Friday 24 December 2010

Artist-in-Residence Program

The Art Students League’s Vytlacil Campus Artist-in-Residence Program

I have been offered this artist in residence place for June 2011 :-). I feel lots of creative fundraising is going to happen in the New Year.


www.theartstudentsleague.org/Residency/Application/Schola...

Thursday 23 December 2010

Prison Break 2438 - Kickstarter Pledge page is now live


Just in from the GC4 check out their new project

Click here to watch video and read about the project: kck.st/cc4UbN
Hello Alice!

I'm writing a book called Prison Break 2438 with my brother.

For more in depth answers, here is a link for an interview we did
about the book for a London-based Comic book/Music blog -
ilivesweat.tumblr.com/post/2168718421/on-science-fiction-creative-control-and-cover
 (The GC 4)

Monday 20 December 2010

Yarn Bombing


Yarn Bombing
Originally uploaded by Dogtired aka
Yarn Bombing

yarn bombing for a friends project juliemillerart.wordpress.com/
St Annes Square Belfast

Thursday 9 December 2010

jewellery on gift card


jewellery on gift card
Originally uploaded by Dogtired aka
Student sale Thursday 9.12.10 5-7
University of Ulster York Street Belfast

I will have jewellery in organza bags with gift card, that's your Xmas pressie sorted :-)
Prints on sale also various prices and sizes.

Sunday 5 December 2010

Friday 3 December 2010

Be Individual


Our participatory artwork BE Individual was a great success. On Wednesday we set up in the Grand Central Cafe, Royal Avenue Belfast. Outside the cafe we put a sign inviting people to come in and create a new identity. We were not sure how people would react to the performance, even if anyone would take part. On that note many thanks to the owners and all those who took part, either creating new identity cards or discussing what identity meant to them. 



 In Northern Ireland identiity is often portrayed by both the Government and individuals as GREEN OR ORANGE. A devisive system promoting a them and us mind set. With this in mind I wanted to see if we could start a discussion around identity.
The politicis of identity are a global concern, whatever way this is presented, altered, or manipulated. What is this obsession with labeling human beings have? Not only do we divide by political beliefs but culture and by life choices. My reasons for taking part in this participatory work are many, but the one that I think stands out for me is to be seen as an individual, not a colour or a statistic as determined by some else.

Christmas Sale University of Ulster



Fused Glass pendants etc
For sale
£15
Oh yeah I will also have prints for sale various sizes and prices.

You can see and purchase these at the University of Ulster Christmas sale on 9/12/10 5 p.m.

or mail me

Monday 29 November 2010

Invitation to participatory artwork BE INDIVIDUAL

Dear all,

Bisan and I (Alice) invite you to, BE INDIVIDUAL a participatory artwork exploring the issue of Identity.

Tired of being labeled? 
Choose your new identity tailored to your INDIVIDUAL choice.
Identity cards will be issued FREE of charge.

where: Grand Central Cafe, corner of Royal Avenue and North Street Belfast
when: Wednesday 1st December from 12 to 3.00

We hope you can make it.

Alice and Bisan

MA Art in Public
University of Ulster
York Street
Belfast

ps please feel free to pass this on to anyone you think might be interested.

Tuesday 23 November 2010

Belfast It's Yours Take It part 3

Update: The offers to send artwork to the third Belfast It's Yours Take It Exhibition of FREE art are coming thick and fast. I always get excited by the prospect of hosting an IYTI event, they are great.Want to find out more about IYTI, click the link below.

There is also an IYTI happening in New Orleans in December organised by Dingler, this one is called Art for Toys and is such a great event, NoLA Rising is making a call for art for It’s Yours, Take It (NoLA 4)

Click here for full information.its yours take it
NoLA Rising has a long history of distributing artwork at no cost to the New Orleans area. After hurricane Katrina, it was a guiding mission of Rex to replace street signs and paint signs of hope for those who had returned to the city. One person made a movement of dozens of artists.

Thursday 18 November 2010

Memory Research Project

 Thank you to all who have responded. All the boxes have been booked.



