Placemaking Project

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

123 Gallery, George Mason Univ

This project is represented in the spring Art & Visual Technology Honors show curated by Sue Wrbican. I worked closely with Sue to come up with an interesting way to demonstrate the project which I nearly withdrew from consideration, thinking that it would not translate to a gallery setting at all. Using fragments from different aspect of the project; an actual plaque, a polaroid of one of the pieces, a large map fragment pulled from the larger googlemap, and small cards that directed viewers to continue their experience online here and in the physical world. Taking advantage of limited space, we installed the pieces on two sides of a column which felt like it propelled the viewer to see the work in a way that resmbled how they might have to "travel" to see it in along a path...installation photos forthcoming

Project Bio

This ongoing project began as a way to explore space and place. What makes places important or overlooked? What imbues a place with a history? I have a fondness for overlooked or underused spaces that are not distinguished to everyday eyes. This I believe is a result of the completeness with which economic factors like globalization have played in permeating every square inch of our lives. With this project, I seek to activate ignored spaces by using the defining abilities of photography. After recognizing such a location, I return several times until I feel there is harmony in the geometry, the light and remnants of activity - then I try to pay homage to this moment with a single photograph. The activity of choosing and photographing these places imbue them with a sense of importance. By taking the time to photograph a place, I call attention to it and create a value that differentiates it. I create a plaque-like form with this image and return this to the center of the place from which the photograph came. There is a two pronged approach to my efforts. One, to draw attention to the space as a place that, if considered, can alter one's sense of how they,the passerby, interact with or understand it. The other intention is to experiment with my own understanding of what constitutes a place and create a discursive space of my own.