Hi, looks like its nearly here, we have just one week to go before the intervention takes place.
We've had some great advice and support throughout the project.
We would especially like to thank Erdington Arts Forum. They have supported us by taking the time to help us consider practicalities or street/intervention art. Gave us details about the Erdington area and possibilities for other activities later in the year. So thank you very much.
Monday, 10 December 2007
Thursday, 29 November 2007
Meeting with Erdington Arts Forum
We arranged to meet up with Simon and Ev from Erdington Arts Forum. Nothing formal, just a coffee and a chat about what our plans were and how we could work with the Art Forum to generate a little publicity and some support. The meeting was great. They had lots of ideas for contacts and they were a fountain of knowledge when it came to Erdington centre. They really liked the idea and planned to come along to the event as well as support us by writing about us on their blog site.
Nicola had the 1st batch of poster printed today to put around Erdington, in shop fronts and such. Alicja posted a poster of the event in a Polish run food shop. The owners found the idea of the installation very interesting and wanted to be informed of any other events like this one in the future.
Later that day we went back to the university to practice with all the indeed text Alicja wanted to use on the day of the project. We only spent about an hour on it. But it was again good practice to set up and get going (minus the generator).
Wednesday, 28 November 2007
Test shoot for POLSKI 24th of Nov (PM)
We had a test run on the 24th of November at Fay's. Alicja, myself, Fay, Kate and Bec (photographer) were all present and freezing cold!
Initially it was to see that the all the equipment worked together. The generator, laptop and projector. Then to test run the projection itself. To test whether it worked and was visible on people in the dark. I think it actually look great, it was a good idea to have a variation of size and direction with projected text. The effect to witness captured your attention, without a doubt. To actually have the text projected onto you was a weird feeling. It made you feel a little like you were accommodating something living. See what you think. Obviously the imagery has been treated to get in all the action, but its suits!
Initially it was to see that the all the equipment worked together. The generator, laptop and projector. Then to test run the projection itself. To test whether it worked and was visible on people in the dark. I think it actually look great, it was a good idea to have a variation of size and direction with projected text. The effect to witness captured your attention, without a doubt. To actually have the text projected onto you was a weird feeling. It made you feel a little like you were accommodating something living. See what you think. Obviously the imagery has been treated to get in all the action, but its suits!
Sunday, 25 November 2007
The designs re-visited!
Ha, they have been updated! The A6 flyers and the A3 posters in both English and Polish.
All present and correct.
All present and correct.
Wednesday, 21 November 2007
Poster and Flyer Design
Ok, these are the finalA6 flyers and A3 poster designs, in both English and Polish.
Saturday, 17 November 2007
Marketing designs updated
Press release for 'POLSKI' event
For immediate release: A Polish Projection
Polish artist Alicia Rogalska brings her text based projection project, POLSKI to Erdington High Street on Friday the 14th December from 4pm till 6pm.
Shoppers and members of the public will be invited to become part of Alicja’s artwork. Words and phrases will be projected onto them as they pass in front of the projector.
“It’s a chance for people to realise how it feels to be labelled as something, whether they like it or not,” explains Alicja, “Britain is so diverse today that if labels were put on everyone the task would be never ending”
It’s the same old story with a new lead character. Britain and in particular Birmingham is so ethnically diverse we can really call it a ‘global’ city. With the young people of the city today being, third, fourth or even fifth generation migrants we are inheriting a rich culture on a global scale.”
The work follows closely on the heels of Ikon’s recent activity in Erdington town centre and recognises the potential and changing face of the area.
Alicja Rogalska is a participatory artist from Poland, currently based in Birmingham. She is interested in putting art in informal places and creating opportunities for members of the public to engage with her work.
The project is a continuation of her work with Galleri 54 in Gothenburg, Sweden which examines the experiences of immigrants to the country. Her work investigates notions of cultural identity and social perception.
Polish artist Alicia Rogalska brings her text based projection project, POLSKI to Erdington High Street on Friday the 14th December from 4pm till 6pm.
Shoppers and members of the public will be invited to become part of Alicja’s artwork. Words and phrases will be projected onto them as they pass in front of the projector.
“It’s a chance for people to realise how it feels to be labelled as something, whether they like it or not,” explains Alicja, “Britain is so diverse today that if labels were put on everyone the task would be never ending”
It’s the same old story with a new lead character. Britain and in particular Birmingham is so ethnically diverse we can really call it a ‘global’ city. With the young people of the city today being, third, fourth or even fifth generation migrants we are inheriting a rich culture on a global scale.”
The work follows closely on the heels of Ikon’s recent activity in Erdington town centre and recognises the potential and changing face of the area.
