Drawing completed, installed, please come to the PV....

Last weekend, Elizabeth and I met for the second time, both armed with papers, personal info and materials, to create our drawing, 'Please allow 30 days for search results'.  The drawing was installed by the BLANKMEDIA Collective team yesterday, and Liz will be going along this week to add some finishing touches to our work as part of the 'user generated content' exhibition.

The PV is this coming Thursday 2nd June 2011, 6-9pm at the MadLab, Manchester, and Liz will be present, but sadly I will be in China so will not be able to attend.  We would really love if you could make it along to the Private View, or along to see the show. 

Information on the exhibition below:


Location: MadLab, 36-40 Edge Street, Manchester, M4 1HN
When: Public Preview: Thursday 2 June 2011
Exhibition continues: 3 - 16 June 2011


Artists: Osvaldo Cibils, Jamie Crewe, Douglas Gast, Melissa Henderson, Pippa Lennox, Paul Plowman, Mark Powell, Jennifer Ross, Sarah Terry, Elizabeth Wewiora & Jennifer Steele and Teawitter.


Blank Media Collective curators are excited to present the exhibition User Generated Content. Working collaboratively with MadLab, the exhibition focuses on social media and its relevancy in this day and age.

From artists to arduino engineers, Blank Media Collective have searched ‘virtually’ every corner of the world to present to you the weird, wonderful and quirky things people are creating in the physical realm.

The diverse content of this exhibition includes Facebook stalking, ‘like’ popularity contests, Twitter drum, status-stealing poetry, political statements, never-ending YouTube feed, cakes, Flickr craft, moving image works, and a visual portrayal of an online relationship.

It is about Facebook, it is about Twitter, it is about virtual environments. The world in which we live has developed to the stage where we are now navigating our lives within a hybrid form of immaterial and real landscapes. User Generated Content is a term to describe the various interactive online activities.

Event Contact Information

Location: MadLab, 36-40 Edge Street, Manchester, M4 1HN
Contact: exhibitions@blankmediacollective.org
Blog: http://usergeneratedcontent.posterous.com/
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDdjZzH-HDY

Q. Two female artists dictating the works nature?

Hi Jenny - I was thinking about the original idea we had of trying to learn more about each other on-line. Through the blog we have developed a professional and social relationship, a concept which in my mind seems quite 'quaint' or 'cute' even. Do you think this has anything to do with our gender? Would you see the project as feminine in anyway or romantic in its essence? The idea of 'getting to know each other better on-line', it reminds me of nostalgic actions like pen pal writing.

I would be interested to hear your thoughts?

Hi Liz: I suppose the project has been quite a stereotypically 'female' with with regards to sentiment, attention to detail, and yes, very similar to the notion of getting know someone through mediated process of writing letters.  Our practice seems like an updated version.

Images when I type in Elizabeth Wewiora

These are two images that came up when I searched for 'Elizabeth Wewiora', that I particularly liked.  Many of both your and my artworks also came up.

Task 12 : for Jenny

Hi Jenny,

Can you print out a few images of 'Elizabeth Wewiora' you can find that you are particularly drawn to and bring them with you.

These are two of 'Jenny Steele'

Pictures of Jenny Steele according to google

Sketches for collaborative drawing

I was thinking about the fact that we are now using paper and wanted to consider graph paper as a potential material. It seems so relevant for the project as well as aesthetically suitable for the type of drawing we are attempting to develop. Also with the paper I would quite like to combine drawing with text, found images and some potential cuttings into the paper, almost like interventions into the diagram. This is just a rough sketch so you see the kind of idea I have in mind:

New Space for work

Hi Jenny: I have met with the exhibitions coordinator, Taneesha, and talked through the potential spaces. Although the back corner was a great sized space, and I was really drawn to the corner's internal architecture, it is usually used by HACman as a workshop area and it would need a lot of clearing out and moving around again mid-week for a workshop session. Practically it just does not work to have our installation there.
We have been offered an alternative space, which is smaller but much more manageable with our restricted days to work together!  It is another corner space, with a pillar style edge which potentially gives us a third wall to work on if we want to run the diagram across all three sections. Here are some pictures of the space, still waiting for the dimensions height wise but the other three walls are as follows: 145 cm across, 82 cm across and 51cm across.

Because the nature of the space and install dates are restricted we can now work together on paper instead of working directly on the walls. Although this is not our original plan it is all part of the process and perhaps reflects the restrictions of our on-line relationship compared to our physical distance from each other to work together!

