Questionnaire responses coming in...

The Spacemakers happened as part of D-AiR's 2010 performance programme, comprising of six Thursday evenings, generously supported by Hannah Maclure Centre

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I sent out some questions to get feedback on The Spacemakers...

I don't know what made me think I would get a sensible answer from this lot....

Has The Spacemaker's offered a different view of what is art and who can be an artist ?

What did you learn/ gain from the Spacemakers?

How many people can fit into a phone box.

What use, if any, might the Tagtool be to you in the future?

My life had no meaning before it.

What would you say has been the overriding impact of the Spacemakers project?

I can now call myself an artist without a hint of irony

Has the Spacemakers offered a different view of what is art and who can be an artist ?

Not really, but it did make me realise how much my own views on art, its presentation and the type of art I make has become institutionalised since coming to University. Rather worrying!

What did you learn/ gain from the Spacemakers?

That collaborating and talking with other artists is just as an important role in developing my thoughts and ideas as slogging away in a studio. I have also gained an insight into how being spontaneous, rather than overly planned can actually be just as successful, a lot more fun and creatively stimulating for sparking more developed ideas. Art that makes you and others smile is just as worthy as art that makes you question and think. (Also re-enforced my view that art is a tool that can help provoke change but its always nice to be smiling whilst you do it!)

What would you say has been the overriding impact of the Spacemakers project?

Overall I would probably say it had a big effect on removing the installed fear we all had of using unauthorised spaces in the city and the possible embarrassment. Making art about cultural or social issues is a lot more effective when it actually interacts beyond a white space that only people already stuck in the artworld generally see.

What did you learn/ gain from the Spacemakers?

Spacemakers has made me very aware of how vital it is for artists to integrate more with the local community and to involve & engage them with their work...Art should be more about communicating with people and less about image!

On the Tagtool

As for the Tagtool it is a wonderful tool which makes live art possible in a very dynamic and interactive way. Its been really nice to see how many different groups are interested in using it, from doing live drawings, to letting young children express themselves, and even helping people to learn and to break the barriers of more traditional art making...The Tagtool is definalty going to be a big hit in Dundee thanks to Ange :)

On the impact of The Spacemakers

The Spacemakers project has been really lovely...The group has been so friendly and we have supported one another in exploring our ideas and letting go in the city! We have discussed our views on life, society, capitalism, space and the way we observe this as artists & individuals. It has been especially wonderful how everybody in Spacemakers has come from different backgrounds, I feel this has been a vital part within our collective and has meant we have had very different influences and viewpoints which has given us a bigger perspective and understanding of the world and ourselves within it....

Shoot the librarian

You may find your librarian in unusual places about town on Tuesday. On his day off Alistair is meeting with Lewis our Nine Trades photographer for a photo-shoot inspired by the Spacemakers Playtime event a few weeks ago. Results will be on display at the Final Gathering.

Nine Critiques from Dundee 5.

Billy and Bruce have adopted a new trade for the week...

ART CRITIC

Over the next week I'll be asking them the question

BUT IS IT ART?

5. Graffiti

Art or crime?

Street art or vandalism?

Or a trendy fashionable upmarket product?

"I've known about Banksy's work but I have never really paid much attention to it, I got to look at his book WALL AND PIECE. I like his work, I much prefer seeing this kind of graffiti than advertising billboards around the city. I like to see murals on walls, it adds colour to a neighbourhood, like they do in Belfast. " Bruce

Most art we have encountered has been in an urban setting, but we discovered this road sign whilst driving down the A1 near the village of Shilbottle.

The artist responsible for this 'intervention' required a quick turn around, the only material used was a small piece of black insulating tape. No damage done.

The question is, is it art, or plain vandalism?

We dedicate this to our mate Chris Graham.

What about these road signs?

Sticker art in Nottingham

See the Wooster Collective website for a celebration of street art

Nine Critiques from Dundee 1.

Billy and Bruce have adopted a new trade for the week...

ART CRITIC

Over the next week I'll be asking them the question

BUT IS IT ART?

1) The Fence Project - Dudhope Park, Dundee

"I think it's good, I like it, it's different and it stands out. I liked the way he had the flames painted on the fence because there was a fire, a house got burnt down in the park. That's what the flames signify. " Bruce

"I like it- I think it brings the fence to life" Billy

Attention!

More on BroKen fences

Introducing Daniel Tyminski

Daniel Tyminski, a fully paid up member of The Spacemakers is presenting his video 'In With The Ladies' at tonights final session of The Spacemakers.

You might have met him at the Hannah Maclure Centre serving behind the counter. Daniel is a year 3 Fine Art student from DOJ and has been experimenting with the Tagtool this week.

"... Im interested in space... for example the space that figures occupy, I like using found images from unexpected places and then using it so it all comes together to create a narrative.

"The great thing about the Tagtool is that you can project it onto different environments. The fact that its live means that I can start to think about drawing as a performance. It opens up a whole load of new possibilities for my work."

You can view that video at Daniels blog

The end or just the beginning?

This week sees the final session of The Spacemakers, a series of six Thursday evenings where people have come together to look at creative responses to the urban setting. New friendships have been made and a lot of fun has been had. This week participants are out making their responses in the city which will be shared this Thursday. I will be leaving Dundee as my Nine Trades work winds up, but it seems there is a strong desire for the group to continue. Big thanks to Hannah Maclure and D-Air and all the participants for making it such a success.

Long live the Spacemakers!

BroKen Fences

Sometimes it looks like nobody cares

PLAYTIME!

Thursday evening The Spacemakers went out to play ...

The Spacemakers - feedback week 4

Feedback from Sylvia, Daniel, Alistair and Ken ( 2 DOJ arts students and 2 non arts practitioners)

What's been good?

People have been really lovely and open to collaboration.

Tagtool is amazing and epic! It's made me really question how Im doing art and why I do it.

I like it because it's a collective and people have made a commitment to be there.

Ange is a real character, I wish she was teaching at our art college

It makes me think differently about space.

I have enjoyed Jonathan because he is funny

Im meeting and getting to know people in the arts community

It's not been too arty-farty

I was reluctant at first but I've made slow baby steps into performance.

I have enjoyed that it is not elitist. So much of what's in the arts world feels elitist.

I can say what I like at The Spacemakers and not worry about being judged.

What would you change?

I'd like it to be a longer period that six weeks

I want it to carry on now the weather is good and the days are longer

Id like it to have a positive focus to change spaces

I want it to be an ongoing loose collective

Introducing Liam McGee and Garry Whitton

Liam McGee, fourth year student at Duncan of Jordanstone college of Art and Design brought in his almost completed Tagtool. Alistair stayed behind after his shift and set up the Tagtool so that Liam and Garry could see it in action. Garry Whitton a local animator and VJ planning to use the Tagtool at the Guerrilla Gallery event organised by D-Air at Hannah Maclure Friday 2 July.

Liam's design is slightly different from ours, he has used shorter sliders and has staggered them.

Spacemakers week 2

Some images from this weeks Spacemakers a series of six Thursday evenings held at Hannah Maclure

Spacebusters!

For the next 6 Thursday evenings I will be at the Hannah Maclure Centre running The Spacemakers in collaboration with a local arts initiative known as D-Air. Together we will be examining the role of contemporary arts in relation to direct democracy. We'll be looking at a range of responses by individuals and groups across the globe.

I'll be featuring work by groups like Improv Everywhere who were invited by the New York Public library to stage a performance to highlight the serious budget cuts the library is facing.

They chose a Ghostbusters action as the New York Public library features in the opening of the movie.

For more on IMPROV EVERYWHERE and further images of the Ghostbuster action click here