CHAPMAN DIRECTION

I don't want to suspend from the lighting truss at Chapman- it doesn't make sense for the cards to be 16 feet in the air or to hang off of a huge length of monofilament- I am moving in the direction of adding a freestanding canopy structure in front of my gigantic sprinkle background- this would give me a structure to hang the cards from at human scale and also represents both a celebration and a "shelter" for people in need. This also gives me the ability to work in 3 dimensions as opposed to flat on the wall. These structures would be rented, not made. This is a rough example. It may or may not have lighting inside.

This is approximately how the new tree will look.

COMPOSITE FOR CHAPMAN

Hi Everybody-

So mice to see you today! I have made a rough composite to illustrate my idea for the Chapman Gallery- This is the West Facing Wall- 15 x 31 feet.

Actual Size Books

The actual size books are coming along slower than I had expected. here are the first two. I'm still gathering up Popular culture items including Ripley's believe it or not, Guiness world records. various children's stories and literature. I don't think there will be enough for a "room" though. but certainly a table or shelf. The cookbook has some new twists but I want to focus on two more actual size books and then get back to it. Susan

Tree Update

I have rephotographed a Redwood with Lia's idea of adding another scale element by shooting with different cameras and different lenses, thereby creating different scales within the 12 foot image. The small details will be tiled throughout the larger image. The size of the paper will vary from 2 to 44 inches. I'm hoping to include a "levitation" piece in the mix if I can figure out how to do it while piecing the thing together.

Barb

Sprinkle Room worked out

Hi Everybody-

I think I have solved my problems for hanging the cards, showing a map and creating a lighting source that is diffuse so as not to reflect in the mirrors...

I re-worked the map from my brochure and made the thought bubbles the sprinkle colors. This appear on the wall to the immediate right as you walk in the little gallery. (attached)

Thought Bubbles- aka- Sprinkle-colored paper lantern balls (approx 6-9) will hang from the ceiling with the cards hanging down as attached.

Thanks,

E

Mockup for Photo (video still) Installation

Here is the mockup for my photo installation. As Zig mentioned, we had the idea to collaborate so that we use the same source footage. I would extract stills, modify the scale, and cut them into circles. He would use the footage to create his video work. We are still talking to see if/how this will work.

Susan's Cookbook

Here's my concept for scale as it might relate to a cookbook.
Remove all information from the book except ingredients. Leaving the binding and remnants of pages.
Remove from each "removed" text block everything except the ascenders and descenders leaving the structure with the little marks.
Chop the remaining text lines by cutting each letter in half.

The relation to Scale is that each component is measured by a different set of standards depending in which context it resides. As each component is removed from its "mother" component different measurements are used to complete/understand its function.

A cake or cupcakes could be the top of this pyramid. Susan

Redwood and Eucalyptus

Correction: What I thought was a Redwood turned out to be a Eucalyptus in the middle of a Redwood grove. On the left is the Eucalyptus which has more variations in its structure. However, if you all want a Redwood, the image on the right is a straight and very tall specimen. I included some textural foreground for interest.

Please let me know your preference. My next step is to figure out the size and the printing. I will be hanging the image with extremely strong rare earth magnets with nails under the print.

Thank you,

Barbara

Cupcake Graphic Handout

Hi Everybody-

I have completed the graphic for the handout about the project. 11 x 17 folded in half- middle is full bleed image of sprinkles- front and back are posted. Comments before it goes to print?

Thanks,

Elizabeth

Diatoms

Diatoms

Diatoms are a group of algae that make up a large component of the earth's biota (about 90% of all living organisms in the ocean). Diatoms are know for their microscopic wonder. Within their small scale lies some of the most complex geometric designs and patterns. Although diatoms are small in scale, their influence is magnified by life cycle and foodchain of our environment. For this reason, diatom communities are a popular tool for monitoring conditions of the environment.

For this project, I'm interested in exploring diatoms in relation to scale. I have been experimenting with engraving plexiglas with intricate patterns to reflect and refract light. It would be interesting to hang a series of these diatom-like sculptures within the gallery space. The track lights would bounce off the sculptures and project interesting patterns and designs onto the adjacent walls. Through the concept of the diatoms, the sculptural elements, and light refractions - the multiple levels of scale will be explored.

