow relief surfaces, and 2 piece moulds for slip casting and press moulding 3D forms in clay. Had done some mould making before but it was great to refresh my memory and consider how these techniques could relate to my project. I think that there is much more scope here to achieve the sort of detail and qualities of finish that I am after. Although I do still want to investigate casting in metal, developing my ideas in plaster and porcelain will give me more control and allow me to work with greater precision.
 I do find the whiteness of the plaster very beautiful. I'm also starting to think about reflected colour (this relates to Robert Rauchenburg; white paintings shown at Eleanor Wards Stable Gallery in 1953. Need to talk about this in more detail) How could reflected colour be used to temporarily change the appearance of an object/sculpture An interplay between existing colour/ textural qualities and reflected light. Need to look into this further.

Anyway, have made my own press moulds and need to find something suitable for the two piece mould.

Rosa suggested some ceramacists/shows to look at:

Steve Dixon
http://www.artdes.mmu.ac.uk/profile/sdixon/projects

Grayson Perry
http://www.victoria-miro.com/artists/_12/

Carol  McNicoll
http://www.caa.org.uk/exhibitions/exhibition-archive/2008/cup/carol-mcnicoll.html

The Shape of Things; Bristol
http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/content/Leisure-Culture/Museums-Galleries/coming-soon---the-shape-of-things-.en

Ceramics Biennial Stoke on Trent
http://www.stokeceramicsfestival.co.uk/stories/959-welcome

Foundry Workshop; 15/10/2009

Fantastic session in the foundry with Phil and Bill. We covered two types of sand casting; made individual casts from 'patterns' using closed 'flasks' and then worked together to produce a large 'open cast' piece.

Great to get my hands dirty and start learning new techniques.

Something very primordial about the process. The colour of the crucible when it came out of the furnace at 800 degrees, an incredible pink! Seeing molten metal in the flesh....it looked like mercury and had an unreal quality to it, like something out of terminator 2 when first poured, then quicky took on a leaden grey appearence as it cooled and contracted. 

The sounds, smells and phsical nature of the processes were really exciting. I felt privileged to be there, to witness the pouring and to see the qualities of the metal in different states. 

Took some images but will document the process more methodically when I have another go. 

Lu made a video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUJ1MaQ2kgA

Transition; passage from one place or state into another. 

Transmutation; a changing into a different form, nature or substance. (chem) the conversion  of one element into another, either spontaneously or artificially.

Transform; to change the shape, appearance, character, or disposition of.