Also: it probably wouldn't be too difficult to create an interactive online extension of the show space, providing a way for people coming into the show to continue their experience once they've left. For instance, it would be trivially easy to set up a system that would take a whole bunch of digital photos taken at the passport office and automatically produce a bunch of web pages with passport information and randomly chosen fictional nationalities, family trees, etc. For instance, we could create a "founding fathers and mothers" descendant line--everyone randomly connected to other people at the show in a family tree that goes back to the Moving crew, someone fictional or even M.L.K. You might walk in and find a whole new life--part of a great Moving Crew family with brothers, parents and estranged step-children. This sort of thing is very easy to do with computers, but has other significant costs:
1) extra time for each passport (taking the photo with digital camera, getting permission to put the photos online, etc) and 2) extra time if we want to include any information about what the person did while they were at the show, or even provide them with a paper form of the generated information. Printing is expensive, noisy and time consuming.
Alternatively: if we had a projector handy, we could send the photos we take OR photos volunteered from people viewing a website directly into something like the auto-collages I've been making. What you'd get is a projection of a paper town with people's photos on top of pre-made paper cutout bodies. Then the people in the show would be looking at themselves (or online participants) in an illustration of the space. The biggest technical difficulty here would probably be physical: how do we get the images in a non-irritating/time consuming way, how do we display them (do we really have an extra digital projector). On the plus side, audiences might be more likely to interact if they can see themselves already interacting on the screen.
It's worth thinking about. My jobs will keep me in Iowa City for most of the show, but this might be an interesting way I could contribute to the show as it happened. Please let me know if you have any ideas. matt.stults@gmail.com
Monday, April 30, 2007
For the projector
For a SLIGHTLY better viewIt occurred to me last night that I've got some movies/interactive applications that might be useful for the show. Over the last year I've been making auto-trash-collage movies (I'm writing programs to move images of trash around based on my drawings). Anyway, I've got a bunch of pigeon trash movies and have been working with automated flocking algorithms to produce real-time, decision making pigeon flocks. They'd probably fit pretty well with the shanty-town, city feel if we've got a projector. Unfortunately, they're made for large screen projection, so they're not too terribly pretty small and online, but I'm attaching a scaled down version of what I'm talking about. I've also got lots of other city-type animations of people, cars, umbrellas, etc, but the pigeons are probably the best fit.
Please keep in mind what you see online is just a movie. The actual pigeons have a mind of their own and, provided the appropriate input (which is probably impossible given the conditions of the show) would be able to interact with an audience. But, even as a movie it might work.
That's genuine trash, by the way.
Please let me know if you're interested.
ALSO: someone gave me what they think is a broken digital projector. If anyone knows about digital projectors (and has a bulb we could try in it) I'd be happy to use it in the show. Email: matt.stults@gmail.com
Friday, April 27, 2007
Tijuana dump and gleaners
Here's an interesting slide show I found on "The World" about a dump in Tijuana and the gleaners that make/made a living off of it.
http://www.theworld.org/images/slideshows/dump/index.html
http://www.theworld.org/images/slideshows/dump/index.html
Monday, April 9, 2007
Map and Plans
The Moving Crew at Bemis Underground
Please see attached map and corresponding details below. Based on meetings and Jeremy/Lydia’s visits to the space a sort of walk-through has formed, divided into areas, subject to suggestions, alterations, and erasures. Of course nothing is completely set and at certain points there are gaps or only lists of ideas, so please comment, express concern, stake a claim on a project, add/subtract. Please know that lighting, sound, and border check points will be considered throughout the space/experience as well as the following, growing list of themes.
THEMES:
Shifts in scale, Forced Perspective, Illusion, façade, Tourism, Allegiance/citizenship, boundaries/borders/territory, Audience participation, Active, Kingdoms/Realms, Satellite zones, Community Involvement, Visibility/hidden/missing, Peepholes, Periscopes
SPACE:
Atrium: gigantic space with three, two-story, floor to ceiling shafts of space and lots of light from street-level windows, an ideal space for flags and the suspension of sculptures, propaganda, enticing imagery visible from the exterior of BU. In between these vaulted sections are two areas with lower ceilings and no windows.
