HAT International Research Fellowships - Steve Dixon

Steve Dixon

21st March 2006 - Messenger Chat Via Email

Posted by Johnny Magee on 16th September 2006

Tuesday 21st March 2006

Manchester-Adelaide

Start Time: 08:14:14; End Time: 08:41:07

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Johnny says: (08:14:47)
Well those fashion girls... they like to stay up late

Steve says: (08:14:59)
OK will carry on writing anyway, been out for shopping therapy - some serious bush gear, Drizabone coat and outback boots. Not needed for Ernabella but will be fab in Manchester!

Steve says: (08:15:12)
Tell me more!

Johnny says: (08:15:36)
Well... if you insist!

Steve says: (08:15:49)
Is Barney joining us for chat?

Johnny says: (08:16:04)
Only Joking..... the real reason is us course leaders are so knackered.... we need our sleep!!

Steve says: (08:16:22)
Sure....

Johnny says: (08:16:48)
I've invited him to join, and jeremy....

Steve says: (08:16:51)
Did you get photos I sent today?

Steve says: (08:17:08)
OK good.

Johnny says: (08:17:42)
Yes, thanks.... look very professionally shot..... just need colour correction..... I'll see if I can do one while we chat

Steve says: (08:18:07)
Multitasking, impressive!

Johnny says: (08:19:13)
Managed to take the yellow out of this.... Photoshop has a 'photo filter' for colour correction.... so don't be too impressed

Steve says: (08:19:42)
Met with Prof Kay Lawrence (Head of School at Uni SA) to kick around some ideas for research collaboration, she's very interested.

Kay Lawrence

Johnny says: (08:20:34)
Kay Lawrence... tell me more, does she work in ceramics?

Johnny says: (08:20:51)
Are you on a modem steve?

Johnny says: (08:21:12)
Seems really slow sending that image... sorrry won't do it again

Steve says: (08:21:59)
She is a textile artist, may be interested in an exhibition exchange of staff work (some great work/people in Adelaide)

Johnny says: (08:22:32)
I've tried to invite barney in... but he's not online yet... a little early

Steve says: (08:23:36)
Good image, looks better with yellow filter! The darkroom here is pretty basic! I finished documenting work today, so will send more when transfered to disc.

Johnny says: (08:23:40)
Yeah, I met some great people last time I was over there, I imagine being there for 3 months allows you to develop something further than simple networking

Steve says: (08:24:39)
Yes, I do know some people here very well now. I'll be sorry to leave in lots of ways!

Johnny says: (08:24:41)
Can I ask steve... the 'SILENCE' plate have you added those marks...?

Steve says: (08:26:21)
The lines and blemishes are part of the re- firing process, a happy accident, but adds a richness/agedness I've been experimenting with

Johnny says: (08:27:02)
Steve.... sorry about this... I need 5 minutes, a delivery has just arrived, and need to help the delivery man carry it in... can you give me 5 mins?

Steve says: (08:27:20)
No problem

Johnny says: (08:35:57)
Hi Steve, I'm back now

Steve says: (08:36:52)
OK fire away

Johnny says: (08:37:09)
Yes, those maks reminded me of aboriginal markings... that trace their walks.. and with the word silence... too!

Steve says: (08:38:05)
Hmmmm, not my intention but an interesting and appropriate connection

Johnny says: (08:40:08)
my keyboard is playing up... ive been fiddling with USB connections...

Steve says: (08:40:44)
There will be more aboriginal input into the work after trip.

Steve says: (08:40:53)
Ah I wondered!

Johnny says: (08:40:58)
Steve, I need to do a computer re-start to sort out things... all gone wobbly

RESTARTING CHAT - Start Time: 08:43:52; End Time: 09:42:34

Johnny says: (08:44:01)
That's much better

Johnny says: (08:44:30)
very frustrating when you type (I tend to look at the keyboard) and when I look up there's nothing there

Steve says: (08:45:05)
Ok lets start again

Johnny says: (08:45:22)
I tried Barney... still not there

Steve says: (08:45:50)
OK lets just carry on anyway.

Johnny says: (08:46:45)
What would you say is the most significant development in your practice so far, in terms of the 'craft?'

Johnny says: (08:47:07)
And in terms of your critical thinking?