Below is a test I've been working on in the studio:

REDWOOD, LANTERN and BAMBOO are 10 and 15 feet tall. They are made from huge 3 gig files, so there is a lot of detail in each. I have more images, but these are the most successful so far. These images invite you to look up and down and place yourself in relationship to their scale. The Redwood is just a rough draft. I will reshoot it to get a better lighting situation.

Barbara

Partition Wall Reference for installation in North Gallery - NOVE / SIRONI

As of August 2nd 2010

Susan and Felicity collaboration

Felicity and I are still working out a collaboration based on her Mirrors. I sent her this photo taken through a lens that reduces, in contrast to the mirrors affect.
In the meantime I have started to alter one of the Gulliver books. It incorporates my actual hand outline into the pages. this is a mock up so there is no depth yet.
As time allows I would consider doing several books with different body parts embossed, i.e., a foot, a profile, whatever might fit according to the size of the book. This would introduce an "actual size" element to the entire project. Susan

Katrina's Gear Idea

Hi Everyone,

I've been working on some simple digital sketches of my idea for the show. In my photo installations, I create visual metaphors for the emotion captured in my video footage. This concept combines video stills from different footage using the imagery of gears. Each gear would be created from different video footage, therefore providing variety of color, visual texture, composition within each photo, etc. Although each picture would be small (4x4" or smaller) the gear sizes would be large (maybe 24" diameter and up). So there would be two views of this piece, from a distance to see the gears, up close to see the individual images. Here are some mock-ups to give you the general idea. The final versions would be more refined and complex, this is just a sketch to give the general idea.

I think there are a few different options for where something like this could go in the gallery. I figure this could be figured out on Tuesday, assuming you all like the idea.

1) On the outer windows so that it would be viewed from outside. I still research how much this would cost and make sure I could afford pulling it off, but I wanted to have the mockup before speaking with the sign companies.

2)On one of the larger gallery walls...not sure which one.

3) When I mentioned gears to Zig he asked, "Will they be moving?" I love that idea, so the other idea is having them as a video piece so that they were actually spinning. Zig, this is something we could talk about more together.

Please let me know your thoughts, questions, etc. Just wanted to get these ideas out there before we met.

Thanks!

Katrina

Cupcake Update

Hi Everybody-

Cupcake project is taking shape and becoming more refined. The plan is still to use the small room- the main wall will be wallpapered with this image of sprinkles- symbolic on many levels. Wall mirrors to the left and right which should create infinity effect. I will document cupcake handing out in the form of a hanging book, i.e. recipients will be given a large index card to share thoughts, ideally on the 1million+ hungry in LA. These cards are strung together vertically with book rings and will hang from the cieling in strands- The story they form is exquisite corpse style. Viewers walk through the strands of cards to read. In the mirror, the viewers, cards and sprinkles should be multiplied by mirrors.

I realized that cupcakes fit the project on many levels, including the celebration of the 85th birthday of Gallery 825. So, I will make 85 cupcakes for each location. I think to have 3 done by the opening and will continue baking through show.

I start Sunday at Downtown Women's Shelter with 85 chocolate cupcakes, chocolate frosting in gold cups with gold sprinkles.

Barbara's update/No giant cupcake

Thanks all for the very productive meeting last night.

I hope no one is too disappointed if I retire the idea of the giant cupcake. It just isn't working on many different levels.

I am working on a new image (thank you Meeson). If it works I will send it out to you all.

Also, Susan, I think that Jonathan Swift quote would be great in the entry room with the big images.

Barbara

Elizabeth Tobias' images and proposal

Elizabeth Tobias

TEL: 213-479-4026

EMAIL: eliztobias@yahoo.com

Lisa Randall Project

My current life is consumed by motherhood, family and the roles, points of view, and interconnections experienced by each of the three of us. For this project, I will create a 3-channel video totem piece, emblematic of a Rashomon story, created by attaching a video camera to the heads of my 2 year-old daughter, my husband and myself as we go-about certain family activities together. I will explore both the scale from which we experience our surroundings, and also the points of interest/ points of view experienced by each of us. The video monitors will be installed in the gallery at the height of each person to represent the point of view from which the footage was taken. I will loop a montage of activities such as going to the grocery store, the park and walking down the street. I would like to investigate how we are together, yet apart and what we see from where our bodies exist in relationship to the surroundings.

