Installation Day

12th February 

As a group we decided to delegate one member to take notes during the day. This will enable us to have written evidence of how each the installation progresses and developed. As you can see from the notes below the afternoon was extremely busy as we had as a group so much to do in order to create a successful exhibition.  Alice took notes throughout the duration of the day.

Notes on Installation Day

12.40 – I arrive and Julia, Bianca, Megan W and Faith are here. Camera is set up and space has been cleared by the previous group. Plans for the day have been printed and are being hung on the wall as well as how to carry work, contact numbers and equipment list and are clearly displayed.

12.45 – Megan E, Dominic, Anna and Emma arrive.

12.48 – Hannah and Amber arrive.

12.50 – Time lapse begins, any cakes that have been brought in by people are all on the table and all plinths are in the space by article.

12.54 – An approximate measurement is made of the space for the fishing wire. It is made at 25ft, which will then be doubled to 50ft. Questions are being made as to whether we will have enough?

12.57 – Amy, Nadine and Raymond arrive.

1.03 – Questions are now being made as to whether 2 lines of fishing wire will be enough to hold the material. Will it be too wide?

1.06 – Measuring has begun for the hooks.

1.07 – Fitting of the first wire is being made by Faith.

1.10 – Ray measuring for another wall for hooks and hooks are being screwed in on the opposite wall. Ray has now begun to hammer his in.

1.17 – Ilona’s work is brought into space.

1.21 – Spotlights are being tested.

1.22 – Polly and Riba’s work arrives in space.

1.26 – All the hooks are installed ready for the fishing wire.

1.27 – Realisation that to move the spotlights to where we want them, we will have to contact an electrician as we don’t have permission to do so ourselves.

1.29 – Sam’s work is brought into space.

1.31 – Electrician arrives for the lights

1.39 – The lights are now fixed to where we want them for the exhibition.

1.42 – Begin to install wire (note: wire is hard to see in photos because it’s clear).

1.46 – Attachment of the first piece of wire is being made by Bianca.

1.49 – Second line is up.

1.54 – All wire is up and ready for the material.

1.55 – Discussion on whether we need more wire. Conclusion: yes we do, will give us the option to hang work.

2.04 – All wire up.

2.05 – Beginning of installation of the material.

2.12 – 2 lengths have been hung. Discussion about whether to attach material to hooks to lift edges.

2.14 – 2 across or 2 diagonal? Decision made: diagonal.

2.16 – 1 diagonal length up.

2.18 – Last length is up. Ladders are now being moved out of the space to allow the material to be adjusted to how we wish.

2.21 – Everyone grabs a piece to see what the space will look like when all the edges are hooked in place. Bianca walks around the edge of the space to see if there is enough room.

2.23 – Everyone knots their edges ready for wire to be attached and then hung to existing hung wire.

2.30 – Using knots and wire, one strip of material has successfully been lifted. The plan now is to do this with remaining strips.

2.33 – Plinths are being moved into the middle of the space as we are not using the space currently. It’s a good chance to visualise the space as the exhibition for the first time.

2.37 – Do we want a clear walkway around the edge or not? Decision made: we want it clear so people can walk around the edge.

2.41 – Whilst more material is being hung, others are experimenting with plinths and how they could be displayed. Ideas are also developing in regards to hanging.

2.43 – Sukhjinder’s work brought into space. It is found by a member of the group that along the edges of the cube are scuffs (questions made as to whether they were made by a previous group or Sukhjinder herself?) The work is put straight into the space. Unsure as to whether to put it tilted or not. Any decisions are not final at this time though with 3 hours to go.

2.49 – Scuffs (luckily!) removed with wet wipe. Cube is placed tilted.

2.52 – More lengths of material are being hung by wire. 2 are currently in the process of being hung, 1 is done, 5 to go!

2.57 – Plinth composition is being discussed. Different heights and levels are being experimented with as well as development of how work could be displayed.

2.59 – 2 pieces of material that were in the process of being hung are done.

3.03 – Plinths are still being experimented with.

3.05 – Plinth for Lucy’s work arrives in space.

3.10 – 5 pieces of material are hung. 3 to go. Talks of plinth composition are still happening.

3.13 – Kerris’ work brought into space.

3.18 – Where the all the material sits on the floor, there is one that hangs above the floor. A decision is made that the material will not be cut. It can also not be re-positioned because it’s already tied up.

3.24 – Change of plan: it’s being undone and then retied.

3.26 – H&S problems: materiel NEEDS to be hung off the floor because of tripping hazard. Ruffle them up with pins or cut off the bottom?

3.30 – Informed that a number of plinths were taken without permission from basement.

3.31 – Material is being cut to hang just off the floor. Agreed as a group that it’s not what we wanted but it’s a trip hazard and that’s a real issue.

3.37 – So far only 1 has been cut and there’s debate as to whether we should go ahead with the rest. Part for a short break.

3.54 – Break over and the last of the strips of material is being hung. At the same time material is being cut.

3.58 – Light has been placed under holey plinth. Cable matting has been obtained by Ana in line with H&S regulations.

4.01 – All material is hung and cut.

4.07 – Ilona’s work is damaged in an accident involving falling plinths.

4.10 – Sam’s work is beginning to be installed.

4.13 – Polly’s work is beginning to be installed.

4.15 – Becky P’s work put on plinth and lightbox turned on.

4.16 – Rubber matting put in place.

4.20 – 4 sets of fairylights up.

4.21 – Lucy, Riba and Kerris’ work in place and installed. Nothing is final though with 1 and a half hours to go.

4.23 – Hanging of Polly’s work is ongoing.

4.32 – Polly’s work is installed.

4.33 – Jack’s work is brought into space.

4.35 – Food and drinks table being set up. Arrangement of work is continuing. One of Ilona’s drawings is being strung for hanging.

4.37 – Sukhjinder’s work put to a vote? Tilted or straight?

4.40 – Becky’s shoes hung.

4.43 – Food table ready for tonight. Jack’s work installed.

4.45 – Any work that we have problems with are being resolved. It was a worry that Becky’s work could be kicked as they were in a vulnerable place. SOLUTION: work now displayed on plinth.

4.50 – Almost everything is in place, Becky’s acetate currently being installed. Worries of falling or sliding plinths are being voiced.

4.55 – Sukhjinder’s work is being tilted again. Decision is still not final though.

4.58 – With almost an hour to go, bags and coats are being moved out of the space. Any rubbish is being cleared away.

5.06 – Ilona’s damaged work taken back upstairs. A table is also going to be sourced for the wine.

5.08 – Final decisions are being made in regards to arrangement. Making sure Jack’s work isn’t hidden by cube and the lighting works well with Riba’s.

5.15 – Kerris has asked for her work to be seen better for her assessment and wants all her work to be closer together. We have responded to this by taking them out of the centre and making them clear to see.