As part of the SPARCC (SITE/PROCESS/ART/RESEARCH/CONTEXT/ COLLABORATION) programme at University of Plymouth, I participated in the video/film and projection workshop, Source, led by Producer Richard Milner (UK).
The SOURCE cohort formed groups all with their own ideas about what might work for outdoor projection. With colleagues, Emma and Sean, we set about creating, filming, editing, siting and projecting work. The time in the studio experimenting with lighting and pigments, produced some striking imagery. Looking for outdoor projection sites, the old stone abandoned fire station was perfect for the ‘firework’ visuals we had created in the studio and the façade entrance had a wonderful niche in which to project. These clips show some of the footage from the studio and part of the process of pigment throwing!
SOURCE provided me with an excellent forum to use projection in a creative, spontaneous and collaborative way. Although the programme provided essential guidelines on siting work, it also provided an environment where it was ‘safe’ to take risks and fail. Through Richard’s positive attitude, and by encouraging an experimental approach to making and testing work outside conventional gallery boundaries, the final site-specific projections were successfully realised. This workshop inspired and invigorated my practice, encouraging me to question and consider fresh ways of locating my work.
The workshop provided an, “… experimental learning environment for undergraduate and postgraduate Faculty of Arts students through an engagement with research, critical theory and a practice-based project as well as providing an interface between students, lecturers, researchers and outside agencies in and beyond the city of Plymouth. SPARCC enables the generation and focus of ideas and practices within
the field of sited and interdisciplinary work. Site is understood in its broadest form and so can be taken to include engagement with identity, location, environment, history, science, culture, society, economics and politics. SPARCC projects involved students in applied research of staff at the University of Plymouth as well as invited researchers, artists and critics allowing students to connect their educational experience with professional practice and enterprise”.1
1 See TQEF RESEARCH PROJECT FINAL REPORT pdf file online at http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/files/extranet/docs/TLD/sparcc%20Final%20report%20Extranet.pdf