Johnny says: (08:47:31)
I realise these are BIG questions for a chat... so one word answers are acceptable

Steve says: (08:50:03)
Several ongoing strands, the enamel plates are the most resolved/finished, though not very deep in concept/content. The small vessels/oilcans are a move in a different technicalaesthetic direction. Conceptually its probably the work on houses and masks/hoods, which are very unresolved but promise more radical shifts in thinking/developing narratives.

Johnny says: (08:51:19)
Do you have any particular things you would like to see/do/engage with on your desert trip... or is it a wait and see?

Steve says: (08:53:55)
Its wait and see really, as plans/timetable have just changed, going for a shorter period but travelling more widely, so will see much more than if I'd stayed in ernabella only. Should be able to see a number of communities and also a lot of the landscape, environment, and some very special ancestral sites, rock art etc (well off the tourist trail)

Johnny says: (08:55:52)
How would you (as an artist) docuemt/record such a trip.... Photographs, Drawing, collecting items (as you have already done), record conversations.... ?

Steve says: (08:58:21)
Planning lots of drawings and photography particularly. May get to collect things too, but that may be a sensitive area. No plans to record conversation, I havent a real agenda to base this on.

Johnny says: (08:59:21)
After the desert, are you coming back to JAM before you leave?

Steve says: (08:59:47)
Yes, I'm back for 4 days then off to Canberra and then Sydney

Johnny says: (09:00:14)
Will we have an opportunity to discuss the trip in-between?

Steve says: (09:00:53)
Yes, I'll make it a priority, and hopefully have some fab images to send over!

Johnny says: (09:01:45)
Brilliant.....! Can I ask about your exhibition there.... are you showing finished pieces or will it include process (maquettes)?

Steve says: (09:03:16)
There are 5 pieces coming from UK, sent before I left, and I'm hoping to include some of the new enamel plates, but the space is not huge, for 3 of us, so we'll just see how it works. Should start to hang tomorrow.

Johnny says: (09:04:01)
Well good luck with it..... take some pics at the opening for me?

Steve says: (09:04:55)
Will do, do you want action shots 'casual, people etc?

Johnny says: (09:05:29)
Have you seen the way I have put our south asia trip together... Jane's writing and my pics..... i was thinking of doing something like that with your pics and our chat.... you can see it here... still in construction mind: http://www.hat.mmu.ac.uk/southasia

Johnny says: (09:06:09)
Yes lots of action shots..... maybe some portriats... and a wider shot of thespace

Steve says: (09:07:13)
Will do.

Johnny says: (09:07:30)
I'm also building he web site which I would like you to contribute to.... not just yet, but when it's properly sorted... this is at www.hat.mmu.ac.uk

Steve says: (09:08:27)
Wow, it looks great, I'd better stop talking such crap!

Johnny says: (09:09:02)
Can I ask about your plates again..... how have you got the images on... are these drawn and fired.... what do you draw with?

Johnny says: (09:09:24)
Now then, Jane writes, you make!

Johnny says: (09:10:08)
And, we can edit the texts together... even add to them... until you're happy and it properly represents your residency

Steve says: (09:11:25)
The images are tranfer printed from drawings and photos, onto decal paper, covercoated (aplastic 'skin') and then soaked in wter to seperate print from paper and applied (like Airfix kits) then fired to 800c, where the print and the enamel surfece fuse together.

Johnny says: (09:11:50)
And is that gold leaf?

Steve says: (09:12:05)
Thats good about Jane and Editing!

Steve says: (09:12:36)
Its gold lustre, painted on as a liquid and also fired to 800c.

Johnny says: (09:13:04)
And has it 'reticulated?' or have you organised the design in that way

Johnny says: (09:14:05)
It has a 'gustav klimt' look about it!

Steve says: (09:15:11)
Again its just how the materials behave, though I've been experimenting with various ways of making use of it. Its hard to predict though, as you dont know the exact temperature of the 'found' enamel plates. So some work and others dont.

Johnny says: (09:15:56)
I particularly like Henry VIII rectangular plate with the staffordshire roses..... is this how the Aussies think of us English?

Steve says: (09:17:32)
Not sure, though it panders to the stereotype, and hasbeen appreciated here. There are a lot of Brits around.

Johnny says: (09:19:05)
I do like the rectangular plate.... is this bought new.... how common is it?

