Review / Workshop Gemma Draper: (be) (at) (to) (give a) Present
Spanish contemporary jewellery artist and guest teacher Gemma Draper, who works in Barcelona, came to Antwerp to lead the workshop ‘Present’, which relates to the research project ‘UnScene. Jewellery and Presentation’, by the St Lucas University College of Art and Design Antwerp, Jewellery Design|Silversmithing department. Jewellery professionals and third year bachelors were invited to take part.
From the start, Gemma Draper stated that she wanted this workshop to be incorporated in the work of the participants for it to be more meaningful and significant. Therefore, the workshop attendants were asked to prepare a short presentation on their own work so far, including their work in progress, paying special attention to how, if applicable, it had been displayed by others (for example, in the press or in galleries). For some, this meant focusing on what they had done in the previous semester, while others had years of work to include. After each presentation, Gemma Draper asked the group to comment constructively on each performance. It opened up views on how the presentation was perceived, including strengths and, even more importantly, weaknesses. Some recurrent remarks were written down for everyone to see and note.
The next assignment came as a question: Choose one aspect of your work and consider how you could present it as substantially as possible. Consider also how it could be presented as minimalistically as possible. At the end of the workshop, this research was to be shown as a final ‘presentation’.
Through conversation and thorough consideration, Gemma Draper constantly evaluated how every attendant could benefit most from her expert knowledge. Thanks to individual tutoring, the highs and lows of each presentation in progress were exposed. There would occasionally be a group dialogue, raising awareness of similar questions about presentation between participants.
Through conversation and thorough consideration, Gemma Draper constantly evaluated how every attendant could benefit most from her expert knowledge. Thanks to individual tutoring, the highs and lows of each presentation in progress were exposed. There would occasionally be a group dialogue, raising awareness of similar questions about presentation between participants.
The attendants’ final presentations were positioned throughout the school in a setting suitable to their needs, ranging from intimate, hard to find rooms, to public and open spaces. All were invited to view the presentations and ask questions and comment, which often resulted in lively discussions. Just five days of working with Gemma Draper had impacted on the participants and opened up their views on presenting.
Text: Broes van Iterson
www.broesvi.com
broesvitrine.blogspot.nl/
Text: Broes van Iterson
www.broesvi.com
broesvitrine.blogspot.nl/
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