- Card has been commissioned from
artist, Donald Barr, a recent SimVis graduate - Glasgow’s Pollok Park forms
backdrop to atmospheric film
The Glasgow School of Art has unveiled its
2016 Christmas Card today, 14 December 2016. Made in Pollok Park, the film and
sound track are the work of artist Donald Barr, a recent Master’s graduate in
Sound for The Moving Image from the GSA’s School of Simulation and Visualisation
(SimVis).
2016 Christmas Card today, 14 December 2016. Made in Pollok Park, the film and
sound track are the work of artist Donald Barr, a recent Master’s graduate in
Sound for The Moving Image from the GSA’s School of Simulation and Visualisation
(SimVis).
A fir tree in the woods appears to decorate itself as
if it is coming into bloom for Christmas…Glitter, decorations and lights appear
to spring forth from the natural world. Decorations are revealed like bulbs
reaching out of the soil. Strands of tinsel glide through dark water like sea
serpents. In a fleetingly glimpsed paracosmic parallel world created with macro
lens, the tree is decorated from within and without.In the opening shot the GSA
tree is just one tree among many, in the final shot it becomes a decorated
Christmas tree blossoming miraculously in the night-time forest.
if it is coming into bloom for Christmas…Glitter, decorations and lights appear
to spring forth from the natural world. Decorations are revealed like bulbs
reaching out of the soil. Strands of tinsel glide through dark water like sea
serpents. In a fleetingly glimpsed paracosmic parallel world created with macro
lens, the tree is decorated from within and without.In the opening shot the GSA
tree is just one tree among many, in the final shot it becomes a decorated
Christmas tree blossoming miraculously in the night-time forest.
“My film’s genesis
stems from memories of being driven to school in the dark winter mornings as a
small child,” says Barr. “Christmas trees would appear gradually in windows,
first just one or two… then eventually, in almost every house…..As if by
magic….. Nothing was more exciting. Darkness and growing wonder.”
stems from memories of being driven to school in the dark winter mornings as a
small child,” says Barr. “Christmas trees would appear gradually in windows,
first just one or two… then eventually, in almost every house…..As if by
magic….. Nothing was more exciting. Darkness and growing wonder.”
The GSA Christmas Card is always one of the
most eagerly anticipated creative contributions to the festive season. Recent
cards were commissioned from James Houston (2013), BAFTA Award winning filmmaker,
Ross Hogg (2014), and Lawrence Chan (2015).
most eagerly anticipated creative contributions to the festive season. Recent
cards were commissioned from James Houston (2013), BAFTA Award winning filmmaker,
Ross Hogg (2014), and Lawrence Chan (2015).
Ends
Further information
Lesley Booth
0779 941 4474
Notes
for Editors
- SimVis (formerly known as the
Digital Design Studio) works at the cutting edge of 3D digital technology. Among
its many acclaimed projects are the award-winning Scottish Ten (a partnership
with Historic Environment Scotland), the archaeology of Staffa and Fingal’s
Cave (with the National Trust for Scotland), a fully interactive 3D virtual Amy
Johnson (with the University of Hull) and the definitive 3D Human Anatomy (with
the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and NES Scotland). Currently a
centre of postgraduate teaching and research, from 2018 SimVis will also offer
undergraduate programmes.
- The
GSA tree was planted in Pollok Park and shot
on location with kind permission of Glasgow City Council and the Park