Angela - Site Specific

04/05 UPDATE

All done! Glad to have finished off the semester with a brighter, lighter, and more fun creation. The following is my statement for the piece, titled "2 -09" after the license plate of the truck bed. :)

"2 -09"

    Like many, wintertime in the mountain west can be a time of real struggle for myself. The cold, harsh days, and even longer and more brutal nights, seem to take a real toll on my productivity and psychological state. One becomes stir-crazy when it is difficult to leave the house, and when little traveling can be done outside of the home and city. I take comfort in the ability to hike and explore the mountain landscape, but am unable to do so during the winter. The wintertime also has the effect of painting everything around us in various shades of white and brown, the living nature and brilliant colors of our world temporarily buried. 

    When springtime arrives after a Wyoming winter it feels quite merciful, and often foreshadows a wave of productivity and relief in my life. Flowers, the literal and metaphorical symbol of this rebirth, are a welcome sight. I always look forward to being able to garden once more in the spring and summer, and have a strong relationship with plants in my care. This work is a creation of colorful flowers from felt, one of my favorite soft materials, and aluminum, which are installed at a site of decay clearly wrought and encouraged by the harshness of wintertime. The truck bed, obviously abandoned, left to rot, is evidence of human waste, and the draw of this site is its patina and very apparent material destruction. The flowers call attention to this wasted object, as well as its surroundings, which were rich with garbage when I arrived. 

    The gallery space manifestation of this work, which presents the felted flowers, detritus, and thistle from the site, asks a viewer to consider this decay and waste, as well as confronts them with questions of the real and synthetic, the natural and man-made, the literal thing (in this case artwork) and its reproduction. I hope that this piece reminds a viewer that from darkness and difficulty, in time, comes lightness and joy.

04/25 UPDATE

The process of making the flowers for this piece has been coming along well, so far I have a few clusters' worth of small flowers felted and a few larger ones. I decided not to attempt to replicate any particular type of flower - keeping them more free-form allows me to make them a little more quickly. I'm experimenting with how soft/dense I want the flowers to be. Some of them are going to be felted a little more tightly, some of them not so much. I've been debating what sort of material to make the pistils and stems of the flowers from, the latter of which is going to have to be rigid enough that they hold up in the wind. I'm thinking some lower gauge aluminum or something along those lines - though it may be hard to paint the surface. I'd like to maybe bring some beads and shiny elements into the pistils and insides of the flowers so that they catch light a bit more.

Since this truck bed is technically private property and in a location that is unlikely to be seen by passersby, I'm probably only going to leave it up for a day or two, but I'll shoot some really good photos on film and make some nice prints for display.

Feeling good about where I'm at. Need to visit the site soon and sort how I would like to attach the flowers into the truck bed - if they're wire, I should be able to simply wrap the stems into different cracks and crevices.

04/12 UPDATE

Hey all,

Attached is a sketch for my final concept, the truck bed - I think that this is the piece I'm going to end up doing, as it seems most achievable within the window of time we have and the felted parts of the piece can be easily preserved after, as opposed to the reeds or the storm drain, which would not be pieces that could be easily preserved upon de-install. 

I'm trying to sort out what type/color of flowers and botanical elements I'd like to felt. Sakura (cherry) blossoms come to mind and are extra-spring-y, but do feel a bit clichéd. I'm considering attempting to replicate local florals and grasses as well, though I worry they might be a bit small and delicate. Any suggestions here? Thanks!

 04/02

    Hello again everyone. :) The following are concepts and images regarding what I'll be doing for my site specific installation, due 05/04. This piece is feeling sort of lost on me, I am perhaps too comfortable working within the context of a gallery space.

    This is the first location I have in mind. This location is the site of a very traumatic event which took place in my life a few years back. I visit occasionally, and I walk around the area... I do not really know why, it typically depresses me. Nonetheless, for some reason I return. The field shown here is directly behind the property where it happened - can't do the piece in the property because it's an occupied apartment, and that would be really difficult for me psychologically anyway.

    I'm a bit lost as to what I should think up for this idea. The area behind the property is adjacent to a highway, with a few small trails around, and is filled with garbage. I do think that some sort of cleanup and utilization of this detritus could have a metaphorical significance, but I am unsure how I would craft it into an artwork.

