Final Project Ideation

Mapping intimate spaces...

First we have to ask what is "intimate"? Is it a personal space that is yours alone? Can it be a public space that you have made your own? How do we as individuals define intimacy?

Let's take a look at the meaning of the word....

²intimate

adjective in·ti·mate \ˈin-tə-mət\

: having a very close relationship : very warm and friendly

: very personal or private

: involving sex or sexual relations

Full Definition of INTIMATE

1

a :  intrinsic, essential

b :  belonging to or characterizing one's deepest nature

2

:  marked by very close association, contact, or familiarity <intimateknowledge of the law>

3

a :  marked by a warm friendship developing through long association<intimate friends>

b :  suggesting informal warmth or privacy <intimate clubs>

4

:  of a very personal or private nature <intimate secrets>

Given the nature of the word, this assignment could take any direction.

My first thought was to map my fridge. It's a space in my home that no one considers other than myself (because I can never find space for food since it's often filled with beer). It's a place that people stick things in, often never to think of them again. (I end up clearing out the fridge because no one else can be bothered to throw out their leftovers.. We often have things sitting in there for months that should be long gone.)

I went home from class and started creating my strategy for this project. I spent a good hour inventorying the freezer (which is the emptiest part).... and photographing the freezer.

I was using the Out of Milk app in hopes to speed up the process, but it was still slow going. I was scanning the barcodes but not every item can be scanned.

I moved on to the fridge, but after an hour with the door alone, I started to reconsider the project. I've been taking photos of the fridge and freezer 2x a day since Wednesday, but I am not feeling a connection with the project on the whole.

I went on a walk today with my dog and she was limping along. It was the slowest walk ever, as she hobbled along and decided to lay on the ground. As I was looking at the ground trying to get her up, I started to notice the plants that take hold in the smallest nooks with the tiniest amounts of dirt possible.

I am going to create a map of my block using google earth and mark the spots where I find plants growing. I will then use Illustrator to create an illustrated map of my block's botany.

I don't try to hide the fact I don't like San Francisco. There isn't really much that makes me appreciate the city. But sometimes when I slow down and notice the little things like flowers blooming in the squalor, it makes it a bit more bearable.

Outside Event 2 - Picture Puzzle Pattern Door @ YBCA

Thursday was Third Thursdays at Yerba Buena, which also was ConVerge at the Gallery. An evening of free admission to the YBCA galleries and performances.

I didn't have enough notice to share to the class (sorry), but I happened upon it using Google FieldTrip - If you still haven't checked it out, do it. It helps you find stuff in your area you may not otherwise know about. :) 

Shanna Moulton's Picture Puzzle Pattern Door is an interdisciplinary installation that features audio, video, collage and interactive installations. 

I wasn't able to stay for the live performances, but I did make my way through the galleries. 

My favorite part of the installation was MentalWave SitPlace, a round seating area that featured the ThoughtStream USB Personal Biofeedback Unit. The participant uses the biofeedback unit to relax using tones and galvanic response registered by a hand sensor. I spent a while there and sort of want to get one myself. 

A lot of the other work was collage from magazine and collections of items as well as a gallery that played 4 videos simultaneously. 

The videos used a lot of green screen to allow the artist to place her self in different scenes. Much of the work had New Age and self actualization undertones but also felt sort of cheesy in a 1980's low budget way. 

Possible Paper Topics

The thought of a paper has thrown me off. 

Not that I can't think of something to write, I always can. 

I am troubled by the idea of trying to explore cartography in this way. I am, at times, still struggling to blaze my path into some of the more conceptual pieces we have looked at. Occasionally, this is too far out of my comfort zone. I find myself asking the question "is this REALLY art?". 

But then again, I find myself asking that question on the regular. I have a friend who works exclusively in piano. I can't say I truly understand this and while it's interesting to look at, does that really make it art? 

Truth be told, I don't know. 

Is art the process or the product? Is it the invisible statement or the written statement that often accompanies it. 

But mapping, it's a part of our life. Every day. Even when you don't think about it. Your calendar is a map to your day. Your contacts list is a map to your connections. Your grocery list is a map tied to your kitchen. 

Possible topics... 

Historical origins of map iconography - Maps were often beautifully illustrated with sometimes fantastical creatures. Where did those come from? When did elements of maps become "standard"? 

What happens to cartography when everyone becomes a cartographer. I ask myself this question about a lot of topics with the advances of technology. Photography used to be a specialized thing, but seriously, I can snap better quality photos on my phone than the camera I bought even 5 years ago AND edit the photos on my phone. What effect, if any, does this phenomena have on mapping? 

Doug McCune Show

Unfortunately it's not in SF :(

Type A Machines had shared a link about the opening for this show and since they are a local company, I clicked on it thinking "Sweet, I'll totally go to this tomorrow"

Yeah, not so much.

Here's a link to the info.

Super sad it's in OR and not in SF.