Lettering on the bay window - first things first

I arrived in Belfast on Sunday the 27th May, filled with ideas and ready to start working. First, I had to convert the gallery space of PS2 into a functional workshop, also capable of welcoming visitors and make them feel a bit more like customers in a shop than gallery visitors. Since the main activity of the art repair shop, turning objects into artworks, couldn’t start before the workshop was fitted and ready, I wanted to get it done as quickly as possible. In keeping with Peter’s philosophy, we decided to use as much recycled material as possible, and only buy what was absolutely necessary. In a way, this turned building the workshop itself into something very much like turning broken objects into art.

Building the counter from scrap wood.

Luckily enough PS2 has a room in the back filled with salvaged materials from earlier shows. Since Peter likes artists who dares take on the space and really transform it, he had more plywood and mdf than I could use, all painted in funky bright colours. I scavenged what was there, cut it up, and reassembled it into a simple shop cum workshop.

In the middle of the build it all looked chaotic, but I had a clear plan in my head.

I spent Monday and Tuesday building, late into the evening, covering the floor with saw dust and wood chippings. The thing about building a theatre set, which this really is like, is that the fitting can be done swiftly and just using eye measurements, it doesn’t matter if it’s all a little bit wonky, as long as you paint it afterwards. The paint brings it all together and really tricks the eye. All badly cut edges, slightly too big gaps, and mixed dimensions of wood become invisible once they all have the same colour. The paint I had to choose from was also what was left over from previously, and I was lucky enough that someone had left a full tin of a lovely (or so) institutional green, which I used to tie everything together.

Look carefully and you'll see that it was all done in a hurry...

...but most people don't really notice details, at least not at first.

Wednesday was spent painting and dressing, with tools and furniture, and Thursday I could finally open for the first customer. Or actually, the first customer dropped by on Wednesday. Shiro Masuyama (the only Japanese artist in Northern Ireland according to himself) had heard about it and cleverly used the opportunity to occupy slots 1 to 3 in the newly built object shelf.

The shelf with objects awaiting conversion, from behind the counter.

The final touch however, was hanging the big sign on Thursday. Now I felt ready to invite customers/visitors and get on with the important bit – making art.

Any good shop needs a proper sign.