White labels

A couple of weeks ago I found myself in the basement at Bradford School of Arts & Media, experimenting in the ceramics workshop. As the snow was falling and the building became deserted I settled myself with a mug of tea, my notebook and a lump of porcelain clay. I was in my element. I found it intriguing to be working with a different material, like speaking a different language somehow. A material that has a memory and 'remembers how you handle it'; a material that can be chalky like plaster or translucent like skin.

Rolled, turned, rolled and turned.

Smoothed and re-rolled.

Cut to size.

A series of labels,

numbered and dated,

from smooth white porcelain.

I have loved working with the porcelain and learning about how it behaves. This weekend I added the finishing touches with a little blueprint. The porcelain labels will form the finishing touches for my installation 'Linear Mapping', part of the Pinpoint II exhibition, which I hang this week.

Laying Things Out

I have always been a slow worker. Not deliberately; it just always seems to take me time to sort things out how I want them. Setting things out like this is more about organising things in my head than the physical organisation it appears to be. I think this is just one of my methods of working.

Labelled with Love

During the last couple of days I have been experimenting with different kinds of labels for my woodland bundles. Also considering how best to combine the different elements of the artwork with consideration of place, time and making. John has come up with some really insightful (and practical) ideas that have helped me to move things along.

If you go down to the woods today...

A lovely day spent doing the 'Mapping Hirst Wood' event, with good weather and lovely people. If you would like to see more of what we did take a look at the photos on the Mapping Hirst Wood blog.

Many thanks to John, CarolAnn, Alice, Joe and Hazel for helping me.