Call for paprticipants.
I would like to make an experiment in memory and require people to participate.
My goal is to research how much information is retained during a certain activity and how this is recalled at a later date. It would be good if this could be incorporated into a walk, either a group walk or an individual walk.
This work will be realised as an exhibition in the future, please bear this in mind when considering taking part. All information either written, drawn, spoken, photographed, will be anonymous, participants memory boxes and contents will only be identified as "Specimen A" etc.,
The experiment will take place from 19th November 2010 and will end on the last week in February 2011
If you wish to take part please email me at dogtireda AT gmail DOT com

Memories of place/activity

Equipment provided by me to participants:
Box, paper, pen, instructions.

Think of a walk in the broadest terms, e.g. it could be a trip to the supermarket, school run, organised walk. A walk could be how you walk around at work, or in your studio.

I would like participants to go for a walk and do the following:

Record your route, either a written list of where you walked, google map, hand drawn map,
place in box provided.

Walk and collect items that you come across during the walk.
Place these items in the box provided, this can be anything as long as it fits inside the box.

Write (on the paper provided), a list of what you did, felt, thought, on the walk, bullet points only.

You may put a photograph of the walk inside the box, a drawing, or a newspaper/magazine clipping of that day.

A week later I will ask you to recount the walk (as a voice recording), without prompts, then recall the walk using the items in the box.

After the recording I will ask a few questions on how you think you retain and recall memory.

Sunday 14 November 2010

SWITCH project Bangor

www.s-w-i-t-c-h.org/2010/bangor.html

14th - 21st November 2010, Bangor, Co.Down, Northern Ireland
SWITCH is every bit as good in Bangor as it was in Nenagh.
Go see this if you get a chance, you can view from 5pm in the evening. There is a tour on Thursday evening. Check out the SWITCH site for more info.

Striking a pose!

Friday 12 November 2010

Victoria Shopping Belfast

This is a reminder to self to sort out my actual website. I have been rather tardy and not updated it in a long time. If you want to look at my old work go to www.aliceburns.co.uk

I shot this photograph of the roof of Victoria Shopping Centre Belfast on a night out, for dinner with some of the MA Art in Public crew. Point and shoot camera, you can make a almost decent photo with a pretty basic camera.

World Cafe 9/11/10 The Social Impact of the arts –

World Cafe 9/11/10 The Social Impact of the arts –

The text for today's discussion was the introduction in, The Social Impact of the Arts by Eleonora Belfiore and Oliver Bennett, published from research undertaken on behalf of The Centre for Cultural Policy Studies. The remit of the research was “in order  to develop rigorous procedures for a better understanding of the social impact of the arts.” (http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/theatre_s/cp/research/fellowship/)

In the foreword the authors clearly lay out the framework for the text, identifying the purpose as, “an intellectual history of claims made over time for the value, function and impact of the arts.” How these claims have been articulated is also a key area for discussion in the text. And finally the aim of the authors to “reconnect” contemporary policy discussion with “a complex intellectual history” (Belfiore, Bennett 2008). We should also note that the research is undertaken with an emphasis on how these issues relate to Government funded Arts and policy decisions.

The introduction identifies the “intellectual history of claims” and how the arts are perceived by various individuals and organisations, firstly by the middle classes and academia, identifying that the arts are “often assigned great importance by middle-class parents” and are “seen as desirable if not essencial” in the academic world. The perceived importance of the arts in society is also highlighted by how the study of the arts and associated institutions has increased at a rapid rate around the world, citing various studies that validate the figures. For example the number of museums was calculated in 1991 to be around 23,000 by Susan Pearce, and in the UK the BBC is required to provide arts programing “under the conditions of their licence,”.

Belfiore and Bennett state the claims made for the arts include; In 2007 Tony Blair stated the arts were “ growing faster than the economy as a whole”. Nation States use the Arts as a descriptor of National Culture, and even claim that without the arts, society “would be an enslaved society” (Francois Mitterrand in Shapiro 2000, 11).

Susan Knight claims the arts have transformative powers that “ create community, nurture culture identity, promote leadership and consciously develop agents of change” (Canada Council for the Arts 2007). Knight is not alone in these claims, perceived as positive in relation to the transformative effects of the arts. However, the claims are validated by the methods and language of Government Policy Making, a shift towards a more scientific approach was required by Government, and that method was and is evidence based policy making, a set of tools by which to measure the validity of claims for the arts as a panacea for all social ills. The authors point out that this is “problamatic” and has lead to a situation were “instead of questioning” the claims made for the arts, “researchers” have concentrated their efforts on “coming up with the evidence that they do”.

