NEWBY HALL SOLO EXHIBITION

I've been asked to exhibit some work at the prestigious and renowned Newby Hall! My work will be on display from July (still negotiating exact dates/when it will be taken down).
I've been emailing the ladies in charge of exhibitions but they asked me to come in and meet with them so that they could show me the space.
I was REALLY nervous but tried my best to be professional and confident!

Aims: ASK QUESTIONS. Find out measurements, times, commission, promotion, labelling, wire hanging system.

The wall measurements are:

End wall – 6m wide

Big wall – 8.5m wide

Small wall – 3m wide

 Walls are looking a bit drab without any work on the walls as they're between shows at the moment but once it's touched up and full of work it looks like a great space. It's the Grantham Room which is actually part of the restaurant where people will sit and eat/drink coffee. They get a lot of traffic through this room.

A very big space, they gave me the option of inviting other artists or to use the whole space... I said that I'd like to use the whole room! A big challenge to get enough work together by July (one month) but this is an incredible opportunity and I need to get as much out of it as I can.

The Grantham Room is attached to the dollshouse exhibition and across the green from the Bear House (which contains an original Fozzy Bear, Sooty and Paddington). It was a hot day when I went to visit and the doors the the Grantham Room were open. Lots of people wandering about the grass and sitting to have picnics. Right in the heart of the grounds.

Newby's main audience is families. They get a lot of children and they love the adventure play park/the miniature railway. Families come to see the beautiful gardens - maybe my 'theme' could be nature/woodland? I don't have to have a theme but I would like a title to promote and advertise with.

Some more photos of lovely Newby. Took some time to explore the whole place. INCREDIBLE. I actually can't believe I'm going to be exhibiting here.

502 End of Module Evaluation

502 Final Presentation

CREATIVE REPORT

Life's A Pitch

Script Planning

Fellow freaks! May I introduce myself as Jay, Queen of the weird.
Maker of creeps, oddities to be feared.

Since this year has been all about making crazy things
I thought today that I'd pull some more strings.

Make this a performance about what I love most
telling you stories and being your host.

And so here I am, where I love to be.
Being in character makes me feel more like me.

All of the freaks I'll show you today
have been lovingly made by the hands of Jay

and I'll show you some are examples of practitioners I admire
the sort of work I'd like to make and puppets to inspire

Hold your breath, be prepared and sit tight.
Please don't feed the exhibits, they have been known to bite.

So if you're all ready, without further ado,
May I roll out the freaks to show to you!

Roll up, roll up, if you're here for the show
The first cage I'll open is where I keep old Poe.

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A dismal chap, a poor lost soul
made with monoprinted textures as black as coal.

I loved researching Poe and reading his work
finding where the Ravens and darkness lurk

Poe melts my heart, he really and truly does
his melancholy tone suits freaks like us.

I miss him already, he was like on of my own
his humour, his mystery, his narrational tone

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The value of puppets is in the way that they feel
tactile textures technology can't steal.

My freaky friends are imbued with the texture of life
suspend your disbelief that they won't bleed from a knife.

This character knows all about what's ahead
Ask her a question and listen carefully to what's said,

I read essays by Gross and Walter Benjamin this year
Freud said when puppets are uncanny they can evoke fear.

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Long Nose Puppets have their own group of creatures

puppets in bright colours with the most friendly features

I spoke to Katherine Morton about starting the team

making a puppet company is the absolute dream.

She told me that she studied illustration before
she discovered puppets and opened that door

She had no experience or training in making plays
But that's what makes them charming, Katherine says.

They travel the country with their props in a van
It's time to think about my post-uni plan.

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I continue to put my freaks up for adoption
where clients can request a look-a-like option.

Mary Queen of Scots with her head removed.
My customer base this year has really improved.

I've been making so many for punters around
America, Australia and Germany-bound.

I sold a doll to the author of Wreck this Journal
my connection to these creations has become quite maternal

I hate to see them go, I get a little sad
but knowing they're out there isn't so bad.

I've got a waiting list of orders I need to get done
It's not work when I'm making, in fact it's quite fun.

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And here is the notorious butcher dragon, Smoky Bacon
Be quiet now or the beast will awaken!

I made a puppet animation for festival called Moving Parts
where puppets and stop motion are celebrated as arts.

Smoky was inspired by 70's kids TV.
with colour and fantasy being the key.

Puff the magic dragon, the soup dragon of course
Whimsy and kitsch being the ultimate source.

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

This is Chris Sickels, a model-making king
innovative and exciting, a new dimension to bring

Chris Sickels sculpts models and constructs entire scenes
as editorial illustration in newspapers and magazines.

Sickels's practice is similar to my own,
his studio is a manic puppet-filled zone.

When I graduate I'd love to be just like Chris.
Going to work to make characters like this.