Here are some images of the space:
let me know if you have any thoughts, responses to it,

New exhibition space for the collaboration at Mad Lab

Initial sketches for installation

Installation Layout no1, and installation layout no2

Close up of installation no1

Hi Liz,

Here are some ideas of how we could potentially use the space, you may want to open up these images on a larger scale or I will email them to you. The top is two potential layouts - 1) using user stats graph as a timeline, with points of reference, significant moments and images along it, and 2) using a spider diagram to focus on all the user generated sites we have gotten to know each other through. Image 3) is a close up of the potential stats/ timeline approach.

Whatever we do, I think we need to be consistent in colours, fonts, materials, scale etc.  In the graph time line idea I thought you could write your comments above the 'line' for example, and I could write mine under, with many meeting on either side.

Task for Liz: 16th May 2011

Hi Liz

Can you bring the following materials for friday............if you can

Pens - fineliners, biros, markers
Pencils - soft and hard
Glue adhesive 
Fine Paintbrushes, brushes and wide brushes
Spirit level
Rulers
measuring tape
White and black paint
Scissors
Stanley knife

All the ones in bold I will also bring.

Also, can you print out all the posts you have made on the blog, and I will do for my own.

Hi Jenny:

I have some stuff with me already but have bought some extra bits and bobs from the list too. I already have measuring tapes and a spirit level. My brushes are pretty rubbish just to warn you. I have black paint but not white and have everything else on the list: et voila...

Titles, text, statement, materials, and computer problems

Titles 
In response to previous posts, I like the titles as being one of those that you mentioned, that relates to a period of linear time that we have gotten to know each other.  We can discuss this more in person, when we meet in person again.

Text/ Statement
In response to the BLANKMEDIA collective request for statement and work synopsis, I will create a document with both our statements and a brief outline of the work. I will email you to check over.

Materials
Yes I think pen, pencil and marker pen would be suitable.  The reason I mentioned paint was because it offers a stronger outline from the distance generally.  I thought perhaps we could use just black or grey, and potentially white for certain aspects of the drawing.  I didn't want to use it in a colour mixing, tonal aspect, but have a think about that. Say for example, the way I have used in previous installations, such as the 'Communitas Digitas'. Another lovely material are paint markers, so I will see if I can get my hands on some.  They have the texture of paint, but the control and nib of a pen - they are often used for bar boards.  I have a couple of coloured ones I stole from my partner but I will get some monotone ones.

That is, if we are planning to not use colour? I find working in large scale and on a tight schedule, it is easier to limit your colour palette to a few colours......


Computer Problems
I am having a computer nightmare as my current one is away being fixed, and I am having to dodge and use my partners when hes is not, or use this ANCIENT mac I am currently on which will not let me access most websites, send emails or connect to my scanners! ggrrrr!

More responses to 'what is user generated content?'

I asked the following questions to my friend Pauline, who is a Wholesale Manager for the Japanese Clothing line, YM (Fashion) UK.

1. What does 'user generated content' mean to you?  

Pauline: 

I was going to say that it actually means very little other than facebook - when in fact that’s pretty rubbish and I rely on it quite a bit whether it’s something entertaining or informative. It’s become a valid tool these days, or at least it’s so well established that it is everywhere.

2. How do you use 'user generated content'? 

Pauline:  

Holiday reviews – trip advisor, Restaurant reviews

News wise – live updates from members of the public there at the scene -such as the student riots, natural disasters.

Question and answer sites for research purposes for work.

-----------------------------------------

I also asked my friend Katie Hunter, who is video journalist for Channel 4 News, who is a professional sense creates 'user generated content'.

1. What is user generated content?

Katie:

UGC

UGC is literally content generated by a user.

2. How do you use 'user generated content'?

Katie:

For example on 7/7 we might have used lots of UGC because people on tubes would have filmed footage on their mobiles that TV cameras wouldn't have been able to get. We use lots of video from Youtube these days - for example the Japan tsunami created LOADS of UGC which we put online and on TV.

Another type of UGC might be us asking our Twitter followers what they think of NHS reforms and then using their replies in an online article.

titles and text

Hi Jenny - was just thinking about the fact that our last install day together will be a month on since we started our on-line relationship via blogger. As we are discussing timelines as visualising ideas I thought it would be nice to play on words within this. Although are research in terms of finding information on-line is pretty much instant, our ideas and awareness of each other has developed over a much longer period of time, and the blog itself showcases this. So I was thinking of phrases such as....

'Please allow 30 days for search results'  or 'please allow 30 days for relationship to develop' ???

