Talk and screening.......

If anyone is interested in seeing the film I made for the Nine Trades project at Michelin, Dundee, please do come along at 7pm on Wednesday the 1st December 2010 to Transmission Gallery, Glasgow. I will be showing the film and giving a talk about my practice. I have selected previous and current work to explore themes that were developed in the film 'Working Methods' - the outcome of the Nine Trades project - and to situate them within my wider practice.

That was a long shift.

That was a long shift. Apologies for the large gaps accrued over the project. I became really involved in the filming and editing at Michelin and my day job took up the rest of my time. This project has been really intense with seven day (and night) working weeks.

The nightshift was really helpful in seeing a completely new side of the factory. I worked similarly to the way I did in the day shift as the working structure doesn't change. Although the nightshift is the same job there is less management on shift and there was a noticeably different atmosphere than during dayshift.

The Final Gathering was really great I think. Lots of staff from the factory came with their families and there was some really good feedback. Thanks to all those who made it along; it was so motivating to get to hear what everyone thought about the film and the project. It was lovely to get to spend time with the other artists all at once too.

Stills from the film made at the Michelin factory, Working Methods, 2010

Night shift

My plan for this week will be to film on the nightshift at the Michelin Factory. This will consist of interviews, portraits and context shots. This will be a first for me so taking advice from staff, I will have a long lye in on Friday then travel up to Dundee through the day to start at seven until shift finishes at seven am.

news from michelin

I have been in Michelin every Friday And Saturday since the project started and I am really getting to know people on the site now, which is great.

The aim for this part of the project is to develop a video work which will be shown at the final gathering and also shown on site at the Michelin Factory.

I have been recording audio interviews with staff and making video portraits of staff and the site. There are just over 800 people at the factory from many different backgrounds doing a huge range of jobs, so I have been trying to spend some time in every area. It has been quite tricky to get to meet everyone repeatedly because the factory works a four week shift rotation so it is three weeks before I can see the same people again after each visit. However, the staff have been really helpful about arranging times I can come and meet them. Some of the staff suggested I record a group interview. This happened two weeks ago and was a good opportunity for staff to direct the process of interviewing.

Drive in success

Drive in cinema

Drive in cinema

Drive in cinema

I have been really busy since the drive-in. Here are some images from the night. Thank you everyone that helped make it happen you all were brilliant - I have had lots of enthusiastic feedback and the night had a really good feeling to it.

Thanks so much

'We Go Together'

Some snaps from the meeting on Friday. Images where the drive in cinema will take place and Annette and laura (Nine trades) plus staff at the Michelin factory.

Another day.....another biscuit

Hi just to say that I have been busy up at Michelin filming and interviewing and getting ready for the drive in cinema event. I'm waiting for clearance from the company before I show you some images of what I've been up to. This is my temporary office space - there was a full tray of biscuits when I started.

So the votes are in...... and the film that will be shown at the Drive in cinema will be ..........

I have just finished making the tickets for the event and will be sorting out other details

Drive in released at Factory

As part of my project at Michelin Tyre Factory, I am organising with employees a Drive in Cinema for workers at the factory.

Everything is going very well. Over the Last weeks me and staff have been postering and creating awareness about the event. Staff have been asked to request a Film which they want to be shown at the event and a chance to come along to the event.

We will be counting the votes on Wednesday to see if there has been a film which has the most votes........ Looking forward to going through the suggestions.

.....Hopefully post these in the next day or two

A little light reading

Dundee City Library, December. Started researching the Dundee Michelin plant.

I have now been given confirmation that my project can take place at the plant.

Reading.......Eh

It was on my first visit to dundee that I was handed the first two books which have provided a fairly detailed history of the nine incorporated trades. I think that when these images were taken I thought they might brighten the blog up, maybe I was wrong. It did however highlight my concern with how I position myself within the work, a thing which is a returning theme in developing work.

The Country and the City, Raymond Williams. Taking the contrast between "the Country" and "the City" as they have arisen in text from 16th century to present day literature.

- I suppose that for sometime the site for the project has been very important and taken lots of research and time to come to a desired location for the project to develop. The companies I have researched have mostly sat on the outskirts of the city, in industrial estates, industrial park, business parks, trading estates. Having fulfilled the criteria for the Nine Trades project as a fabricator I am familiar with these sites and interested in how this will show its self in the project.

Research in the City archives, Dundee

Iain Flett, City Archivist has helped a great deal with my research into the Nine Incorporated Trades and my interest in manufacturing and the industrial history of Dundee. This is Iain in the archives with the Nine Incorporated Trades archive.

The beginning

A space to think aloud about my research and ideas and to document the collaboration. Certain information may seem tangental but it will hopefully act as an unedited research archive for the film, which will be developed with the company.

Over the past weeks I have been visiting Dundee and have spent time researching, visiting libraries, archives, museums and a community centre.