After worrying that I wasn't an illustrator, I've had time for reflection
I've realised that illustration practice can take any direction

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In this collection you can see if you look
Each is a character from a different Roald Dahl book,

Brought into our dimension using a magical spell
translating the stories your teachers would tell,

Here is a witch with the power to transform you completely
into a rat, a mouse, and all quite discretely.

This one's an orphan, trapped forever in my loot
James and his giant peach-coloured fruit.

BEHOLD the tiny Minpins you can see in this frame,
out of all the exhibits, these are the most tame,

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Now look closely, you can see my freaks on tour!
In a magazine in America, Art dolls galore.

Printed in a publication, I was so happy to see
they sent a complimentary copy over to me.

Art doll quarterly put my dolls in their Summer issue
GOODBYE MY SWEET FRIENDS, I'M GOING TO MISS YOU

Entering competitions, getting my freaks out there
across the world and who knows where.

Responsive challenged me to find briefs and choose
which ones to enter, there's nothing to lose.

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I'm a modern day Frankenstein, doctor of dolls
Fabricating fairies, goblins and trolls.

I hope to continue, to expand and grow
make enough dolls to fill another freak show.

So thank you for coming, you've been a great crowd.
And thank you, dear freaks, you've all done me proud.

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Puppeteer Gif

I wanted to put some animation onto my slideshow presentation, or even animate the entire 10 minutes as a little film? Would be a relevant and engaging way to make the presentation but there's not enough time sadly. I could maybe have started thinking about this a little earlier and prepared in advance. I COULD have spent the entire year preparing for this presentation to make it mindblowingly fabulous and ready for a showreel.

However, to work with the time I have left I've been making some gifs to slot into the presentation.

This one is me controlling some marionettes, which demonstrates my personality, my interests/profession and my presentation theme.

It turned out really sweet! I love it and I could use it for branding too.

Practising the Presentation

Had my first proper run through in front of my family. I was going to film and upload it here but I was in my pyjamas with six braids in my hair!
It's still not perfect, it needs lengthening a little bit

It went well though! Nor sure whether to use the puppet I made or not because it's so big and awkward to hold.
Rehearsal is SO IMPORTANT and I have all week to keep refining it.

Jim Henson's The Storyteller / Kate Bush as a Storyteller

FINDING INSPIRATION FOR MY PRESENTATION.
I don't want it to be exactly the same as last year, I want to take it a step further and have a real puppet in the performance, maybe even some music.

An example of storytelling form the mind of the fantastic Jim Henson is The Storyteller.

The Storyteller
'the best seat by the fire'... An enchanting and intriguing introduction. Quite frightening stories but performed in humorous and fantastical ways. Using music to create atmosphere.

Kate Bush

I want to channel Kate Bush in my performance and try to mimic her ethereal presence. MAGICAL LIKE KATE! Entertainment in enchantment. Narration and dialogue to introduce her songs. Videos to embellish her stories. Fabulous outfits and costumes, lots of floaty material and always RED SHOES.

Presentation Construction

Liked the idea of having a border around the pages to make it look really circus-y but it made the slides look cluttered and scruffy. I decided to scrap this format and make it more simple and clean. The jazziness and fun is in the way I'm presenting it, so my slides should be more professional!

PPP TUTORIAL

PPP is about preparing us...

we need to BE READY for work, life and being an artist.

The presentation this year should be about:

HOPES, ASPIRATIONS, VOICE.

WHERE YOU ARE IN THE WORLD.

THE KIND OF PERSON YOU ARE.

WHAT YOU'VE DONE THIS YEAR (especially Responsive) AND WHY.

I'm excited for my presentation and to write my creative report. I think PPP is a really important module I just wish we had more sessions on it and more professionals to speak to this year. I'm glad that we have some time to focus on PPP alone without any of the other modules on our minds. I can really knuckle down and pay attention to it without worrying about spending enough time on the other modules like I have all year.

Preparing for Presentations

I love presenting and performing so it's never as daunting for me as it is for others. It's weird because I worry about all sorts of things and my anxiety stops me from doing things/going lots of places, but standing up and performing is completely different.
I could stand on a stage and do anything, When I'm in control, as I am when I'm stood telling a story, it's all in my hands and I can just be myself. People are watching me, but because I want them to. They're watching me and they want to hear what I'm saying, they are there because they want to be and I am there because I do too. They're not watching me because I'm doing things wrong/I'm having a panic attack/I don't belong wherever I am. It's different to 'public', it's still private and intimate and safe even though all eyes are on me and I'm completely vulnerable. I don't feel vulnerable when I'm stood up and I know what I'm saying.
It's still not easy, I still feel nervous about it and have to prepare A LOT. I practise saying my part so many times until I feel confident in what I'm saying. I wouldn't be able to do a presentation about something I'm not passionate about or interested in. Confidence is believing in what I'm saying.
And I make a fool of myself. I embarrass people by being an idiot and dancing around but I just do what I need to in the moment to keep the audience and myself under the spell.
I sometimes don't realise what I've done until afterwards and THAT'S when the anxiety kicks in - when I worry that I've upset/offended people or said something wrong/inappropriate. And I can't stop thinking about it, I'll be worrying all night that there's something I could have done better.
But I love to be THE STORYTELLER. JAY, THE DREAMWEAVER. Jay, THE QUEEN. I bet people think I'm a huge extrovert, self-obsessed, narcissistic weirdo but I am in that moment and it's great. I'm not most of the time. I'm two people in one and the other half of me hates myself and just wants to live in a cave but we balance each other out so it's okay to stand up and embrace that great side of me. I let her have her moment.

