Wednesday, June 29, 2011

LISTEN YO!

This blog is in desperate need of more sound delights!

I revisited My Latest Novel this morning and forgot how sweet and serene it is. I adore Scottish music.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

POST SHOW!

Much to do!
My makeshift website needs ample help! I am pretty clueless when it comes to website details.. I know the basics, as anyone who has watched some youtube tutorials does. I can't for the life of me discern how to make my site scaleable without tarnishing the image quality (it's a giant jpeg... have tried a png as well). That needs sorting out. I've got our resident web monkey nearby to assist me when I get some time!

I've been quite delayed on discussing the degree show, which came to an end so abruptly I feel as though I've near to plummeting over an unexpected metaphorical cliff.

My family flew over to come along, and it was fantastic to see them! It was really wonderful being able to spend (not even close to enough) time with them. It will have to tide me over for awhile, there isn't much room (or dinero) for a Canadian visit - impending gigs and a medical appointment.

I just discovered some rather crumpled business cards in the pocket of my dress, which was a bit of a score! They all disappeared, along with the intervals of A5s I made for industry perusers to pick up. My Bracebridge postcards were swiped by a couple degree show bandits... sneaky! I can't fathom why those ones, as opposed to the ones depicting cooler places around the globe, were attractive to our klepto friends. A laptop also went missing. It's such a shame. Art appreciators and critics cannot be trusted.

The turn out was pretty stellar and I was absolutely stunned by my peers incredible work. Lots of compliments on the variety and nature of the projects. So proud of everyone!! I took some photographs on the Olympus Pen, so those should be along shortly, once I finish the film!

So yeah, it's all over. I am now battling the anxiety/fear of whether I will be able to remain in the UK. London has become my home over the past three years. I would be devastated to have to leave this city that I love. It's terrifying for life to be so uncertain and being on the cusp of many conclusions. I shall know by mid-August if I will be granted a post-study visa. Our lease ends September 1st, so my housing situation cannot be determined until then also. The job market is pretty awful apparently, so I'm uncertain whether financially I can stay. Reality is scary.


You know I had to bake cupcakes for the industry night... well they were a thank you present for my tutor Rathna and Andy Inglis who was an incredibly benevolent host to Emillia and I at the Luminaire during our music publication research. I did have quite a few leftover to give out...


A strange mash up of two images of the Nicholls & Clarke building in Shoreditch where our show was held.

Inside the Nicholls & Clarke building


Setting up photography


Setting up in the room where Emilia and I had our shared space


Our shared space





Wednesday, June 8, 2011

WHERE HAVE I BEEN?

OK I've been in serious recovery since the chaotic final hand in of our work for our degree. The first act following the submission (and pulling an all-nighter to finish with 5 minutes to spare) was to indulge in an ice cold Kopparberg at the pub. So, it's all over. Well – not exactly.

We are currently in the process of putting together our final show. The madness persists. Getting organized for the show and the transition out of student life has been terrifying and heaps of work. I've had to throw together a website (after battling with flash for a month, giving up and then creating one in dreamweaver), conjure up some business cards and sort out/prepare what's going in the show and produce all the signage that will accompany it. I have yet to attack my CV!

So what exactly did I submit? I suppose I haven't posted some items that went in. There was a box of photos, this Coachella fanzine (to go along with the music publication),



the postcards + a framed print of one (California) on bamboo paper,

then the Text to Drum concertinas... and that'd be it!


I have been working on my site for ages. The first site that is! Flash was being a total jerkbox, and even though my script was correct, and the .swf file worked perfectly, it still refused to function once applied to the domain. I can't remember for the life of me/don't have the time to relearn dreamweaver so I've created a really basic, temporary site that is far from refined. Please go visit it at WWW.CHRISTINAMARIEJ.COM.




My business cards came today! How exciting. I did them rather hastily so there's slightly cut off... but oh well! This is one of the two designs (the other is just the heart illustration in place of the brain).

Emilia discovered our hallway wall is a similar size to our space, so we've been able to use it to aid in our set-up!

Ever since Emilia did the 'pants' layout for the publication... it seems to have found a home in my head and now has creeped into my A5 design... here I was thinking 'oh there's a triangular C!' Haha, perhaps it was intended?!

I have been subsisting on crap! It's the only thing that's getting me through this craziness. This is the sort of delicacies I've been consuming. Who says vegans are missing out?

These look so sloppy, but the attempted Banana Cream Pie cupcakes was not overly successful.