10th - 14th April (Easter Hoilday)

This week, I have been doing more research into the history of Weston Super Mare by reading several books and organising every event onto one timeline, which was time consuming, however, it has allowed me to clearly see how the town has progressed and the characteristics that have remained after so many years. The one thing I have learnt is that the donkeys we know on the seaside were once used to carry the fisherman's catch of the day during the 18th century (not the same donkey's obviously), showing the relevance of these activities and proving that the town does provide activities that allow people to interact with history; however, one thing I should suggest is that the tourists were informed of this history and the significance of these activities because I wouldn't think that even the locals know of this history, and it would make the tourists feel inspired by each visit.

I have also looked through my sketchbook and added a sticky note to explain how I could use my research, which allows me to get ideas on how I can move on and it allows me to move on faster because I only have 5 weeks left after coming back from holiday! I will primarily be focusing on my research and ideas during this project because after I display my work, I will have the half term in May to finish my sketchbooks so I can prioritise practical activities rather than annotation; as long as I keep a brief note on what my thoughts are then it will be easier to get back to.

Additionally, this week I have come across signs from the 'Wonders of Weston' project whilst walking on along the beach. It amazes me that I had never seen them before, however, I feel that doing this project has put me into the mindset of a tourist and I have become more observant and enthusiastic about my home town, which contrasts with the attitudes of the locals as they see the town as everyday surroundings. The project was set up in 2008- 2010 in order to revitalize seaside towns. These signs were created by Wrights & Sites based on the town's characteristics. The project is called 'how to build a town' and it is meant to challenge ‘the assertion of regeneration to improve upon or to replace what is already in existence’; the viewer is taken through historical and contemporary stories behind each piece of architecture, making the viewer think and place value on each area.  I like these signs because they are imaginative and make the viewer consider the architecture more. These signs have certainly made an impression on me and the more you try to read into these signs, the more you want to find out about the history of the town. In a way, these signs have been rebranding the town because they are making the viewer see areas of Weston in a different perspective.
I have also been researching an abstract artist called Kandinsky, who focuses on colour, form and symbolism. I am considering using symbolism in my work through semiotic theory because I am interested in conveying what isn't accurately within the image in order to create a simple and powerful brand; I want to be able to depict Weston's character and personality in a simplistic manner, making the viewer feel comfortable looking at the design as well as being able to interpret what the town is about and the atmosphere that is given out as soon as you step into the town centre.
Next, I am hoping to research the different methods in which Weston has promoted their town throughout history, which will allow me to gain an idea on how communication has changed and what the current trend is. Additionally, I have used the data from the survey to collect other secondary resources regarding crime rate, weather and population, so I am hoping to read more into that in order to identify whether the town is a safe place, whether I can represent the town as a sunny seafront, and identify at what caused the town to have a rapid increase in population. I will make a mind map in my sketchbook saying how I could represent the town without going against the brand promise, which will give me a clearer idea of what I need to do, and it acts as a piece of visual information that I could reflect back on throughout this project. I was hoping to do more this week in ways of idea generation, however, it is more important to get my research sorted in order to further my understanding and to make my idea generation more relevant to what I am trying to achieve. I might consider using the Wonders of Weston quotations within my project, or highlight the importance of different aspects within Weston;  I am very interested in the poetic language that this group has used and it has made me think about what rebranding actually is, so I will consider this work as I move closer into my project.