Instruction
Instal your text in plain sight and document it.
Purpose
Finish the project.
My Interpretation
See above and previous progress posts.
Project One (2130)
Hidden In Plain Sight – Progress – Project One (2130)
Instruction
Work on the final deliverable.
Purpose
Reach a finished product and prepare for installation.
My Interpretation
I took the critiques from the previous post and decided to add more movement to the words in my project. I changed the shape into this flowing and descending wave-like shape. I painted the chipboard as close to the color of the walls of the Fine Arts Library to allow for further subtlety and I included a literal “break” (in the form of a tear between the final two phrases) that is unpainted, secretly including the answer to the poem/riddle within itself. Also, as a small joke to myself and to truly grasp the concept of taking a break, between painting the words “A hearing.” and “A waiting.” I literally stopped working to make a smoothie and take a pause to relax before continuing to paint the rest.
Hidden In Plain Sight – Concept Statement – Project One (2130)
Instruction
Finalize a concept statement to accompany your installation.
Purpose
Give description to your project and tie everything together. focus on gestalt principles, materiality, and general essence/core/feeling of the work.
My Interpretation
I edited my previous concept draft down to much tighter, much more to-the-point version that highlighted important aspects of the installation without spoiling everything about it.
Hidden In Plain Sight – Test Installation – Project One (2130)
Instruction
Create a draft of the final installation in the space.
Purpose
See how effectively your concept is conveying. Critiques from other classmates will be given.
My Interpretation
I placed my draft model on the ledge area above and across from a chair one floor lower, best visible from sitting in the said chair to view the installation. I made the letters the same color as the wall with the intention in my final project to have the letters be negative space within the rounded shape that contains them. Each phrase has a line to itself and each is offset to show movement. After the critique, noted to curve the words themselves, match the color to the background and incorporate a literal “break” into the structure of the words were given and strongly considered.
Hidden In Plain Sight – Font Exploration – Project One (2130)
Instruction
For your text, find a font.
Purpose
Decide on a font that pushes the narrative of your project foreword. Explore contrasting and matching tones.
My Interpretation
I first explored a font that mimics handwriting and I thought it looked too scrawled and less genuine. Next I explored very plain sans serif fonts, complimenting the simple aspect of taking a break and though they worked well, they Seemed slightly too commanding. Next, I decided to lean into that command, using a bolder and heavy font to almost demand a break, but I though the contrast was unnecessary and intimidating. Finally, I decided on a simple font with whipping serifs. I enjoy this font the most as it still retains the simplicity it needs, while having a slight movement quality, further expanding on the theme of a break not meaning progress has stopped.
Hidden In Plain Sight – Revised Model – Project One (2130)
Instruction
Revise a previous model.
Purpose
Find more natural positions to view your words from the seated positions established in the previous process post about models.
My Interpretation
I went to the same chair and bookshelf and simulated sitting down in the chair with the full intention of resting, going so far as to lean back, lift my feet up, and seep into the cushions of the chair. This action naturally led my gaze upwards towards a ledge above that was a plain off-white wall. This new spot for “A calming/ A stilling/ A hearing/ A waiting” seemed more powerful and meaningful than the previous bookshelf spot, as that spot is much less natural and indicative of a break. To look sharply to the left towards books is not what I’d do first when relaxing.
Hidden In Plain Sight – Models – Project One (2130)
Instruction
Create three “models” of your words in space.
Purpose
Find out if the proper feeling is being conveyed by your choice of words and the area they’re in and how they are hidden. Explore how the views can change in space and how they can be viewed over time with (or without) human interaction.
My Interpretation
I plan to install the words “A calming/ A stilling/ A hearing/ A waiting” (I swapped “hearing” and “waiting” from the original because I wanted “A waiting” to be last) in a place where the answer to this poem lies – in the Fine Arts Library – where you are there to study, but are able to take a break from everything for a moment and appreciate your surroundings. The literal answer to the poem is “A break”. I want the words to be hidden and only visible from a resting/sitting position, emphasizing that the answer that, in taking a break, stopping to focus on yourself doesn’t mean you’re not making progress. The lounge spot is a common resting area, but the words may be too visible before reaching the couch in the space which would dampen the point. The chair by the bookshelves is a great personal and inclusive spot, the words can blend in with the blur of colored books, even being more and less covered up as more and less books from that specific shelf are checked in and out. The ottoman space is almost too hidden, leading me to want to make it visible, but unreadable, from the lower level of the library (see video) in order to make someone pursue the words in the space, much like how you’d work towards a break in your day-to-day. Finally, I also currently plan to add a small graphic (early draft seen in previous progress post on concept statement draft) alongside the words installed to further the theme of progress not being halted while resting.
Exercise – Initials and Space
Instruction
Using positive and negative space, create your own initials and have them reflect something personal about yourself.
Purpose
Understand positive and negative space, further explore gestalt principles.
My Interpretation
I wanted to utilize all three of my initials (MAJ) because they fit well together and can create a lot of unique shapes. I started with a theatre setup, the M being the proscenium, the A being the lights, and the J being the stage and backstage. I also included an iteration where a backstage box is the tittle of the J, further lowing the backstage theme. I also explored musical interactions, fitting MAJ within a music staff and simply MJ in music notes. Still unsatisfied, I simplified the entire project and tried fitting the letters within each other in negative space, but I was still disinterested. Finally, I decided on recreating my initials in a form of my face. I wanted to highlight my hair and my piercings as I connect very strongly with them. The M is the widows peak of the hairline, the A is the nose, and the J is the jaw line. This iterations also uses the most gestalt principles, using closure to complete the face, similarity in the piercing shapes, and simple positive and negative space.
Exercise – Text in Context
Instruction
Laser cut a word (in a font of your choosing) out of any material and semi-permanently place it into a location within Hayes Hall, the Fine Arts Library, or Hopkins Hall.
Purpose
Explore words in context and how proximity and other gestalt principles impact meaning. Experiment with font types and how they use the same principles to change the overall feeling of the word.
My Interpretation
I played with many verbs, most notably “performing”, “pin.”, and “RIOT”. I played with punctuation and capitalization to change the overall feeling of the words and ultimately decided on “RIOT” in a font titled Filicudi, which uses the negative space between bars to creat a blocky and bold typeface. I placed a template of my word in many chaotic locations such as near punched holes in the wall, under bells and alarms, and even over another person’s placed word to emphasize the theme of what “RIOT” means. In the end, I decided to create contrast with my word by placing my call-to-action in a quiet, calm, and civilized library, right in the center of a table.