Three Things From Class

1. One of the most important things I learned today in class was about filming. It was really interesting experimenting with angles, point of view, proximity, etc. with the cameras. In my group we filmed Sam trying to escape from Shaffer. It ended up being really interesting and funny when we played it back, and it made me want to explore film more. I feel like I understand how to successfully document my project next week to compliment the final product.

2. Also after class today I established a base for a more reasonable performance art project to finish by Thursday. I already posted the proposal and I hope it's successful because I think the final project could be really powerful.

3. Finally, I learned how many issues people can run into when trying to create a performance art piece. I had no idea the amount of time it takes to just get a space to do it, get the permits, and permission from so many people. Since there's only a week left until the project is due, I really will have to manage my time [i'm sure like everybody else] so that I can produce the project I wanted.

Final Performance Art Proposal

I edited my proposal to make it more realistic to achieve by Thursday. I think it is still as powerful, if not more because if it is successful I plan to continue it after the project is due.

Performance Art Project Proposal:

Hello, My Name is...

Mary Luke

Project Components

• walk around with a digital camera taking pictures of the “strangers”
• flyers to explain the project and where to find the results online [blog]
• someone to document the event/project
• a busy area with a lot of foot traffic
• Thursday October 6: collect the photographs
• collaborate the photos on the blog over the weekend and display the results
• students of syracuse are the target participants

Project Description

The “Hello, My Name is...” performance art project will begin on Thursday October 6th, I will go around campus one day while wearing a “Hello my name is...” name tag and introducing myself to people. I will approach anyone who sparks my interest and if it is okay with them, I will photograph them and give them a “Hello, My Name is...” name tag to wear during the day so they remember that any stranger can be a friend. I will explain what it is for and why I am taking on this project with a flyer. On the flyer they will also find information on how to follow up on the project (it will be posted on a blog the following weekend). After the photographs are taken and the photo release forms are signed, I will set up a blog online describing my experiences with the people I randomly met.

Philosophy

The idea for this project stemmed from my observations of people walking around campus every day. I see dozens or hundreds of people I’ve never seen and probably will never know. And yet, it is so simple to get to know them if you just approach them. This project will prove that and bring all those strangers together, creating a sense of community and a piece of art that everyone can be a part of. Finally, people who would never acknowledge each other as they’re walking will be brought together and will learn from the experiences that I will blog about and the photos that I post. Hopefully, this will make people more confident to approach people and find that they’re not that different from each other. The wall will be a constant reminder that we are one. If it is successful I may even continue the project and update the blog regularly.

Budget Information & Supplies

• Hello, My Name is... Name Tags [10.00]
• Digital Camera [no cost]
• Paper for flyers, copy machine cost [10.00]

The total cost of this project is estimated to only be around $20.00.

Education

Graduated New Canaan High School 2010

New Canaan, CT

Current Painting Major at Syracuse University, Class of 2014

"Hello, My Name is..." Formal Project Proposal

Performance Art Project Proposal:

Hello, My Name is...

Mary Luke

Project Components

• three people in charge of the polaroid cameras and explain the project
• advertisements (posters)
• promoters to get people talking about it
• someone to document the event/project
• a busy area with a lot of foot traffic to attract people
• one week to collect the photographs, and one day to create the display
• weekend in late october
• students of syracuse are the target participants

Project Description

The “Hello, My Name is...” performance art project consists of two steps. Step one: I and a few of my peers will go around campus throughout the week while wearing “Hello my name is...” name tags and introducing ourselves to people, asking if we can take a picture of them with a polaroid camera. We will explain what it is for and why we are taking on this project. After the photograph is developed, the student will be asked to write a statement [anecdote, fact, fear, thought, etc] on it, adding a personal touch so anyone who reads it remembers them. Finally, we will ask them to put on a name tag and wear it throughout the day to unite all the participants and spread the idea.

The second step is that the following weekend, a large poster or sheet of fabric will be attached to a pre-existing wall on which everybody and anybody will be able to help put up all the pictures to create a giant “Hello my name is...” name tag.

Philosophy

The idea for this project stemmed from my observations of people walking around campus every day. I see dozens or hundreds of people I’ve never seen and probably will never know. And yet, it is so simple to get to know them if you just approach them. This project will prove that and bring all those strangers together, creating a sense of community and a piece of art that everyone can be a part of. Finally, people who would never acknowledge each other as they’re walking will be brought together and will learn from the statements on the wall. Hopefully, this will make people more confident to approach people and find that they’re not that different from each other. The wall will be a constant reminder that we are one.

