Mossbourne Academy
Workshop
Mossbourne Parkside Academy
London, 2019
In this creative collage workshop with Year 2 pupils, Nick talked about his 10 year career as a professional artist and his use of obsolete technology in his work.
His vinyl paintings and montage art were shown as inspirational examples of his art that uses recycled materials. The children then got the chance to use some of these objects to create their own collage portraits. They were introduced to VHS cassette tapes, which many had never seen before and were inspired to use these cultural relics in their collage artworks.
Cultural artefacts
Objects from the past have helped to shape the world we live in today. By using these cultural artefacts in art it gives us a way to understand who we are and the way we live.
What are floppy disks?
Floppy disks or diskettes are a form of small portable data storage composed of a thin and flexible disk of a magnetic storage medium in a square plastic enclosure. Today they are considered a vintage data storage format from the 1990s era that has since become obsolete.
How much do floppy disks hold?
1.44 megabytes. A regular 3.5 inch floppy disk has a storage capacity of 1.44 megabytes of data, which is much less than a CD-ROM disk or USB flash drive. This is usually enough for simple text documents or for a small number of jpeg image files.
Are floppy disks still made?
No. Most manufacturers have stopped producing floppy disks (as of 2020). In the 1990s it was the predominant data storage format, but has since become obsolete.
When did floppy disks die?
2011. The floppy disk died in 2011 as that was the year when Sony stopped making them. Re-writable CDs were introduced at around that time. They had the same capabilities as floppy disks but also had more storage capacity.
Why are floppy disks not used today?
They have been made obsolete by technically superior products becoming available. Floppy disks have moving parts and so are sensitive to moisture and dust. They have a low data transfer rate. Many newer computers don't have a floppy drive, which makes it an unreliable storage device.
Should I keep my floppy disks?
If they are stored properly, they can keep data indefinitely. Otherwise consider reusing them for a project of you own, or even better get in touch and send them to me to use in my art!
BBC Education Series - Making Art Work
BBC Two interviewed Nick Gentry in a series of educational videos and career advice for young artists entitled ‘Making Art Work’
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