Monday, September 21, 2009

Clumber Street Shrine: more work in progress




CLUMBER STREET SHRINE right panel

digital image 7 ins x 11 ins

view larger image here


CLUMBER STREET SHRINE middle panel

digital image 7 ins x 11 ins

view larger image here

This is where I'm up to with the triptych that I'm working on. It is proving to be a most interesting challenge. Working on three images that will be viewed together to tell a story throws up many questions. For instance: how does the story travel across the three images? Is it linear or does it ricochet forward and backwards? What, if any, devices and/or motifs give the three a unity? Do they actually need a unity? Does each image present the story from the same vantage point, in the same scale or do I want to pull in and out of each image as a film maker might?
The scissors were far too small in the first version of the central panel. Wonderful serendipity has led me to find a pair of Victorian lace maker's scissors: perfect for this story, set in Nottingham and using lace as a story-telling device. The lace scissors are much finer and sharper than the ones in the above version of the central panel and this will refine their symbolism.



12 comments:

Lawendula said...

I really like the scissors.
Can't wait to see the whole thing...

Poetic Artist said...

It is wonderful, I can not wait to see the finished piece.
Katelen

WrightStuff said...

There's a real magical quality to this... I'll have to come back and keep an eye on progress!

Jo Archer said...

This are so gorgeous. Are they this dark in real life, or have you just photographed them like that? Hope they are as love it!

MrCachet said...

What can you tell us about Clumber Street that can't be told in the images? I find myself having to explain mine because of the nature of the documents I'm using, but digital images are a little different - no words. Is there a back story?

Nettie Edwards said...

I'm a bit of a tease aren't I Dave?! As this is work in progress, I'm holding things back until the final reveal. HOWEVER, it has to be said that I do like to signpost a story but leave a lot of space for the viewer's interpretation. It would be interesting to hear whether this is intriguing or just deeply frustrating/irritating. I will tell you now that Clumber Street is a small street of shops in Nottingham and I have named this work after it because the photos I'm using are part of a collection of four, two of which were taken at a studio in Clumber Street. They are clearly all of the same family and are quite damaged (which I love). Nottingham used to be a centre for lacemaking and Clumber Street is very near the Lace Market area of the city where the lace factories were.

MrCachet said...

Lumi,

Hey, thanks! I don't have to overcome the same obstacles with mine, but a little tidbit of a back story often lends a bit of added interest to the story. Old lace that is no longer white hanging in wooden windows with panes of glass that distort your view are extremely fascinating to me. Nostalgic.

I've got a couple of studio photographs that are torn, and I find them more interesting than the ones with regular edges.

BLACK AND WHITE said...

Beautiful story!

Caterina Giglio said...

Lots of decisions only you can make, but what is wonderful is that you cannot get it wrong! I love the scissors and the pieces create such mystery ...cannot wait for your reveal!

Unknown said...

I'm loving the thought process and inner workings of the Idea ...... maybe the three pieces are like children. Same family but individual people - drawn together and pulling away simultaneously. I always think of my own art as my children .....

DMG said...

Trust you, Lumi, to even have romantic scissors. This is getting even more mysterious and gorgeous. LOVE it! I cannot wait to see the finished shrine. (Trick to eliminate wrinkles: gluesticks!)

Ozstuff said...

I saw this and loved it at DAQ,Lumi, and it is just as fantastic here on the blog. I love your work and can't wait for the next picture in this series!