1 Main entrance into atrium, staircase and wheelchair accessible elevator
(1) Wall directly across from the entrance, ideal for projections/propaganda video or slide projector with timer/voiceover
2 Sets of street-level windows/light shafts w/ a small ledge for working (stencils, cutouts, Lee/Neva…)
3 Blank wall, two stories high – The Moving Crew brand/Jeremy’s boat/Flags
4 Another light shaft with a second story window into the Bemis library (adult zone)
5 A possible window for dioramas or activities (unused office space)
6 An area at the base of relatively useless stairs: market/junk yard/tarps/tires/rocks, the area beneath the stairs may be an interesting spot, Landfill for salvaging materials in Frontier Town, David Dunlap-heat buster/breeze
7 Cave/Tunnel/secondary, coyote entrance, secret
8 4 windows – views between atrium and interior gallery
A Main entrance into the BU gallery, beginning of the waiting room, low ceiling, light, cubicle walls
B Desk/office/reception space/computer available, Uniforms
Passport office: waiting room, turnstile, chairs, drop ceiling, lighting, cubicle walls
C Passport photo location, small nook ideal for a backdrop
Passport: pamphlets, maps, enter and exit, location for guides, fee?
Random headshots or unique polaroids?
D Checkpoints (left—for previous passport holders/black market, right—nascent entrance, first stamp, guidance onto boat/rowing/transport)
E Possible boat or point of transport, rowing or a container/boat with passing vistas, travel to the realm, cruise, one to enter and ride on, others to surround—a harbor, port, riverboats (small and large), the sea
Crossings-boats/rocks, Islands-Riverboat casinos (Lydia)
Container ships-ships on wheels, miniature, people living inside/squatters (Neva)
Shadows Scenes (lit cylinders, Jeremy’s lantern)
Dirt rowing, flour sacks
F Frontier/prairie outpost/participant construction—
Barter, scavenge, build-your-own, carts/trolleys/peditaxi rides, flag station, property/land grants/territory, Outpost/general store
People make stuff-participants, make and stay, make and take, Build the frontier, Land available for development
Templates (boats, hats, carts, wagons, small and large, carriers, garb)
Flag station (fabric, glue guns, needle/thread, scissors, table, chairs)
Interior bike rides, drawn carts (Jeremy’s bike-drawn peditaxi)
G Directly out of the tunnel into shanty town shifting to markets/businesses/tiny and large environments, pods, shifts in sound and lighting
Kingdom: hierarchies, shantytown, downtown, castle, murals, graffiti
Katherine’s miniature sushi grass
Igloo made of ice
Market-incorporate dock outside, food carts
Embassies, Fences, Wall of Dioramas
Videos/projections
Riverboats/Container ships
Pods (Lydia)
Sound, lighting (sprinklers)
Bridge, archeological dig below (Jeremy), Steps/temples, Ruins
Minimal and Labyrinthine
Reconstruction vs. pristine newness
Painting: floors, beams
H Continuation of kingdom environs (all of G)
Shifts between viewing and participation, active/passive, fantasy/reality
Sensory systems/Uniforms and interactions (Lygia Clark)
I Store front/underground passport office in back (cramped niche for photos)
Lair-dark side (Maggie/David)
J Saloon/general store—open space for mingling, keg of beer, sound, swinging doors, casino?? Floaters? projector, doors, openness, mingling, breathing roomCurrency-wooden coins, credit cards
K Businesses/spaces leading to the travel agency, exit, checkpoints,
View-masters, guides, Lines, seating, Travel posters
L Another possible location for the travel agency—connected to the passport office, another route through the space, View-masters at the Travel Agency, entrance/exit area, posters, brochure boxes
M Space leading to the exit
N Space just before the exit (brochures, tour guides, mingling)
O Stairwell out of BU gallery, this area must be manned (leads to the grown-up/off limits residencies upstairs)—the freight elevator is no longer an option
OUTSIDE: What will it look like?
Listen only line (dial a song)—Bemis Underground phone line, Parades
Strike, minutemen, affiliate, Street cart/BU loading dock, Airstream, Cots/sleepover
PAPER AND GUIDES: Signage, pamphlets, and (living, breathing, acting) guides will be utterly important to viewer experience/participation. Here are some plans thus far:
Also, a list or pamphlet for the objects/projects within the show is part of the BU deal (although this is an alternative space and our project has very little to do with the salon of objects and sales typical in some galleries--Jeremy Stern (BU curator) claims patrons of the space frequently need guidance). This is something we need to ponder--signage is another alternative, leading the audience through, a path, the proposed maps and manuals.
