Art School Fashion Show

Around this time last year I attended Glasgow School of Art fashion show. I was also participating in Art School classes every weekend which included sketching, day trips and helpful advice. I really enjoyed these classes and made alot of new friends who are now at various uni's and art schools across the country. Because of these classes I went to the fashion show, otherwise I would not have heard about it.

The students hosted the event in the Vic, which is like GSA's version of the union. The Vic was transformed and it looked like a professional fashion show. With bright lights directed onto a runway. The front row was reserved especially for the GSA's finical supporters. On every chair was a folder full of discounts to be used around Glasgow. I felt like I was in London fashion week or something.

fashion show '10

example of the prints

There was a distinctive soundtrack which set the scene for the show. I found out that it was actually a remix of the sounds that are created by the machinery which makes the prints and stitches on these designs! I personally thought that was a smart idea from the students. I was also surprised at how professional the models were who walked down the runway. Everything they wore was hand-made and designed by the students. It looked amazing. I couldn't believe that the students had created the garments which were on these models. I expected                           an amateur show but the students worked hard to create a professional night which I am going to attend again this year.

Atholl Palace

Just before the beginning of Easter, I went to Atholl Palace for the ball. It was an adaas event and I thought they did a great job. The time and effort that went into the planning of this ball paid off as it was a successful night as everybody had a good time.


Despite the price of £65 which initially put me off, it was well worth the money. The rooms was luxurious and each room had an en-suite. We certainly helped ourselves to the free conditioner, shampoo and soap. Our room had an amazing view over the tennis courts and outdoor swimming pool. We were also over looking the landscape which was breathtaking.

View from our window

Our evening started at 7pm when we were invited to take part in pre-drinks of champagne down in reception. Dinner begun at 7.30pm. It was a fantastic three-course meal. For starters was a fruit cocktail. Mains included chicken, haggis, potatoes and veg. Desert was toffee profiteroles. Apart from the desert, I  enjoyed the dinner. Our table was kept topped up with free wine. It was definitely fine dining. After dinner was the ceilidh. I love ceilidh dancing and have done since school. Hours were spent dancing to the ceilidh band. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the night and I will definitely be attending next year!

Hannah, Sian and I at the ball

The Royal Wedding

Today we celebrated the marriage of Prince William and Katherine Middleton. As i do not have a tv in halls, I watched highlights on YouTube. 

The most anticipated part of the wedding must be Katie's wedding dress. The design/designer of her dress was kept top-secret and obviously kept the country in suspense. The wait was worth it as the dress was beautiful. Her face was hidden by a light veil. It is made out of soft ivory silk and hand-stitched. On top of her veil is a tiara lent to her by the Queen, one from her own personal collection. Her arms are covered by lace and her train is 6 feet long. Apparently the people who made the dress had to wash their hands every half an hour to keep the dress mark-free. Also, every four hours needles were replaced to ensure a clean stitch. It is different to the dress worn by Diana and previous royal brides. It is an Alexander McQueen dress and ticks all the fashion boxes. I think this modern take to the wedding dress reflects Katies own views as she enters the royal family. Modern input will be welcome in Buckingham Palace. This dress is a statement and really is fit for a Princess.

Inter-rail 2011. Final Travel Plans

In one of my earlier posts I talked about how I would like to inter-rail in the summer. Well, now I have booked and in the midst of my final planning stages. I am travelling with Heather and Betty (two fellow architects). We are leaving Edinburgh on the 30th of May and arrive on the 3rd of July. 




















We start in Amsterdam then..
Berlin
Prague
Vienna
Slovenia
Italy- Venice           Milan
           Turin
Monaco
Marseille
Barcelona
Paris














We plan to visit Anne Frank's annex in Amsterdam. Then see Peter Eisenmanns Jewish memorial in Berlin. From there stay two nights in Prague. Moving on from the Czech Republic we go to Vienna. Whilst staying in Vienna we are going for a day trip to Budapest. This also allows us to see another country. From there we brush through Slovenia staying only one night and end up on a day trip to Venice. Travelling from there we stay in Milan, taking advantage of its fashionable surroundings. Last stop in Italy is Turin. Only staying one night we are still unsure of our plans there. Travelling down the French coast to our next destination. Barcelona. I have been there quite a few times so its upto the others where they want to see first. I expect they will want to appreciate Gaudi's architecture. Travelling up through France stopping at Bordeaux to windsurf we will end up at our final destination, Paris. It will then be the usual tourist attractions Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Pompidu...