User Generated Profiles: Visualising ideas with first sketches

Here are some very sketchy sketches! Just to give you a vague idea of visualising:
Here is a user generated profile sketch

Here is a user generated content sketch

Insallation space

Hi Jenny - here is an image from Taneesha of our space for the exhibition. It is still full of stuff at the moment but you get the general idea. The first thing I noticed was the slope on the wall, perhaps this existing feature could act as a physical guideline if we chose to go ahead and make some kind of timeline? What do you think?

Task 10 - Bringing an object with you

Hi Jenny, we are finally going to meet for our first installation time together on Friday, I was wondering if you could bring an old photo of yourself along with a current one if you have it please. I potentially would like to integrate these images into the installation.

Thanks

Other people's views of usergenerated content

Hi Jenny, I asked a few people what they thought user generated content meant and how they use it. This was also a task I asked you to do - asking five people the same question. It would be great to include this in some way:

1. This is Emma Flynn, a curator and old art school friend's response: 

'ok on the user generated content:

I have recently been discussing with a fellow PhD who is working on a project around online criticism, so this term makes me think of blogs and ratings/reviews websites first. On the other hand it also makes me think of creating a facility or machine where by audiences can create something themselves by using something provided for them.

its a tough one. I google it (which is probably bad) but got this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User-generated_content and my thoughts were right for it to draw me to online/new media.

There are a few examples which instantly spring to mind, facebook/twitter (being obvious). i guess a lot of what comes to mind immediately are platforms for user generated content, like youtube and flikr.http://www.flickr.com/creativecommons/

--

to the second question where i use UGC:

If i think about reviews and ratings I use them for most purchases I make online (or in shops when im not sure about the quality of an item (eg electronics purchase). So amazon, tripadvisor, google. I am always using facebook for photos/comments/updates, and other networking media like Linkedin and twitter (although differently - twitter mostly for Hansberg/Woolf activities and linkedin is a carefully constructed professional forum for me)

i am always lured into any surveys (cause i love answering questions) and even lured into ridiculous things like voting for the next step in the BT adverts (like is she pregnant? what dress should she wear) - which i know is so awful but i am quite attached to their storyline - normally i wouldnt bother :P"

    2. This is what my mum (she is a forensic child psychiatrist) had to say: 

"For me, user generated content means when I am working with a patient and the patient implements something they want to include themselves into the suggestion of their treatment/ recovery" 

For the second question my mum said she 'would avoid any form of user generated content for herself at all costs'.  

I am still waiting for three people to get back to me but will upload the information when I have it. 

usergeneratedprofiles - installations

Hi Liz: I have been thinking about the installation, and possible ways to 'map' our relationship online, and our blog.  I have a few ideas but I am aware that I do not want to project my ideas too much.  I often work in installation/ and or drawing, but it is important that there is elements of both our practices within the work.  As you say, once we get images of the space, this will help to form the development of the work.

Usergenerated blog 'Timeline'

Often development of many issues, relationship or history can be tracked by a 'timeline', which can be pin-pointed by visual and textual information, see below;

I have imagined that the timeline could function in a 'daydo rail', with us adding visual and textual significant developments along the timeline.  A possible way to use the time line, would be that the points on the upside of the daydo rail could be your interpretation, and the underside could be mine.  With regards to materials, we could use paint, pencil and photography, if we could work straight onto the wall?  The timeline would be adjunct to the rhizomatic nature of internet navigation, reflecting our journeys through a summarised, linear diagram.

'Spider Diagram/ Chart'

We could chart our communication in a more multi-directional manner through a spider-chart diagram, which could also be made in similar materials as above.  See some examples of the visuals of spider charts -

'Profiles'
This is similar to my original idea where I thought we could get to know each other online, and write a profile for each of us, as we knew each other initally(which we first did upon the blog), and then a profile within the exhibition, once we have known each other for a period of activity upon the blog.  We could create a profile through drawing, painting for each other on the wall.

Let me know what you think...

Hi Jenny - hurray blogger is back up and working. Suppose it is all part of the process with trying to communicate and create your own content on-line. 

I am glad we are thinking along the same lines, I am interested in the timeline especially in terms of 'tracking our relationships' but I think the spider diagrams are more aesthetically interesting for an installation. I do drawing work and obviously photography but don't work in painting much at all so would not feel to confident working in that medium, but maybe that is all part of the experiment of working together. 

I have been making sketches of text based maps - I'll send them via the blog tonight. 

Once we have the images / dimensions of the space we will probably be able to push things forward! 