Improve actors (Patrick, Doug Hayko)—scenarios, roles
Guided (actors) or self-guided tours (signs, pamphlets)
Booklet to guide (Matt Stults, Josh Doster, Jessica White…)
Buttons, T-shirts
Postcards (DIY miniature boats)
Signage and pamphlets- maps and guides, about The Moving Crew, greater Omaha, destinations, satellite sites
Paint floors-end, after installation, cobblestone, arrows, direction
Sound to direct, define space
Passports:
2000 Passport ~ $3000
$1500 passport camera
Polaroid film
Stamps (self-service)/Checkpoints
Black Market/DIY: Available photos of other people (slides from Jeremy’s find at Calvin)—off days type/generalized passports, prefab with “categorical” photos or make your own instructions
Die Cut
Mini Grant Publication (see below)
Considerations:
1. Construction schedule- should the space grow and transition, hidden or accessible during evolving installation, transporting stuff during the month?
2. Outreach-to who?
3. Audience-Saturdays, large groups, activities
4. Mini grants: Publication--Cultural experience, animate rural, medium, large towns, Omaha/Iowa, border state, strengthen stance for an Iowa Arts Council Grant,
Ideas: link Iowa artists w/ artists overseas, other regions, Website/Blog
OR Interactive guidebook, publication to distribute, inserts for clarification, Council Bluffs, Carter Lake, Sioux City
5. Possible interns/actors, ideas and guidance
6. Press release: story, myth, frame, the illusion of realism – radio, fake, yet honest
7. Listen only line (dial a song)
8. Documentation: video, photo, sound: photographer, camera, tripod
9. Uniforms: The Moving Crew look
10. Bemis connection – bags, bags, bags, soil
11. Average Event size—300 people, aim for large numbers on open Saturdays, events
12. Workshop ideas-open for community involvement
13. Outreach to the community
14. Locations nearby—zoo, river
15. Cots/sleepover
16. Storage space, construction beforehand
SUPPLIES:
Tyvek w/o logo
Floor paint, ladders, extension cords, lights, turnstile, cardboard, stencils, tape, cubicle walls, Tarps, gels, chairs, projectors, curtains, canvas, fabric
Stamps-self-service (put in booklet)
Images-Omaha
Button Making-buttons, images
Cardboard sources in Omaha (Bemis has some, bike stores…)
“special” cardboard collect and store
Styrofoam, plastic, wall paint
Railroad ties, Rope
Scaffolding (rental)
PARTNERS: (choose your cohorts):
Omaha:
Jenny Hansen’s Mom (Omaha radio station)
Wanda Ewing
Jody Boyer (Council Bluffs)
Maggie’s family
Spark Candy
Nicole Timmins-Bormann
Al Holen (??)
Mr. Brooke Bench
Park Manager
402-444-5962
BBench@ci.omaha.ne.us
High Bikes for parades (bike shops)
Gondola rentals, Missouri River, inlet
Omaha: zoo, river, downtown market district, area resources
Elsewhere:
Cece Cole
Josh Haringa
Lee Running
Brandon Buckner
Wolpa
Josh Doster (travel brochure, zine)
Christina McClelland (zines)
Olga Balema
Dan Christianson
Dunlap
Josh Anderson
Jordan Acker Anderson
Eric
Jessica White/zine
Fereshta Toosi
Check out:
Floating Neutrinos www.floatingneutrinos.com
Murals at Mr. C’s in Omaha
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carter_Lake,_Iowahttp://www.cityofcarterlake.com/history.html
http://www.studio-orta.com/news.php
www.mucca-pazza.org
http://www.elementalchile.cl/chilean architecture firm doing public housing - interesting websitewith models (look for iquique under housing - that's a project oftheir's that's been running and successful).
http://takebacktheland.blogspot.com/blogspot for miami shantytown
http://www.three-walls.org/past_residencies.php?id=46shanty-bazaar-batering
Narrated slide show of ICRAPT and Moving Crew events:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ea-f8LJR70A 'trailer' made for a presentation at the Bemis earlier this year:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSKJbeKY8vQ
Please see attached map and corresponding details below. Based on meetings and Jeremy/Lydia’s visits to the space a sort of walk-through has formed, divided into areas, subject to suggestions, alterations, and erasures. Of course nothing is completely set and at certain points there are gaps or only lists of ideas, so please comment, express concern, stake a claim on a project, add/subtract. Please know that lighting, sound, and border check points will be considered throughout the space/experience as well as the following, growing list of themes.
