Birley Fields Commission

For this unit, beside the self – initiated project, I have to also choose a live brief project. For this, I have chosen to complete the brief - Birley Fields Commission.

This brief is to create a site-specific artwork for either an interior or exterior space in the new

Building/surrounding courtyard area of the Birley field campus in Hulme.

Figure 1: Birley Field campus

After visiting the site, I have taken notes of the place, such as the colour palette.

I do not plan to use their design as my own, but just as the starting point, for they already had their own design, I wish to create something they don’t have.

I thought about the location of the site, where my work can be at.

My first idea was to research the history of the space, however, it was too little information that I can gather, and therefore, I cannot go on.

Figure 2: Birley Field campus

Since I find it difficult to develop my idea around the history, I develop my idea around its current use and the underground system.

I thought about the underground water systems and the reuse, recycle and reduce.

I wanted to match it with the water system, cloud, rain and water.

Figure 3: Birley Field’s floor

Figure 4: Sketchbook

Taken the colour palette and the floor design of Birley, I first designed the cloud.  The colours are taken from the seating area, which will face the final hanging.  

Figure 5: Idea of where my cloud design are going to be.

I decided upon this location after considering several others, including the exterior of the building. After realising this would block natural light from coming through, I decided to hang the work from the ceiling.

Figure 6: Sketchbook

I thought about the audients, which is Faculty of Health and faculty of education. I experimented with creating my own cells and combining it with raindrop.

Figure 7: Photoshop design

I have used Photoshop to combine my sketchbook drawings together to create a new design.

I have previously used this technique. The speed of this technique is most helpful for meeting tight deadlines.

Figure 8: Photoshop

I then developed to combined cells with cloud as well as the rain.

I will use multi-head stiches or digital print to complete this piece.  I want to compare the two techniques. I have chosen cotton and silk satin to compare the results.  I will use elements of both to dive depth to this piece.

This is a very different style to my previous works.  It has an oriental theme within it.  It has been produced organically, developed from the cells, water and colour palette of the location.  It reflects the shift from urban to fluidity of water.

This is a standalone image.  I will hand these to reflect raindrops.

Placement

During the holiday, I had the opportunity to work at a placement for I found Shabby 2 Chic very suitable.

Figure 1: Before

I have chosen a small table to start with, while I was at Shabby 2 Chic, I was taught all the refinishing furniture techniques, from how to scraping the paint off to sanding away the paint.

These pieces of furniture are donated.  If you are working on a piece, it may have been worked on before by a previous owner  It is the only resource that you have to work with and will be the one taken by the client..  If you make a mistake with the piece, it needs to be corrected.

Figure 2: After scraping and sanding

I am conscious of the set time I have to produce this piece to a standard that is satisfactory to both the client and me.

Figure 3: Applying under undercoat

I have been learning how to decorate the furniture in a particular way that is matched to a client’s wishes.   This applies to all improvements. 

I find this experience interesting it is because I used to work with a blank page, and this is something that already exists, where I need to work with.

At each stage I decided to assess if I liked it before moving on to the next stage.

Figure 4: Before and After

I am amazed how a piece of furniture has developed into one of this quality with the techniques I have used.  You are able to see the woodwork and applied wallpaper.  It is a traditional handcraft element within the business.  The time this table took adds into the business model of handcrafted work that is individual.

http://sandrajohnson.vpweb.co.uk/?prefix=www 

The website of the placement.