A more realistic interpretation of how the arts perform the claims of, “value, function and impact of the arts” is broached by John Tusa, Director of the London Barbican in (2002), Tusa states that while the arts can be an agent for social change etc., that these functions are not “intrinsic to the arts”. Whilst James Purnell (2007) has stated “they would still matter if they did none of these things. They are intrinsically valuable before they are instrumentally so.”. And here lies the difficulty, the arts and their effects are intrinsic, to each individual. Yes it is possible to measure certain outcomes, but those outcomes are often subjective and not easily quantified.

Historical debates on the value and effects of the arts is varied also, from the “Enlightenment”, to the Formalist View through to “Art for Arts Sake” , and the Postmodern theories that embrace all cultures and cultural diversity, have had their time in the spotlight and all have been superseded by one or the other.
The authors suggest that this has been seen as “a slide into uncritical cultural relativism” In conclusion the authors suggest that the debate needs to include this complex intellectual history if the debate is to move beyond mere advocacy.



Saturday 6 November 2010

Reflections on SWITCH Nenagh

Reflections on Nenagh

SWITCH



Switch Project - contemporary artworks being shown around Nenagh Co Tipperary and Bangor Co Down, this November. This Artist led project consists of 8 video works by international artists projected onto the windows of empty shops. This year artists were invited to respond to “The Scale of Things”

“something unexpected, something unlikely; eight artworks inserted into places where they should not be. “ (Fiona Woods http://www.s-w-i-t-c-h.org 2010)

It was a delight to experience SWITCH on a guided tour by the projects curators on a wet November night in Nenagh. The tour began with an introduction to the project and the handing out of the time machines, an integral piece of equipment to the tour. Not only were we treated to eight artworks by international Artists, but our little group was very international with people from; Ireland, North and South, Germany, Holland, England, and Palestine, no mean feet for a small rural town in the middle of Ireland.

Off we set, time machines in hand, to experience not only the physical landscape of Nenagh but eight contemporary artworks located throughout the town. The time machines were of course slide viewers and at the location of each installation we were given slides that either related to the history of Nenagh or previous installations of SWITCH. I can recommend this project without reserve and am looking forward to a second viewing when SWITCH comes to Bangor County Down on 14th November.

 

Sunday 24 October 2010

Contextual Summary

Co-existence and Representation of Cultural memory and Individual memory  

Mieke Bal invites us to,
" the discourse of cultural memory to mediate and modify difficult or tabooed moments of the past, ” (1999).
We can use cultural memory to identify issues that may be difficult or 'tabooed' and this can be seen in the many Holocaust memorialisation’s that exist today. Yet in some ways they have become over familiar and this may detract from their usefulness as a means of presenting the 'unspeakable'. Andreas Huyssen (2003) has stated that Western culture is 'obsessed with the issue of memory' and in particular Trauma memory, that other methods may be best suited to the issues of trauma memory when used in the 'historical arena', for example Truth Commissions, and the creation of artworks. Should we consider cultural memory merely a vehicle in which to examine trauma, it usefulness should be seen in a wider context to include all issues of memory. In a local context the discourse continues and much has been achieved in the documenting of cultural memory through the creation of artworks, storytelling, and memorials. The outcome is perceived as, community specific, tradition specific, or site specific, excluding sections of society and the individual, thereby negating the ability of cultural memory to 'mediate and modify'.

What effect does cultural memory have on individual memory, is individual memory consumed by cultural memory and therefore homogenised and lost? According to Hirsch (1999), "personal memory is crowded out by cultural memory."