Alicja Rogalska is a participatory artist from Poland, currently based in Birmingham. She is interested in putting art in informal places and creating opportunities for members of the public to engage with her work.
The project is a continuation of her work with Galleri 54 in Gothenburg, Sweden which examines the experiences of immigrants to the country. Her work investigates notions of cultural identity and social perception.
Wednesday, 7 November 2007
Tuesday, 6 November 2007
After a meeting and discussion on our plans, the group concluded that the proposed marketing designs needed changes. The feeling was that the images painted a military style, rather than symbolism of travel and migration.
So these new images are more a consideration of the Polish national colours within a European, 'Brockman' style design
So these new images are more a consideration of the Polish national colours within a European, 'Brockman' style design
Monday, 5 November 2007
Marketing Designs
Here are a few ideas for posters and marketing for the event. Initial thoughts would be nice!
The design are provided by Ben Scarborough. (for free!) Which is ace, as we have no budget for this event.
The ideas for the design are -
To use plain clear font. Catchy headline for the name of the event. In this case we have gone for 100,000 Poles, as in initial and proposed idea generation.
Symbolism to consider within the design would be the suggestion of travel/migration, maps of the countries and colours of the flags, for both or either countries.
Wednesday, 31 October 2007
Proposal
In response to recent media hype concerning the influx of Polish migrants into the country over the last few months Polish born artist Alicja Rogalska intends to address issues of immigration though her innovative and participatory practice.
The artist is interested in the commonly used tactics of TV broadcasting programmes to employ shots of busy pedestrianised streets to represent statistics. Using a similar aesthetics Alicja intends to comment on the way Polish people in the UK are portrayed in the media, often through numbers and statistics taken out of context. By inviting members of the public to react she intends to explore issues concerning national identity, its social perception and mechanisms of labelling.This project will be realised through the projection of the slogan ‘Pole/ I’m Polish onto people as they pass by on a busy public street. (The location we have in mind is Erdington High Street, ideal for our project due to its growing Polish population.) Some of the subjects will be aware that they are being singled out others not. The identity they are given will most likely be false but those who are not aware of their labelling will not be given the opportunity to challenge or correct it, a common situation for many people. Those who are aware, on the other had, will be invited to react to this labelling. Their reactions will be an interesting comment on what they think about the idea of being Polish and possibly, very directly, about Poles. Whether its amusing, uninteresting, offensive, uncomfortable or just funny, it will not be a comment on polish-ness, as such, but the idea of being mistaken for a Pole.
Wednesday, 10 October 2007
Alicja's Initial Ideas & Concepts
100,000 Poles.
Public intervention/video performance - projection of text onto passers-by, documented using video.
The idea:
In TV programs a shot of a busy, pedestrianised street is typically used to present statistics - whether concerned with diabetes sufferers or the likelihood of dying in a car accident. Using similar aesthetics we would like to comment on the way the Polish people in the UK are portrayed in the media - often through numbers and statistics taken out of context. Through inviting members of the public to interact. I would like to explore issues concerning national identity, its social perception and mechanisms of labeling.
The text ‘Pole’/’I’m Polish’ will be projected onto people as they pass by. Some of the subjects will be aware that they are being singled out, some not. The identity they are given will most likely be false but those who are not aware of their labeling will not be given the opportunity to challenge or correct it, a common situation for many people. Those who are aware, on the other hand, will be invited to react to this labeling. Their spontaneous reactions will be an interesting comment on what they think about the idea of being Polish and, possibly, very indirectly, about Poles. Whether it’s amusing, uninteresting, offensive, uncomfortable or just funny, it will not be a comment on Polish-ness, as such, but the idea of being mistaken or taken for a Pole.
Location: a busy, pedestranised street in Birmingham city centre.
Time: late afternoon (depends on the projector available)
Equipment needed: approx. 4K-lumen projector and a video camera for documentation.
2. Polish Specimens
A display of approx. 5 motionless Polish people placed behind frosted glass.
The idea:
The idea behind the project is the concept of gaze, in the philosophical sense, but also with regards to early 19th century anthropology and The World Exhibitions that presented people of the ‘primitive cultures’ as exhibits placed in specially designed villages and pavilions.
Making it happen:
Through a museum-like display of Polish people standing behind frosted glass (not necessarily real Poles, it would even be more interesting to have ‘fake’ Poles on display) the artist is hoping to comment on the novelty of the presence of the large Polish community in the UK and the curiosity regarding the newcomers. The Poles will not only be watched though – they will watch the spectator to the point of uneasiness. The mutual observation will allow for limited contact though – with frosted glass symbolising a lack of transparency (glass is supposed to be transparent) in our view of the world and people around us. The frosted glass could also be interpreted as a symbol of linguistic and cultural barriers that make it difficult to have a clear idea about each other.