    The reddish reeds visible in the upper left portion of this photo could be interesting to utilize. I think that there could be something beautiful in simply coating all the reeds in a non-toxic finish... Metal leafing, or something which reflects the daylight in a ghostly manner. Color could become a delicate and interesting addition, and the finish could be something which flakes away as the plants grow back into the spring - more potential for metaphor. I don't know if there is any use in trying to illustrate this first idea - it would be a thicket of reeds coated in a finish, that would be silly to draw.

The aforementioned garbage and debris could also be collected and painted or coated in some sort of interesting reflective finish, then organized, hung, or displayed in some fashion around the area. 

    My second idea is less personal in nature. I've been enjoying the material qualities of felt and fiber in my work a lot, and I think that the bars covering this storm drain near Monroe street are a good opportunity to utilize felting. Wool roving would be stretched in between the bars, and needle felted in certain parts to give it structure. The felt would be green & other springy colors, and would be interwoven with a number of different small felted flowers and floral elements. The ends of the fiber would drape in the water of the storm drain, hopefully seeing some rain eventually to activate that part of the piece. This work would reference the rebirth and regrowth of spring, and would interact and blend progressively with the grasses around as everything turns green once more.

 

    This final location is probably more up Jodie's alley than mine - This detached trailer bed is located behind the laundromat on the west side of town. Since it is someone's property (?) I might have to come up with a concept which is more ephemeral.

    In terms of relevant art I've been thinking about - It isn't quite an installation or debatably even land art, but I love this series of images of Andy Goldsworthy throwing found pieces of kelp up into the sky. They create a sort of line drawing in the air, and become like a performance as well.

 "Kelp thrown into a grey, overcast sky, Drakes Beach, California," Andy Goldsworthy, 2013

    I'm loving also this land work by Michael Heizer, which is literally just a massive, mile long gash in the earth. On it he says, "You can’t trade this thing. You can’t put it in your pocket. If you have a war, you can’t move it around. It’s not worth anything. In fact, it’s an obligation." I enjoy this idea, that of a stubbornly immovable and unmarketable artwork. Truly anti-capitalist in nature, I'm surprised I haven't heard about it before.

"Double Negative," Michael Heizer, 1969

Katie - Site Specific

Date: 5/4/23

Update:

Yesterday I was finally able to install my work at my location downtown and it was a very difficult process overall. The branches kept ripping even though there was only a slight breeze and they did not stay up for even 15 minutes. I was able to get my 10 images but I don't feel very confident or successful with the end result. I think there was a lot that could have been done differently to help it hold against the wind better and I am disappointed I did not consider those options sooner. But it's okay, I am glad to have the project done despite my many wrong turns and ultimately I learned a lot through the creating process!

 

In Progress Pictures:

Date: 4/24/23

Update:

This week I went out and remeasured the swingset to ensure that this time everything goes to plan. Unfortunately, right after that everything did not go to plan. Although my measurements were correct this time, I did the math and I do not have enough paper to make this project. So I went to walmart and got king size sheets to use instead. I know that one sheet is still not large enough to completely cover the area of one trianlge, but it's close and I'm going to stick with this material. Plus the fabric is much stronger than just my paper and will hold better against the wind. To attach it to the poles of the swingset, I'm going to add grommets around the perimeter of the sheet and secure them in place most likely with twine or rope. I have the sheet hung up in my studio now, and I think I can make two of them in time to display for a little while (I'm hoping for a few days at least).

Date: 4/18/23

Update:

I started work on my project but upon inspection it seems that the size I had cut the paper to was incorrect and I need to re-measure the swingset. Unfortunately, I threw it away before I took pictures so now I need to completely start over, but I still have time to correct the error so I'm not worried. I've also been catching up on previous assignments such as the ChatGPT assignment and commenting on projects that I wasn't able to critique in person. I haven't finished all of them, but I'm making good progress! If you'd like to see my comments they're way at the bottom of the posts so check it out :)

I wish I had more to post for this week, but like I said there isn't much to show (trust me, I'm kicking myself for not taking pictures). I hope everyone has a good week and that your projects are going better than mine currently is.