Steve says: (09:20:09)
Not so common, bought second hand from a great junk shop and quite expensive, $30 I think. Its tidied up in the firing!!!

Steve says: (09:20:33)
Its a meat dish by the way, appropriate for old Enery

Johnny says: (09:21:41)
Understanding abit more about the process.. has the plate with the moth had its enamel burnt out... due to temperature..... which gives the moth image a lovely Resonance

Johnny says: (09:23:36)
Can you say a little about deciding to use the Manet painting reference on the Billy can.... I'm showing ignorance here... was one of the subjects in the painting called Billy?

Steve says: (09:24:19)
The moth plate was the oldest/most damaged I had found, before firing, and its behaved differently to most of the others. The moth itself was applied twice, a blue one first, fired at top of kiln (higher temp) then a red one, fired lower in kiln (lower temp, and less melted in) So there is an element of control after all!

Johnny says: (09:25:12)
Will you sell any of the plates.... or are they to be returned to blighty?

Steve says: (09:26:16)
Manet and Billy, not so clever as you suggest, Billy is simply the Billy can!! (And my boy of course!) And it seemed a nice contradiction, rugged outdoor cooking and decadent Parisian romp.

Johnny says: (09:27:19)
And all that controversy... to be repeated in Adelaide.... you must include in the exhibition

Steve says: (09:27:29)
If they go into show I may sell, but I'd rather keep the best ones to bring/send home, will have to discuss with Gallery, as they are into selling of course!

Steve says: (09:28:04)
Didnt understand last question, sorry

Johnny says: (09:28:39)
Quite right... I rather like the idea of your work remaining in Australia... quietly infusing some sort of comment or another!!

Johnny says: (09:29:18)
I was thinking of the spalsh the Monet caused at the time.....

Johnny says: (09:29:42)
to reduce it down to a billy can, line drawing on enamel

Steve says: (09:30:06)
Yes I understand, but there are people here working with controversial and political stuff too, esp. in ceramics.

Johnny says: (09:30:47)
Do you think painting has had it?

Johnny says: (09:30:59)
serious question.....

Steve says: (09:30:59)
This is very out of step, I'm following the thread I think!

Johnny says: (09:31:23)
Sorry.... I'm off on one...... I'll ask another more sensible question

Johnny says: (09:31:46)
You sent some pics of the Jam residence..... earlier on?

Steve says: (09:32:05)
Painting had it? Not necessarily, but the Australian Biennial I saw today was not particularly mind-blowing.

Steve says: (09:32:27)
Which pics?

Johnny says: (09:33:28)
I was thinking that contemporary craft has moved up a gear... and in your case where the object can be (re)used as canvas has so much more potency than oils!

Steve says: (09:34:28)
Thats a great thought. I can only agree of course!!

Steve says: (09:35:11)
The object as canvas sums it up rather well.

Johnny says: (09:36:14)
Images of the residence.... I must have been dreaming..... for the documentation, I wanted each residency (throughout hat) to include domestic elements.... as I think this will be a unifying interest..... at least a starting point... or common ground.... we all need to eat/sleep etc

Johnny says: (09:36:52)
Crikey Steve, i've just seen the time!!!! have you eaten yet

Steve says: (09:37:40)
Yes I've had a sarnie to keep me going what about you.

Johnny says: (09:37:50)
I think we should leave it there... and set a date for your desert tales... which date would be good?

Johnny says: (09:38:06)
I need to get off to work

Steve says: (09:38:24)
And I've no social arrangements for tonight (what will I do?????)

Steve says: (09:39:12)
We could try Friday night at 6.30 here?

Johnny says: (09:39:42)
okay..... I can do that..... so that will be post desert

Johnny says: (09:39:56)
I'll have an ice cold drink waiting

Steve says: (09:40:25)
Yes, should have lots to say! But I'll maila nd suggest another time if I cant do then.

Johnny says: (09:41:03)
Okay.... I better sign off for now.. and leave you to find a social engagement!!

Steve says: (09:41:14)
I'll look forward to that drink then. I'll need it, its a dry area in more ways than one!

Steve says: (09:41:26)
A night off will do me good.

Steve says: (09:41:38)
Byeee

Johnny says: (09:42:09)
Cheers Steve.... so until 6.30pm Friday (your time) ciao for now.... take care, have a safe trip, Johnny xx