The Site

This is almost a 360° panorama of the site where we will complete the project.

First Meeting

A few images from our first meeting. There is our rocket, look at him... how cute. Also, an image of an "armor" made from sticks and place-mats.

a couple of thoughts/ ghost

I dont have a digi-cam so i apologize for the look of the drawing. I was thinking lately more about ghosts as imagery, that the white makes us kind of like spirits. also
i love the idea of the suit being armor for battle. that holds so many different meanings, and thats part of why i am in love with it. ... i may want to still do a shield, and i am thinking of ideas for what the shield could be made out of. also i wanted to document that i feel the rocket represents our lives while the string that binds us is reality and society.

My armor - I think

Here's what I'm thinking of wearing. The armor part is a carpet sample with a stiff  woven backing. I dunno if this is good or not.

J

A few images to think about

I wanted to post a few images that I found online for everyone consideration and thoughts.

Wade McDaniel, Rocket Experiment
















A cool 3-d graph











Think of how this turntable operates like our rocket performance.








Robert Smithson, Spiral Jetty.













A seizure helmet


















Terence Koh, as Andy Warhol.



















Terence Koh, performing a ritual for his death.














Marcel Duchamp, Large Glass.



















Yves Kline, Leap into the void.



















Rauschenberg, Tire Print (detail).

Ann Stuart says we can use her land (she lives on a large farm) out 144 (actually it's the side road that breaks off of 144).
I have the tire. Taking it to Jeremiah this AM before my meeting. Exciting isn't it??? It is all coming together!!!

First Assignment - A Centering Action: Rocket Performance

OK...so welcome. Most of you are familiar with the "rocket
piece" (the working title)... if not, briefly:

We are going to draw an Archimedes spiral using model rocket as the drawing medium. It is a performance type art work/event. The rocket will be attached to a string, which is attached to a center. We will launch the rocket parallel to the ground and in theory; it will draw a spiral by wrapping around the center (which is going to be a rim for an automobile).

The only audience will be us, for the most part. We are going to photograph and film it. We haven't really discussed it as a group, so maybe this blog can become that.

I chose it as a first experiment...to get things rolling and spark interest. I also chose this piece because in its conceptual beginnings, i used the phrase "like the winding of a yo-yo; potential power". This happened
to coincide with the name of our group. You will learn that my process of creation is very embedded within itself, meaning that not everything is
initially accounted for... as it is a PROCESS. Things come together by doing them. Much like we are coming together. It is about re-arranging energies to become something. I think of this project as a "centering ritual" - another reason that it is perfect for our beginnings. In many ways, it can be viewed as an aboriginal "dreaming" which is a history; our history.

The symbols themselves are pretty straight forward. The spiral is a kind
of mandala. It is a "kind of fate". It is what it is- this is important to think about if you aren't sure what it means. Simply look at the way that it is functioning to our group...how it engages
us. It is our job to experience this and identify it. We won't know what it means until it begins to mean what it means. I know this sounds vague and you are probably scratching your heads, but bear with me.

a conversation of the symbols leads me to the assignments:

1.) Acquire a suite of Armor.

-it is important to remember that this piece can be dangerous as we don't really know what will happen when we fire the rocket. So i would like everyone to either create a suit of armor or find one. I want you to think of it as actual armor, in case our rocket which travels very fast hits
you. For example, I will be wearing a baseball catcher's outfit. I don't care if you buy it, find it or make it....just design it with that in mind. The only other requirement is that it is all white. This can easily be accomplished with a can of spray paint.

*I want to know everyone's idea for a costume...so post your ideas to this blog, with pictures if you can...or bring it to me...or call me. I will also help out anyone who is having trouble finding ideas. I would like everyone to have this costume within a weeks time.

*** the armor... in being uniform in color, becomes our uniform. It becomes a symbol of our collectivity... as if we were warriors in a battle together. It also speaks of our individuality in being our own selections - as they will be comprised of different forms. Don't forget to protect your head also.

2.) Find a site

i do not know where this is taking place yet...i have ideas, but they involve the guerrilla method of trespassing. if anyone knows anywhere here are the conditions:

a. must be free of "civilization" within the scope of the camera. Meaning, that i want to set up a visual shot of nature only.
b. nearby

Contact the places...and let us know. If we don't use that site, we will bookmark it for future projects.

3.) Documentation resources

if you have any:
a. cameras (film, digital, video...etc)
b. tripods
c. sound recording equipment

let us know! (You can post info here if you like) I have 3 film cameras, 1 digicam and 1 digivideo, but only one tripod, but we need more!

4.) Participate

I don't know exactly when this ritual is going to take place...but it will be soon - within the next month. It will most likely be in 2-3 weeks on the weekend.

Please post all communication on this blog... so it can become documentation. Feel free to comment and post anything you feel as being related... pics, texts, etc. (and when people post...everyone should take the time to research it and know it). I would like to thank all of you so far. I think we have a lot of great things to look forward to with this group. I believe
in all of you...in us.....