When i began my Masters course in October 2015 it was with ignorance to all the amazing interesting people that I would form connections outwith the University but as a result of my studies. The next of these fortuitous encounters happened last week through my favourite online auction site eBay.
Recently I have been looking for photography lots that I can use in my Show either as supports for my works or for making pinhole cameras. The lot above I won for 99p plus £3.00 p&p. So much a bargain that I messaged the seller telling him that I was converting the film tins into pinhole cameras and asked him if he would like one as a present. The following conversation struck up...........


Me: 
Thank you for my item. 
I am going to be turning the tins into pinhole cameras as part of an art project. 
If you would like me to send one of the tins back as a good will present when I have converted them let me know your address. 
Cheers, Oonagh Devoy


Simon:
Dear Oonagh, 
Thank you, what a kind offer, I will gratefully accept this offer. I assumed that you must be an artist from your address, this is a happy coincidence because I am currently studying on an MA in Fine Art at Aberystwyth and I also work at the university teaching photography. If you would like I can take some photographs with the pinhole tin and then send you some of the prints that I produce back? 
Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year 
- Simon 


Me:
Dear Simon

How fortuitous!
I too am a photography lecturer (digital and darkroom)
I am also halfway through my MFA course at Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen!

The pinhole camera is for your playtime
but how do you like the sound
of a small collaboration
that could enhance the output of both of our shows!

Check out my website at oonaghdevoy.com
and use the contact form to get in touch if you are interested.

Have a lovely christmas and new year also my new friend......Oonagh :)


Simon:
Dear Oonagh,

Thank you for the reply, your are right, this is fortuitous. What are the chances of that, finding another photography tutor through ebay (of all things) and someone who is at the same level of study? A small collaboration sounds like an interesting idea; I think we should do something to mark this occurrence. I will go and have a look at your website, and I will continue communications through this.

I am afraid that at this precise moment I do not have a website for you to look at, I am having a web reshuffle (as part of the masters), however I should have more of an online presence again before the end of the Christmas holidays; and I will let you know the moment there is something to look at. However in the meantime I will send you a message and give you some idea of my work through this.

So for now, all the best. 
I hope that you have a lovely Christmas and New Year too!! :) 
-Simon

It has been a difficult search trying to locate a decent chest of drawers to suit my needs but yesterday saw me purchasing a fine set of wooden drawers that will enable me to make two museum type display cases for my found objects.

​Since the conception of this idea and the delay in purchase I have had the time to properly work out a construction plan. The build will enable me to take the legs of the table on and off so that I can easily transport my display cases. Not shown in the plan is the green felt that I will use to line the cases to give the authentic feel of a museum type display.

If I asked you what a mutoscope was you most probably will be puzzled. If however I add another clue, 'what the butler saw', well I bet you understand now! The mutoscope was a motion picture device whose design meant that only one person at a time was able to view the film. In its heigh day it dominated the coin-in-the-slot peep-show business.

My biggest problem for my Masters show is working out how to engage a disinterested audiendce. Not that my work needs to be viewed to be successful. I make my art not to sell or be seen but because it moves me. However, that said, I would still like others to derive pleasure from, question my intentions, rediscover or enhance their sense of wonder, and/or begin to engage with the world around them.

What I have learned to date with my making is that we love to play - both children and adults alike. I think that is why so many of my friends have asked to take part in my 'message in a bottle' launchings.  Similarly since making my viewmaster reel I have watched my friends take much pleasure from holding the viewer up to the light then clicking the button again and again to reveal each exhibit; often viewing the reel two of three times.

Rather than make lots of reels I decided to consider other ways I could entice my viewers through intimacy and play: hence the mutoscope. Not that there are mutoscopes readily or cheaply available on eBay. A trip to the local junk yard helped me find the solution in an old hand cranked grinder. Added to this some thick elastic, a number of paper document clips, epoxy resin and a sequence of stop motion images.

​My prototype is now complete however I intend to refine the design further with a stronger belt drive to replace the elastic and a new sequence of images. 

It has most certainly been a long week waiting for Friday to arrive! That is since I discovered that the work of my new favourite artist the late Robert Callender was on display at the Lochgelly Centre in Fife. The travelling retrospective of Callenders work,  'A2B - An Artists Journey', was curated by Robert and his wife the artist Elizabeth Ogilvie.

I am afraid I will fail dismally describing to you how moved I felt coming face to face with artworks that I had already fallen in love with when I viewed them in a book. A picture book is but a mere taste of the whole for it cannot convey scale, texture, smell, sensitivity or passion. This exhibition, although small, transfered all these elements to me and more! I left the exhibition hungry hoping there may be other opportunities in the future to see more of Roberts work and a fire in my belly to create.