THEMES:
Shifts in scale, Forced Perspective, Illusion, façade, Tourism, Allegiance/citizenship, boundaries/borders/territory, Audience participation, Active, Kingdoms/Realms, Satellite zones, Community Involvement, Visibility/hidden/missing, Peepholes, Periscopes
SPACE:
Atrium: gigantic space with three, two-story, floor to ceiling shafts of space and lots of light from street-level windows, an ideal space for flags and the suspension of sculptures, propaganda, enticing imagery visible from the exterior of BU. In between these vaulted sections are two areas with lower ceilings and no windows.
1 Main entrance into atrium, staircase and wheelchair accessible elevator
(1) Wall directly across from the entrance, ideal for projections/propaganda video or slide projector with timer/voiceover
2 Sets of street-level windows/light shafts w/ a small ledge for working (stencils, cutouts, Lee/Neva…)
3 Blank wall, two stories high – The Moving Crew brand/Jeremy’s boat/Flags
4 Another light shaft with a second story window into the Bemis library (adult zone)
5 A possible window for dioramas or activities (unused office space)
6 An area at the base of relatively useless stairs: market/junk yard/tarps/tires/rocks, the area beneath the stairs may be an interesting spot, Landfill for salvaging materials in Frontier Town, David Dunlap-heat buster/breeze
7 Cave/Tunnel/secondary, coyote entrance, secret
8 4 windows – views between atrium and interior gallery
A Main entrance into the BU gallery, beginning of the waiting room, low ceiling, light, cubicle walls
B Desk/office/reception space/computer available, Uniforms
Passport office: waiting room, turnstile, chairs, drop ceiling, lighting, cubicle walls
C Passport photo location, small nook ideal for a backdrop
Passport: pamphlets, maps, enter and exit, location for guides, fee?
Random headshots or unique polaroids?
D Checkpoints (left—for previous passport holders/black market, right—nascent entrance, first stamp, guidance onto boat/rowing/transport)
E Possible boat or point of transport, rowing or a container/boat with passing vistas, travel to the realm, cruise, one to enter and ride on, others to surround—a harbor, port, riverboats (small and large), the sea
Crossings-boats/rocks, Islands-Riverboat casinos (Lydia)
Container ships-ships on wheels, miniature, people living inside/squatters (Neva)
Shadows Scenes (lit cylinders, Jeremy’s lantern)
Dirt rowing, flour sacks
F Frontier/prairie outpost/participant construction—
Barter, scavenge, build-your-own, carts/trolleys/peditaxi rides, flag station, property/land grants/territory, Outpost/general store
People make stuff-participants, make and stay, make and take, Build the frontier, Land available for development
Templates (boats, hats, carts, wagons, small and large, carriers, garb)
Flag station (fabric, glue guns, needle/thread, scissors, table, chairs)
Interior bike rides, drawn carts (Jeremy’s bike-drawn peditaxi)
G Directly out of the tunnel into shanty town shifting to markets/businesses/tiny and large environments, pods, shifts in sound and lighting
Kingdom: hierarchies, shantytown, downtown, castle, murals, graffiti
Katherine’s miniature sushi grass
Igloo made of ice
Market-incorporate dock outside, food carts
Embassies, Fences, Wall of Dioramas
Videos/projections
Riverboats/Container ships
Pods (Lydia)
Sound, lighting (sprinklers)
Bridge, archeological dig below (Jeremy), Steps/temples, Ruins
Minimal and Labyrinthine
Reconstruction vs. pristine newness
Painting: floors, beams
H Continuation of kingdom environs (all of G)
Shifts between viewing and participation, active/passive, fantasy/reality
Sensory systems/Uniforms and interactions (Lygia Clark)
I Store front/underground passport office in back (cramped niche for photos)
Lair-dark side (Maggie/David)
J Saloon/general store—open space for mingling, keg of beer, sound, swinging doors, casino?? Floaters? projector, doors, openness, mingling, breathing roomCurrency-wooden coins, credit cards
K Businesses/spaces leading to the travel agency, exit, checkpoints,
View-masters, guides, Lines, seating, Travel posters
L Another possible location for the travel agency—connected to the passport office, another route through the space, View-masters at the Travel Agency, entrance/exit area, posters, brochure boxes
M Space leading to the exit
N Space just before the exit (brochures, tour guides, mingling)
O Stairwell out of BU gallery, this area must be manned (leads to the grown-up/off limits residencies upstairs)—the freight elevator is no longer an option
OUTSIDE: What will it look like?