Money or Art?

Cornelia Parker is an installation artist. She challenges physics and investigates private/public spaces through her art. Parker experiments with Cold Dark Matter: An Exploded View (1991).

“as an individual I am very moved by the politics and the ethics of environmental issues, but I can’t do that in my art.” Cornelia Parker.

Unlike other modern artists Parker does not use her art as a statement. The purpose of Parker's art is not to earn the money which is found in the exclusive world of modern art today, but develops a subject which involves experiments. Her interest in the materials potential creates the art. For example, Damien Hirst's pickled sharks are arguably not art. His diamond skull, "For the Love of God" is priced at £50,000,000. 

There is little or no thought involved in sticking diamonds on a skull. It is almost as if Hirst is taking advantage of the art world as he knows himself his art is pointless. Art to him is a business and it soon loses the purpose which drove Hirst to pick this career. This man has no respect for his own art. 

Hirst led an art movement called the  YBA's (Young British Artists) and in this also, was Tracey Emin. Her art has also become commercial. Many of the artists in this movement now earn huge amounts of money and no respect for their work as an individual artist.

Barcelona Pavilion

Mies's own phrase "Less is more" is definitely the phrase i would use to describe the Barcelona Pavilion.  The pavilion is often referred to as "an icon of the modern movement". With its elegant and simple forms I agree that the pavilion was way ahead of its time. Due to these factors I was inspired to visit the pavilion when I was in Barcelona at Christmas.

"Alba" by George Kolbe features in the Pavilion. It is unexpected in the pavilion. Its soft flowing curves are different to the harsh straight shapes that make up the pavilion. Mies has used specific materials to enhance space. Marble and water reflect the sculpture and light, the space becomes endless. It also creates a calm and relaxed atmosphere. When I went to the pavilion it had been raining as shown in the picture below. The rain again enhances space as the marble is very shiny and wet. I wonder if this was on purpose or was accidental.

Straight geometrical shapes help the pavilion to appear sleek. It  is a contrast to the surrounding buildings which appeared mostly traditional.

 

Travertine walls jut out and create private/public spaces. These spaces are free and the circulation becomes very open. 

Arran' 10

My group of friends and I decided to do something to mark the fact that we had finally finished school. Due to lack of funds and Christine owning a house in Arran, we decided to travel there to stay for a week. I was looking forward to spending time with my friends but i had doubts about Arran. I imagined it to be quite boring. We travelled by train, then a ferry to get to the small island. My first thoughts about the island, I found it dreary. Christine's cottage was about ten minutes bus journey from the centre of Arran. We arrived at a cute, traditional cottage about 15 metres from the beach. It was painted black and white, which blended in finely with its surroundings. Due to the bland village, I was surprised that Arran would produce such lovely houses. The cottage continued to surprise me, with its quirky features. A rickety old staircase, which would support only one of us, led up into big rooms invaded by the light and had a generous view of the beach. The cottage had no television but instead offered a cupboard full of boardgames. Heated only by a fire, the cottage often became cold, but a huge supply of rugs over the years kept us warm. The biggest surprise from the cottage came from its back garden. It had a waterfall.

An old wooden ledge allowed us to get right under the waterfall. It wasn't a very wet day when i took this photo, but when it rains very hard the waterfall runs for quite a while. It was very pretty and again, i was very taken aback. I did not expect to see a waterfall in Arran, especially in a back garden. I also soon discovered that the community is very close and they really heavily on each other, e.g 999 services don't come for half an hour so having a good neighbour is handy. Despite my initial feelings towards Arran, it grew on me and I was sad to leave it.

Reference

www.arranphotography.net