OK...so welcome. Most of you are familiar with the "rocketpiece" (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.....
Posts
I have a cornfield behind my home. The land is private property and I don't know the owner. People also hunt back there, but I believe hunting season is over. It's up to you guys if you want to take the risk or not.
ReplyDeleteI have a web cam on my laptop and a camera on my digital camera. I'm not sure if the quality is that great especially outdoors.
So far my idea for armor is getting overalls and covering them with duck tape. I'm going to try and pad the thoracic region. I'm also looking for some sort of seizure helmet.
I am really fond of the "seizure helmet" idea. I found this image doing a quick google search and wanted everyone to see it.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.abledata.com/product_images/images/012308.jpg
Have you thought of using "medical tape" at all in addition to the duct tape?
also..here is a good link about the physics of a model rocket (the pdf's are great):
http://www.esteseducator.com/content/publications.php
I'm not having much luck on finding the helmet I want. I'm going to keep looking. I did get kid's bunny slippers for my hands though, which I thought was just bizarre. I could use medical tape, although it's not very thick and covering overalls with it would be a definite time constraint.
ReplyDeletethe first thing i thought of when i looked at the image of an epilepsy helmet, was sparring helmets, and the old style (leather) football helmets.
ReplyDeletecheck out these links:
http://i7.ebayimg.com/06/i/000/f6/1a/c030_1.JPG
http://i23.ebayimg.com/07/i/001/2f/ac/bf00_1.JPG
Those are great looking but they're also very expensive. I ordered this from ebay and will spray paint it. The helmet is kid's helmet so it will be a little small. Should go with my hand bunny slippers.
ReplyDeletehttp://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370158815540&ssPageName=ADME:B:BCA:US:1123#ebayphotohosting
Oh and I can't come to the meeting. I'll be at work at that time.
ReplyDeleteMy husband thinks there are a couple of hard hats in our garage we can use. He will look for them this weekend. He also has a tripod that a friend borrowed a while back, so we will try to get that. I will have time this weekend to see what I can find for armor. I know Ann Stuart - she's great. Best to everyone, Jane
ReplyDeleteWonderful work everyone. I am getting very excited. Today I went and picked up the tire from Christophre. I also went and picked up most of my armor and got a few new ideas to add to it. I bought a gallon of white paint and am painting everything. I am painting an old pair of green pants white as I didn't want to spend the 17.99 for a pair at walmart. I will let you know how it goes. Also, I believe that my son will be accompanying us for our performance, so I will be looking for his armor also. I also found a cheap helmet for Kelly at St Vincent De Paul's today. One other thing... i bought another rocket, for backup.
ReplyDeleteThere is still much work to do. I am thinking of scheduling the launch for Saturday March 14th. Any Problems with this?
Danielle Blake: It is fine if you won't be there for the meeting, thanks for letting us know.
Jane: Good work... the hats will be useful. And we definitely need more tripods.
I want to know what everyone thinks we should be doing in our armor for this performance...any ideas? What type of movements? What type of groupings? We have a lot of talk about about materials, but what about the ideas behind it..the theory and meaning of our piece? I understand that most of this will come about naturally, but we should think and talk about it.