Welcome Back Everyone!!! We hope you have had a restful but productive break. As we enter the last few weeks of component 1 and the start of the FMP for the UAL students it is vital we use the time available productively. This weeks blog has a range of opportunities and motivational messages to get you started, as we hope you will continue, with passion and enthusiasm. Success stories from the department and messages of support when creative block strikes. This half term is one of the most vital times for us in Expressive Arts, as we finish one project strongly, to begin another with the same energy and resolve to achieve at the highest level. We'll be there to support, but you have to do the work. Good luck!
Exhibition: BOLTON OPEN
The Bolton Open is now being exhibited at Bolton's Museum and Art Gallery. We are delighted to announce that all the learners and staff who entered had their work accepted and so the work will now be on display until 26th February 2023.
The launch event, before Christmas was an exciting start for the show. Learners, Judges and dignitaries were all in attendance with the Major of Bolton officially opening the exhibition.
It was great to see all our learners with their families in attendance, the work looked great next to the wide range of art from creatives from across Bolton. We hope they are as proud of you as we are, I am sure they are.
Hopefully, you will all make the effort to visit, before the show closes on the 26th Feb, so you can see the great work on show and support your friends. We regularly share opportunities on here and in the department, we hope you will now see that if you enter competitions there is a chance you can get exhibited and maybe even sell your work. Congratulations again to all the learners and staff whose work is on display. We hope to see many more of you in the future.
PODCAST: Broken Record Podcasts: Rick Rubin & Malcolm Gladwell
Rick Rubin is a record Producer who famously works with a wide range of artists. Most famously Jay Z, The Beastie Boys, The Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Johnny Cash. Hip Hop, Rock, Metal and Folk, he loves them all and has an encyclopaedic knowledge of music, finding positives in all of it and allowing himself to be inspired by it no matter the genre.
When Jay Z says "You're crazy for this one Rick!" at the start of 99 Problems, that is Rick Rubin, he is talking about.
When Rubin started off, he wanted to make Hip Hop records that sounded like they did when played live. No one was doing that so he set about doing it for himself. In the Podcast above he explains his process and how and why he works in that way. Loads of great insight into the creative process. The Broken Record Podcast (has been featured here before) is then hosted by Rick Rubin and he tries to discover other musicians creative journeys an absolute must listen when new episodes drop.
CHALLENGE: @PicturingtheHighStreet
Historic England have a fortnightly challenge for you to enter photos that respond to different themes. The new year starts with NEW YEAR, NEW HOPES, keep an eye on our Instagram for new titles, as we try and respond each fortnite with a new image. Hopefully you will too
To complete the challenges – fronted by photographers, celebrities and community leaders – you will need to visit your local high streets and discover the secret stories of these places of commerce, conversation and community.
The most evocative photographs will be featured on the Picturing High Streets Instagram channel.
In this video a range of the worlds best creatives, in all artistic fields give advice on what is needed to succeed in the creative world. Advice on drive and failure alongside, practical advise about organisation and doing the work. It's great to see the cross over between genres and to see that no matter the discipline, you wish to follow the road to success takes a lot of hard work and a bit of luck.
CHALLENGE: Adobe January Creative Challenges
Adobe do a range of challenges across the year that allows you to explore and learn a wide variety of their products. This months challenges suggest a multimedia approach adding sound to your work to define a specific person or place in Geographical and Historical contexts. Definitely worth an explore. PRIZES ARE AVAILABLE FOR SUCCESSFUL ENTRIES TOO.
MAGAZINE: THE HAPPY NEWS
Emily Cowhead has made national news when she started to produce a newspaper that shared Happy Stories. Emily, who is from Chorley, says she is aware that people need to know what is happening in the world but wanted a place to share positive stories too. Seeing that this was not available, she got around to doing it herself and now produces 4 Happy News Newspapers a year.
MOTIVATIONAL SUPPORT VIDEOS AND ADVICE
As we get into the new year, Michelle has put together some motivational, creative videos to help you become re-inspired and ready for the rest of the year.
The aim is to support and energise your practice, with advice about just getting out there and getting the work done and how to deal with set backs.
Hopefully you will return to these when you run out of ideas, or finding the impending deadlines difficult.
If you get working you will get it all done!