Year 1

This is the parent category of all courses taken in year 1.

Space and Materiality Final, Prof: Carol Pelligian

May 10, 2016 — Leave a comment

Space and Materiality

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With the use of plaster I took moulds of the palm of my hand allowing for the distinct lines of my palm to be traced. While these abstract renditions float over the mystical and illusion of light, they symbolise the profound journey of our existence, our past. The abstract cloudy moulds oscillate from up above casting a stark shadow over our past. These looming bodies are dense and  symbolise the future- the unknown. The future always obscures our understanding of the past and this piece thus presents itself to be a sphere of mutability blending in all the sphere of life and time into a realm that to us will forever be left unknown.

 

Studio Final

May 10, 2016 — Leave a comment

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For my final studio project, I decided to install a public art work at my site. The sculpture comprises of plastic bottles that have been deformed by virtue of a heat gun. The piece also comprises of a facial human element (made out of plaster) that represents the role of individuals in the waste disposal system. We constantly contribute to the inflows of the system and it is thus a humanistic element that is a reflection of ourselves. The site is the Concrete Plant Park located in the South Bronx. The park in itself is a restored structure from the concrete plant which once occupied the site. The Parks Department formed a partnership with community organisations including Bronx River Alliance to design and construct the park.

The piece is meant to interact with all the elements in the park blending into its landscape. While the bright colours are symbolic of the environmental implications of pollutants leak into the groundwater and soil, they also help to attract the attention of children who speak for a whole new generation (this is the philosophy of my community group Coqui the Chef)

Photo Book (The Waste Disposal System)

April 10, 2016 — Image — 20 Comments

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My photo book comprises of a series of images that visually represent my system. While some images capture trash on the streets of NYC and its relation with us on a daily basis, other images trace the historical elements of the system. The exercise also allowed me to  trace my way down to the archives from the mid 90’s to study the evolution of the system.

Ethnography and Archival Research (Week 7)

March 10, 2016 — Leave a comment

For my final research paper I would like to attempt researching the,’Waste Disposal System,’ of New York City. While this might seem like a vast topic, I aim at focusing on the way waste is handled after it has been collected. As I rely on the quantitative data of statistical information that would provide facts that go along the stark shades of black and white, I believe that there are many layers and shades of variation that qualitative data can provide that goes beneath the surface of the matter at hand. I would like to delve into both these types of sources as each is as relevant as the other, albeit in different contexts.

I would use statistical data to specify the ways in which New York City exports its trash- (the amount of expenditure it puts forth every year in order to send it across landmines in other states,) numbers and figures would come in handy here as I could put across exact figures and percentages of the number of tonnes exported, fraction that sent to landmines and percentage that is recycled.

My qualitative research would involve speaking to individuals and interviewing people who work as a part of this system, who express its importance and function.

I addition to the ‘disposal,’ part of this system I would like to touch upon New York City’s history with hygiene and how intricate this system is to the overall function of the city. I believe that this system is detrimental to the function of all others. Within this, I would also examine that period in New York’s history when this system was not functioning as smoothly as is should have, taking into consideration the progression that allowed for this system to exist the way that it does today.

For this I would most certainly rely on archives and books.

As the study proceeds, I would like to touch upon recycling and the procedure of converting organic material into compost. For this, I would like to approach communities and individuals who work on such initiatives in their neighbourhood. My community from the Citizens Committee of New York City is  ‘Coqui the Chef,’ which focuses on teaching children about healthy produce and good eating habits.

As this community is located in the Bronx, I chose to apply several observational skills towards gaining a greater understanding of the neighbourhood. This involves making several visits to the site, gaining access to the place. I attempt at trying to blend into the situation, to not have people change their behavior in response to the study. I understand that it is a layered process that would require for me to make connections, and heighten my senses with an acute sense of awareness- taking notes continuously. Most prominently, I believe that data analysis should occur as soon as the data is collected.

Work in Progress

February 10, 2016 — Leave a comment

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The artwork is a refreshing burst of vitality in the midst of the stark concrete walls that make up the elevated subway station at Freedman Street in the Bronx. Out of the six pieces that can be found in the Bronx, each piece can be divided into three segments. The artwork demonstrates daily life in the neighborhood of the Bronx. The framework of the window seems to disrupt the illusion that the scene is trying to create. It is as thought the fluid movement of the picture is disrupted by the start nature of the bold lines. In addition to its feature as a window, I believe that this gridded obstruction could possibly signify a metaphorical representation of how things may not be as they seem and a deceptive quality about the environments around us.

