I seem to be all over the show today, can't seem to focus on one set thing - this could stem from a number of factors. I began researching documents on the history behind Allerton Towers this morning in the hope I could find reference to any online jot the number down and jump the queues once I got to the Liverpool Archives.......WRONG! Turns out the head of the family who once lived there was a famous merchant, and as a result all the records on the family are in the Maritime Museum archives down on the docks. By the time I would have rushed down there today it would have been time to turn back - I am heading down tomorrow, and hopefully coming back with lots of research to work with. My current ideas are based on linking fact and fiction together, I don't want my work to be a historical learning curve that is not the idea, the idea is for the viewer to open up their own imaginations and escape in to the film. Another reason I am feeling slightly thrown is due to the fact that I wont be able to visit Allerton until - at least next week! Which is slightly frustrating but due to the nature of the building it is a good idea to take the boyfriend with me for my own safety really. I intend to work towards the goals that where set in my last tutorial for my next one which is on monday, it was recommended that I had chosen a location to work with which I have done, and collect lots of research - archival or otherwise - which I am currently in the middle of doing, and intending to create a shiny new sketchbook with :-).
My arty book arrived today from Amazon on 'Video Art' as there are next to no sources on the internet if you don't know where you are looking. I have already been inspired by Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller's installation entitled 'The Paradise Institute' created in 2001. It consists of theatre seats in which the participant can sit in, in front of them is the lower tears or stalls of an old theatre/cinema it gives the impression that they are sitting in the gods looking down as if they are part of the experience. The participants then have to put on headphones, the audio is a mixture of peoples voices sat around them whispering and asking about popcorn lol! As well as the feature film that is played on the monitor in front of them. I believe this relates to my work as they are trying to take the participants in to a different time or reality, they are participating in a set up theatre/cinema experience, the same way that I am trying to create films that have a narrative open to suggestion.
Here is a link to the video:
http://www.cardiffmiller.com/artworks/inst/paradise_institute_video.html
Rach x
