Questions about the place: Emerson is a very small community. The people that live there, especially those that have grown up there, are effected by this in different ways. How does the close, "family town" atmosphere effect those people, positively and negatively? How does it provide a sense of comfort for some and a sense of confinement for others?
Investigation of the place: I have already done some factual research on the town and explored the town webpage, describing town activities, the government, schools, etc. I was also thinking about asking my main questions to some people that reside there. Still thinking if this will be useful.
Artists: When looking up place-based art I stumbled upon an artist named Justin Marable. A lot of his pieces involve brightly colored landscape with silkscreened landmarks featured in his surronding area. They are really interesting and give a unique look at the place where he is from. Although I was thinking more on a 3 dimensional level, his work has led me to contemplate reconsidering my concept slightly.
Ideas for artmaking: I still like my original idea of the paper mache "bubble," featuring a sense of comfort on the inside while the outside represents facts, giving a sense of confinement. I am going to do some sketches though on how I could use the work of Marable as an influence. I like his bold use of color with one solitary element of his place. An element of my hometown that I want to work with is the one traffic light that hangs in the center of the town. I have to work the actual artmaking out as it is a bit rough right now, but I know I definitely want to use the idea of "the bubble" and the traffic light.
The center of town
Me in the center of town
This is a great concept which presents a clear and concise objective. I think the idea of using the street light is a good one, especially because it represents just how simple and small your home town really is.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that you may not need to use other peoples thoughts from your town in your project. This seems to be much more of a personal discovery as to if your home town makes you feel confined or safe and comfortable. Maybe the questions you could ask yourself would pertain to your childhood there, and how it felt once you were grown up and ready to move on. It might have been the best place in the world to you from ages 8-12 but could have felt like a prison in your high school years.
I enjoy the idea of a paper mache bubble you might make. However when I envision this bubble I see stuff on the inside too, almost like a terrarium. Obviously this would be quite challenging especially with paper but I feel as though nothing would suite "the bubble" better.
I think that you could incorporate some very fun and interesting things with text in this project. Maybe you could do some interviews with people from your town or just write a bit yourself about what being from a small town means to you.
ReplyDeleteYou could also try a lot of different things with physical maps and the visual symbols of cartography.
I am interested in how you would display your final bubble project. Standing? Hanging? Projecting out from a wall? I think you have a lot of different possibilities in this project. Maybe several different bubbles?
I love you idea- I am really interested in how your place provides such a juxtaposition between comfort and confinement- I really like the artwork you will be making, which I see as working visually and conceptually.
ReplyDeleteI don't think anything is missing from the explanation. Maybe you want to further consider what aspect of this you are more intrigued with-town and explored the town webpage, describing town activities, the government, schools, etc and how you could place emphasis on this.
I think it might be helpful for you to define your aspects of your main idea. You have though put a lot of thought in this already, and I really do like your idea. I think landscape artists and map based artists could help you out.
I think that this idea is very relatable. I feel that so many people feel like they are in a bubble within their town. They are comfortable but wish they could see what's on the outside.. I think this is a very well thought out project and cant wait to see the final project!
ReplyDeleteHow are you going to investigate how people interact or feel within the town?
How would the traffic light be incorporated with the bubble?
I think that the idea of making a bubble is very interesting as well, I am very curious as to how it will look in the end, can't wait!