Listen only line (dial a song)—Bemis Underground phone line, Parades
Strike, minutemen, affiliate, Street cart/BU loading dock, Airstream, Cots/sleepover
PAPER AND GUIDES: Signage, pamphlets, and (living, breathing, acting) guides will be utterly important to viewer experience/participation. Here are some plans thus far:
Also, a list or pamphlet for the objects/projects within the show is part of the BU deal (although this is an alternative space and our project has very little to do with the salon of objects and sales typical in some galleries--Jeremy Stern (BU curator) claims patrons of the space frequently need guidance). This is something we need to ponder--signage is another alternative, leading the audience through, a path, the proposed maps and manuals.
Improve actors (Patrick, Doug Hayko)—scenarios, roles
Guided (actors) or self-guided tours (signs, pamphlets)
Booklet to guide (Matt Stults, Josh Doster, Jessica White…)
Buttons, T-shirts
Postcards (DIY miniature boats)
Signage and pamphlets- maps and guides, about The Moving Crew, greater Omaha, destinations, satellite sites
Paint floors-end, after installation, cobblestone, arrows, direction
Sound to direct, define space
Passports:
2000 Passport ~ $3000
$1500 passport camera
Polaroid film
Stamps (self-service)/Checkpoints
Black Market/DIY: Available photos of other people (slides from Jeremy’s find at Calvin)—off days type/generalized passports, prefab with “categorical” photos or make your own instructions
Die Cut
Mini Grant Publication (see below)
Considerations:
1. Construction schedule- should the space grow and transition, hidden or accessible during evolving installation, transporting stuff during the month?
2. Outreach-to who?
3. Audience-Saturdays, large groups, activities
4. Mini grants: Publication--Cultural experience, animate rural, medium, large towns, Omaha/Iowa, border state, strengthen stance for an Iowa Arts Council Grant,
Ideas: link Iowa artists w/ artists overseas, other regions, Website/Blog
OR Interactive guidebook, publication to distribute, inserts for clarification, Council Bluffs, Carter Lake, Sioux City
5. Possible interns/actors, ideas and guidance
6. Press release: story, myth, frame, the illusion of realism – radio, fake, yet honest
7. Listen only line (dial a song)
8. Documentation: video, photo, sound: photographer, camera, tripod
9. Uniforms: The Moving Crew look
10. Bemis connection – bags, bags, bags, soil
11. Average Event size—300 people, aim for large numbers on open Saturdays, events
12. Workshop ideas-open for community involvement
13. Outreach to the community
14. Locations nearby—zoo, river
15. Cots/sleepover
16. Storage space, construction beforehand
SUPPLIES:
Tyvek w/o logo
Floor paint, ladders, extension cords, lights, turnstile, cardboard, stencils, tape, cubicle walls, Tarps, gels, chairs, projectors, curtains, canvas, fabric
Stamps-self-service (put in booklet)
Images-Omaha
Button Making-buttons, images
Cardboard sources in Omaha (Bemis has some, bike stores…)
“special” cardboard collect and store
Styrofoam, plastic, wall paint
Railroad ties, Rope
Scaffolding (rental)
PARTNERS: (choose your cohorts):
Omaha:
Jenny Hansen’s Mom (Omaha radio station)
Wanda Ewing
Jody Boyer (Council Bluffs)
Maggie’s family
Spark Candy
Nicole Timmins-Bormann
Al Holen (??)
