My sister bethy and I took some picture of a few pieces I wanted to blog about and we thought they looked pretty dandy when played at an incredible speed... so i did some crazy technological things and totally BLOGGED IT!! Read blog 'Knowledge = Ornamentation' to find out more about these happening pictures.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Knowledge = Ornamentation.
Ok... so my uni used to be an institution for those who were deemed by society to be not of ‘sound mind’. It was built in 1885 meaning that it is a little old, kind of crumbly and strangely exciting... my fav. When I first arrived at this educational wonder I was rather gobsmacked at immense beauty of the grounds and the haunting splendour of the towering buildings. But as is often the case with most things after a while I got used to those wondrous bits and pieces and managed to somehow walk right by them all, forgetting the emotions that once stirred within me (yes I am still talking about buildings).
We were given a small piece of homework at the beginning of the year to help reintroduce us to the concept of study. It was a nice little exercise that required us to a look around the grounds of the university and find ornamentation in any form, whether it be in the buildings or plant life... anything. We then had to do a spot of research and find out a little about whatever it was we had chosen. I hopped online as you do these days and did some investigating of the ole joint. It was rather amusing really as I got quite swept up in the whole process. I found that many of buildings and rooms had fascinating histories that I had was completely ignorant of, for example, my studio room was where lobotomies were once performed(terribly gruesome operation on the brain), not the most pleasant past but tremendously interesting all the same.
Something I stumbled across in all that riveting research was some information regarding a certain ball and spire tower that stands erect smack-bang in the middle of the university grounds. It was stated on the SCA (Sydney College of the Arts... my uni) website “Venetian clock tower has a tidal ball-spire which rises and falls according to the water level of the underground reservoir”.
‘Riveting stuff’ I hear you sarcastically mumble... well ...yeah it is. For so long this tower had been a tall and simple nothing that had kindly given me shade when the sun was carelessly beating down upon my head but with this new and precious piece of knowledge that had fallen into my hands I discovered that this tower had a purpose.
Stunned that I had so easily dismissed this spirited structure, I began to tell a select few around me the reason this tower stood so tall. It was almost like we (the tower and I) had a little secret and we would smile knowingly at each other when we passed. This knowledge I had gained gave me a connection with the tower as for me it now had a new value. My increased knowledge of the tower became its ornamentation... if that makes sense.
It was shortly after this that I decided to explore unconscious movement. My thinking was that the tower had been slowly moving, recording the levels of the water below us with most of us remaining unaware, but when we became aware the value of the tower changed. Thought it would be interesting to look specifically at the body, and unconscious movements such as twitching, flinching, reflexes, blinking, breathing, and fidgeting. Fidgeting seemed the most fun of the bunch...
...So I picked it.
My lecturer and I were discussing the way to go about making a feasible project out of this interesting concept. We talked about movement and how people sometimes place symbolism on certain movements, which reminded her of something she had looked at a while back in her own practice, Tibetan prayer wheels. The prayer wheel are filled with thousands of mantras and prayers and then the wheel is spun, the spinning movement then ‘releases’ the prayers to wherever it is they are designed to go.
Rather liking this concept I thought it only proper to kindly steal a few of these more alluring elements and intertwine them into my own concept. Perhaps, I thought to myself, I could make something that an individual could wear so when they are supposed to be doing other really important things they could, as well or instead, unconsciously fidget with the item. (Here comes the intertwining bit...) Now say before I gave this individual the item I symbolically imbued it with a blessing so then when they begin to unconsciously fidget with object the movement actually released the blessing I placed on it.
And then after the individual has had their unconscious play, I inform them that before I handed over the item I placed on it a blessing which they released when they interacted with the object. Remember before, we talked about how when I gained that knowledge in regards to tower at my uni that increased its value? My intention is that when i pass on the knowledge of the objects purpose (to release blessing, or prayers) that it value increases for those interacting with it. Bit like a gift.