Budget Information & Supplies

• Polaroid cameras [one used : $30; three used : $90]
• Film [one pack with 10 exposures : $10; 10 packs with 100 exposures : $100]
• Sharpies [$15]
• “Hello, My Name is...” tags [$10]
• Poster or sheet [$10 - 20]

The total cost of this project is estimated between $165 and $235. This does not include any shipping costs that may be necessary to obtain the polaroid cameras.

Education

Graduated New Canaan High School 2010

New Canaan, CT

Current Painting Major at Syracuse University, Class of 2014

Performance Art Concept Brief Analysis

Performance Art Concept Analysis

Concept

My performance art concept begins with step one: I and a few volunteers will go around campus throughout the week, or depending on how much time we need, wearing “Hello my name is... name tags” and introducing ourselves to people and asking if we can take a picture of them with a polaroid camera. Obviously, we will explain what it is for. After it is developed the person will be asked to write a statement [anecdote, fact, fear, thought, etc] on it, making it personal so someone remembers them. Finally, we will ask them to put on a name tag as well to unite all the participants.

The second step is that the following weekend for one day, two if necessary, I will set up a large board or wall on which everybody and anybody will be able to help put up all the pictures to create a giant “Hello my name is...” name tag. This project matters to me because as I walk around campus I see dozens or hundreds of people I’ve never seen and probably will never know, and yet, it is so simple to get to know them if you just approach them. This project will prove that and bring all those strangers together, creating a sense of community.

Form

The performance art context of this project is the second step when the art is actually created by both myself and everybody who passes by and participates.

Context

The social impact of this performance art project is that people who would never acknowledge each other as they’re walking will be brought together and will learn from the statements on the wall. Hopefully, this will make people more confident to approach people and find commonalities.

The political statement that I am trying to make with this project is though the government and America in general tries to make us all feel separated by labeling all of us, we can remove them and become one united group.

The cultural impact of this project is that although we all come from different cultures, our real culture is created when we come together and combine our backgrounds.

The physical aspect of this project is the final product, a bold wall of strangers that you cannot ignore when passing by; the visual reminder that we are all one and we can always learn about someone new.

Administration / Enactment

I would need permission from administration to actually make this project a reality because I would need a space somewhere on campus to display the final project.

Evaluation

I know that there is a lot of potential for this project to be successful because it is easy to get people to participate as it would not take much time for people to engage in either step one or two. As people pass by on their way to classes it is not difficult to get their attention. Also, as I describe the project, I believe people will take interest in it and feel like they want to be a part of it. It may be difficult to attract the first people, but as soon as I do, more people will be attracted to the project and join.

In The Space of Art

This are responses to questions based off of Mary Jane Jacob's "In the Space of Art"

1. What defines the “space in between” for Jacob and the artists Jacob is interested in?

In this article, Jacob and the artists she is interested in define the “space in between” as, “the space [artists] depend upon to make their art...that, in turn, allows viewers to enter this space of art for themselves.” The space in between brings artist and viewer together, resulting in an interactive environment in which neither party knows the outcome, but they both create it. The space in between is also a place for movement and spontaneity because of the unknown result.

2. Have you ever created, studied, seen or participated in a project that utilizes the “space in between”? Please describe what it was in detail, and how it worked with the space in between.

A few years ago, I went on a mission trip with my youth group to San Diego. Here, we did a lot for the community including recreating their community center. We also believed that we should bring with parties together, because we were not just there to construct, but to share and join together two completely separate groups. We created a project that utilizes the “space in between” that Jacob described. The project was creating a mural on one of the community center building’s walls. However, we got everybody to participate, and with so many people we obviously did not know what the outcome would be. This spontaneity was freeing and brought us all together because the final outcome was a combination of all of our subconscious creations. Jacob relates art and meditation in that in both practices, one must remove all expectations from their mind to experience the most pure and creative results. During this project, I experienced this connection. The project was calming in a way I had never felt; with so many people involved one might think it would be cluttered and hectic, and yet the unknown and collection of diverse people with different ideas developed into what Jacob described as “the space in between”.

3. What kind of mind-set does Jacob believe is required for creativity and experiencing the space in between?

Jacob describes a specific mind-set that is required for creativity and experiencing the space in between. To obtain this mind-set, the artist must be okay with the “mind of don’t know.” Jacob explains, “The ‘empty’ mind is the creative mind.” Because the mind is removed of all plans and expectations, it allows for the real creativity of the artist that lies in the subconscious to be presented in reality. When artists does not know the outcome, their creativity is challenged; they must adapt, change, and alter the project to accommodate any problems. Within this mindset, the artist is allowed to experience the space in between. Jacob describes this phenomenon; “Exploring the rich empty space of possibility that is the space of art requires open-mindedness...to participate in it to the fullest, we need to understand...that ‘when we emerge from nothing...we see it all as a fresh new creation.’”.

