Page 90 of The Examiner

Overview: This assignment is designed to give the MA students a taste of multitasking. Creative professionals often work on several projects simultaneously, and this is where time management, discipline and application all come into play. While they are busy with their tasks for the final project, Assignment Four is a free brief with a stipulation that they help others on the course. Supporting fellow professionals while under pressure themselves will test their patience and generosity, not to mention how willing they are to work as a team.

Jemisha Badhuri

Jem is a 3D and sound specialist, so she chose to explore the 2D world of photography, while helping Jonathan work in sound for the first time. She submitted a series of photographs in a harsh tonal black and white, taken in and around the studio. She titled the series ‘Work in progress’. Most of the photographs were of Alyson’s bench, which, while not the tidiest, wasn’t the most representative, either. On the whole I feel Jem hasn’t gone far enough, literally and creatively, to produce this piece. While she worked with Jonathan to create her photographs, and helped him with his assignment, I understand that she refused to help others who approached her for assistance. This is not in the spirit of the course. Grade: C+

Patrick Bright

Patrick worked with Griff and Rita to explore the tricky medium of epoxy resin. Unfortunately, no other member of the course came forward to help him, which both surprised and disappointed me. It has to be said, though, that none of them count resin art among their specialisms. I was impressed with Patrick’s new-found enthusiasm for this medium, which is far removed from his key subject of freehand drawing. He made seven cuboid paperweights, each containing a dead scorpion suspended in transparent resin. Five were posed to appear at rest, one was poised with its sting ready to strike and one was curled up in death. He gave a paperweight to each of us. While all were well made, I remain unsure how they relate to the final project. Grade: D–

Jonathan Danners

Jonathan worked with Jem to learn the basics of sound. Sound does not, necessarily, need to be technically advanced to be effective, but to create something truly captivating and inspiring requires an ear for the medium. Jonathan’s three-minute soundscape was of a man screaming. As the scream went on and on, the distortion was adjusted to reveal that the screaming was actually a woman (Jem). This effect requires a higher level of technical ability and equipment, which makes me wonder whether Jem had a greater hand in its creation than might be assumed. Jonathan can be commended on his work helping Jem with her photography. Grade: B–

Alyson Lang

Alyson has mastered most artistic mediums, but stop-motion film is her least explored. For this she worked with Ludya at Alyson’s home studio, thereby neglecting their work on the installation. This is the perfect example of failure to multitask that could set a bigger project behind schedule. Ludya, who is in charge of time management, should have had more foresight. Alyson, however, managed to captivate everyone who watched her short film. She borrowed radio components from the salvage bags and created a stop-motion clip whereby six components inside a radio each ‘ate’ one another until only one was left. That piece was so sad in its lonely prison, it threw itself onto an electrode and burst into flames. A very moving and poignant film. Grade: A–

Ludya Parak

Ludya is an accomplished stop-motion artist and clearly had a strong hand in Alyson’s film. She chose to work in clay for her own project, and for once submitted it on time and without a special-consideration form. She fired her statuette in Alyson’s kiln, then painted and glazed it herself. It was striking in its simplicity and, under normal circumstances, would earn her a decent grade. However, I wonder how a face melting into the ground, its mouth set in a hopeless yawn and eyes pleading heavenwards is inspired by the final project, which so far has run smoothly and is firmly on course? Strangely, both Ludya and Jonathan created an artwork around a scream; one could almost say Jonathan’s soundscape accompanies Ludya’s sculpture. Grade: C–

Cameron Wesley

Cameron Wesley did not submit any work for Assignment Four, having partially withdrawn from the course. However, he remains in touch with his team and engaged with the final project. Grade: Ungraded

Doodle message group [Private] Jem and Patrick, 29 February 2024:

Jem Badhuri

What did you think of Alyson’s film?

Patrick Bright

It was fine. I mean, you can tell she worked with Ludya. It’s Ludya’s style.

Jem Badhuri

Gela loved it. Shame Alyson wasn’t there to get her grade and see what everyone else had done.

Patrick Bright

She popped in earlier. Apparently she had a hospital appointment.

Jem Badhuri

That’s what everyone said. I wonder what’s wrong with her.

Patrick Bright

You can’t ask, in case it’s something ‘down below’.

Jem Badhuri

Is that why no one asks? Anyway, thank you for my paperweight, Pat. I’ll treasure it as a memento of the MA.

Patrick Bright

You’re welcome, Jem. The scorpion will guard your papers and stop them blowing away. I made seven, so thought I might as well hand them out. I was going to let Griff have Cameron’s, but Gela spotted it and said she’d keep it for him.