Date: 4/11/23

Update:

I decided to go with the swingset location, it offers more possibilities and is in a place people can stop to look at the work as their kids play (especially as it gets warmer outside).

I went back to the location and took more pictures and I'm really glad I did, the snow patterns were interesting to look at and I incorporated it into my idea. I want to make four large installments that will go on the outside frame of the swing. They will be drawings made on paper (I have a big roll of it in my studio), but I would love to make it more transparent if I can. I'm open to ideas and suggestions, I can only think of curtains (which is possible but may fall apart faster). Below are a couple sketches I did on the pictures of the location.

The pattern I was following was very similar to the trees that surround the swingset, they are huge and impossible to divorce from the location so I wanted to incorporate the organic feeling they provide amongst a very geometric area (angles of the swingset and the trainyard behind it). I want to fill it in more, it's a very simple design right now but it would be really interesting to see it continued in more detail. These are more to show my idea than commit to a specific pattern.

I like the contrast of the organic design vs. the industrial elements that exist in the area, I think it calls more attention to the feeling of growth and the changing of the season we're in. This is reminiscent of my original reason for choosing this spot, it is where my partner and I said goodbye to our friend before he moved. This was a change of the season for us too.

 

 Date: 4/4/23

Idea 1:

My first idea takes place at Walmart in the flower section. I was thinking of making little little customers with their shopping carts but they would look like aliens. This is in reference to the term "Walmartians," which refers to the peculiar, unexpected, and sometimes strange population of people that shop at Walmart. I would make these figures out of sculpey and position them in the aisles to look like they're shopping.

Idea 2:

This area is on Boswell Drive across from the Sushiboat restaurant. In the summer I see tourists park in this area all the time as they take a break from being on the interstate. I thought it might be funny to make little tourist people dressed in their hawaiian shirts but shivering because it's still so cold here. This idea made me laugh so I wanted to include it, but I don't know if I'll pursue it.

I really like this location and I want to use it especially because of the rows of bushes that surround its perimeter. I would love to use fabric in some way but the wind is really strong right there, so I'm not sure what I could make that would survive. I thought about possibly weaving some fishing line and incorporating it into the sitting area or gazebo in some way, but I don't want it to blow away and potentially harm animals.

Idea 3:

I  like this location because it's where I said goodbye to a dear friend before they moved across the country. This friend means a lot to me, the three of us (my partner, our friend, and I) used to spend every Friday night eating dinner and watching movies together. I want to make a piece that encapsulates that friendship. I love the swing at this location and I would definitely like to use that as part of the project. I've been thinking about transparent materials lately and the way they interact with light. The Spanish artist Jaume Plensa comes to mind when I look at this location and I would like to do something in the same vein as his work (shown below).

Kristen C- Site Specific Installation

Update 05/03:

Artist Statement: 

“A Study in Pink #1” is inspired by the Rosy Maple Moth and my tumultuous relationship with the color pink. I’m drawn to this moth for its striking pink and yellow. Because I keep using this moth I’ve been forced to face the discomfort I feel about being associated with the color pink. 

The color itself has had a history of being a masculine color. Only after WWII was the color demonized for being associated with gay men. After this event the color was declared feminine. 

My own upbringing instilled that pink is a feminine color, and to be feminine is demeaning to oneself. I combined both of these notions into the idea that I cannot wear pink or else! In the end, colors have no gender and I just want to peacefully enjoy the color pink. 

The Rosy Maple moth has led me to start a body of work where I repair my relationship with pink. By working with pink as a focus through my work I am able to simultaneously experience the joy I’ve denied myself of looking at this color, while also working through the fear of being perceived as feminine. 

The work is located on a small island in a creek. The location is by a prominent side road, this further allows ease of access to viewers. Whether driving or walking by, the island is large enough to catch viewers’ eyes in a guerilla tactic. I have subjugated the audience to pink.

I plan to continue this series where I work with the color of pink for its aesthetic and my own therapy of the color.

Update 04/30:

In my first run doing this I underestimated the island. I plan to retry this again with three more sheets of pink fabric.

I plan to wash these when I'm done with them and return them to the studio. There are so many spiders and quite frankly it's terrifying.

