During the three months to Christmas 2021 Rob advised us not to 'start' practice three early, so that we did not become bored or peak too soon. So I made simple forms to practice making, tried using porcelain, tried to break up complex forms into interlocking parts, and considered textures, an area I have not spent a lot of time developing.
I also thought about what area of the city I might choose as a source of inspiration. I have widened my focus to a slice of the city, from the centre along a major road covering about two miles. This are was called Chorlton on Medlock in the past. I chose the area around Oxford Road for several reasons. Firstly, the buildings along this route have experienced significant loss, change, and redevelopment, so the effects of time and change are very visible in the variety of architecture to be found. Secondly there is a great variety of buildings here. There are industrial buildings such as Macintosh Mill and Gaythorn Gas Works, a range of public and civic buildings, and large villas and private houses many repurposed for other uses. Thirdly, my grandparents lived here when they first came to Manchester, and I went to university here, so I have a personal connection to the area.
In practice two I focused on a contained area, with just a few buildings. This is a wider, more elongated area, and it is more representative of the city and the urban landscape. This has worrying me a bit in terms of my learning agreement. I went to Micaela to ask her for help with this change of focus with respect to the wording on my learning agreement. I need to make any changes prior to my meeting with her and Rob at the start of Practice 3. I explained that I wanted to take a broader area as my inspiration, to cover several streets, not just a cluster of buildings. She said that she didn't understand why I wanted to change my learning agreement, I was going to make it worse, she was not going to help me make it worse. She said I can see that you want to include streets from your perspective, it will make it easier for you, but I don't think it is a good idea, so you will have to do it by yourself. She thinks that I will ruin my own MA and get fewer marks if I make changes. I don't want to ruin my MA, but I do want to broaden my focus in terms of the urban area.
My current agreement was written for practice two, and I am taking a wider focus for practice three. I could carry on looking at the same buildings in Cathedral Gardens, but think that choosing another wider area would be better. I feel a bit lost. If I move forward I will ruin my MA.
Comments