Sunday 10.10.10 at 2pm

Powers of Ten Day

Out of a point a world develops.

Scott Building, School of Art & Media,

University of Plymouth

2010-2011

Monday to Friday 9am-5pm

For the launch of the project Spot ON and its accompanying first exhibition we are happy to invite you for the presentation of Powers of Ten, the well-known film by Charles & Ray Eames, in a specific setting. Apart from the fact that this film is an important inspiration for the project by connecting the infinitely small to the infinitely large, it also enables us to put this into practice by connecting to the worldwide celebration of Powers of Ten Day as initiated by the Eames Office.

Spot ON researches the potential of the small gallery space at the entrance of the ScOtt Building by connecting it to a wider worldview. Situated at a symbolically important location – both entrance to the school and exit to the world – the gallery acts as a portal or gateway. The dot that symbolizes the galleries size is central to Spot ON and is a starting point for in depth focus, discussions and collaborations. It is a peeping hole that opens up to other dimensions, a connecting hub between art, media and science. It connects to the universal idea of the small that connects to the big and vice versa.

Playing with the expression ‘spot on’ as the exact right place to be and the o in Scott, the project makes playful use of dots, circles and spheres as points of attention. (Interestingly the logo of the University of Plymouth is also circular; it alludes to the legend that Sir Francis Drake first wanted to end his game of bowls before attending to the Spanish Armada.)

Connecting to the wider concern of the Centre for Media, Art & Design Research (MADr) in making research visible Spot ON wants to make the point that successful innovation is all about making connections. Throughout the year the project will connect artists and scientists, both from within and outside the university. (Interestingly the organisational chart of MADr is set up on the basis of connecting circles.)

Dots, circles and spheres are also central to the practice of curator Edith Doove, who as contributing researcher with Transtechnology Research, has been invited to develop Spot On as part of her research.

Spot ON will run all year and consists of a combination of commissions and proposals, talks and meetings. The program is contingent in so far that it is open to suggestions and unexpected developments. It is ongoing and fluid as each part will inform the next.

Each presentation within the project will have only one piece of art, regardless its medium, as its centre of attention.

The ground floor of the Scotts Building will serve as a place to expand on the general concept of the project and the working process of each presentation. The open plan office of Liz Nicol, who is an active participant in the project, will serve as a place for discussion. Students and staff can meet regularly with Edith Doove to discuss the project and possible contributions.

Spot ON is a project of ed.projects – Edith Doove

in collaboration with

Centre for Media, Art & Design Research  (MADr)

Follow the project on http://spotonedp.wordpress.com/