The Letter Press finally worked!

So now I have 3 prints of 3 of my memories.

I have decided to stick to just doing 6 pieces at this point and finishing everything well. If I somehow manage to make a 7th piece, I will add it in, but I am happy with the 6 that I have and need to start focusing on displaying. I have begun carving out blocks of wood for my "mini platforms" and am still looking for a table and chairs.

At this point it is all about finishing and presentation, so I am trying to make it to the finish-line ahead.

This week I have been trying to work out ideas on how to physically display my pieces in the final show. After a few sketches and talking it out with Anne Mondro, I think I have decided to attach thin clear wire to each piece to secure it to the "pedistools" so to allow viewers to fully experience the pieces but provide some security and prevent people from stealing the pieces.

I have been able to secure a time slot for the photo room and will be shooting the pieces, by themselves and on a person, this weekend. I am scheduled to meet with Jill at the end of this week to set blocks for the stories and am working on my thesis paper, searching more artists for inspiration and reference. Overall, the week has been all over the place with planning, but I am finally starting to make some headway with the presentation while also getting started on my 6th locket ( based on the time I swallowed a ring and had to get it surgically removed after it gave me ulcers.)- Fun story :)

last 2 weeks

Sorry i haven't written in so long.. so busy, I tend to forget the small details.

Anyways, the last two weeks I have been busy finishing all the written memories to get them ready for the letter press. I finally finished today. I have met with Jill Greene and am set to start working with her in the next two weeks to learn how to use the letter press. I have already gotten studio access so all that is left to do is learn how to set the block and print! I'm pretty excited to see these come together and be paired with each piece. I feel that once the photos and stories are ready, deciding how to display each piece will be easier for me.

I am all set to photograph the weekend of the 19th so that I can begin printing over spring break. Because I have been focusing on the written parts this week, I haven't made much progress with the actual lockets, but I did finish the toaster oven and add the smell to it... I think it may be one of my favorites now :) The suitcase/cheese locket is on its way... it is all put together, just needs to be finished and the hinge-pin set. The next locket I plan on making is a ring based on the memory of when I swallowed a ring at the age of 5 and had to have it surgically removed after it began creating ulcers.

Do you want me to post the finished written statements or save them to see in person?

This week I have been contemplating a few logistical issues for presentation in April. I have been a little worried with how the show is going to go with such small pieces amongst so many large pieces and also how to get viewers to experience my pieces fully, being able to pick them up, open them, and smell them, without having to worry about people stealing them. Some possible ideas I have had about viewers being able to experience the pieces is to have each piece pinned down but in a way so that the lockets can still be opened and smelled. Another idea was to attach small clear wires to each piece so that you can pick up the pieces but they can only go so far. I like the first idea because as some have pointed out, by keeping the pieces in place there will be a much smaller chance of the pieces getting damaged.

This week I have also been trying to type out my memories in a more simplistic, intriguing read. I am trying to write each memory completely but in less than 6 lines so that during the show, viewers will not be overwhelmed with text to the point that they will not want to read the stories that relate to each piece and therefore miss some of the meaning behind each piece.

Lastly, trying to obtain the smells for each piece and develop scents that will last has been quite difficult, but I did have a bit of a break through this week. I spent a lot of my studio time searching for smells, visiting spice shops and tea places looking for a smells that would work with each of my pieces. I did happen to come upon a few teas and an essential oil that I believe if mixed together right will result in a freshly cut grass smell. I also found powdered cheese that should work for one of the scents and the smell of a dreamsicle. I am pretty excited to start mixing these smells as I continue working on writing out the memories, creating the lockets and discovering how to use a letter press. Wish me luck as my schedule starts to fill with all these tasks.

2nd semester

So it has been a little bit of a struggle getting back in to the working mode that I was in before, but I am getting there, slowly but surely. Over break I began thinking about more lockets that I want to do and my next one I have begun working on is going to be a suitcase filled with the smell of a very strong french cheese:

I believe I was about 11 years old and my family was taking a trip to France to go sailing. We were flying standby and by some fortunate stroke of luck, me and my little brother were able to sit together in first class. The flight went well for the most part, laughing at the people who bounced in there seats during turbulence due to not having a seat belt on, and playing games. At one point, after our meal, the flight attendant came through the aisles and gave us each a cheese platter. All of a sudden, Bud, my little brother, smelled the cheese, turned to the flight attendant and said, " excuse me, but this cheese smells like butthole." I was so mortified and embarrassed but I couldn't stop laughing as the flight attendants eyes grew wide and finally replied, "well I'm sorry sir, is there anything else I can get you?"

When we finally got to France, it turned out that my bag had been lost. I was devastated, but my parents assured me that we would not leave on the sail boat until we got it. I ended up having to wear my 19 year old sisters swimsuit which was way to big for me for a couple of days, but we eventually got my suitcase and started our trip a day late. As bad as it was not having a suitcase for three days in france, I couldn't help but to have fun and laugh every time I thought of the plane ride.