Mr. Brooke Bench
Park Manager
402-444-5962
BBench@ci.omaha.ne.us
High Bikes for parades (bike shops)
Gondola rentals, Missouri River, inlet
Omaha: zoo, river, downtown market district, area resources
Elsewhere:
Cece Cole
Josh Haringa
Lee Running
Brandon Buckner
Wolpa
Josh Doster (travel brochure, zine)
Christina McClelland (zines)
Olga Balema
Dan Christianson
Dunlap
Josh Anderson
Jordan Acker Anderson
Eric
Jessica White/zine
Fereshta Toosi
Check out:
Floating Neutrinos www.floatingneutrinos.com
Murals at Mr. C’s in Omaha
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carter_Lake,_Iowahttp://www.cityofcarterlake.com/history.html
http://www.studio-orta.com/news.php
www.mucca-pazza.org
http://www.elementalchile.cl/chilean architecture firm doing public housing - interesting websitewith models (look for iquique under housing - that's a project oftheir's that's been running and successful).
http://takebacktheland.blogspot.com/blogspot for miami shantytown
http://www.three-walls.org/past_residencies.php?id=46shanty-bazaar-batering
Narrated slide show of ICRAPT and Moving Crew events:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ea-f8LJR70A 'trailer' made for a presentation at the Bemis earlier this year:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSKJbeKY8vQ
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
SUPPLIES NEEDED/WISHLIST
Possible Materials. Let's start a list of stuff we'll need for Bemis. Please add to this list by posting.
cardboard... lots of it
tarps, plastic sheeting
styrofoam... lots of it
tyvek (9' rolls of white should be ordered...)
boxcutters, x-actos, scissors staple guns
rope, string, wire (high gauge, low gauge), fishing line, yarn
glue guns, glue, staplers, tape (duct, electrical, masking, clear packing, etc)
housepaint (colors, white, grey), paint brushes, rollers, paint trays
spray paint
ladders
chairs
book shelf
projectors- overhead, slide, digital
laptops, cameras (digital, polaroid, video, etc)
TV monitors, cords
powerstrips, extension cords
inkjet printer/copier
gels for lights
spotlights, floodlights
tape recorders, boomboxes...
polaroid film
computer/photocopy paper
silicone release paper
grommets and grommet maker
buttons and button machine
screens for printing?
fabric
jumpsuits? costumes?
clear labels
clipboards, pencils, pens
wood (2 x 4's, etc)
wood pallets?
misc. tools: hammers, screwdrivers, cordless drills, saws: jigsaw, miter?
screws, nails
saw horses, plywood (for tables?)
paper punch? paper cutter? vinyl cutting mats?
measuring tape
fake $? wooden money?
signs, signage, dry erase boards, chalkboards
bricks, cement block
block ice
cardboard boat template (and small paper boat template?)
coffee pot, coffee
beer, wine, etc.
cardboard... lots of it
tarps, plastic sheeting
styrofoam... lots of it
tyvek (9' rolls of white should be ordered...)
boxcutters, x-actos, scissors staple guns
rope, string, wire (high gauge, low gauge), fishing line, yarn
glue guns, glue, staplers, tape (duct, electrical, masking, clear packing, etc)
housepaint (colors, white, grey), paint brushes, rollers, paint trays
spray paint
ladders
chairs
book shelf
projectors- overhead, slide, digital
laptops, cameras (digital, polaroid, video, etc)
TV monitors, cords
powerstrips, extension cords
inkjet printer/copier
gels for lights
spotlights, floodlights
tape recorders, boomboxes...
polaroid film
computer/photocopy paper
silicone release paper
grommets and grommet maker
buttons and button machine
screens for printing?
fabric
jumpsuits? costumes?
clear labels
clipboards, pencils, pens
wood (2 x 4's, etc)
wood pallets?
misc. tools: hammers, screwdrivers, cordless drills, saws: jigsaw, miter?
screws, nails
saw horses, plywood (for tables?)
paper punch? paper cutter? vinyl cutting mats?
measuring tape
fake $? wooden money?
signs, signage, dry erase boards, chalkboards
bricks, cement block
block ice
cardboard boat template (and small paper boat template?)
coffee pot, coffee
beer, wine, etc.
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