FIELD TRIP - Life's A Pitch

Our presentation went really well! I'm so pleased that it did, I know a few people in my group were worried and nervous but they did it and did a brilliant job.
Everyone spoke clearly and we were all confident in our proposed collective. I'm glad that we practised presenting together in one of the small rooms the day before so that we were ready and knew how long it would be.

The audience seemed to enjoy our presentation and liked the idea of our collective publication.
Questions asked about the BENEFIT to OUR PRACTICE - more of a support group and a bridge between university context and the working world.

Other collectives I enjoyed:
Artyfacts - children's magazine CONCERNED WITH CUTTINGS TO ARTS EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS. Absolutely loved this presentation and the concept behind the product. They have a purpose and a real direction for their product. Only concern is that it's VERY similar to Anorak...

Puppets and Perception - TEDx

This video will be really useful for COP but I also wanted to discuss the use of puppets in PPP.

Performance - could I use a puppet within my PPP end of year performance?

Storytelling - how puppets can tell stories and evoke different emotions. How puppets make us FEEL and WHY.

Little Angel Puppet Theatre

Katherine Morton from Long Nose suggested that I look into Little Angel Puppet Theatre in Islington, since they have lots of courses available.
At Little Angel they offer training, research and workshops. This could be somewhere I could visit, watch shows and maybe even go and speak to some puppeteers.

Reading about their history and how they established the theatre in 1961:

Fascinating and incredible that they have managed to keep the theatre working for over 50 years! A piece of history and really impressive in an age where puppets are a dwindling art form.

Jobs and Volunteering
I could work somewhere like this! I'd love to work in a puppet theatre, both in designing puppets and in performing.
I don't think I'd like to work somewhere as far away as Islington, especially as it's in London. I need to find out about more local puppet theatres(Yorkshire).

Participation Manager would combine my interest in teaching and puppetry - leading workshops and classes for children, young people and adults.

Executive Director seems less appropriate for my skills - decision making and finances are involved so this probably wouldn't be something I'd consider.

Volunteering jobs - specifically education workshop assistance - is something to look into and maybe apply for over a summer?

Internships seem to only be in marketing and press which isn't the area I'd like to know more about.

Newby Hall Exhibition

I've been invited to exhibit my work at Newby Hall (near Ripon). Scary but really exciting... The Grantham room is a huge space and I don't know if I'd be able to fill that space.

I'm going to call Kate once all my submissions are over to discuss the exhibition. So exciting! Feeling humbled.

Clive Hicks-Jenkins at Pollock's

I first saw Clive Hicks-Jenkins's illustrations in a small art gallery in Ripon (Hornsey's) and heard that he had an interest in puppets. He has a collection of Pelham puppets and has recently been commissioned to design toy theatres for a historic toy shop in London.
Benjamin Pollock's Toy Shop in Covent Garden sells puppets, toys and paper puppet theatres, including those designed by English printmaker/illustrator Clive Hicks-Jenkins. These are produced as 'Artist Designed' puppet theatres.

I think Jenkins has a really interesting relationship with puppetry and painting, creating decorative objects informed by his previous career in theatre design.

https://clivehicksjenkins.wordpress.com/category/toy-theatres-and-puppets/

Here's Clive Hicks-Jenkins's blog where he documents the process of designing and creating paper theatres. I find it fascinating the he keeps such a blog explaining his process and showcasing the work of other artists he admires. Jenkins even takes the time to interview young and emerging artists on his blog. I love blogging and hope that I can continue this kind of reflective and investigative practice after I graduate. I want to keep an archive and collection of my work like Jenkins does.

I saw some posts titled 'PUPPET CHALLENGE' which seem to be a sort of group challenge for individuals to submit their puppet translations to. I want to look more into this and find out what that's all about!

In one of his posts he explains the influence that artist Lizzie Organ had on his practice:

"She believed that painters were the better for extending themselves through the act of making. Thanks to her a foundation was laid for my studio practice that has continually supported my painting with acts of exploration. I still make toy theatres and decorative objects."