Send me any sketches once you have them and we can see what to work on. I am also going to start making some photographic works as well, just in terms of me responding to the 'concept of profiles'! 

from intangible to tangible...Task 10 (6.5.11)

Hi Liz - thinking about the various forms of user generated content online, what do you think would be corresponding visual forms or processes that we may want to work in? And that would also lend themselves to a collaboration of two artists?

Hi Jenny - I am quite interest in the idea of physically tracking our on-line relationship - as some kind of navigation, or mapping? For me the visual form of mapping is quite powerful, although your reference to playing / games above is quite charming - suits the 'tasks' element of how we have been communicating so far. Let me have some time to think and I will get back to you in day or so, maybe with some visual mapping sketches too.

In terms of outcomes that would lend to strong collaborative work, perhaps we need to see the space first as I feel what we make will be quite site responsive?

Starting to see links in eachother's work

Hi Jenny, I was just thinking you mentioned in task 8 that your interest in Digital Communication actually developed from a preoccupation in written communication. This is something that I am always referring to with my work. I have always been interested in the archive, found object, or found body of text - I like to read something from one context and give it a new relationship / context in my work. For example a lot of my degree show work was conceptually inspired by a piece of text I read in an old book at my Dad's auction house (he sells lots of books and general philatelic material) It was an old science book which talked about the concept of 'string theory'. Someone had mentioned in a previous art crit that my work often looked to find connections between two objects or figures, giving the empty space in an image importance, linking the two somehow. String theory as both an idea and as a title then had a huge impact on my general practice.

In terms of more direct inspiration most of my familiar series work was born out of an initial visit to an house, where the old couple had passed away and the new owner had let me go inside to have a look. Everything was untouched from around the 1970's era - the decor, fabrics, everything was amazing. I found an image of a young man alongside a letter, which seemed to be a love letter. I wasn't sure if the letter connected to the man in the photograph, but it started an imaginary life for this man in my head, which I still think about today. It was the most important letter I have ever come across - I still have the photo of the man but I left the love letter in the draw where I found it, it seemed wrong to remove it.

When you move to the North West I will take you along to my dad's auction house - I have a feeling that you could spend an entire day looking through his written materials/ book collections. It is a world of stories, information and ideas, sold on either because they are unwanted by their owners or because they are deemed to be worth considerable value.

 George at Trafford Books

Task 9 - 05.05.11

Hi Jenny - can you ask five people, strangers, friends - anyone, what they think user generated content means and do they use/ work with it? Keep a note of what they say or you can blog it - up to you.

Hey Liz: I have asked four people and I am waiting for their response. In mean time, my partner Dave's feels that 'user generated content' is mainly more substantial videos and photographs that you may upload onto Flickr or YouTube.  For his business Burgtec, he uploads a lot of videos and photographs he has taken of downhill mountain bike racing (his business makes downhill mountain bike parts!), mainly uploading to Flickr, his website and Facebook, as well as linking through Twitter.

Task 8 - 3.5.11

Hi Liz, what aspects of user generated content interests you?
Could you name any sites or spaces online that produce data or information that you find particularly interesting? What elements of this data do you engage with most?

I will have a think, and a search and post...

Jenny:  I initially became interested in information from digital interfaces, when I started stitching evidences of online communication in 2007.  Previous to this, I had based a body of work on written communication, such as letters and other ephemera.  As the majority of my own personal communication then began to be online - the internet screen seemed to be the instinctual place to draw from.  In addition to textual information through hotmail, I also started recording messenger conversations, and mobile texts through stitched textiles, and printmaking.

'Messenger', 2007

'Account', 2007

'Text Message', 2007

Ultimately, I became interested in the landscape of everyday digital interfaces, which is at times banal and jokey.  I had a desire to make features and icons of digital interfaces into physical forms - tangible objects -trying the humorous and useless process of making these objects 'real' again, often in three dimensional installations.

'Solitaire Game', 2007 (from Installation 'From the Other Side of the Screen it All Looks So Easy'

'Briefcase Icon', part of 'Desktop Diorama' Installation, 2007

My recent practice explores navigation of a multitude of digital spaces, particularly veering towards juxtaposing digital and physical architectures.  However, I am interested in the myriad of opportunities online to self publish and create - however, so many of these 'platforms' sit within a generic predetermined framework, or architecture.  For example, Blogger allows us to design our blog we are now working within, and there are of course, millions of variables, in how we could design our site, and yet, we are limited to its facilities, but many aesthetics of a 'Blogger Blog' appear similar.  I am interested in the tension between our considered 'user generated content', and how much our use of the site, and production of it is controlled by the designer of the software.


