Re: Naomi
Smith. Painting Virgin Media
Communication Boxes in Headingley
Naomi's work
Our group was delighted with her
exquisite design and then the way Naomi approached her work. She was
considerate and easy to work with –giving us accurate timings of when she could
come, always positive. The days were
dark, cold and often damp and you could still see Naomi out there slowly turning
the lump of metal into something wonderful. Once she even used the torch on her
telephone so that she could work late. We now have passers-by saying their
spirits are lifted by Naomi’s work. She
understood what we were looking for in a design and we are very grateful for
that and for her talent in how she then executed her work. Many thanks also to
the University for supporting this project.
What inspired you (and Ash Road Area Residents Association) to start this project?
ARARA is a residents organisation whose basic aim is to improve the neighbourhood. The area over the last 20 years has become dominated by student residents and that has created real challenges, much as most of us enjoy our student neighbours. Our priorities were traffic, rubbish and noise and we have made progress. More recently we began to think of ways to ‘beautify’ the area and someone thought of decorating communication boxes. I think it was Chris Baird, the council’s environmental officer for the area. Eventually we got permission – it wasn’t difficult in itself it is just that we spent six months pursuing the wrong lead at Virgin Media. We would not have chosen this time of year, but in fact it is in many ways the optimum time of year for student projects like this.
ARARA is a residents organisation whose basic aim is to improve the neighbourhood. The area over the last 20 years has become dominated by student residents and that has created real challenges, much as most of us enjoy our student neighbours. Our priorities were traffic, rubbish and noise and we have made progress. More recently we began to think of ways to ‘beautify’ the area and someone thought of decorating communication boxes. I think it was Chris Baird, the council’s environmental officer for the area. Eventually we got permission – it wasn’t difficult in itself it is just that we spent six months pursuing the wrong lead at Virgin Media. We would not have chosen this time of year, but in fact it is in many ways the optimum time of year for student projects like this.
How have you found your experience of working with creative students?
The truth is I’ve been ‘knocked out’. I have learned a lot about artists. Someone said that organising art students is a bit like ‘herding cats’ and I was kind of expecting that. But their discipline has been stunning. Of course there are a couple who have not yet painted, but I think for very good reasons. Not only have the students’ designs been good, but their attitude and consistency with their work and ability to translate a paper design to a metal box has been inspiring. I have yet to work out how they manage to keep themselves and their paints so ordered and tidy. ARARA is very grateful to their goodwill and good energy.
The truth is I’ve been ‘knocked out’. I have learned a lot about artists. Someone said that organising art students is a bit like ‘herding cats’ and I was kind of expecting that. But their discipline has been stunning. Of course there are a couple who have not yet painted, but I think for very good reasons. Not only have the students’ designs been good, but their attitude and consistency with their work and ability to translate a paper design to a metal box has been inspiring. I have yet to work out how they manage to keep themselves and their paints so ordered and tidy. ARARA is very grateful to their goodwill and good energy.
Do you think the project has been successful? Why?
Yes I do. The councillors have supported us with some MICE funding so that we were able to purchase the paints and brushes needed, this helped enormously. We had a good response from students and other artists and we have had several people get in touch to ask if they could do one. We can stretch to boxes a bit further afield but must wait until better weather. The local resident artists will also wait to do theirs. The designs submitted were of a higher quality than expected and working with students has just been an absolute delight. Residents are thrilled and the area looks better. The only really challenging thing is the problem with covering the boxes with plastic each day the artist does some work, in order to protect them from graffiti. This can go on for days and is nerve-wracking as sometimes the covers have been removed and we are terrified the artists’ work will be damaged before we use our EASY-ON anti-graffiti lacquer. The manager of Urban Hygiene who supplies the product gave it to us half price as he loves street art! So far seven boxes are lacqured, another is due to be anti-graffitied tomorrow, and one more very soon.
I am really happy with Ruth's response and am grateful she took the time to respond to me. I am hoping to use this to write another post for my LinkedIn account. I am hoping that a local project such as this might help me connect with more people in Leeds who would be valuable contacts to me. It will also be good to include parts of what she has written about my work as a kind of reference for my work and my character.
Yes I do. The councillors have supported us with some MICE funding so that we were able to purchase the paints and brushes needed, this helped enormously. We had a good response from students and other artists and we have had several people get in touch to ask if they could do one. We can stretch to boxes a bit further afield but must wait until better weather. The local resident artists will also wait to do theirs. The designs submitted were of a higher quality than expected and working with students has just been an absolute delight. Residents are thrilled and the area looks better. The only really challenging thing is the problem with covering the boxes with plastic each day the artist does some work, in order to protect them from graffiti. This can go on for days and is nerve-wracking as sometimes the covers have been removed and we are terrified the artists’ work will be damaged before we use our EASY-ON anti-graffiti lacquer. The manager of Urban Hygiene who supplies the product gave it to us half price as he loves street art! So far seven boxes are lacqured, another is due to be anti-graffitied tomorrow, and one more very soon.
I am really happy with Ruth's response and am grateful she took the time to respond to me. I am hoping to use this to write another post for my LinkedIn account. I am hoping that a local project such as this might help me connect with more people in Leeds who would be valuable contacts to me. It will also be good to include parts of what she has written about my work as a kind of reference for my work and my character.
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