For the exercise I explored two sites both within Nottingham City centre. Nottingham Wellbeing Hub – a central hub for supporting those facing alcohol, drugs, mental health, housing and employment issues

and

Nottingham Contemporary – a visual arts centre displaying contemporary art works from across the world.

Nottingham Wellbeing Hub

I first sat in the reception/waiting area of the hub and then a secondary waiting area, which contains quiet meeting space and leads to interview rooms. I sketched and took notes about those using the space, how they interacted with the space and how busy the spaces were at the time of my visit – Friday 18^th Jan, 10am – 12pm.

Nottingham Contemporary

There are 4 galleries within The Nottingham Contemporary. I walked around all 4 but spent most of my time sketching and taking notes in the two larger galleries, 3 & 4.

How I will record my findings for exercise 1:2

On my next visit I will record my findings by taking further sketches, photographs and recordings of the sounds within the space. I will gather any available maps or plans of the space and add colour to my sketches to highlight the features which I find important.

Compare, analyse and select

When in the Wellbeing Hub I found I looked at the space on a larger scale, taking in the full picture. Whilst in the Contemporary I zoned in on particular areas and features.

There were many more people in the Wellbeing Hub, but in both sites people were coming and going. Staff were moving around, sometimes seeing them, sometimes not. Staff in the Wellbeing Hub had speed and purpose and service users came with purpose.

Staff in the contemporary, stood, moved slowly, stood and moved again. The public came in, moved around usually slowly, sometimes skirting walls which displayed art, sometimes from wall to centre and around. Most moved with what seemed like caution and care, peering in, reading, looking, walking.

I however found I took more note and notice of people in the Wellbeing Hub than I did the Contemporary. Whilst in the contemporary I was intrigued by the space, the shapes and forms within the galleries, trying to focus on the gallery space’s rather than the current exhibition, as it of course is ever changing. 

I am choosing the Nottingham Contemporary to focus and complete the further exercises on. For the reason that the building intrigued me and that I feel I have more to learn about the way people move around the galleries.

Reflection on experience

I found sitting in a space sketching and taking notes a much easier experience than I expected. I had expected to feel awkward and or uncomfortable. Most people however, left me to it not bothering with me or what I was doing so I felt I could work quite freely.

I still feel disappointed with my quality of sketching – and perspective! I’m hoping the more I do the better it will get?

Next time I will try using different hardness of pencils and add colour but the main thing I will do differently is just spend some time, walking round, watching and taking in the space before I start to sketch or take notes. I will allow myself the space and time to take in the atmosphere.