Bridge 2: The assignment for this project was to go on a long walk throughout the city which was to be pre mapped and designed so that you and your partners endpoints would intersect.
After completing our second Bridge project, I learned a lot about my creative process as an artist and designer that I hadn’t known before. My partner, Gabriella Fussner and I focused our project on our natural focuses and urges as artists. Although we forced ourselves out of our comfort zones with regard to location, we wanted to feel very comfortable with our observations. My portion of the final project were a series of images that were sketches of something Gabriella focused on throughout her walk. In her case this focus was a man smoking a cigar on a park bench.
For me, I was visually very drawn to lampposts. Gabriella and I worked well together when planning but when the time came to actually produce work she was either not present or prepared. It would have been so much more beneficial had she made it a point to bring forth work we could discuss. Our theme of focuses on our walk was strong, but we were unable to fully interpret each others focuses without the necessary communication. Most of the information I gathered about Gabriella observations from the walk was derived from an excessive we did in seminar.
Throughout the project I was the only partner that really brought forth ideas, perhaps my focus on the project is why she lost hers? I really enjoyed discussing various topics about our walk but I know there was so much more to be discussed that never was due to her absence. I think that this project was a great learning experience personally. I would most certainly do this project over, this time I would focus on a final piece while planning the initial walk. My portion of the project being a sketch book that was intentionally supposed to look quite raw came off as messy and unfinished because we could not present our works together. As much as I want to say spending more time together outside of class would have helped I don’t fully think it was my fault we did not.
Overall, I am very happy with what I have learned about myself as an artist. What I have learned is that personally I do not focus on people when in a public space, I focus on object that hold a sense of time or mystery. The lampposts that I found so very intriguing were inky figures that mimicked the silhouette of a gown. I am unhappy with the final outcome of this project considering it is quite frankly, unfinished. I understand that this was to be a collaborative project but our project was not. Unfortunately, I expect my grade will suffer due to the inefficient work provided. I don’t regret pushing myself beyond my comfort zone though. By presenting work I usually would just throw away I have exposed a vulnerable side that usually would be hidden, this is very healthy.
1. As you began your walk, how did you feel about your surroundings? What are the first things you notice? the nature? the people? or maybe the buildings?
On my walk, I noticed the people walking around me the most. I noticed a lot of people looked like they were going to work. I noticed a lot of construction workers. Older people. I also noticed the nature and greenery, because whenever I get to see that in the city, it’s special to me.
2. Our walk was heavily influenced by self discovery and our natural focuses as artists. Did you notice anything new that you usually would not? What is it that you usually create (art wise) and what is your creative process like? where do you find and seek inspiration?
I noticed a lot of characters, different kinds of people doing different things. I do usually people watch, but I was picking that up way more during the walk. I draw inspiration from people and what they do, how they function, and what they enjoy, but I am also inspired by nature and architecture. I was taken away by some scenes of the city. The composition between the road, buildings, sky, people, and the hustle and bustle of the city can be really moving.
3. How did you sketch? Did you sit down? Remain standing? I ask because I am curious as to your level of comfort while drawing.
I sketched standing up. I was pretty uncomfortable but nothing too bad. There was also a moment where I wanted to draw this man smoking a cigar, but couldn’t draw him and sit on the benches he was on, so a lot of the time, but not all, I had to draw from memory after finding somewhere to draw my thought out.
4. Did anything surprise? any revelations? while I was on my walk I began to notice how much I love public spaces such as large parks. Not only did it make me see new found beauty in NYC but also provided me a surprisingly relaxing environment to think.
One revelation I had was realizing the dynamic of the city and the people within it. It was quite interesting seeing people working on the street, walking to work, slowly strolling, tourists, people walking their dogs, or going to church. I found that the constant movement and flow of energy throughout the city, or specifically that part of the city, to be inspiring and motivating.
5. Lets say you decide to walk again with the same frame of mind. Where would you walk? What was the benefit of walking somewhere less familiar to you?
I think that by walking uptown, where I was less familiar with the space, was a great idea because I saw beauty in a different dynamic. It wasn’t like Soho or the village, the energy of the people and population was pulsing and different to me. I saw and walked through parks I never knew existed, and were beautiful to me.
6. Personally, on the walk I was really drawn to lamp posts for some reason. Naturally I found them quite intriguing! Did you find any thing like that on your walk? An object, place, or even person who was “with you” for the entire walk? (on your mind)
Yes, this man I saw both times walking to and from my walk. He was smoking a big cigar outside the park on a bench, wearing a beret. The way that he held himself stuck with me and I was inspired to draws portrait, Diane Arbus style, or perhaps paint a geometric, colorful, abstract portrait of him, like Picasso. But, the image of this man certainly remained with me throughout the duration for he walk
7. Has the walk altered the way that you will seek inspiration or view taking walks in the future? I have set myself a goal to spend an hour or two every week in a public space and take note of my surroundings after realizing all that can be discovered upon doing so!
It has. This experience forced me to slow down, take in my surroundings, interpret them. It made me feel less anxious and more in tune with myself. I formulated opinions and thoughts on the things going on around me as I walked and I think it was good practice of being mindful and present. Something like meditating.