Update 04/23:

I have two ideas:

1. Cover the island on Spring Creek and 17th in pink and yellow fabric (the rosy maple moth)

2. Make a tiny Rosy Maple and take photos of it in locations I've been to in order to show my presence has been there. 

    I'm partial to the second idea but worry it is not site specific unless you count that these sites specifically are where I've been. 

Above is the island covered in pink and yellow fabric.

Update 04/12:

I've been trying to figure out any site specific spots around Laramie. I go on walks and think it's interesting to have visited somewhere and not have left any sort of mark. With this and my jeweled bugs in mind, I thought about making a few Rosy Maple Moths and photographing places I have been with these moths as a signature that I was there. I also looked for gross places as I thought this would allow the moths to contrast. They look very soft and candy like so trash cans, poop bins, and a nasty corner I saw in a bus stop shelter were some place I've encountered while letting my feet carry me around.

    I found a photo of the underside of a Rosy Maple Moth! I never realized they had pink on they're underside!

    I noticed these spots on my apartment complex (photos above and below). As far as yard decor goes, these are heinous. Landscaping sounds fun, and this apartment could benefit from some of it.

Update 04/10:

For this idea I was interested in isopods, like Roly Poly's. I made it gold rather than grey/black thinking it would allow it to stand out more. The grass will probably be brown/yellow when this project is finished so I don't think gold yellow is a good idea.

I hesitate to call this an installation, it could be planted wherever there is dirt.

Side note: what if these were tall flowers?

I thought for this idea that the body would be paper and the wings would be fabric. The wings will be able to stand out and pull the 2D form off  of the wall.

 Update 04/03:

    I looked at two separate locations that have potential, one of which I thought I could create different ideas for as it has a bridge and a stream.

    This is at Laprele Park. There's a huge, flat area that would be great for something to be viewed from the aerial perspective. One downside to this piece of land is that it's so plain, interacting with it and incorporating it could be just "Stick something on the ground." Also there's a lot of dog poop.

    Everytime I walk my dog I pass this creek on Spring Creek and 17th. This particular spot has a little island where the creek branches out. Looking at these photos I'm brainstorming either a bridge of some sort to connect the mini island to the main land or trying an embroidery piece with dissolvable backing (pending it is safe for the environment). 

    To elaborate on the bridge, it isn't a functional bridge, more like a connection of two people of land with some sort of fiber. I think sketching on top of the photos is what I'm going to do after finishing this blog post so I can come up with clear ideas. The small side of the stream that I'm drawn to is roughly one foot wide.

    Next to the island there's this bridge. I was drawn to the railing and the idea of using it as a frame for an embroidery/fiber piece that is suspended in between it. Taking clear photos will be a pain as that are trees, power lines, and a smaller railing on the other side. Maybe focusing on these lower sections where the water runs through would be unique and more worth my time. I could still find a way to suspend something so I am not impeding on the stream's current. There's a beautiful simplicity to this concrete that would allow for a piece to stand out with this as its background.

Update 03/27

    For my site specific installation I am still working on ideas. I'm honestly shocked I have at least one idea! I've been thinking about how knitting is soothing me whilst anxious and in a creative block that was extreme (because I never have minimal bad days, it's always go big and then go home). I'm knitting just simple knit rows with sock weight yarn (i.e. pretty darn small). It seems redundant from a functional stand point for this scarf structure to use this weight of yarn which ups the cost in materials and hours put into it. 

    This one idea I have is a scarf suspended by two steel rod prongs and attached to the scarf are tacky bug pins middle aged women and Madeleine Albright wear. I'm interested in playing with this material viewed as a craft and using tacky pins that are not viewed as high art. I feel like this idea embraces the kitsch of knitting and brooches. 

This is as far as I've gotten on knitting just when I've been anxious the past couple days. 

    Above are the pins Madeleine Albright (she was an American diplomat in short) wore I believe to send a message to Vladimir Putin. According to "Read my Pins" her website about her pins these are yellow gold, one is Christian Dior so these "tacky" pins are all very expensive.

This is a kitsch $2.40 bug pin I found online that I thought was tacky and cute all at once.