Got all that?
Good.
Suddenly I discovered I had become rather observant and found myself watching people’s unconscious habits to find patterns, or particularly interesting and unique tendencies. I noticed that one of the most common fidgeting habits is the tapping or clicking of one’s pen (or any writing utensil). So for the first piece I made I drew inspiration from this splendidly unconscious routine.
The ring is a square brass shank with a small rhombus shaped bezel on the top. Within the shank I set a number of milk bottle pieces that I had cut into (Now this might sound nasty but is the best way to describe it...) fingernail shapes. The milk bottle pieces make a magnificent noise when flicked; they are also very flexible and can easily return to original shape. When the pieces were aligned in the ascending order you see in the image above, a fantastic chorus of flicking can be heard. Sounds much like a deck of card when the corners are flicked.
‘What did you do next Jes??’ I hear you all shout excitedly... Well, for my next piece I thought I could explore fidgeting with rings. In my observantness I discovered that playing with rings was probably the second most common form of fidgeting (more people seemed to have pens then rings). Twisting... people have a thing for twisting their rings, if that is their rings are twistable. Now I do enjoy a spot of exaggerating here and there, thought it would be rather
Spinning the ring^^^
I attached a round brass ring shank to a wheel and axle I had cast out of wax. When spun at incredible speeds the ring makes a fantastic noise, a cross between a lovely wind chime and a whiny creaky door. It’s great.
"Please Jes, Can we have some more?" Of course you can! Number three. Like I've stated before I rather enjoy old things, I had an odd urge to research old children's toys, of the Victorian era to be more exact (told you it was odd). I came across something called a ‘Thaumatrope’; being terribly ignorant of children’s toys from the Victorian era I did a bit more digging. Webster's dictionary describes the curious item as such;
Thau•ma•trope - a device consisting of a card or disk with different designs on either side, which, when the card or disk is twirled, appear to blend into one.
I was tremendously thrilled!! I love old things but I also love illustrations! My favourite thing ever is when the two are combined. By making my very own Thaumatrope I could play with my favourite things in the world.
...So I made one.
And just like Webster told me when spun (at incredible speeds of course) it blends to make image of a bird inside a cage..
But I didn’t stop there. The next piece (we are up to four now) I made was designed so that after an individual had worn and unconsciously played with the piece they left a bit of themselves with it. No... not an actual piece of themselves because that would lame and very messy.
I asked Mum if she could help me storm the brain (...brainstorming that is) about what element of fidgeting this next piece could involve. She remembered that when she was young and did sewing in school she fidgeted a lot with her pin cushion. The pins were different colours and she would organise them (unconsciously of course) in to colours or patterns. I found this fascinating that she (and many other bored in home ec class I’m sure) was, without even realising add something of themselves to the project.
...So my Mum and I made a pin cushion.
We found a pattern online and followed it. We then added a strap and some cool as Velcro meaning it could be worn on the wrist.
.........aaaaaaaaaaaannnnnd breathe out. I know this is all incredibly exciting stuff but we only have one more to go.
Ready?
Good.
Let’s finish with number five. This last and rather fine piece was inspired by my very own fidgeting habit. When I wear necklaces I tend to run whatever is on the chain over it endlessly, usually until the chain decides it’s had more than enough and unceremoniously calls it quits. I don’t really wear a lot of necklaces these days, as I find I actually cannot stop myself from this tremendously destructive habit. I wanted to create something that would allow to me to visit the good old days when I was in my unconscious element sliding chains until my heart’s content. Decided I needed to make something more resilient than the majority of my chains as a bit of a wearable tribute to those joyous chain sliding times I once enjoyed.
I have one of those childhood images that stick in your head of going to the doctor's when I was just a hatchling and playing with those toys that all the terribly ill children rubbed, licked and flicked all their delicious germs on. I remember favouring one toy in particular, that one with the colourful wooden balls that carelessly slid over plastic coated wire. How I loved it. Curious, I went and dug one up from the local salvo’s (just as cool and germ-ridden as I remember) and found out they actually have a name, ‘coaster’. Liked the thing so much I took it home and made one of my own.
