THEMEZ - ORIGAMI!!!

This would be an interesting theme, but it would be more class orientated with minimal creativity (unless people are secret origami masters) I don't even know that much about it to teach a class.

There are plenty of tutorials online;





And books on the subject in the library...



And there would be a good excuse to make fancy invitations...


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I've done a little online research looking for any documentation of this kind of event and I didn't find much other than this Origami-a-thon. The group stick to making cranes and then put them together to look something like this...



Although a task like this will give the event some direction and purpose, this is a Japanese tradition where 1000 origami cranes are held together by string like this and it is supposed to bring things like good luck. Not really relevant to my event.
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I also came across this major rant by the co-ordinator of a school origami club;
(click image to read)


Maybe I won't bother with this!

THEMEZ - KNITTING/SEWING

I think so! Although people can get creative with sewing, Knitting is quite time consuming and mostly enjoyed by females. Yep. Maybe I should just do a girls club!?

THEMEZ - BALLOONS!

Inspired by the book LATEX FOR FUN

"The project started with a simple idea: create disposable "designer toys" with pure d.i.y. ethics. We started drawing over balloons what we would like to draw over vinyl toys, but we couldn´t afford. That´s how the Latex for fun project was born... and in a few months 135 designers from over 20 countries participated; Their work reflects various styles, personalities and cultures, but all of it shows how vibrantly creative the collaboration of a spontaneously generated global design network can be."





Aswell as publishing a book from the project, 'Max-o-matic' Also held an exhibition in Barcelona from all the photos and artwork create around the theme;






I found photos on Flickr of a 'Balloon Drawing Party' held in Vancouver in 2006. See them here!

SPACE

Phoned this place (I'm aware of the rubble... but they have 2 other units next door) and the woman managed to finish my sentence ("you're wanting to hold an exhibition style event?") and give me a firm answer of no within 20 seconds of calling.
The reasons were 'Health & Safety' - I'm guessing the other 2 units will be having maintenance work doing too. I didn't even get chance to find out how much this space could have been to rent for the night. It would have been perfect.

The problems with renting an empty space like that which isn't usually used for one off events is that I would have to find some sort of insurance, for myself, and also for public liability.

Some other places which could be good to rent...

The Packhorse - charges £10 for the night if you aren't putting on bands!! Bargain!! Thats also got me thinking about mixing this event with live music. Its also really close to college.

Another place which is close by is the upstairs area of The Library. They charge £80 if you have bands(£100 Friday & Saturday) - and £60 if you don't. Not so bargainous but reasonable!

I contacted The Common Place - but found out that they are no longer licensed and people wouldn't be able to bring their own booze and I won't be able to play music. The place is free to use though - but you have to charge a minimum of £3 entrance.

Space'd out

Thinking of spaces where I can hold my club...

One option which wasn't obvious to me at first would be to have it in my kitchen/living room.





I think that holding the first event in this space will allow me to take more control and get an idea of how this event could be if opened to the public.

There are things about hosting at home which will change the dynamics of my event;

• I will have constant access to the space, making it easier to plan layout.
• Free - Can spend more money on the more physical aspects; Materials, food, music, drink.
• Will have to be invite only - not an open event.
• Less liability. Although I do not own the property, if anything was to get broken or damaged then I have insurance.

Another space available to me is the college, both the studio and the cafeteria:

There are a few things which put me off the idea of holding the event in college...

• In my research, the spaces were described as 'depressing' & 'Clinical'.
• It would be nice to create something away and separate from college.
• I will be watched over by college staff.

Competition?

I don't really care much for the branding and description of this event, advertised on the college notice board.

Call & Response

To find out about potential interest in my event, I sent a message via facebook to all my VIS COMM buddies;

"Hello Friend,

I'm just sending a message out to a few of us vis commers about an event I'm looking to host as part of the live project brief.

It will be something along the lines of 'Collage Club' (although that name is already taken) and it will be an evening in the college cafeteria where space and materials will be provided to have a mess around with making collage, either on your own, or collaborate with others there.

Would you be interested in coming to such an event? Do you have friends who would be interested?

What do you think would make the event more appealing? i.e. music, film, free booze, food, CAKE!?

Do you have any suggestions about the event such as location or day?

I'd appreciate a few sentences of feedback which will go towards planning the event.

I thank you!

Kate Prior, your fellow Vis Com student."


It churned out some interesting responses, I must say. (Highlighted are the juicy bits)

"I think it sounds really intresting and good fun! I think that the best time to do it would be around 4ish 5ish as many people are ready to leave college and will pass by it! I'd say a good day would be during the middle of the week as its allways seems to be quit empty!!

Defeantly have food and drinks!!
To intice people! The more the merry!
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I think good music on the stereo, not live, that would take the attention from the point.
free booze would obviously be great, but just cheap would be great, but drinks for sure.
I think objectives, maybe themes, or a competition element might be good, and motivate some good collaboration and work. maybe if you created a colour fanzine from work created at the event, that would give it an exciting output for the people getting involved.
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I would probably be interested in such an event and would definitely try and bring friends along.

