Return to Kuopio

After spending just over 3 weeks back in the UK, Leigh and I made our return to Finland last Monday.  Being home was lovely; getting to see everyone I'd missed, catching up on terrible TV, fixing my food cravings, and getting some long overdue film developed!

Since getting back to Kuopio there has been a few minor problems in relation to what courses we wish to take this semester. Originally planning to study the jewelry, metal and precious stone workshop, we were confused when we arrived to class to be greeted by a lot of boys and some heavy metal welding... apparently the jewelry module was full up so they'd put us in the next best thing... Industrial Design. This was clearly not suited for what we wished to achieve this term, so we arranged a meeting with the head of textiles, Kaisa. 

Although I wasn't very stimulated studying textiles here last term, I believe it was because I wasn't driving myself to try knew things enough. We decided that if we were to return to textiles, we should somehow see if we could incorporate ceramics into our work as it was something we both enjoyed from last term. However, after speaking to Kaisa it became obvious that there would be no way to fit this into our timetable, seeing as the whole 3rd semester is very written based and few workshops actually run. Disheartened, we decided to use our time to create some samples in the ceramics department anyway, while we arranged a meeting with the head of Ceramics, Merja, for the following week.

This meeting went much better; similar to textiles, the ceramics department also runs mainly academic-based modules within the 3rd term, although instead of suggesting we join these classes (as Kaisa did), Merja proposed that we make full use of the empty studios to work on an independent project. This was the best possible news to hear, as it was basically what we were going to ask her permission to do. The fact she suggested it to us without having to convince her at all was brilliant!

As no practical lessons are being held, we can use the empty workshops and kilns any time any day, and Merja will be giving no classes this term so she is free to come along and help us out whenever we need.

Our projects are to be marked in accordance to a work agreement she will write up for us, and by meeting the outcomes set by her we will gain our credits for this term.

I intend to explore the relationship between textiles and ceramics during this semester, experimenting with techniques and materials to pursue an innovate and interesting result!

 

Lappi - Lapland!

After a 5am start we finally arrived in Rovaniemi- on the Arctic circle border, at around 1pm. We visited the Arktikum Science Museum where we learned about Sámi life and a little bit of the history of Rovaniemi. Getting back on the coach we headed to our final destination of Saariselkä, much further north east, near to the Norwegian border. After another 4 or so hours we finally arrived.  We were staying in a log cabin which slept 10, the only issue there being 2 double beds so me and Leigh opted to take one, apart from that the cottage was really cosy and everyone we shared with was friendly enough. As it was cloudy out we decided to ditch plans to look out for the Northern Lights in favour of a sauna (with snow rolls) and straight to bed.

The next day we were up early to get on a coach to Bugøynes, a small fishing town in the very North East of Norway, on the Arctic coast. This was another long coach journey, taking around 6 hrs. We had a brief stop at some grocery stores in I believe was a town called Nuorgam - the most northern point in Finland (and the EU), before passing over the border into Norway.  Shortly over the border we could see the landscapes already changing quite drastically, fewer forests and trees and much more plains and craggy mountains (Finland is a fairly flat country). We also had a short stop the Rovijokfossen(?) waterfall, before heading on to the coast. When we arrived at Bugøynes it was 1pm Norwegian time and already the sun was setting. The village itself was tiny and very picturesque, all the houses were cottage sized and brightly coloured! The main reason everyone had travelled here was to swim in the Arctic Ocean, so as soon as we got off the coach we all undressed and ran into the -8 water! It wasn't as bad as I'd expected because the water itself was much warmer than the air temperature, but getting out and back to the coach was a different story. After a little while in the village we headed back to Finland and were in Saariselkä by 8pm.

The sky was pretty cloudy that night and we didn't see anything, but we did have some fun sledging and playing in the snow until it got late and cold! We had another sauna to warm up (obviously) and headed to bed.

Sunday morning we were taken on a snow shoewalk through the Urho Kekkonen National Park, which is home to bears, wolves, reindeer, wolverines, and many other critters! Our guide Visa/Visä(?) showed us how to survive if we were lost in the park - what we could eat, how to create a shelter and start a fire etc. He also pointed out tracks of different animals and told us tales of his times trekking in the wilderness. We had a soup lunch at a cabin cafe and then headed back via cross country skiing. I've downhill skied in the past but this was a lot different and a lot more hard work! Finally getting home we decided to head out with our cabin mates to the local swimming pool (we'd been given a voucher by the tour leaders), this also involved a Turkish style steam room and a good old Finnish sauna. Yet again we were unlucky on the look out for Northern Lights so had an early night.