The piece consists of a series of colored glass panels that stand elevated against the backdrop of light. It is a stained glass miracle made out of thousands of pieces of faceted glass. The ability to show kinetic movement in a still is what I marvel at.

 

 

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When I visited the Bronx, it seemed to met like it was a place filled with people living there to get from one day to the next. There aren’t any gleaming or glaring, ‘city lights,’ or any external glamour that would propel visitors to consider it a lively or exciting neighborhood. I believe that the uniqueness of the Bronx comes with the fact that you see it for what it is. There aren’t any layers to it.What it holds most prominently is life and the daily functioning of ordinary people and the traces that they leave behind as individuals. There aren’t any towering sky scrapers or any dazzling landscapes. It is filled with quiet roads and corner streets, not the hustle and bustle of an overwhelming environment. One of the most prominent characteristics of the streets is the graffiti. It is a form of expression for the people and something they associate themselves with. It is more than an unofficial type of public message.

Art is at its most optimum force when it has the ability to capture the spirt of people and place. The reflecting glass pieces at the Freeman Street subway station, have the poignant ability in doing just that.

 

ENVIRONMENT- BEHAVIOUR RESEARCH

February 10, 2016 — Leave a comment

As I begin to dwell around the 8th floor of the the 6 East 16th Street building, it is evident that the two prominent features on this floor are the library and the, ‘O cafe.’ No matter which department students fall a part of, these two characteristics encourage visitors from all and departments.IMG_7594IMG_7593The prominent public and official messages of the cafe propel are attention towards their signs. The library forms this box around which  consists the cafe, along with chairs and tables that allow students and faculty to lounge around between classes.On the tables you find crumbs and ring stains that I know have been caused by drinks having been placed there.  Opposite the cafe there is a board with all types of flyers and posers.IMG_7598IMG_7599 The posters have been situate here because this floor attracts people from the entire building and they would have a highler level of visibility. In the midst of official school signs evidence of unofficial public messages are found as people put up posters of things they have missing. There is a very casual manner in the way that people express themselves as this is the tone that the cafe sets.  IMG_7600

As I walk in from the staircase I am immediately invited in by a  warm murmur of sound and conversation as well as the fragrant smell of freshly roasted coffee and oven baked goods. Empty coffee cups lie on tables as people have left them there after they had finished them. The ruffle of the brown papers bags are heard as people dig into their snacks. The most prominent auditory sound however is the stark shift of entering the glass doors of the library. It is as though the robust mumble of conversation turns into a sudden and sharp sterile silence. There is a juxtaposition of behavior outside in the cafe and inside in the library. In the library people are concentrating on their work and are scattered around certain sections and desks. Props of study such as laptops, books, pens and paper are seen. As I walk around I can see little stepping stools that I can imagine people use to stand on to reach high shelves. One of the most fascinating aspects of the library are the glass windows that allow it to interact with the cafe that is outside.They form the most fascinating features as they are able to blur the boundaries between physical separations and connections. While all the students together fall a part of a larger community of the school, there are still certain inner group memberships that people fall a part of. We found a man who carried with him an arsenal scarf and the inner group and community that he falls a part of. IMG_7607

Thus it is evident that our environment tells us so much about the people that interact with it. It is the changes we make to our environment and the way that we adapt to it that speaks volumes about the people that use it.

Micro-Structures: The Fluctus

February 10, 2016 — Leave a comment

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In an attempt to create an architectural monument, I used ‘rice krispies treats,’ as my unconventional material of choice. By heating it in the microwave for a couple of seconds, I melted the marshmallow combining the different fragments into one block. It then hardened to form a solid structure that I was able to carve. I wanted to transform the stark edges into gentle curves that would represent a fluid movement of lines. From every angle, the monument appears to be different and creates a rhythmic flow. I enjoyed the mouldable nature of the material as well as the ability to chisel it and transfigure it with my own artistic ability.

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Archive Exercise

February 10, 2016 — Leave a comment

PRIMARY SOURCE RESEARCH PRACTICE

A different group member should record notes about your group discussion for each part of the exercise.