Cultural memory is seen as a structure by which we shape our society and culture, Huyssen states that, 
"Traditions, ..., always based on selections and exclusions, gave shape to cultural and social life"(p1. 2003) 

In a local and global context this has led to the continued triballisation of cultural memory or histories, producing further barriers and validating the mind set that the 'other' is something to fear. Our understanding or misunderstanding of history is further compounded by public memory which is often a sanitised version authored by the ruling classes and or specific communities on both a global and local level. Memory is subjective, we can embellish without knowing and construct a fact based fantasy upon which our cultural memory is rooted. This technique is used by authors to deceive the reader into thinking there is a validity in the text and therefore factual, Dan Brown and the Da-Vinci novels are an example of this.
Huyssen (2003) states that “history was also the mise-en-scene of modernity.” then should we make efforts to ensure that the private is made public or presented along side the public to better inform, both from a cultural and individual perspective.  

How do we safeguard and present individual memory and make it accessible to others without it being diminished through absorption into cultural memory. We live in a Postmodern society which by it's very nature is plural, the idea of 'self' or individual may be problematic to the Postmodern thinker in relation to the memorization of both individual and cultural memory however, I believe that making reference to both Modernist and Postmodern theories can enhance the potential of the co-existence of individual memory and cultural memory, to learn from history and to look to the future in order to create a new story.

Wednesday 20 October 2010

The Elephant in the Room

A fellow MA student brought this video to my attention today, I thought it was a useful resource for my research into memory, history and giving people a voice. I think I shall be the elephant in the room.

Friday 8 October 2010

Exhibition Catalogue – Building

A visual exploration of Bangor’s Built Environment
With an essay by Ian Wilson, Manager of North Down Museum


Triptych Cyanotype Exhibition currently showing North Down Mueseum

Monday 4 October 2010

IYTI grand Rapids

Photos by BonusSaves www.flickr.com/photos/bonussaves/with/5049740699/

Thanks guys for all the effort you put into this Its Yours Take It event at Grand Rapids Art Fair.

more info on IYTI www.flickr.com/groups/itsyourstakeit/

Manifesto

Here at IYTI we aim to give. Why? Because we can.

It promotes creativity, spontaneity, and the joy of giving.
It's a great way for people who generally wouldn't think about art to get a piece of artwork for free. This could be on their way to work, school, shopping, or just happening upon it while walking the dog. It's also a way for Artists to see the smiling faces of those recieving their work,the feelings surrounding the giver can be just as overpowering as the joy of finding an artwork on the street

Sunday 3 October 2010

MA Art in Public Walk One Belfast to Beirut Topic Nature

Walk One Topic Nature

Belfast It's Yours Take It part 3

Belfast It's Yours Take It part 3

where: BELFAST
when: 12 Feb 2011
what: FREE ART

More info on IYTI

Hi folks I will be holding the 3rd IYTI exhibition in Belfast in Feburary 2011.

The deadline for work is January 2011, that will give those who wish to send art work plenty of time to get creative.

There is no theme, but I intend to have the exhibition on 12th Feburary which is near St Valentines day here, so if you wish do a theme based around love feel free.

email: dogtireda AT gmail DOT com
for the address to send your work

peace and love DT

Saturday 2 October 2010

Walk Two: Free Art

Some of the free art left out on the streets of Belfast during walk 2

MA Art in Public

Walk Two: Free Art and The Mobile Urban Experience Laboratory

Walk Two: Free Art and The Mobile Urban Experience Laboratory

Walk Two takes place in Belfast City Centre, MA Art in Public students and lecturers Dan and Susanne along with an Architecture student and lecturer, two queer contraptions and a load of free art.

We collected the contraptions and appropriated some signage and off we went on walk two. I asked my fellow walkers to take a small piece of free art and place it somewhere along the walk, happily they all agreed. 



Sunday 26 September 2010

Sunshine Crew Teeshirt

The SSC, Sunshine Crew were out and about at Belfast Culture Night. The crew logo was spotted on a tee shirt at Vectors and Vandals art work wall.
Other SSC chalk graffiti was spotted more pics later. If you want to find out more about the Sunshine Crew click the link.

Thursday 23 September 2010

MA Art in Public Walk One Belfast to Beirut

FIVE WALKS
5 walks for free. For anyone
Starting point: York Street, University of Ulster, Foyer, Belfast
Organized by Susanne Bosch & Dan Shipsides
Info: http://masterartinpublic.wordpress.com
Wednesday 22nd September 10-12 pm
walk 1: From Belfast to Beirut. Susanne Bosch

Walk about art as research to the George Best airport on foot
12-12.45 pm sitting in airport, reflection.

