Page 128 of The Examiner

Jonathan Danners

If the final project is a success – which it will be – there won’t be any blame to throw around.

Patrick Bright

That’s right, Jonathan. We’ll all be singing each other’s praises, that’s for sure.

Jem Badhuri

Any failings will be attributed to the project leader. Glad it’s not me. Will Alyson and Cameron be doing long essays?

Alyson Lang

We have to submit an essay to graduate. I’ll be positive about the project leader. He was the best thing about it.

Cameron Wesley

Why call it ‘the long essay’ for God’s sake? Puts everyone off. Call it ‘the main essay’ or ‘the course essay’. ‘The LONG essay’ gives it an air of dread and gloom. That’s going in my introduction.

To: Mae Blackwell

From: Gela Nathaniel

Date: 6 May 2024

Subject: Royal Hastings MA installation

Dear Mae,

My course admin is making plans for the MA examination, of which your installation is the pièce de résistance. Please may I check you’re happy for us to photograph the tunnel and the centrepiece once it’s in place at your headquarters? Only we can’t fully assemble it here.

In addition, it would be fabulous to have a short film of guests interacting with the installation. I can make this film myself. In fact I can also film the group as they build the piece, which would work very well – especially as I’m supposed to help them as little as possible! Once the structure is in place, I’m going to suggest the students make themselves available around the piece, to answer questions from your guests, perhaps explain how RD8’s history inspired them, etc.

Would you, or one of your colleagues, be happy to be interviewed on-camera about how valuable to a corporation a collaboration such as this is? I’m thinking beyond this year now, as next year, hopefully, I’ll be seeking another private enterprise to sponsor a real-world artwork.

Please let me know your thoughts as soon as possible.

Very best wishes,

Gela

To: Gela Nathaniel

From: Mae Blackwell

Date: 6 May 2024

Subject: Re: Royal Hastings MA installation

Dear Gela,

I am afraid there is no possibility of you speaking to our employees. As for filming our guests, that is absolutely out of the question. The invitations clearly state that photography is not permitted on RD8 property.

We have not yet discussed the role your students will play on the day of the event. We would prefer that they assemble their artwork an hour or two prior to our first guests arriving, then vacate the premises. However, as the installation hasn’t been built to the health-and-safety standards required by a free-standing structure, I feel they should be present to ensure it doesn’t collapse or items fall off it.

While our presentation takes place, they may move to the kitchen with the catering staff. Once the guests have gone, around 9 p.m., they will have until 11 p.m. to break the installation down and remove it. Alternatively I can arrange for it to be destroyed in our incinerator. Let me know.

I hope this isn’t too much of a problem.