Getting Ready for the Gallery Paradiso –
It’s been such a busy time for me since leaving London and the Low Residency. Today I’ve been framing all of my prints ahead of taking them to the Gallery Paradiso. They will be shown next week with the private view on Wednesday evening. I would have loved to attend, but I will be back in London for the Mattering Life, Scientist in Residence Programme.
Below are a few images of the framed pieces. I think they look rather smart framed. I was quite surprised at how long it took me to frame them, add D-rings and package them up. However I was pleased when it was all done.
Labels and D-Rings Added
All Wrapped and Ready to Go
Decisions Decisions…
I was pleased when the pictures were finally dropped off. The whole process from start to finish was quite a lengthy one. From image creation right through to delivery I’d had to make lots of decisions, for example:
- How big should my prints be?
- What aspect ratio should they be?
- What paper should I choose for printing?
- Do I want a border?
- If I have a border what size do I want it?
- If I have a border do I want to change the crop?
- What types of inks do I want?
- Do I want to make it limited edition?
- Do I want to add a card mount?
- How do I want to pay?
- Would I like express delivery?
- What type of frame do I want – white or black?
- Do I want glass or plexiglass?
- What type of D-rings should I buy?
- Exactly where should I put the D-rings?
To be honest after all of the organisation, I was actually quite glad when I had finally parcelled everything up. Fingers crossed they sell. I still need to order some prints for the ‘browsers’ but at the moment I need to focus on my trip back to London.
A Bittersweet Moment
I was really excited to be invited to show my work, but I also had some work to pick up. Sadly it was time to collect my first two mobiles. Andy took them down as I unframed my prints in order to sign them (initially I wasn’t going to sign them). After all my hard work framing the prints, Jon the gallery owner persuaded me to sign them and make them limited edition. To be honest I learned all about doing this properly when I submitted a print for the Grotto print project. Luckily it didn’t take me too long to do but I really should have done it before framing them. By the time I had finished signing and reframing everything Andy (my husband) had finished taking down and dismantling my mobiles.
It was a bittersweet moment because there was now a gaping hole now where my mobile had once hung.
However, on the plus side I got to take my mobiles home. Unfortunately my big mobile is now occupying their space, so I think that they both desperately need a new home.
I still need to do quite a bit of work in terms of perfecting material for my mobiles so in actual fact my mobiles may go back into experimentation as I try to think of ways to make them more robust.
Ending on a Positive Note
Jon from the gallery said that people had been absolutely fascinated with my mobiles. People seemed to want to touch them. I was so pleased to hear this. I know the mobiles aren’t designed to be touched, but knowing people wanted to made all my hard work seem worthwhile.
Jon also asked me if he could retain my digital piece because many people had sat quietly just watching and listening to the calming imagery and music.
We were once asked the question, what does success look like to us? Well I can honestly say with people wanting to touch my mobiles and sit quietly watching my digital work this must be pretty close.
I’m actually feeling quite inspired now to create even bigger and better.
The Retained Digital Piece
Below is the digital piece that Jon retained for the gallery. It plays in a separate area of the gallery with seats and a little cinema screen. It’s such a nice feeling to know that people are enjoying listening and watching my video.
