If you walk round the back of Gentlemans Walk, by the market, there is a little passageway called Weavers lane. There at the back of a building is a spiral fire escape. I have used that as a stencil to cut through to the underlying images. Those are a montage of the entrance hall/staircase in the main building, of the Art School. I was experimenting as I created the picture, with no objective plan.
The Sound Of Light
This is a collage of two different interiors in the Norwich Art School. Through the window; I’ve replaced the view with some ripples of raindrops on a river. I found the golden angel blowing a trumpet in a church, just down the road from the school; St.Georges on Colegate. The image was finished off, with a lens flare filter. As usual the image came about unconsciously, but the title was obvious.
Stand Alone
The setting for the easels is an old picture, that I had half completed and ‘put on the back burner’. It is a view of a corner of a room in an alcove by a chimney breast, looking up at the ceiling. Above it is the bottom of some net curtains. Every year St. Benedicts closes off the road and has a street party. These artists easels were going to be used for the general public to have a painting experience session, courtesy of the local art society. I was able to arrange them, from the different photos I took. My conceit was to duplicate the image, rearrange the easels, and then put that image on the bottom canvas holder of the ‘rebel’ easel.
Best Left Alone
So called because, as I was creating this picture, I got so far and thought this was the point at which I should stop…… and don’t try to embellish the image any further. These are empty cable drums, that had wire wrapped around them. They were lying discarded in the far end of the car park, of Hedley and Ellis, an electrical wholesaler on Pottergate. I collaged two different views of the same pile, and put the side of a railway truck (see Industrial Landscape) behind them.
Scrape And Scour
Just down the road, (Greyhound Opening) there has been a major building project. That meant new road surfaces, pavements and underground pipes. These digger shovels and blades were being stored, behind an enclosure fence. I took a few photographs from different angles, and as you can see, collaged them (in conflict?). I applied a filter to give them that gritty look, and darkened what little background there is.
Gon’ Fishin’
There is a railway station in East Dereham, which is the site of a heritage organisation, called the Mid Norfolk Railway. They run trips in old steam trains and rolling stock, and a yard for repairs and reconstruction. Hence the cranes which run on the rails, and used to move the engines and carriages. Notice the green water tank and station building in the background. The beach is at Great Yarmouth. The two came together by pure luck. I did tilt the crane shot a bit, to have the hook dipping into the sea. I think the picture has balance and symmetry.
Swoon
I like this composition for its line, continuity and movement. The staircase that is being looked down on, is in the Castle Mall. The zigzag barrier can be found on the footpath, by the river outside St. James Mill (the Jarrold building). The electrical cable was entwined with the barrier. Behind that is a decorative wooden block, part of a street installation, on the Quay Side near Fye Bridge. You san see the question mark shaped metal wedge, which has been driven into the block, to arrest the splitting. It also has some metal banding to keep the whole thing together. I don’t know, there’s some sort of flow …
On An Island In The Sun
The island is a collage of new groundworks that were taking place, on Moore Drive near Joondalup. The sun of course was in Australia. This collage is of a pedestrian island. The distressed metal chairs can be found outside the famous Grosvenor Fish Bar, overlooking the green in front of St. Gregorys church. The shadows can be found in the computer! Of course, I twisted the row of chairs to suit the composition. I just liked the flow and curves. The colour is as brilliant as it was in the midday Aussie white sun.
Twist And Spring
What you can see here are the following objects: a connection and ratchet stay, to keep the metal wire of a fence taut. A gate to a public park, with a spring loaded bolt lock. Another gate to a park, and a twisted wire fence. Lastly a hanging stanchion with the white nylon wheel, to cast and retrieve the nets on a fishing boat. Is that clear? I had a great deal of satisfaction making this collage work.
Fixing The CCTV
In the middle of Eaton Park is a colonnaded pavilion with a domed bandstand at its centre. Surrounding the bandstand are circular rows of seating. I photographed one section, and as you can see, I repositioned a section of it. I was interested in swirling the seating to go off and beyond, creating a sympathetic composition. On a whim I put the engineer who was fixing a CCTV on Barn Rd., into the middle of the arena. Why?.. he just looked good being there, and gives the picture a focus. And the title? Well I had, as always have to subsequently come up with something which gives the picture a meaning which wasn’t intended from the outset. You should see how many ‘Untitled’ pictures I have produced…..zzzzzzz