Commission #21

Searching for Celluloid

The Idea

To create a large-scale feature length cinematic tapestry from abandoned celluloid film. Having collected a scrap film from Cornerhouse and a small amount from junk shops and the North West Film Archive, the commission would secure the purchase of at least one feature film meaning the work can definitely develop to a larger scale.

It would enable further investigation into filmmaking and projection, developing the artists' approach to the physical creation of the work. Mary will spend time with a projectionist at Cornerhouse and with a film editor in a commercial lab to observe their physical processes with film. Up to now, Mary has been working in a mathematical way dictated by the length of film in metres, but she wants the form of the work to emerge from the narrative of the films she finds and the technological processes of filmmaking and cinema.

Mary also intends to explore derelict cinemas, car boot sales and websites. She will use a blog to record the places visited and where films are found. The project will take on an archival aspect with multiple narratives interwoven, the plots of the films, plus the stories of where they have come from.

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Profile

Mary Stark

Mary Stark is an artist, photographer and filmmaker based in Manchester. She is interested in changing technology, ideas that emerge from interdisciplinary dialogue, and the ‘expanded fields’ of photography and cinema. Her practice focuses on exploring media and materiality in a digital age, with a specific interest in celluloid film. She is fascinated by links between the analogue and the digital, the physical and the virtual, the computerised and the handmade.

Mary has worked in a variety of roles in the arts, in education and with young offenders, teaching media production and project managing professional short films and documentaries. After completing a degree in Embroidery in 2006, Mary is now studying for an MA in Photography at the Manchester School of Art graduating September 2012.

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The process

Research & Production

Mary has documented the explorations of the material and the development of her large-scale artwork over the last few weeks. She has also visited archives, cinemas, film labs and exhibitions to help her move forward with the project.

To get an idea on how it all took shape, watch this stop motion video showing the process of creating the woven tapestry from super 8mm film >>

And catch up with Mary's research and progress on her blog.

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The Result

Expand Exhibition

Mary is showing the work she's made with the Micro Commission funding at 3 Piccadilly Place this Thur 19 Jan - Sun 22 Jan. Her work is part of the group show Expand: an exhibition of work from MA Photography students. MMU Media LAB. Opening times are Thur 5-9pm, Fri 12-6pm, Sat & Sun 11-5pm.

Do pop in and take a look for yourself.

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