#settting up

Well it's has happened, the Opening Night of 14m2 at Bonzo down Albert Road. I think the best way to approach this section of my blog is to break it up into sections rather than having on long post. 

First part of opening night - Setting Up

We had decided to head down to Bonzo at 10am to start setting up, that way we would allow for plenty of time to put up our photographs, reorganise the studio is needed and get any last minute supplies. 

First thing first, tidying. Bonzo was still recovering from the Man Attacked By exhibition the week before as well as the screen printing workshop that night, so upon our arrival there were a few prints lying around (must admit I had a little nosey through them before we tidied up as I would love to learn screen printing) but we quickly piled them up and moved them onto one of the 'Hot Desks' in order for them not to get damaged while we took over. Next was moving the chairs and coffee table, between me and Zoe we managed to move them into the corners of the shop. This had opened up the entire floor space and we were able to get to all of the green wall and grey wall (we were still waiting on the white cover for the graffiti wall at this point as the person with it was running late) so we began claiming our spots and starting hanging our prints. Overall as a team we have got along very well, with all of us helping each other out when hanging our work. The process went rather smoothly, with Nik from Yatta Magazine on site creating a time lapse of it all and offering a few tips. Prints on walls and name plates/QR tags/other pieces of information up, we were ready for the exhibition. 

Next was our opening night details, first and most excitingly was the revealing of our t-shirts. The day before Jess and Lauren were up bright and early to go to Brilens to screen print out tops. During the week before all the group (minus one person who despite continuous opportunities didn't bother supplying a t-shirt) had given Jess our black t-shirts so we knew that everyone would have one and the Facebook post of our t-shirts once they were printed was received with many a 'like' from the team. Wearing the t-shirt would allow anyone coming to the opening night to know who was exhibiting work and would hopefully feel more comfortable in approaching us. 

The final piece of the setting up jigsaw was the food and drink. The night before Zoe, Katy and Jess went shopping for these opening night essentials which were being stored down the road from Bonzo at Zoe's house. There was no point in bringing it to the studio yet as it was only 12 and opening wasn't for 6 hours so we decided that we'd meet up again at 4.30pm at Bonzo. Then we could all help transport the refreshments from Zoe's to Bonzo, begin spreading it out and have any last minute talks. It would also provide the perfect opportunity for a group photograph of everyone in our matching 14m2 exhibition tops.