The Interviews (Day One)
Posted by: amber
I went to Pioneer Square yesterday with digital recorder in hand (thanks, Ariana!). After spending a half an hour paralyzed with introversion, I approached a pair of young people sitting on the steps. They were both friendly and willing to answer my questions, and suddenly it was so easy! It was so fun! There's nothing like success to make you want to keep working.
I interviewed 15 people, asking these three questions:
What do you love about the place (town/city) where you live?
What would you change about it?
If you got to design your own town, what is something you would include?
I felt pretty satisfied with the process. Most of the people I approached were open and willing to participate. It was really nice to have an excuse to just stand there and listen to people I didn't know, and to really care about what they were talking about. I was excited and inspired by their answers. They gave me the energy to start putting part 2 of my project plan into action. I'm looking forward to more interviewing as soon as the sun comes out again.
! READER PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITY !
Use the comment section to answer my three questions.
I will appreciate it and use your answers as input for my project.
thank you!
The Kinetic Community: Project Outline
Posted by: amber
I've been hibernating for a few weeks, sorting my ideas out.
Here is the result: an outline of my newest project idea.
I'd be happy to accept any suggestions about where to find enthusiastic urban planners, where to do interviews, etc. Write a comment!
THE KINETIC COMMUNITY
PROJECT OUTLINE
1. THE MAP
PRODUCT:
A modular fabric map depicting elements of a community that works for the environmental, social, and economic well-being of its citizens.
PROCESS:
-Research functioning beneficial aspects of existing towns, cities, and regions as well as utopian visions of community.
-Find and collaborate with enthusiastic community development and urban planning people.
-Gather information from individuals on their beloved spaces and places.
-Design and create map squares that illustrate community elements.
2. THE INTERVIEWS
PRODUCT:
A publication that presents individual citizens’ ideas on what they love about where they live, and what structures they dream about having in their town.
PROCESS:
-Interview a large variety of people in various locations, asking a few simple questions on the topic of community.
QUESTIONS:
What is one thing you love about the place where you live?
What is something you would change about it?
If you could design your own perfect town, what is one thing that would be part of it?
-Edit and publish a well designed, clear to read booklet that shows photos of interviewees along with their statements.
3. THE CURRICULUM
PRODUCT:
An elementary level, standards-based set of lesson plans that integrates visual arts and social studies, incorporating The Map (see 1.) as a teaching tool.
PROCESS:
-Design a flexible, 2 hour set of lessons
-linked to Oregon State Social Studies Curriculum Standards.
-discussing elements of community.
-culminating in student-created community maps.
Making My Own Backyard
Posted by: amber
Most of my focus these days is on trying to find my bearings here in Portland. I try to figure out how I can get in, how I can get involved.
I read the paper, and I read the Willamette Weekly, and all over the media there is discussion of this overwhelmingly large demographic in Portland: The underemployed artists who flock to this city in droves. I read it, and my mind goes crazy. My first thought is this: "But I have a job!" Meanwhile, the rest of my head is flooded with the embarrassment of the truth. I am those people. I am the artist who just moved here, and I want my chunk of the sidewalk just like every other artist living in this city.
Then I think a little more about what it is I really want. Do I really want to fit into every elses's structures that already exist? Would that make me feel accomplished? Perhaps. But then I think about what I truly loved about living in Olympia for the last dozen years. I did not love it because I could fit into everyone else's scene. I loved it because I participated in creating new events and structures and studios. I loved it because I helped make things happen.
If I want to rise above the demographic the media has forced me into, I am going to have to make my own life happen here, too.