I think free anything is always good at drawing in numbers, you just have to be careful that it doesn't devalue the actual event.

Music, particularly live, could give it a more fun atmosphere, especially in the cafeteria, which I have always found to have a somewhat depressing atmosphere!

I think giving the collage a theme and a final outcome could help, such as tying it in with an existing event in Leeds and having the final collage exhibited somewhere public, this would give it more purpose, which could make it more appealing to people.
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Yes yes yes. Although I would prefer some drawing like the lazy oaf thing, it worked well, maybe having a theme as well.

What do you think would make the event more appealing? i.e. music, film, free booze, food, CAKE!?

Free booze is always good and so is cake actually all of those things listed above!

I personally dont like the college cafe, its a bit to clinical, its not really a social place. Although if you want people to come its easier. I would say Hyde Park Social cos its free rental and I havent been there and it looks nice and its close

http://onecosmicsunday.com/images/hps_back_flyer.jpg

but less people might come, or Opposite cafe. just my opinion. Also take in to consideration the day because if its too near the deadline people might be too busy!
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CAKE! food, im not sure booze is really do able in college is it? unless its it like 8 or something stupid but yeah it sounds cool!
i would be interested in coming and im sure some of the other students would be interested. be nice to think of something to work towards perhaps, so its not just for the sake of doing it. maybe like the work goes into an exhibition?
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Hi! Yeah I would definitely be interested that sounds really fun.

As far as things to entice people I think music would be good obviously.. And I don't drink at the moment but I'm sure everyone else will be into the booze idea!

Hmm as for location, well last year when I was at Norwich someone hosted a paint throwing event in their garage.. that was pretty fun, if you know anyone with a garage.. hah umm.. or just someone's house. Or an empty space. But maybe you're not willing to negotiate with that.
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Is there an end goal? like make a series of works to hang in the canteen or is it just for fun?. Will there be a theme? sum kind of direction, so maybe a list of possible subjects just the get the ball rolling?
The location sounds good (will it be free to use), an as to what would make the event more appealing, free booze is at the top... but thats just me. cakes r good aswell, but music and films in the background are always welcome. Im sure ive got friends who are interested aswell so if their welcome. Will it be a recurring event? maybe coincide the event with a night out? so its like a pre party? but again thats just me.
Is it going to be open to every one? and if so how r u going to get your event into the public domain? Also how can u stop people taking advantage of the possibly free alcohol and free cake ... me basically, how r u going to stop me kate??? possibly BYOB? . Prizes for best? if so who judges? what happens to all the work after, can people take them home? Have you thought about sponsors? what about if you publicized a night out after, so call it the Wire collage club, then get sum money to help with the materials, or they could provide alcohol?
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ooh yeah that sounds well good, cake is an obvious choice! I'm actually poo at collaging but i'm well up for it, i reckon somehow getting a photocopier into the canteen (god knows how) would be really good for it, loadsa cut n' paste like! Maybe stuff like magazines and things with images to use, dunno, but it's a cool idea i like it! x
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free booze is always nice...or if you got enough people down u could open the bar?

I think if u provide alot of fun varied collaging materials, and work big scale it might make the activity accessible and dynamic.

Also a bit of music?
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Yes i would be interested in coming to the event!

Are you going to have it so anyone can come? Even non students of the college?

I guess maybe the cafeteria would be a nice place to have it, or wherever the bar is so people can get drinks. Also you can use the TV screens for stuff. I dunno about free booze but cakes are a good idea. Sponge cakes are dead easy and cheap to make, I've got cake decorating writing icing and nice little bun cases you could use. film & music is a good idea too, you could maybe theme the nights on different films??? Or make a collage in the theme of a film or ... i dunno.
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music, film, free booze, food, and CAKE!???????

saaands good to me but wots a collage? i cant remember, im sorry!

how bout photography club where u put your favourite photos of the week up ??????? u could make it anon so u could put well rare stuff up n have to guess whos it is, naaaa mean?
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I would definitely be up for a collage club!
I'm sure lots of people from LCAD would be interested in going, especially vis commers and graphics students!
Cake would be a brilliant one to have there - you could even get Melissa to make some of her amazing cup cakes!
Live acoustic music would be good. Or DJ's. There's a few musicians banging about :)
Location wise - possibly the mosaic bar? I'm not quite sure where would suit a 'collage club' maybe barakas or somewhere like that. I think day time on a sunday somewhere would be good as not a lot happens during the day!
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I think I would come and have a look at what was going on. But im not really sure how interested I would be would obviously have to depend on what was happening. One thing that springs to mind are the "Best Joined Up" nights that are on at the faversham sometimes. I dont know if you've been to one before, but its like a normal club night but in one room they have tables for anyone to draw on if they want whilst some artists make large illuistrations throughout the night that you can watch."