PART 1. CONTENT – 5 MINUTES

Describe your group’s primary sources. Record brief statements about the primary sources from looking closely at them. What details jump out at you?

Try not to interpret them. Pretend you are describing these items to a friend.

Consider your initial impressions. What assumptions might you be bringing to your observations?

As I begin to observe the photographs, I can not help but notice the very dark and dull mood. As the sequence of the photographs progress, we begin by looking at speakers dresses in dramatic attire, to images of celebratory balloons, finally leading up to ‘neato inflato,’ structures. There is evidently some very bad lighting and an absence of humans. The inflato structures are given a structural framework and definite form. The scene is set in a dark secluded zone with no evidence of connection to the outside world.The inflato structures intertwine themselves with the balloons to form a prominent display. The structure dominates the very secluded and empty nature of the scene. The chairs are laid out in a orderly and precise manner.The lighting filters in from the ceilings but the pictures fail to capture its effect. The speakers seem dramatic in their nature and appear to have serious expressions on their faces.

PART 2. CONTEXT – 5 MINUTES

Think about the context of what you’re looking at:

­— immediate context : How does each item relate to the other items in your group’s set of primary sources? If one item, how do text and graphics work together?
— the social/cultural/political aspects from the period in which the materials were produced

What information would help you to understand and interpret these primary sources?

As I look at the images, the most important factor to take into consideration before analysing  the context is the fact that the images were taking in the 70s. This allows us a clearer understanding of the images and what they contribute. The fact that the pictures were taken in the 70s explains the mood that the images display. The dullness of the pictures could be caused by the photographic techniques available at that time. This would thus filter light creating the visual effect that we bear witness to. If we look at the way the speakers are dressed in the initial few pictures, their thespian  attire reflects the theatrical aspect of the 70s. The pictures demonstrate a strange intensity and a feeling of isolation. The celebratory and synthetic balloons create a contrast with the remote surroundings. The ‘neato inflato,’ structures I believe contradict the purpose of earth day as the aspect of conservation is overlooked.All the images seem to share similarities in their range of colour and composition.

 

PART 3. SIGNIFICANCE – 5 MINUTES

Create a minimum of 5 questions about your group’s set of primary sources. They can be very general or very specific.

Your group may answer with your own hypotheses, but it’s also fine to leave the questions open-ended.

1) What do the ‘neato inflato,’ structures signify?

2) What contributes to the isolation that the pictures demonstrate ie. the absence of humans?

3) Do the ‘neato inflato,’ structures connect with what the speaker has to say in his speech?

4) What is the purpose of the sausage like shape that the inflato structures form?

5) How do the balloons connect with the inflato structures?

 

Barnes & Nobel: The Experience and Observation

February 10, 2016 — Leave a comment

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A visit to Barnes & Nobel is more than just a trip to a bookstore, it is an experience unto itself. As I step into the store, I am invited in by a lovely delicate tune that begins to set the mood for what is to follow. The environment is quiet yet not sterile in its silence. There is a warmth to the mumble of conversation that fills the air. At the entrance there is a sign that informs visitors of their store timings, along with a display of  the bestsellers in the window. The entrance opens up to the most popular books up front. To the left there is a Customer Service desk that helps any individual who enters find exactly what they’re looking for swiftly. Those who wish to linger have four floors to explore As we move up the escalator I watch how every individual in the store finds a way to gravitate towards their fascination. Each section is well thought out and planned in a strategic manner. At the top of the escalators there are signs that are placed.IMG_7471I consider this to be the perfect place as it is in the customers range of vision as everyone waits to get to their desired floor. Bright light fills the space through the glass windows while the Corinthian columns and the green carpeted floors run through all the floors like a single element of connectivity in the largeness of the store. Floral wallpaper creates an inviting backdrop.IMG_7468IMG_7462 It is by nature of a fluid movement that we go through all the levels. I feel a need to slow down and take in all that I see, as every individual eventually goes about their purpose. It is a stark contrast agains the bustling nature of New York City that lies just outside. It is the juxtaposition of two spheres. I notice that signs are placed in between book shelves. As people browse they are propelled towards these signs. Occasionally we hear the BEEP of the register. Time just slips out of your hands as here, we are secluded from the world.

As we are tucked away, I believe that more interaction with the outside world could further enhance the environment. There could be big glass windows where people are able to overlook the city, further magnifying the contrast in the two surroundings, integrating the different worlds.