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We were asked to test out a potential idea that could perhaps be used within the overall performance piece. We decided to develop a trail of books from a bookshelf to then lead to room UL203 – we thought that this could be a possibility for an installation inside this room, because of the fascinating architecture of the window. The books that we placed within the trail were research books, as we decided to take this as an opportunity to gather research and question typical students of the university library.  We took each person to the beginning of the trail and then questioned them – Do you use the library for research methods or to get lost into fiction- or both?  If the answer was research they would then walk along the trail of research books. We gathered that out of seventeen students of the library only two students used the library for both research and fiction. The rest only used the library to gather research.

This was highly interesting as it clarified our own thoughts of the library and made us think into our idea further. Our idea of having a fantasy trail, to then lead to an installation of fairy tales for people to get lost into would fit quite nicely.

Ruth Scott
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Within my past blog post of discovering the library, I explored into the idea of the books themselves- through the thought of non-fiction and fiction books. As a university student I, myself, use the library purely for research methods within my course. This then came to mind –how many people use the university library for finding and reading a fiction book, purely for pleasure? Not only does the library have factual books, but various genres of books for an enjoyable read purely get lost into. Being able to find the time to allow one to sit down and read isn’t very often. This then led into the idea of childhood and having the time to read, also often being read to as a child, in particular fairy tale books.

In order to relate back to the site and the users of the library, I researched into the idea of Grimm’s fairy tales, which would be highly fascinating to the likes of 18 year olds and upwards. The Grimm fairy tales show a strong sense of violence and sometimes brutal tales, not suitable for children. Using these forms of fairy tales, this could relate to the idea of the university library potentially being scary place. University being a place to grow up and develop oneself can all together be quite daunting! Using these two factors could be successful to create in performance art as it still relates back to the site itself.

Ruth Scott

The library is full of vast assortments of books with various book covers, sizes and genres – But could a book be considered a piece of art?

Our task was to create a book as art, but not in the conventional way of how a book is usually formed. I decided to take one of my own made up book titles that we had to develop in a previous task. One of my book titles was called – Natural World. I took the title quite literally, and decided to form a flower out of paper and write the title all on the inside and outside. I also added the lilac ribbon to add to the idea that the flower is a naturally pretty and striking form created from the Natural World.  I was drawn to creating this inventive piece by the artist Jodie Harvey-Brown, who creates remarkable book sculptures within the books themselves, while relating the sculpture to the content within the book itself.

If I was to take this idea of sculpture further, this could be a potential section to form in some kind of installation, while still relating to the idea of books.

Harvey-Brown,J. (2015) Your Story, Coming to Life. [online] http://www.jodieharvey-brown.com/[Accessed 30 January 2015].

Ruth Scott