Dialogues: A Hybrid Art Project

This presentation focuses on Dialogues, an art project that was instigated in July 2022, and which focuses on artists’ connectivity through art. The first instance of this project sought to instigate a dialogue between eight independent artists. The artists exchanged artworks in pairs and installed and experience them in their own personal spaces for a period of 10 days. During that period, live-streaming sessions allowed audiences to observe the work in space. The project began as an exploration of hybrid spaces of exchange, and interventions that blend physical/virtual realities and private/public conceptions of space. The aim was to use this experimental stage as a starting point to draw decisions for a larger project that would involve more artists and funding for insurance, transportation, and technical support. This presentation concentrates on the factors that contributed towards our change of plans, and the expansion of the project through its dissemination instead. In particular, it will elaborate the benefits of retaining the project’s institutional independence and the role of trust and generosity in the production of meaningful and productive opportunities for exchange (and ‘connectivity’). Finally, it will also present some observations regarding functions of art that are sometimes overlooked. This presentation is divided into two parts. The first part, led by Dr. Kalpaxi focuses on the concept and theory of Dialogues and includes contributions from some of the project participants (Marie Molterer, Basil Olton, Messua Poulin Wolff and Wei-Hsiang Weng). The second part, held by Ann Shuptrine, one of the participating artists, consists of a performance workshop inspired by her action research, ‘Vital Signs’. This will give conference participants the opportunity to engage with the concept of connectivity as well as the ethos behind the Dialogues project

Context and Narrative

However beautiful or technically dazzling your photographs might be, if they don't tell a story, convey an idea or make your viewer stop and think, they are unlikely to make a lasting impression. Context and Narrative in Photography introduces practical methods to help you plan, develop and present meaningful, communicative images. With dozens of examples from some of the world's most thought-provoking photographers, this is a beautiful introduction to a fascinating aspect of photography. Beginning with an exploration of different narrative techniques, you'll be guided through selecting and developing a compelling concept for your project and how it might be conveyed either through a single image or a series of photographs. You'll also learn ways to incorporate signs, symbols and text into your work and how to present the finished piece to best reach your audience. New to this edition are extended projects, additional exercises and discussion questions, expanded case studies, around 25% of the images and an expanded Chapter 6 on integrating text into photographic projects

Online Photography Toolkits: Digital Approaches to Practical Delivery.

This paper draws on pedagogical research, and in particular it focuses on a research project developed by the Photography team at the University of Northampton: Leet, S., Sherwood, T., Murphy, A., Kalpaxi, E., Franchi, E., Wardle, C., Lowe, C., Smith, J. A. (2016-2017) ‘Online Photography Toolkits: Digital Approaches to Practical Delivery’, funded by the Institute of Learning and Teaching (ILT) of the University of Northampton. The Photography team at the University of Northampton created a series of digital toolkits to enable students to access information ‘on demand’ through a number of platforms and mobile devices. The development of effective digital resources to facilitate independent asynchronous skills-oriented learning (that commonly involves a hands-on approach) has been acknowledged as an essential need and a challenge in previous Photography CAleRO workshops. The development of these resources also provides potential for greater openness, in terms of sharing resources among departments and the wider public, for educational, pedagogic, and marketing purposes. In line with the University’s Waterside move in 2018, the toolkits will provide a digital resource to aid blended and flipped learning within Photography undergraduate programmes – a way to provide access to essential technical information and support beyond the confines of conventional teaching environments. This project would be appropriate for first year students needing additional support, as well as second year and Top-Up students requiring a refresher of practical skills. Traditional teaching approaches can pose barriers to a number of students, and offer only a finite duration of contact through practical delivery. It is hoped that the implementation of online toolkits will promote inclusion and lead to improved engagement and achievement for all learners, including the significant number in our cohorts who have learning differences and physical disabilities (e.g. deafness)

From Material to Virtual: An exploration of visual technologies to develop an online/interactive-learning platform for Photography

This paper draws on pedagogical research, and in particular it focuses on a research project developed by the Photography team at the University of Northampton: Leet, S., Kalpaxi, E., Sherwood, T., Murphy, A., Dalum-Tilds, G, Lowe, C. (2014-2015) ‘From Material to Virtual’, funded by the Institute of Learning and Teaching (ILT) of the University of Northampton. The transfiguration of historically-accepted material or physical forms of photographic practice and research to a largely virtual experience reflects on-going technological changes which impact on contemporary arts and photography. The vision was to create a high-quality online learning environment requiring innovative approaches to design and delivery, leading to an enhanced student experience. The impetus of the project is driven by the need to develop innovative online approaches to L&T in a changing HE and wider educational market, with the challenge being the translation of a practical image-based subject onto a largely virtual platform whilst sustaining academic standards. This development in online learning coincides with the need to invent new platforms for the circulation of photography, academic projects and art – and where students are required to engage in flipped learning, and to explore these developments in relation to their own practice in a self-reflexive manner. Sample multimedia content created (videos and stills) will form the basis of a toolkit for users to develop their practical knowledge. A prototype of an interactive image gallery where individuals will be able to upload their images and collaborate with others to curate content, along with an integrated feedback/discussion platform will be designed. Testing will be underway with regards to its integration into UoN’s VLE. Interactive lectures will be created using Adobe Captivate, where e-tivities are embedded into subject specific content. Questionnaires, feedback surveys and a seminar involving students and external contributors will be used to assess its functionality and quality

Photography and Museums of Mutuality. A Metaphor

This article employs photography as a vehicle to explore museums and their increasing attempts to gain an open, discursive, democratic, and inclusive character. It suggests that drawing a parallel between photography and museums, at a time when globalizing technologies, aesthetics, and politics demand the radical redefinition of both, can provide a useful ground from which to examine the role of photography in the development of museums and vice versa, as well as notions of engagement, participation, and inclusion