Walk one took us from the University of Ulster through the Cathedral Quarter, the City and into the Titanic Quarter. After ten minutes walking we stopped and wrote down what we had noticed during that part of the walk. We were given a topic by Susanne, I got nature, for the next part of the walk each person had to concentrate on their topic. We then wrote down anything we had observed relating to the topic.
The next stage was to swarm out and do our own thing all the while observing and taking notice of the surroundings. We discussed this part and the area we had stopped in, the Titanic Quarter.
After walking through Queens Island, the commercial area we walked along the Sydenham Bypass, guided by a partner as we had our eyes closed.




Sunday 19 September 2010

Country Arts Project



Originally uploaded by Country Arts Project
My submision to the Country Arts Project
top row on the right.
To find out more about this project click on the link.  Street Art in rural Germany :-)

Country Arts Project 2010

As classic Street Art is placed in the streets of bigger cities and suburbs we want to show the art in a new surrounding. So Country Arts Project means that we will take your artwork to the countryside somewhere in bavaria.

image by country arts projet

Saturday 18 September 2010

5 walks poster Free walks in Belfast

Altogether we will do 5 walks between September and November, either on a Wednesday or Thursday from 10-1 pm. We will be using a method that has been widely used by artists, examples are Basurama in Madrid and Stalker in Rom.
So, if you like walking, if you are a student, a peer, a person with time, a Belfast person, you are warmly invited to join with walking shoes and suitable clothes. We will always start from the UU building in Yorkstreet, Belfast at 10am prompt. It’s free!!!

http://masterartinpublic.wordpress.com/

Friday 10 September 2010

Saturday 4 September 2010

In Memoriam by Alice Burns

Posted by Picasa

Free Art Saint Annes Square Belfast

Free art left at Saint Annes Square Belfast last week.
I happened to meet the person that took this, a bit rare as I often don't know if the art I leave on the streets is taken home by someone or taken to the dump by street cleaners. Its nice to know that this piece has gone to someone who liked it.

The day before I left out around ten pieces and they were all gone the next morning, binned or bagged?

Friday 3 September 2010

Culture NI - Rising Star Interview

Its interesting that my piece for Emerging v Established dealt with "fifteen minutes of fame" or rather the lack of it, well I can surely add a few more minutes onto my fifteen with this article about moi and Emerging v Established.

I feel a flow chart or some sort of graph may be necessary to document my little bites of fame, or even a formula. Note to self must seek out maths genuis to work out just how famous I am. :-)

Thursday 26 August 2010

Emerging v Established Exhibition

Friday the 20th August saw the opening night of Emerging v Established. A fantastic opening night, by chance a fire eater and music filled Saint Annes Square and added to the overall atmosphere of the evening.

If you missed the opening, drop in and say hello, the exhibition will run until the 31st August and is open daily 11am-4pm.
Sint Annes Square is just behind Saint Annes Catherdal in Exchange Street West Belfast.

A little reading from  culture Northern Ireland

Sunday 11 July 2010

Emeging v Established Exhibition

Emerging v Established: A Fusion of Contemporary Art

21 August – 31 August 2010
Private View Friday 20th August 7.00 – 9.00pm


Alice Burns presents a fusion of Contemporary Art in St Annes Square Belfast, Bringing together the most exciting and innovative artwork of the University of Ulster graduates and some of Northern Ireland's leading visual artists. The exhibition will be housed in St Annes Square, Belfast.

Belfast's historic Cathedral Quarter is the perfect location for the forthcoming exhibition, Emerging v Established. Steeped in history Belfast's Cathedral Quarter is a mix of the traditional and contemporary. This juxtaposition is extended to emerging talent and established visual artists to deliver an exciting and innovative fusion of art.

Tuesday 22 June 2010

Degree Show Prints Book

One of the prints in my limited edition book.
Can be purchased as an individual print edition of 10

Achieving Art Exhibition 4


This Charity Art Exibition is for saplingsrathfarnham.blogspot.com A special needs school for children with autism. All funds raised go to the running of the school. 2010