Page 97 of The Examiner

Patrick Bright

She’s always been a night owl.

Jem Badhuri

I know every inch of her workstation and I keep track of everything in and out of the store cupboard. She hasn’t been in at all. There are always finished components in her out-basket for you to collect, but they aren’t made here. I suspect Ludya is making them for her.

Patrick Bright

It’s a nice conspiracy theory, but I think you’re wrong, Jem. Ludya makes three little nuts and bolts, then huffs and puffs round the studio as if the rest of us are sitting on our arses strumming lutes. If she’s making Alyson’s quota too, we’d hear about it.

Jem Badhuri

The photographs I took of Alyson’s workstation for Assignment Four weren’t just to show the arduous process of creation, like I told everyone. I took pictures over five days, to prove Alyson hadn’t been in, should I ever need to. I take one every morning now.

Patrick Bright

I’m confused. Why would you need to prove something like that?

Jem Badhuri

It’s my insurance policy. So if she gets a high grade, I can challenge it.

Patrick Bright

You’d do that?

Jem Badhuri

Of course. But only if I get a lower grade. If I get a high grade too, I won’t rock the boat. So we’ll see.

To: MMAM(FTP)

From: Gela Nathaniel

Date: 20 March 2024

Subject: Final Project and Assignment Five

Dear all,

Thank you, Jonathan, for that concise and helpful update. This is our last week before the Easter break, so it’s a good time to take stock. The Media Arts building will remain open, and you are welcome to take advantage of that to meet your construction deadlines.

I would reiterate the need to prioritise those embellishments for the tunnel wall, and with each one that you make, please alter the number on the quota list pinned to the noticeboard, so we end up with the appropriate numbers of each design to mark the historical progression of the journey.

In the real world, creative professionals need to work extra hours at home, or during holidays, to meet company deadlines. So while you’re all busy re-creating things from the past, here’s Assignment Five:

Think of something in your own past that is now gone, lost or over, and re-create that for an abstract or impressionistic piece. This is a free assignment designed to keep you thinking creatively while engaged in the more mundane tasks of construction and manufacture. Deadline: 19 April 2024.

Any questions, please ask!

Gela

Doodle message group MMAM(FTP), 20 March 2024:

Ludya Parak

I’m not coming in over Easter, FFS. How can she expect us to do a whole new assignment?