Sketchbook Work

There's Snow Business Like Snow Business

The last three days have been spent in the snowing resort of Tahko, not too far from Kuopio.  After preparation last week, everyone made some designs and we split into teams of 3.  Kim, Helen and I decided to sculpt a snow moomin with a teacup!

When we arrived we were presented with a HUGE block of snow and given some heavy duty tools.  We had a slow start but after the tutors came over and helped us shift some snow it made planning a lot easier!

Throughout the day we moved A LOT of snow in about -25°C and managed to get the head of the Moomin and teacup shape marked out.  We got given free dinner and coffees which was needed and appreciated!



At 6pm we got given the keys to our cabin which was AMAZING!!  Kim, Steph, Helen and I took the first cabin.  After a lovely traditional meal prepared by the Finnish girls and guys, we headed back to our abode for a sauna and an early night!

On day 2 of sculpting we moved yet more snow and had some help in shaping the moomins body and the teacup.  After a free breakfast, lots more coffee and dinner, the Moomin was finally complete!  We were really pleased when throughout the day many of the resorts customers recognised it was a Moomin!!

On the second night, after another meal from the Fins and a sauna, everyone presented their sculptures.  Votes were counted and the prizes were given out.  Moomin came 3rd :) 

1st

2nd

4th



Kuopion Luonnontieteellinen Museo

Today we decided to do another thing we've been meaning to do and visit the Kuopio art gallery and natural history museum.  The art gallery didn't allow photographs so I don't have anything to show for that.  However, Kuopion Luonnontieteellinen Museo was amazing!!

The pride of the museum is the to-scale woolly mammoth, which is really impressive in person.  The way it is displayed, along with the music and lighting was really calming and I could have sat there all day!

There is a winter hall and a summer hall with various animals on display (a loooovely looking ostrich) and the mushroom forrest.  The mushroom forrest is actually the childrens play area...and was probably the most fun part for us 20/21 year old children...

There is also a brown bear who was very cute!



Preparation for Tahko

Next week the school is holding a SnoWork event at the Sokos Hotel in Tahko and it involves all the exchange students from the design school sculpting from a large block of snow!  There will be teams of 3 and the snow blocks will be 2.5m x 2.5m x 3m.

In preparation for next week, the past 2 evenings we have been practicing our snow skills!  Yesterday, we helped put together the mold for the snow block which was then filled with snow and packed down tightly.  It was left to solidify more over night and during today.  Tonight, we unveiled it and it..is...HUGE! AND, it's only 2.5m x 1.5m x 1.5m!  So the one's we're working with next week are even bigger!!

The theme the tutor dcided on for this block was 'silence'.  A small entrace was dug out to the back of the block, and it was hollowed from the top down so one person can fit inside.  All around they will just see white, but when they look up, they can see the sky.  Then, on the outside, the rest of us carved Finland themed images:

Jacopo's entrance tree

George and Eleanor's faces           Kim and Steph's trees and lakes

Mine and Helen's (oh) deer

Even though it was cold, hard work, and we are expected to sculpt something on a much larger scale next week (scary), I'm still quite excited!



15 ECT

After much confusion, we finally got our course worked out for this semester.  Helen and I will be doing projects in both Ceramics and Textile, and holding an exhibition at the end to make up the remainder of the points.  We know it's going to be a lot of work be we know we can do it and are quite excited about the idea of holding an exhibition.  After looking at potential spaces, we have decided it might be a good idea to involve other Erasmus students work.

I'm really enjoying ceramics at the moment.  After learning how to use the kilns to do both biscuit and glaze firing, I feel I can experiment a lot more.  Merja has been really good to us and taught us a lot so far.  Last week we made plaster moulds and mixed up a new engobe!  This week we're going to try coloured glazes and I'm intrigued at what the results may be.

On another note, I've came across a few sites that have taken a fancy to some of my work:
Art Hound
Beautiful Beasties
The World's Best Photos of Hypertrichosis

Get Your Skates On!

We decided to go ice skating today instead of the weekend so that Kim and Steph could join us.  I'm so happy to be able to say I have skated on a frozen lake, rather than a rink!  The track was 2km long, and after a little trouble working out how to get the blade onto the skate boots, we were ready to go!  Although a little shakey at first,  we all managed to get around the track and I only fell over once.  I bruised my knee, but managed to keep my dignity in tact because no one saw!  I just wish I had some photos of the afternoon, it was so fun!