Katrina's statement and image

I am looking forward to meeting you all on Wednesday evening. I apologize for not being able to make the first meeting but I was on an amazing backpacking adventure in Mammoth and was off the grid.

Barbara is posting a couple images for me. If you'd like to see more you can go to my website www.katrinamcelroy.com. There are also a few short videos posted on www.vimeo.com (just search my name "katrina mcelroy"). Below is a copy of my proposal for the exhibition. Again, look forward to meeting you Wed!

It is with great pleasure that I submit this proposal to work with Lisa Randall, Lia Holloran and fellow members of LAAA on the “Scale” exhibition. I am excited by the idea of collaboration and reinvention of my work based on this fundamental yet deceivingly complex theme.

My work explores the complexities of grief, not as an isolated emotion, but in its connections to seemingly opposite emotions such as joy. I represent visually the fluctuation between these two extremes and their symbiotic relationship to one another. Scale is an important part of my process and conceptual ideas. My installations begin with video footage that I take of myself in spontaneous, heightened emotional states, particularly, though not limited to, those pertaining to the shedding of tears (both of joy and sadness). I extract, edit, and crop stills from the video. I then compose these small individual images into one larger composition, often adhering the photographs directly to the wall. This dichotomy of scale inevitably creates a double read. Up close, the varying facial expressions and body language within the individual parts illustrate the constant fluctuation of emotion, from smiles to grimaces. From afar, the composition and pattern creates a visual metaphor. Here I consider the tendency to analyze, compartmentalize, organize and manipulate emotion despite of, and because of, its persistence, cyclical nature and its ability to overwhelm. In order to fully see the work, the viewer must physically move forward and backward to see detail or the overall pattern. This movement back and forth mimics the emotional tide that I capture in my video.

Architecture and /or the space in which the piece resides (the wall, a frame, a room) are also an integral part of my work. Often, an internal dialogue between my source material and a physical location sparks my ideas. I want to evoke a physical reaction with the viewer; the space and how the body moves and views within that space is a point of consideration in my designs. Conceptually this consideration is linked with emotional connections with space. Emotional responses are triggered or influenced by environment: public versus private space, dark versus light, expansive versus claustrophobic, familiar versus foreign.

In my work, scale is not a design element to be taken for granted or decided upon lightly. It is one of the most basic considerations, yet its impact is omnipotent. I hope to have the opportunity to further contemplate my ideas and those of others with this exciting collaborative exhibition. Thank you for your time and consideration.

First, what A unbelievable thing to have Dr. Randall and Lia Halloran share their thoughts and time for this project. As artist and scientists we both question our world and beyond. Asking questions, wondering the "what ifs'" and challenging our own prejudicial thinking to form new ideas; reminding others that there are multiple ways of seeing and there are no absolute truths to being human. As an artist, these are my bedrocks, my reason to create.

My current work involves altering books. Most of the books are vintage and carry the notions of a previous generation. One cannot change history but we can alter its artifacts and possibly their impact. I like to think of it as exposing the inner truths of these objects, not being satisfied with what they appear to represent. Not taking something at its face value and challenging established ideas plays well into my work and would be along the the theme of scale exploration as described by Dr. Randall. My abilities of not just seeing what is there , but what could be there and how it is interpreted would be of value. Within each of my works I've created hidden architectures that not only support the images but add a third dimension to what is usually thought of as flat. This understanding would be helpful where fabrication or the engineering of space might be applied. I have a keenness for detail and precession, as long as it adds to the impact of the idea and is not distracting. My work may be small but it represents the understanding of form, content and artistry that I believe would assist in this project.

It would certainly be an honor to work with Dr. Randall. This is a rare opportunity and my most selfish thoughts revolve around what I might absorb through this process, wether consciously or unconsciously and I hope equally to inspire others with what I may contribute. Many thanks for your consideration,

Sincerely,

Susan Sironi