Hi Jenny : I had a very sudden relationship with on-line identity and user generated content. In my photography department I was one of only a handful of students who was not working mainly in digital - I very much found my home in the darkroom, especially colour - and for me this was the beauty of being able to study at GSA - being able to use the classic photography equipment. So generally I was quite stubborn with changing technology - and this included on-line usage.
It was only when I graduated that I suddenly had to consider how to go from 'student to professional', and then it dawned on me I needed to exist where everyone else seemed to home their professional identities - on-line!

Firstly it started with the change of my teenage and stupidly named hotmail account to my professional googlemail account, then came the 'artist website', and then finally I joined up to the world of facebook - which had both personal and professional perks.
Then I guess I became hooked, constantly sending, receiving and checking for emails, checking who is where and doing what on facebook, writing for the CAC blog and actually enjoying it!

For me I find the blog a very recent but interesting area for user generated content. Facebook has its purpose but I am always scepticle of a site that allows you to assign yourself a 'relationship status'.

So after a lot of ranting, I would say it is the blog that is most interesting for me, I like the idea of an on-line diary, sharing ideas, images and conversations with others - it is like the ultimate way of getting things off your chest! I am pretty new to the world of blogging but I am very much enjoying it, and in terms of identifying myself as an artist, it is a very free and open way of expressing my ideas.

Goolge search image for blog

Task 7 - 02.05.11

Hi Jenny - What are you currently working on in your studio at the moment? Can you upload some images of your current works in progress / research in your studio? Or maybe something from a sketch book?

Here is my studio, via my very quick phone snaps:

Hi Liz - I am afraid my studio space at home is in such a mess, I will not subject the www to my disorganisation! Here are some close up photographs of a woodblock cut I am doing, and some initial prints.  However, the press was not large enough and it needs to be cut further, as several of the edges were squint, and there was not enough pressure to print properly. I am hoping to print it at LPS next week.  It is a long process, but I am enjoying it despite several cuts on my hands!

Woodblock print after printing

The process of cutting

Close up after test prints - wonky edges!

Test print on newsprint

Close up of test print on newsprint (upside down!)

Test print on newsprint

The last drawing I worked on is the one below, which I might add further 3d relief to.  It is called 'Netizen Layout' - I am going to take some well lit shots of my drawings this week...

Netizen Layout, Pen, pencil, vinyl and cardboard relief on paper

Task 6 - 31.4.11

Hi Liz: I am going to be moving to the North West area after my residency in June-July in China.  This will be a big change for my partner and I after 6 years of living in London.

What for you are the highlights/strengths of the visual arts scene in the North West, particularly Manchester?

Hi Jenny: There are some key galleries/ art organisations in Manchester and indeed the North West. In terms of main art galleries some of the smaller venues have some really exciting programming developing, obviously there is Chinese Arts Centre, but also Castlefield Gallery is one to visit. Cornerhouse is a larger venue that is well worth a look at, particularly its film programming. Some of the most exciting places for me in Manchester are actually the artist studios, and I imagine the studio rent in Manchester will seem massively cheaper than in London. I am based at Islington Mill Studios - the studios home a huge number of multi-discipline artists, run a residency programme, as well as loads of other events based programming, with two gallery/ project spaces and a club venue. Other artist studios to visit are Rogue Artist Studios, Mirabel and Suite Studios, all of which have something interesting on offer.
Generally as someone who lived the past 6 years in Glasgow, since returning to Manchester I have been made to feel extremely welcome in the arts scene here. There is an enthusiasm to meet with new artists and art pracitioners here, which is something you don't always get in some cities unless you actually studied at the art school there first.

In terms of the North West, I would not miss a chance to visit Liverpool and see FACT (foundation of creative technology - I love some of the work they do there), and also a little further afield is Grizedale Arts in Cumbria, they run a brilliant residency programme there.

And then we are also home to a number of festivals that your work would actually be quite well suited to, in particular Future Everything Festival and AND.

I could go on but there are loads! Hopefully this will give you a good starter into the Manchester arts scene.

Hi Liz: Thanks, this is helpful. Yes, organisations and venues such as CAC, Castlefield and Cornerhouse are what attracted me to the area, alongside an approachable and proactive arts communities. I have been in touch with a few studios about potential, although I had not heard of Suite.  Similarly, Grizedale Arts and the AND festival were new to me.  I am actually presenting a paper at FACT in September, so I am looking forward to visiting it then! Thanks :-) .....