e-Pulsar - Feb

e-Pulsar Feb - Mar 01

WORKSHOP NEWS!!

From Jackie Burns

Assembly of ST-1 at Astrium Hello everyone, I hope that you have all had a wonderful time over the Christmas and New Year festivities and are now looking forward to the new millennium and all that it holds for us. To kick off the New Year the Board is delighted to announce the Astrium Workshop 2001! The main core of the workshop will be held at Astrium UK, in Stevenage, on 3 - 6 September. Added to this will be a lecture and time spent with Dr. Monica Grady (Head of the UK National Collection of Meteors, and author of "Search for Life"). And, finally (dates to be confirmed), sunrise and sunset sketching and photographic sessions 'within' the boundaries of Stonehenge.
ASTRIUM (3 - 6 September): Astrium UK is a satellite manufacturer based in Stevenage (up until last year, known as Matra Marconi) and have manufactured such satellites as SOHO, ERS-1 and 2, and Envisat. They are offering a series of guided tours around their premises, with access to key personnel, to observe the creative and hardware process of satellite manufacturing. Around these guided tours will be time set aside for sketching and photography, with access to a quiet and secure area where we can also paint. This will be a 'nuts and bolts' type of workshop, aimed at stimulating anyone who is interested in painting space hardware. Dave Hardy and myself have already been on a preliminary tour. What we were shown as we were guided around the various departments and laboratories quite simply blew me away. I had no idea what it took to create a satellite and it has changed the way that I visualize my own renditions of space hardware. But, above all, it was hugely enjoyable and I can't recommend this experience highly enough. A further unique feature is the invitation to show completed artwork resulting from this workshop at the Boxfield Gallery, Stevenage Leisure Centre in July 2002. Astrium UK have booked this very popular gallery, just for the attending members of the workshop, so that we can show off the results inspired by what we will have seen and experienced. An amazing opportunity! On another point, Astrium is very, very security conscious. Full details of Astrium's security requirements will be sent separately to those members who sign up. However one security measure that everyone needs to know about: only members will be allowed to attend this part of the workshop. Other arrangements for spouses/partners will have to be made. There is a direct train line from Stevenage to London (shopping, sightseeing, etc.) or, I believe, there is also a very good shopping mall in Stevenage itself. If anyone has any other ideas, I am happy to listen.
DR. MONICA GRADY: Monica is based at the Natural History Museum in London. She is a lovely lady and a much sought after speaker and is very keen to meet us as she really does appreciate the value of our work. Monica has agreed to participate with us at Astrium on 4 September. She will join us for part of the tour in the morning and then will be giving us a slide show and talk in the afternoon.
STONEHENGE: From the modern to the ancient.... English Heritage (a charitable trust that manages Stonehenge) have made available limited private access to this world renowned monument. From dawn until half an hour before the site opens or half an hour after the site has closed until sunset or dusk (whichever is earliest). The point of these private sessions is the freedom to move in and around the stones (the stones are fenced off from the public). I propose two sessions: one from dawn, and the second until sunset. Conditions are fairly strict and will be communicated separately to those members who sign up for the workshop. An application for permission to English Heritage has to be made in advance and must include definitive numbers. The application must have a choice of three dates/sessions. The first choice will be Friday evening / Saturday morning, 7 & 8 September. Second choice will be Saturday evening / Sunday morning, 1 & 2 September. Third choice will be Sunday evening / Monday morning, 8 - 9 September. There are a number of other ancient monuments around the area of Stonehenge as well as culturally rich towns and cities such as Bath, Winchester and Salisbury. Extra days can be calculated into the workshop itinerary if enough interest is shown from members to visit any of these sites. Fees for any of these other monuments and sites will need to be added.
LONDON: As an extra option, trips into London will be considered if there is enough interest from participating members. There is a huge variety of special interest sites, such as the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, Greenwhich Museum and Observatory, etc. Costs for this, such as entrance fees, transport (London public transportation is very good), and accommodation (not cheap) will need to be added on.
ACCOMMODATIONS: As with previous workshops, there is a certain amount of flexibility - dependent on personal preferences. Before I start researching I would like to know whether you absolutely have to have a private room, whether you're willing to share a room (for hotels) and whether you are happy to bunk down on the floor (house/cottage rental).
FINANCES: Stonehenge - There is a fee of 8 £ (pounds sterling) per adult, per session. Monica Grady - fee to be advised (I expect the workshop members to at least cover her reasonable expenses such as petrol, food etc.) Accommodations - room rates/house-cottage hire to be advised. Stevenage: 4 nights. Stonehenge: at least one night. London: 1-3 nights? All workshop attendees are responsible for their own accommodation bills. Expect to pay a deposit in advance for each stop. Car rental - I would like to think that there will be enough interest from the UK members who are car owners to make rental unnecessary. And, if that is so, then we need only worry about petrol money from those hitching a ride. Otherwise, car hire fees will need to be figured on top of the workshop fee. Let's see what happens.
FEES: The fee for the workshop will be 30 £ for Artist and Fellow members, 35 £ for Associate members, and 40 £ for non-IAAA members (accommodation, car hire and museum fees not included). Send your workshop fee to me in sterling only, any bank charges pre-paid. Please make checks out to "Jackie E. Burns", at No.1 Park Side, Fort William Road, Vange, Basildon, Essex, SS16 5JX. If you have any queries about this workshop, please do not hesitate to email me at jackie@burns-arts.demon.co.uk - or telephone me at 44 1268 551 308.

See you in September!