To find out more details about the transfer to The Open University see A New Chapter for OCA.
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In this blog post I want to outline the different options prisoners have for carrying out the research element of their courses. As with most things relating to prisons, the specifics of each of these will differ between establishments, but what I want to emphasise is that it will very rarely be the case that someone can’t do research – it may just take a bit of effort on their part.
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This new foundation course introduces various key methods for material investigation, through approaches to making that challenge students to navigate, explore and respond to their three-dimensional environment. We encounter a vast range of materials and objects in our daily lives and this course enables students to exploit the materiality around them in creative ways, forming transferable skills for further study in different areas, primarily Creative Arts and Fine Art pathways.
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Tutoring prisoner students can feel like something of a minefield. It can be difficult to decipher fact from fiction from the information shared in the press about what prisoners do (and don’t) have access to, as well as what the individual is expecting from you, or you from them. Hopefully this series of blog posts can provide a bit of information and a few suggestions to help make this easier.
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What I learned here was not a specific technique but the process to research, not only in media but also in daily life, and to experiment material manipulation, then to combine these to create something conceptual, visible and tangible. Besides, some findings in the process led me to unrestricted exploration out of the course guide. I feel I have set out on my textiles journey. I do not know where it leads, and that’s why I take it!
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I don’t know how may of you managed to get to the Hay Festival via zoom but the three trips I took were well worth those (imagined) miles from Bristol to Hay on Wye across the Severn and then north; and am I in Herefordshire or Wales when I get there? It all depends. Makes me think of Philippe Sands’ East West Street where he writes about Lvov, Lviv and Lemburg – all the same town. At least Hay is still called Hay whichever country it’s in. But it’s a good example of how slippery the truth of history and story-telling is.
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As part of our annual virtual meetings with other international students, the Europe regional group invited tutor Hayley Lock to join us. Earlier in the year, many of the group had mentioned feeling a bit trapped by the medium of their degree and whether something ‘fitted’ into painting or photography or textiles. Hayley’s practice seemed to offer an opportunity to talk about breaking free of medium-specificity.
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Embellishment can cover a wide range of approaches, from embroidery stitches to layering up material to add design interest and surface quality, and in this blog post I would light to cast a light on three contemporary practitioners exploring embellishment using highly sustainable approaches and processes, homing in at the start with a very common object for embellishment- the humble sequin!
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On Saturday 4 July, acclaimed composer Laura Rossi (http://www.laurarossi.com) will be holding an online masterclass exclusively for OCA students on composing for the screen. This is an exciting opportunity to speak to a professional composer and get an insight into the film music industry.
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I am excited to share with you today a presentation made by Catherine Lewis who is currently studying Textiles 3: Personal Specialism. She made a recording to present her work to me during this time of COVID19, when physical work cannot be sent in the post.
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I’ve just completed a short collaborative piece with Music Programme Leader Carla Rees in celebration of World Oceans Day, which occurs every year on June 8. Across the world there are close to 3000 events in 150 countries designed to celebrate and focus our attention onto the value of the world’s oceans and what we can do to conserve and protect them and allow them to flourish.
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