It Begins?

So the documentation of process begins, and we get to see if we can pull this thing off! I shall now document the meeting we had on 10 Jan. We all met up at the builders arms and generally had a chat and got to know one another. It was great to see everyone gelling really well having a good time, likewise it was great to finally have everyone together so we could probe what the project entails.

Essentially we plan to bring the process out from behind the work - we want to open up the finished work. Writing, photographing, recording; can these ultimately be effective tools of discussion and dissection?

What I wanted to bring up in this post was Tess's suggestion of the book format for our documentation. I hadn't really thought of this until know and it's an excellent idea. Considering the way that placing the documentation within the gallery space could create an aesthetic contrary to what is desired, a book (or expanded catalog) would certainly be a simpler and easier contained way of presenting a record. Likewise I think articulating ideas and and aesthetic in detail would be far easier in a book. Beyond this, the actual idea of the concrete document, the object, is immensely appealing to me. Who wouldn't want a whole published book with their writing in it?

I wonder though, how the nature of the book would effect the place of the process? A whole new set of concerns would present themselves when dealing with a book format - design choices, aesthetic decisions - but are they in keeping with the idea of opening up the process? I think this leads back to a basic idea surrounding process; are we dealing with something that is clean and easily ordered? Is that an aesthetic that is desirable? Or is creative action more of a messy, chaotic experience? Or is it beyond either of these things - is creativity simply the Newtonian "Ah-ha!"?

These questions will be invaluable to informing whether or not a book is a good idea and not only that, they will inform the overall aesthetic of the show.

That felt like I was talking in irritating circles, but hopefully something valuable came out of it. Peace out.