 

The next we had a husky ride on a 2 person sledge. This was pretty scary at first as we had full control of the dogs! The ride lasted around 45 minutes and I must say I felt pretty bad for the dogs, they seemed to be struggling at times but we didn't push them to go any faster.  Back at the cabin we had another sauna (might as well, as there was on in the cabin). Later that night our tour guides had arranged a farewell get together. While everyone was waiting around outside to be picked up we were lucky enough to see a band of green in the sky!!! Even though it wasn't too strong I'm still amazed I got to see some of the Northern Lights - something I've always wanted to do. We were taken to a wooden tee-pee like structure a little out of town, where there were sausages bbqing on an open fire and hot Glögi for everyone! We were taught a Finnish Christmas song which summoned Santa himself! Who dispensed gifts for everyone (I got a shot glass...) and we soon left as it was COLD! The walk home lead us to this very open piece of land which had almost no light, the view was amazing - I felt as though I'd never seen so much sky in my entire life! There was a 360' view of the stars (there were a lot!) and it blew my mind a little. If only we could have seen the lights there.

Our last day involved visiting a reindeer farm and learning a little bit about the Sámi's relationship with the animal. We also had a reindeer sleigh ride which was nice :) We then headed back to Rovaniemi to visit the Santa Claus Village. This was pretty fun, we got the meet the man himself, although we didn't get a photo as it was like 30€, rip off! We also sent some post cards and got our passports stamped form the Arctic Circle. When our time here was done we finally departed for home arriving in the early hours of Wednesday. Now to catch up on the uni work we missed!!!

Keuruu

This weekend Maarit was kind enough to invite us to her parents cabin in her home town of Keuruu, (us being Myself, Leigh, Gerben, Stef, Peet, Jacopo, and Eleonora - we were also joined by her friend Kaisa). After a 3 hr train ride and a stop off at the citymarket for supplies, we arrived at the cottage. In true Finnish style the first port of call was to heat the sauna ready for use! As it was already dark outside we got cosy with a few drinks and some games, and took turns of the sauna (boys/girls). This involved reaching 85°c & naked rolling in the snow to cool down... COLD! Also, Maarit's brother Ville came round and brought the Monty Python edition of Fluxx which was played before we headed to bed (all of us in one room, it was like a big sleepover!)

We woke up the next morning and had breakfast like one big family, then got our hats and scarves on ready for an early afternoon walk as we left the sauna to heat. Maarit showed us parts of the surrounding area and a snowball fight erupted (of course). We then returned to the cabin ready to sauna again (it was definitely needed after the time spent in the snow), and this time we jumped into the semi-frozen lake between sessions. Another night around the dining room table this time playing Bandu (amazing game involving stacking wooden items to make the tallest tower), and a Finnish-English translation game that we adapted from one of Peet's family traditions.

The last day was spent lazing on the sofa watching 2 and a half men while the boys took a final sauna, then we headed to Maarit and Ville's parents home (and horse ranch). Here we were introduced to the equestrian family members and, most scarily, took turns to ride a horse!! This was a pretty weird experience and although the trotting terrified me, it was fun nonetheless. Finally packed up the cabin headed back to the train station - Kuopio bound.

I had a really nice time and I'm very thankful of Maarit for allowing us all to experience a true Finnish weekend in a cabin in the woods! It was a really beautiful place and was shared with good people and good times!

Pyhäinpäivän Aatto

So it's been Halloween weekend, and of course Leigh and I were more than excited, as usual! KISA threw a party in the Passion nightclub earlier in the week, where Leigh won herself a 50€ voucher for best dressed female! Last night we headed to coursemate Niina's flat for a little party. Her apartment is so nice! Plus she has 3 kittens and a dog :D

Early night tonight as uni starts at 8am tomorrow, off to Helsinki on Thursday, Tallinn on Sunday, and Keuruu the following Friday, busy week!

Oravia

After my first classes in glass and ceramics I can definitely say I'm just as excited (if not more) by this term than I was in my previous blog.

Our induction to glass included a tour of the studios and having a go on various machinery (saws, flame cutters, grinders, etc etc). I must get some photos of the workshop spaces! I created a candle holder from a milk bottle, by cutting it in half, sanding the edges down, and engraving a heart on the front. It was really simple but fun to get so involved on the very first day!

