Staffordshire University Collection Exhibition at Henrion

On Monday, I worked with students Eve, Liz and Laura to curate and install the Staffordshire University Art Collection into the Henrion Gallery on campus.  I've been involved with this collection since the archiving stage in September. 

Last week Michael Safaric Branthwaite (Course Director and Mastermind of the Art Collection ) had suggested the potential for working with the Collection as part of my Placement.   At the time I explained that I was torn between focusing my placement on gallery experience or studio practice as I really wanted to paint.

Yesterday changed my mind. (Although of course I still want to paint and will continue to outside my placement.)  It's been great to move the work to a new space and in the process I've stumbled across a few new things that I want to dig deeper into. 

The artists representation of the collection spans from Burslem School of art through Staffordshire Polytechnic, up to present Staffordshire University.  There's so much that can be done with it in terms of research, dialogue, and engagement.  After the last exhibition there was some real interest in the work from current students and staff who recognised the work of people with relationships to the uni.  It's amazing to see it in the new space but I'm feeling very novice-ish in terms of my curatorial and gallery practical experience.

For instance I gave Eve a scribbly pencil sketch of the floorpan with the direction of travel that I thought would work well to experience the collection based on our conversations as we curated.  The number of each work was on the plan and I shared a word doc that listed works in correlation to the numbers on the plan.  Eve literally whizzed together an amazing exhibition guide using this information.. and I need to get in on this.  My approach to creating any kind of floorpan is very crude.  It involves making Power Point editing tools do things that they really aren't that good at. After the install Eve showed me how she'd used Pro Create to make the Exhibition Guide.  Brilliant.  I love a good tool that helps build the bigger picture of "professional artist " so getting to grips with Pro create goes straight onto my "to do" list. 

After the first installation of this collection in September, I'd put a "Gallery Kit" plan together.  I'm building funds to get my own drill to accompany my tiny set of tools.  Literally, I have a hammer, screw driver, pocket sized spirit level, pair of pliers and some fixtures /handy items.  My 'wish list' grew today after clocking Jim from the Print Bureau with a laser leveller.. Should anyone be excited about a laser leveller?  Me and Eve both are. 

The whole day was documented through the cameras lens, which takes me to the next addition to my list.  I think I need to brush up on my photography skills!