Location: an empty shop or gallery space.
Materials: Frosted glass or yoghurt coated glass or semi-transparent plastic curtain. Non-transparent wall/curtain to cover surfaces in between ‘display cases’.
Lighting.
Equipment needed: artist’s friends and acquaintances.
3. Other possible mini-projects:
- Flyers with invitation for members of public to enter a “Spot the Pole” mock-competition. Each person who emails photos of 15 Polish people taken with mobile phones to the organizers will be offered a bottle of Polish herbal vodka as a prize.
- Sale of T-shirts & badges with quotes about Poles taken from tabloid press. Outcome of the artist’s previous project done in collaboration with another Polish artist.
- Press articles about Poles in Britain printed out from internet and dispersed loosely on the floor for people to pick up and read or ignore.
Public intervention/video performance - projection of text onto passers-by, documented using video.
The idea:
In TV programs a shot of a busy, pedestrianised street is typically used to present statistics - whether concerned with diabetes sufferers or the likelihood of dying in a car accident. Using similar aesthetics we would like to comment on the way the Polish people in the UK are portrayed in the media - often through numbers and statistics taken out of context. Through inviting members of the public to interact. I would like to explore issues concerning national identity, its social perception and mechanisms of labeling.
The text ‘Pole’/’I’m Polish’ will be projected onto people as they pass by. Some of the subjects will be aware that they are being singled out, some not. The identity they are given will most likely be false but those who are not aware of their labeling will not be given the opportunity to challenge or correct it, a common situation for many people. Those who are aware, on the other hand, will be invited to react to this labeling. Their spontaneous reactions will be an interesting comment on what they think about the idea of being Polish and, possibly, very indirectly, about Poles. Whether it’s amusing, uninteresting, offensive, uncomfortable or just funny, it will not be a comment on Polish-ness, as such, but the idea of being mistaken or taken for a Pole.
Location: a busy, pedestranised street in Birmingham city centre.
Time: late afternoon (depends on the projector available)
Equipment needed: approx. 4K-lumen projector and a video camera for documentation.
2. Polish Specimens
A display of approx. 5 motionless Polish people placed behind frosted glass.
The idea:
The idea behind the project is the concept of gaze, in the philosophical sense, but also with regards to early 19th century anthropology and The World Exhibitions that presented people of the ‘primitive cultures’ as exhibits placed in specially designed villages and pavilions.
Making it happen:
Through a museum-like display of Polish people standing behind frosted glass (not necessarily real Poles, it would even be more interesting to have ‘fake’ Poles on display) the artist is hoping to comment on the novelty of the presence of the large Polish community in the UK and the curiosity regarding the newcomers. The Poles will not only be watched though – they will watch the spectator to the point of uneasiness. The mutual observation will allow for limited contact though – with frosted glass symbolising a lack of transparency (glass is supposed to be transparent) in our view of the world and people around us. The frosted glass could also be interpreted as a symbol of linguistic and cultural barriers that make it difficult to have a clear idea about each other.
Location: an empty shop or gallery space.
Materials: Frosted glass or yoghurt coated glass or semi-transparent plastic curtain. Non-transparent wall/curtain to cover surfaces in between ‘display cases’.
Lighting.
Equipment needed: artist’s friends and acquaintances.
3. Other possible mini-projects:
- Flyers with invitation for members of public to enter a “Spot the Pole” mock-competition. Each person who emails photos of 15 Polish people taken with mobile phones to the organizers will be offered a bottle of Polish herbal vodka as a prize.
- Sale of T-shirts & badges with quotes about Poles taken from tabloid press. Outcome of the artist’s previous project done in collaboration with another Polish artist.
- Press articles about Poles in Britain printed out from internet and dispersed loosely on the floor for people to pick up and read or ignore.
Friday, 28 September 2007
Our first brief
Our first brief to be worked on is a collaborative LIVE project called ‘Out & About’.
It’s a project to be held in Birmingham city. We have to organise, fund, advertise and curate an off-site exhibition or event, within a time scale of 10 weeks.
We can use as many or as few artworks/ artists as we like. We can commission new work from artists or create our own.
We can use any space within an agreed reception area and we must disseminate the project to a wider audience than our comfortable existing MA group.
Our deadline for the project launch is Monday 10th December
It’s a project to be held in Birmingham city. We have to organise, fund, advertise and curate an off-site exhibition or event, within a time scale of 10 weeks.
We can use as many or as few artworks/ artists as we like. We can commission new work from artists or create our own.
We can use any space within an agreed reception area and we must disseminate the project to a wider audience than our comfortable existing MA group.
Our deadline for the project launch is Monday 10th December
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