We then had our first ceramics class with the hand-building tutor Jari (we will also be taking throwing  classes on the wheel with a tutor named Merja). This class wasn't so hands on, as we were given the project brief straight up and expected to begin designing possible outcomes. A process much different than I am used to (designing through sampling and experimenting, long before thinking of final ideas), however I'm going to embrace these new ways of working as it's all experience. The only specifics we were given for this class were:

The outcome should be constructed from either coiling, pinching, or slab building techniques

The final piece should have a function

The work should be modular - made up of several parts that piece together

We weren't given any other restrictions. I'm thinking about creating salt and pepper shakers that slot together in some way. I also want to include squirrels in this work somewhere. I like drawing squirrels.

 

Lukukausi KAKSI

We have just began the second term here at Kuopion Muotoiluakatemia. Dropping Textiles in favour of Ceramic and Glass Design, I'm already feeling completely different about my attitude to the work.  The textiles section was fun but there was nothing new in the disciplines studied - felting, weaving, basic print and basketry were all covered in first year of university at Huddersfield. It was nice to be able to revisit these practices, but I found studying them for a whole term to be quite tedious, especially as 'innovation' and 'pushing boundaries' isn't explored or encouraged too much on this course. I came here to learn new skills, and so far I've only produced work which I could create back at home.

This is why I'm so excited about the upcoming Glass and Ceramics term. In secondary school we had excellent ceramic facilities and I appreciate the skills I was taught during those 5 years. I also had very basic experience in glass blowing and moulding, which I really enjoyed.  However, since leaving school in 2006 I haven't had any other chances to develop in these fields.
The opportunity to study in a different discipline from textiles for a whole term is something I'm really looking forward to. For me, working within the same context for long periods of time can have negative results. As a printer I'm constantly made to think about how my drawings can translated to prints - and to a certain degree this has narrowed down my style to be 'print-friendly'.  I feel that being exposed to a completely different working routine - such as clay or glass, can only benefit my work, as I will have to entirely redefine my designing process to suit such materials.
Our tutors in Huddersfield are constantly pushing us to blur boundaries within textiles, and this is something I'd really like to explore during this term.  How can I take my experience from textiles and translate it into ceramics?  Can I manipulate glass as if it were a textile?  What are the differences  between clay and textile, if any?

I can only hope that my enthusiasm to start this course will be obvious in the work I produce.

Snow Day!

We took full advantage of the snow today, and built a snowman! Definitely the biggest/best one I've ever made! The middle ball was far too heavy, so we had to make it a bit smaller so that we could lift it onto the base! My gold snowboots that Leigh hates the sight of kept my feet lovely and toasty which I'm happy about! A nice Finnish boy who'd walked past earlier came back with a carrot for us which was so lovely! And we added a swoopy fringe and glasses to make it look like Rachael. Now we're gonna eat some warm cake and watch a film, good day :)

Catch Up

Add caption

I haven't blogged in a little while because Jacque's been here!! But he left yesterday which I'm pretty sad about. Lonely koala :(

Just before he arrived me and Leigh took the number 19 bus under the pretense that it would take us to Keskusta (town centre) but ended up on a magical mystery tour of the suburbs of Kuopio. Apparently that bus only goes to the centre at certain times... However we did get to see a lot more of the city, which was beautiful! The majority of the areas we've seen are home to apartments and blocks of flats, so it was amazing to be out around tiny little wooden houses with red roofs and perfect gardens! The route also passed over a quite long bridge that spanned a vast lake area which was impressive. Plus, the weather was gorgeous and the autumn sunshine made the colours of the town really vivid!

Today, however, is a different story! We woke up to a very light snowfall outside, yet a wet ground which was preventing any snow from laying. After a morning in uni presenting our final work (we're all done with textiles now, a week off then we start Ceramics and Glass) we popped  into town for some bits and pieces. It had been snowing constantly throughout the morning yet it was still too wet to lie, but as we headed for the bus home we noticed a few patches of snow on the ground around the edges of some pavements. As soon as we got on the bus and left the town centre the snowfall increased, and the closer to home we got the more it was laying on the ground. There was a good covering of around an inch as we walked to the flat, and it hasn't stopped since! It's at about 3" now, crazy! Very different from the fresh crisp autumn that was here a mere 4 days ago...

Kuopion Muotoiluakatemia

I can just about about manage to remember (and pronounce) the name of our school now!!
Anyway, I've posted a lot about what I've been up to in the city but nothing about what I'm actually doing regarding school - the main reason I'm here in Kuopio. This term we opted a textile craft & design course not too dissimilar to the first year of our course at Huddersfield, and next term shall be a ceramics and glasswork course!!

A selection of my work (theme being 'Natural Forms' ...not too inspiring, I'm looking mostly at insects)

Trees

Dead Bird

3D Felting

Basketry (poor attempt!)

Loom weaving with reeds from the lake.