What does Jacob imply is the potential social impact of utilizing the space in between, the space of art? In other words, what does she suggest will happen to the ways in which we relate to other humans?

There are endless potential social impacts of utilizing the space in between and the space of art. Throughout her essay she explains how by bringing together art and viewer, people become connected and relate in a way that never existed. The viewer becomes an artist as he participates while the artist becomes the viewer as he is not the only creator. Relations between humans therefore change and both perceptions alter; Jacob explains John Dewey’s idea that the inner change that results from the experience of the space in between is, “ ‘far more efficacious than the change effected by reasoning, because it enters directly into attitude.’”

Because of the inevitable interaction between two parties that used to be so separated, much is learned by both artist and viewer. Jacob reflects on her own experiences and notes that, “something is always learned, exchanged, and gained when artists enter into such projects.” Through the conception of the space in between, the barrier between artist and viewer, professional and non-professional is eliminated. It has brought countless people together under shared ideas, experiences, and feelings. Yvonne Rand is quoted in Jacob’s essay saying, “when we are fully conscious and present in the moment, we can be in the field of energy shared with others.”

The Art of Noise

This is a response to questions based on the article, "The Art of Noise" by Luigi Russolo.

1. How do you think Russolo would feel in a world without simultaneous sound?

Russolo sees simultaneous sound as the only means of musical progression. Therefore, without it music and sound would halt and only be repetitive. Everything would sound the same and life in music would be incredibly boring. Simultaneous sound provides us with intense, innovative possibilities. Because noise in nature is unpredictable, there are endless possibilities. Russolo explains, “we have perhaps a thousand different machines, we can distinguish a thousand different noises, tomorrow, as new machines multiply, we will be able to distinguish ten, twenty, or thirty thousand different noises...[combining] them according to our imagination.” Russolo’s philosophies of noise prove that although manmade musical sounds (with instruments, voice, etc.) will eventually stop progressing, simultaneous sound that exists in nature and everyday life will never cease to expand.

Russolo mentions in this article that, “The Greeks...calculated mathematically...a few constant intervals to be used [which] limited the field of music considerably, rendering harmony, of which they were unaware, impossible.” However, as new ideas in music progressed, simultaneous sound was born. Simultaneous sound complicated music and made it more pleasing to the ear. In music, simultaneous sound exists in chords and harmonies, yet these harmonies exist in everyday life as, “Every noise has a tone, and sometimes also a harmony”.

Without simultaneous sound, music would have never progressed, and we would still be hearing the same, monotonous, boring sounds that the Greeks developed thousands of years ago.

2. Does Russolo value “noise”? Do you value it? Why or why not?

Russolo makes it very clear in this article that he values noise. He sees that noise has the ability to create endless possibilities and progression in sound and music. He realizes that although people may see noise as harsh and loud, and yet it actually contains tone and harmony if combined through one’s own imagination. Without noise, Russolo believes musical progression would come to a stop, as manmade sounds with instruments are not endless. The “pure sound” of harmony that is created by man eventually becomes uninteresting as it only repeats itself. However, Russolo points out that, “the machine today has created such a variety and rivalry of noises that pure sound, in its exiguity and monotony, no longer arouses any feeling.”

When I was reading Russolo’s article on the Art of Noise, I realized how important noise is and how much I value it as well. Sitting here writing my essay I can hear cars and buses pass, rain falling, and the sound of my roommate turning pages as she reads. Just hearing the combination of natural noise creates a calming harmony and leaves the same effect that any “pure sound” would. However, unlike the “pure sound”, this noise is interesting and different and makes me think of music in a new way.

3. What is the role of noise in the media you enjoy?

The role of noise in the media that I enjoy mainly come from games. Without noise in games, an entire interactive aspect of the game is removed, and it would become much less interesting. Games combine noise from music, nature, voice, action, etc, to create unique sounds.

Day One of Class

As it was the first day of class today, we spent some time learning about each other [names, majors, weird facts]. And although I seem to do that with every new class I go to, I found this one more interesting as we learned about our partner through drawing. I could guess, or assume, people’s likes, desires, personalities through the doodles that we drew. I also found it interesting when we watched students’ examples of work. One that stood out to me was the short film about the true story of the drug addict. I thought it was amazing how powerful it came across and got me more excited to get into the course.