I made it from brass wire that has been twisted into various curves with two bright red wooden balls I found. It is worn on the forearm and sits upright when forearm is resting on flat surface. Dandy, huh?!
Over and Out.
We were given a small piece of homework at the beginning of the year to help reintroduce us to the concept of study. It was a nice little exercise that required us to a look around the grounds of the university and find ornamentation in any form, whether it be in the buildings or plant life... anything. We then had to do a spot of research and find out a little about whatever it was we had chosen. I hopped online as you do these days and did some investigating of the ole joint. It was rather amusing really as I got quite swept up in the whole process. I found that many of buildings and rooms had fascinating histories that I had was completely ignorant of, for example, my studio room was where lobotomies were once performed(terribly gruesome operation on the brain), not the most pleasant past but tremendously interesting all the same. Something I stumbled across in all that riveting research was some information regarding a certain ball and spire tower that stands erect smack-bang in the middle of the university grounds. It was stated on the SCA (Sydney College of the Arts... my uni) website “Venetian clock tower has a tidal ball-spire which rises and falls according to the water level of the underground reservoir”.
‘Riveting stuff’ I hear you sarcastically mumble... well ...yeah it is. For so long this tower had been a tall and simple nothing that had kindly given me shade when the sun was carelessly beating down upon my head but with this new and precious piece of knowledge that had fallen into my hands I discovered that this tower had a purpose.
Stunned that I had so easily dismissed this spirited structure, I began to tell a select few around me the reason this tower stood so tall. It was almost like we (the tower and I) had a little secret and we would smile knowingly at each other when we passed. This knowledge I had gained gave me a connection with the tower as for me it now had a new value. My increased knowledge of the tower became its ornamentation... if that makes sense.
It was shortly after this that I decided to explore unconscious movement. My thinking was that the tower had been slowly moving, recording the levels of the water below us with most of us remaining unaware, but when we became aware the value of the tower changed. Thought it would be interesting to look specifically at the body, and unconscious movements such as twitching, flinching, reflexes, blinking, breathing, and fidgeting. Fidgeting seemed the most fun of the bunch...
...So I picked it.
My lecturer and I were discussing the way to go about making a feasible project out of this interesting concept. We talked about movement and how people sometimes place symbolism on certain movements, which reminded her of something she had looked at a while back in her own practice, Tibetan prayer wheels. The prayer wheel are filled with thousands of mantras and prayers and then the wheel is spun, the spinning movement then ‘releases’ the prayers to wherever it is they are designed to go.
Rather liking this concept I thought it only proper to kindly steal a few of these more alluring elements and intertwine them into my own concept. Perhaps, I thought to myself, I could make something that an individual could wear so when they are supposed to be doing other really important things they could, as well or instead, unconsciously fidget with the item. (Here comes the intertwining bit...) Now say before I gave this individual the item I symbolically imbued it with a blessing so then when they begin to unconsciously fidget with object the movement actually released the blessing I placed on it.
And then after the individual has had their unconscious play, I inform them that before I handed over the item I placed on it a blessing which they released when they interacted with the object. Remember before, we talked about how when I gained that knowledge in regards to tower at my uni that increased its value? My intention is that when i pass on the knowledge of the objects purpose (to release blessing, or prayers) that it value increases for those interacting with it. Bit like a gift.
Got all that?
Good.
Suddenly I discovered I had become rather observant and found myself watching people’s unconscious habits to find patterns, or particularly interesting and unique tendencies. I noticed that one of the most common fidgeting habits is the tapping or clicking of one’s pen (or any writing utensil). So for the first piece I made I drew inspiration from this splendidly unconscious routine.
