For the past two weeks I have been busy making a display crate for my stage two entry of the John Moores painting prize 2012. I am really happy to have made the cut so far and fingers crossed for actually being accepted into the exhibition.
The team at the John Moores have been extremely helpful, with both Harriet and Richard giving advice and support for the display of what is quite a difficult piece. The work is on re-claimed plasterboard and I have had to make a cradle with split baton and then a display crate to show the piece without it actually being handled.
I did quite a bit of research and finally came up with the following design, I also wanted to include the crate in the artwork and wanted to paint the crate up like an army crate, just to tie in with the painting. I found this wonderful green paint and some great handles. I hand cut some stencils this morning just to add the directions for opening and safe storage
I finally finished the art crate this morning after getting up at 5am to put the finishing touches to it. I am quite pleased with it! I borrowed the LIME arts trusty van and set off to Liverpool to deliver the painting to the back of the World Museum. Here I was greeted by Harriet and Richard and they helped me in with what has become quite a large and heavy piece.
I checked the painting to make sure that the crate had done its job and was relieved to find it all in one piece, I quickly touched up the black frame and handed it over! It is now over to the judges to see if it meets their idea of the best of contemporary painting. Fingers Crossed!