start’18 in London: A Day to forge new connections!
Sonny Moore, one of the hosts of start’18 tells us his experience in organizing an event in London together with the Royal Society of Sculptures and sponsored by m-tec metal fabrication specialists. A successful connection!
My how time flies! I can’t believe that it has been 9 months since I facilitated a collaborative project involving m-tec (metal fabricators and consultants – sculpture network supplier member) and the Royal Society of Sculptors (RSS) for the occasion of start’18 – International Celebration of Contemporary Sculpture. Events took place in 95 locations worldwide and our London venture was one of three in UK.
The task was to organize an inclusive workshop for the day, the result being an interactive sculpture project that would attract and include a wide demographic through the theme of constructing metal shapes. m-tec as sponsor, supplied the materials and the all-important refreshments and RSS provided the wonderful venue along with the sculptor Julian Wild (VPRSS) facilitating the project on the day.
Together we developed a live sculpture build project involving the many attendees on the day. We made over 100 flat metal shapes (circles, squares, triangles and hexagons) each with slits which allowed people to connect various shapes to create infinite forms. The results were fascinating and personally, the most intriguing sculptures were by the children that joined us on the day whom let their creativity play freely! The forms were then photographed, uploaded to the start’18 photo wall so that all the other 94 venues around the world could admire them, before they were dismantled for the next attendee to explore.
I have been told that this construct/ deconstruct sculpture project and the many shapes has now become part of the RSS schools education program.
We couldn’t be happier with the outcome. The feedback was very positive, with great exposure across all social media channels and more importantly, new connections forged. For m-tec, start’18 was a great opportunity to meet new prospects and to share ideas and experiences of ‘making’ sculpture.
Artists also benefited from the sponsored event as m-tec were on hand to answer the many questions regarding metal sculpture fabrication and in how to appoint fabricators for their current and future projects. Plus, for those that had already engaged with other fabricators, hearing their ‘experiences’, both positive and negative, was enlightening for all.
A key finding in this coming-together of professionals for start’18 was, as some projects can take a few years to realise, they can be very time consuming, costly and stressful for the artist involved. Therefore, support and advice should be given to the artist at an early stage in the process and in helping them with the all-important cost calculation and feasibility process.
Photo: Sean Conboy Photogenics
Since the start’18 event in January, m-tec have been working on a wide variety of creative projects. These have included among others the fabrication and installation of a stunning 12m tall helix like sculpture in Oman which was designed by the artist Giles Rayner. Looking forward, it is likely that the connections made at start’18 will bear fruit for 2019!
I believe that sculpture network provides a platform and opportunities to easily ‘network’ across the many elements that make up the professional sculpture scene, with the added value that it looks to progress and support all things sculpture and as a collaborative entity. Being able to connect with other professionals to share ideas and experiences is a necessity, especially for the progression of the sculpture industry. I eagerly await to see what start’19 holds!
Author: Sonny Moore
Sonny is an artist liaison for m-tec and an art consultant for his own business SM.art. His role is to mediate between the various stakeholders and to ensure that a project progresses in a positive direction. His aim is to create a familiar environment for the artist and to allow the opportunity for continued dialogue right through to installation and beyond.