The ring is a square brass shank with a small rhombus shaped bezel on the top. Within the shank I set a number of milk bottle pieces that I had cut into (Now this might sound nasty but is the best way to describe it...) fingernail shapes. The milk bottle pieces make a magnificent noise when flicked; they are also very flexible and can easily return to original shape. When the pieces were aligned in the ascending order you see in the image above, a fantastic chorus of flicking can be heard. Sounds much like a deck of card when the corners are flicked.
‘What did you do next Jes??’ I hear you all shout excitedly... Well, for my next piece I thought I could explore fidgeting with rings. In my observantness I discovered that playing with rings was probably the second most common form of fidgeting (more people seemed to have pens then rings). Twisting... people have a thing for twisting their rings, if that is their rings are twistable. Now I do enjoy a spot of exaggerating here and there, thought it would be rather
Spinning the ring^^^I attached a round brass ring shank to a wheel and axle I had cast out of wax. When spun at incredible speeds the ring makes a fantastic noise, a cross between a lovely wind chime and a whiny creaky door. It’s great.
"Please Jes, Can we have some more?" Of course you can! Number three. Like I've stated before I rather enjoy old things, I had an odd urge to research old children's toys, of the Victorian era to be more exact (told you it was odd). I came across something called a ‘Thaumatrope’; being terribly ignorant of children’s toys from the Victorian era I did a bit more digging. Webster's dictionary describes the curious item as such;
Thau•ma•trope - a device consisting of a card or disk with different designs on either side, which, when the card or disk is twirled, appear to blend into one.
I was tremendously thrilled!! I love old things but I also love illustrations! My favourite thing ever is when the two are combined. By making my very own Thaumatrope I could play with my favourite things in the world.
...So I made one.
And just like Webster told me when spun (at incredible speeds of course) it blends to make image of a bird inside a cage..
But I didn’t stop there. The next piece (we are up to four now) I made was designed so that after an individual had worn and unconsciously played with the piece they left a bit of themselves with it. No... not an actual piece of themselves because that would lame and very messy.
I asked Mum if she could help me storm the brain (...brainstorming that is) about what element of fidgeting this next piece could involve. She remembered that when she was young and did sewing in school she fidgeted a lot with her pin cushion. The pins were different colours and she would organise them (unconsciously of course) in to colours or patterns. I found this fascinating that she (and many other bored in home ec class I’m sure) was, without even realising add something of themselves to the project.
...So my Mum and I made a pin cushion.
We found a pattern online and followed it. We then added a strap and some cool as Velcro meaning it could be worn on the wrist.
.........aaaaaaaaaaaannnnnd breathe out. I know this is all incredibly exciting stuff but we only have one more to go.
Ready?
Good.
Let’s finish with number five. This last and rather fine piece was inspired by my very own fidgeting habit. When I wear necklaces I tend to run whatever is on the chain over it endlessly, usually until the chain decides it’s had more than enough and unceremoniously calls it quits. I don’t really wear a lot of necklaces these days, as I find I actually cannot stop myself from this tremendously destructive habit. I wanted to create something that would allow to me to visit the good old days when I was in my unconscious element sliding chains until my heart’s content. Decided I needed to make something more resilient than the majority of my chains as a bit of a wearable tribute to those joyous chain sliding times I once enjoyed.
I have one of those childhood images that stick in your head of going to the doctor's when I was just a hatchling and playing with those toys that all the terribly ill children rubbed, licked and flicked all their delicious germs on. I remember favouring one toy in particular, that one with the colourful wooden balls that carelessly slid over plastic coated wire. How I loved it. Curious, I went and dug one up from the local salvo’s (just as cool and germ-ridden as I remember) and found out they actually have a name, ‘coaster’. Liked the thing so much I took it home and made one of my own.
I made it from brass wire that has been twisted into various curves with two bright red wooden balls I found. It is worn on the forearm and sits upright when forearm is resting on flat surface. Dandy, huh?!
Over and Out.
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