After sitting around as digital files on my computer for almost a year I decided to get the Viral Portraits produced for my slot in the Waygood Boutique.
I am part of the Waygood's supporting artists programme which does what it says on the tin really. The massive redevelopment of Waygood's city centre gallery space in Newcastle is drawing close to completion and the Boutique, a small selling space on High Bridge in Newcastle, allows them to maintain a visible presence in the city throughout. During February/March work by Katy Merrington, Sarah Wales as well as the Viral Portraits will be showing at the Boutique.
The production involved working with printer Jack Lowe and framer Bruce Reid at Hoults Estates in Byker, Newcastle and Bay Plastics in North Shields. Jack kindly helped me to optimise the composite images and printed the archival inkjet images on Cotton Rag. Together with George Pickering at Bay Plastics a method of sandwich mounting the images between transparent oval Perspex sheets was designed, using transparent acrylic nuts and bolts to fasten. Bruce formed the final part of the process and was responsible for cutting and assembling the work. However, it became clear through the process that cutting by hand was not going to be able to provide the precision required so the prints are to be laser cut by Steve Brown at S.B. Signs in Newcastle upon Tyne.
The decision to produce the Viral Portraits in this way came about after my residency with the Medical Research Council's Virology Unit in Glasgow. I learned about a process used when gathering samples of virus particles known as vitrification. this process involves freezing material very quickly so it forms glass like ice with no visible crystals. Other more commonly recognised methods for studying samples involve using glass microscope slides. I really liked the idea presenting the images in a way which referenced these ways of looking, on an expanded scale.
My original plan was to show the Viral Portraits in their completed form at the Boutique and sell an edition of 10 small framed reproductions, also archival inkjet prints by Jack Lowe and framed by Bruce Reid. Unfortunately, production problems resulted in the original works not being ready in time and the smaller edition print being shown. The edition prints are presented in white frames with oval portrait style white mounts.
On a positive note, Helen Ratcliffe of Allenheads Contemporary Arts (ACA), where I am currently working on a Base Elements residency asked me if I would like to exhibit in the inaugural show at their newly renovated ACAdovetail gallery on Blandford Square in Newcastle. So the work will be able to show after all - phew! The opening of the show and launch of ACA's first book, both entitled 'Setting the Fell on Fire' will take place on April 2nd, more to follow....
