I do not consider myself a video artist. Clips of a large ship cruising up the harbour, my adult kids clowning about, the cat monstering a small dog, or a snow day constitute my video ‘library’. It has therefore, been a revelation participating in Estela Saez’s video masterclass. Estela is enthusiastic, warm and imaginative. My initial feelings of panic have subsided into curiosity about what she will ask of us next. We have been underwater, on Mars, wearing red to our Zoom meeting, creating interventions in our room with masking tape, promoting our work without our work, and generally being asked to think in various colours, outside the box and the planet.
My cell phone is proving its worth and I have become far more aware of sound, colour, lighting, and focus than ever before. I suspect not knowing too much about video making is a boon because there are no ‘dont’s’ in my head, just ‘oh maybe I can try that’. Often, I would have to say the final video is borne out of shear desperation and stumbling suddenly only the only solution left. However, it turns out that is NOT the only solution because inevitably I must re do the work after a gentle critique either from Estela herself or my HS Zoom buddies.
One of my reasons for wanting to become involved in HS was to extend my practice and although inwardly I grumble about some of the homework I need to remind myself that this is what I signed up for and that feeling of ‘How on earth (or Mars ) do I achieve that?’ is a good thing. It is stretching my expectations and capacity to deal with materials, ideas, computer programs, and a host of related topics. The other wonderfully unexpected part of this whole program is the support, humour and suggestions that come with our group of 12. All so unique, we bring our own flavours to the meetings and exhibitions. I look forward to seeing our final videos, documentation of more than just our jewellery that’s for sure!