Day 12

My Little helper Miro

14.06.2010

Where do I start today??? Do I attempt to complete the facing wall......or move to the wall opposite to the door...... Ok! so I decided to try and finish the facing wall, this is going to be slow as I have to keep on checking that they are as level as possible.

10.00 Visit from Heikki of YIT and 7 of his guests.

A wonderful little boy named Miro and his mother visited, Miro asked his mother if he could live in the Palapeli Talo - Jig-saw-puzzle house.... I replied that it might get a little bit cold in the winter time. I then asked if he would like to help me put some puzzle pieces on the threads, I showed him how,..... he then very carefully chose the pieces he wanted and with a little help from mum placed 2 pieces for me. I have written his name on the back of one of his pieces......Thank you Miro!

I had 2 ex-Voimala workers today, one who used to work in this very hall and the second who's father had also worked here, he told of how he would bring his children for sauna evenings and seemed very curious about the second level, I would loved to have taken him up there, but it's dangerous and any way there nothing up there as all the machines have been stripped out. He seemed deeply lost in his memories and I felt a little sad.

30+ visitors today and I didn't quite manage to finish the wall......nearly.

Day 10 & 11

Day 10
































Not much to write about today, I worked all day in one particular area and don't really feel like I made alot of progress, I'm sure I did but it was just filling work and so I done see what I have done.

There have been alot of visitors today which suprises me as it's been raining constantly and I would have thought that it would keep people in their homes, but as it's reasonably warm outside (not in here! I have my hat and gloves on again!) people are still happy to venture out.

My body really aches all over especially my back, it was probably from working balanced on the ladder all day yesterday!!!!



















Day 11

I came in an hour early today.......it's damp, windy and wet and as I felt I made so little progress yesterday I thought I would take the opportunity to see what its like towork with the doors closed.
I have a lone pigeon inside I hope he/she finds a way out today! ok now I hear another bird, I don't know what it is as I am no authority on bird song... well at least it's singing!

.....strangely lonely without the soundscape!

11.00 Doors Open

Lots of visitors... one of my regular visitors came to see how I am progressing, nice to have a follower!
Two ladies came in and asked where are the paintings if this is an exhibition??
Two curious young boys on their bikes hesitated at the door and called out "What are you doing in there!" to which I replied "Come in and see!" In they came and proceeded to ask about everything; the works....the building...What's this?....What's that? and Where does that go? Wonderful curiousity!

1.30 It must be my busiest day so far!

2.55 The second roof pitch is on its way and the position for the second window is marked!

At least 35 visitors

Day 8

Yesterday when I got home and checked my messages I discovered to my dismay that the Youth Theatre workshop had been cancelled..... I am really disappointed! It took alot of work to write and plan and I was looking forward to the experiance! Oh well it gives me more tine on the installation.

I also got a message from Tuomas telling me that he and Jukka would be at Voimala at 10.00 to meet the press, this is a second visit from Aamuposti which is great. They were with us for 2 hours, lots of photos and talk so I really look forward to seeing the results.

Todays plan for the work was to work out the pitch of the roof, this is slow and uncomfortable work as I have to be up the ladder. The pitch is a bit steeper than I had wished owing to the reduced width of the mesh from which the work is hanging.

I worked the full 8 hours today with no break as I really wanted to complete the roof pitch as it was slower work than I had thought, but I felt happy with the end result as it feels like it's taking form now.

Tomorrow I will continue with the window wall and see how much of that I can complete.































A day well spent!

Day 6 & 7

For the last two days a really strong wind has been blowing through the doors of Voimala causing the threads sway violently.

Today I decided to try a new and hopefully faster way to attach the puzzle pieces and that would reduce the sway factor.

Therefore saving me time from trying to catch the treads as they blow in the wind, although it took some time to set up in the end it worked well.

Day 5

05.06.2010

Yesterday was a cold day there was a strong wind blowing through the doors straight to where I was working and I felt that my progress was slow.

In preparation today, I have with me; fingerless gloves, a hat and slightly warmer clothes.

As I cycled to Voimala there was a fierce wind but I noted as I reached Voimala that it was in a different direction so maybe no need for the hat!

The early part of the day was quiet as far as visitors goes, a chance to push forward fixing the puzzle pieces, I have a week and a few days left before the Youth Theatre Workshop begins and I have to have the walls and door entrance in place so that they have something to work with......!

One thing I have noticed so far is that those visitors who do take the courage and enter are fascinated by the space and to my surprise truly engage with the work, through discussion and involvement they understand what I am doing and why......... these are not fellow artists but the general public, most of whom are local residents. The most engaging so far are those of an older generation who have known Voimala in it's working life time and who are genuinely pleased to see the doors open to what was once the heart beat of Riihimäki.

Voimala brought power and electricity to Riihimäki before which there had been none! The Paloheimo Power plant was unique for it's time in so much as unlike other existing power plants Voimala produced it's energy from waste.

The more I meet and talk with people about the work the happier I am that I pursued this project.........hearing peoples opinions concerning Place and it's varying roles in our cultural identity as a means of providing the foundations from which to build and shape our future give great validation to the work.

Through the works in this exhibition people are talking, questioning and sharing. Peoples voices and opinions that are seldom given a Space to be heard now have that platform.

Day 3.

03.06.2010

22 visitors

No Pigeons his morning!!!

Today I feel tired.

Today my first plan is to finish off the lower level line then to look and plan where the entrance will be and the place for a window.

Just had my first visitor of the day... He used to work here in Voimala in Marketing and Sales, we had a lond chat about the site and its future, I mentioned that there is very little information about the inside workings of the old power plant and he said that he new another man who used to work here and he would be a great sourse of information about the places history especially the huge machines as that was his speciality, I have his name and I dream of finding a translator in order to interview him. He is already in his late 70's so time is of the essance.

As a consequence of feeling tired, it feels like my progrss today is very slow.



















3.00 Sirpa from Hämeen Taidetoimikunta has just arrived with a gift from Hämeen Taidetoimikunta, and what a perfect present! Thank You!
Now I can do my work in comfort and style.

4.15 Visit by Hämeen Taidetoimikunta.

Pictures of some progress toay!

Day 2.

02.06.2010

The first thing I discovered on arrival this morning at Voimala was that a pigeon had flown though the hanging threads leaving behind a tangled mess and a few feathers in the process, this could be a problem.......lets see!

Now to untangle!
1 hour and 15 mins later I have untied the tangled wieghts and re-tied them.... now to continue.
11.45 all the weights are now in place.






















Time for a coffee!







12.00 visitors from Riihimäki Theatre and Hämeen Liitto

- start to fix the puzzle pieces...beginning with the corners and the lowest edges creating the frame work for the house.

2.45 the first lower line is level!!

13 visitors so far.




























I am still amazed how fast the time goes.