Unit X: Countdown to Exhibition Begins

So from all our tutorials last week, it seems that our group is one of the few that are on track. We had a final tutorial with Eleanor on Friday and miraculously it seemed that we pretty much had everything on her checklist! This is to say, we had seen the location, sourced any props, nearly completed the final outcome and had a handle on promotion. If I’m honest, I've never been the one to be running on schedule so close to the deadline, so for once it feels pretty good to not be hyperventilating into a paper bag at this stage! I suppose such is the advantage of working as a group, where tasks can be spread out so that every member is able to consistently work towards a greater collective outcome.

Anyway, everything seems to be coming together now and we have a clear timetable of what to do this week.

Monday: Exhibition Prep

AM  Finish Zine  

PM  Set up installation

Tuesday: Exhibition Prep

AM Complete installation

PM Visit from Eleanor and Robin

Wednesday: Exhibition open to public

 AM Ryan and Sophie invigilate

***VIP Visit- All group members must be present**

 PM Alex, Racheal and Flavia Invigilate

Thusrday: Exhibition open to public

AM Millie and Hannah Invigilate

PM Rimsha and Lizzie Invigilate

So far, we’re on the right track, though we’re starting to slow in pace a little. Today went by at quite a sluggish pace as there was a lot of waiting around. The plan was that we would all pitch in to print and assemble the Zines in the morning and then move on to set up the installation in the afternoon. We were all feeling rather confident that it would all be done by the end of the day and we would be rewarding ourselves with a lie-in for tomorrow. Alas this was no to be, for we underestimated the MMU printing system’s inherent ability to mess up at the most crucial of moments!

What’s more is that it just felt as though there were too many of us trying to help all at once.  Despite our good intentions, I think it is this that slowed us down. Which is why, by 2pm, as we had only just gotten to the stage of cutting down the printed Zines, the general feeling was that we split up so that the majority of us could head off to Incognito to set up the installation. So that is exactly what we did.

By the time we got there, we only had a couple of hours until the shop closed at 5, so we really did have to get a move on. The first issue we had was that the lighting fixtures dotted around the room that we intended to direct onto the installation were far too bright if used all together. To remedy this, we decided to take out the bulbs of some of the fixtures as we wanted a dimly lit setting to keep in line with the mood of the film. After waiting for the bulbs to cool, and some trial and error, we concluded that just one bulb in the far corner was enough to light the room and cast shadows alongside the light emitting from the video that is to be played in the centre of the room. After this, all that was left to do was to start putting up the mass of arm knitting we had accumulated over the past few weeks. I would say we were getting into the swing of things by the time we had to pack our things to avoid being unceremoniously kicked out at closing time, but there is still quite a bit to do. Hopefully tomorrow, everything will run according to schedule as this is the last and most crucial component of the project.