The 5 Models

Below are five models I've made that represent some of the ideas I've come up with for displaying my cityscape:

#1. Four Same Sized Panels
Each panel would be different. The four would connect to create an ongoing mural. Each panel would be approximately 5' x 2.5.'


#2. Collage
Using Avery paper, or some type of other removable adhesive, I would collage directly onto the gallery wall.


#3. Wallpaper / Large Scale Print
The cityscape would be transformed into wallpaper and pasted onto the gallery walls. As an alternative to this option (in order to not damage the gallery walls) a company that specializes in large scale printing could be used to achieve the same effect.


#4. Relief
By cutting out unique shapes from the cityscape and then pasting them onto foam core pieces, a 3-dimensional space can be achieved that gives the cityscape actual depth.


#5. Spread Out Collage
Using the same technique as no. 2, create a collage directly onto the walls. This time however, the collage is more dispersed and even goes onto the ceiling.

Shared Urban Space (SUS) Project Update

The Shared Urban Space project is going well, and my pictures for the photo assignments are online. The galleries are not fully functional yet, but should be by the end of this week. To view the site, click here.

City Taking Over the Walls

My latest idea for my final project is to stick with the drawing style I have been working with; flat shapes, lots of colors, lots of overlapping and clutter; but somehow have this style of drawing TAKE OVER a section of the gallery. I already have a lot of the city drawn, but now what? How do I get the drawing to cover the walls, to essentially "grow" on the walls? Here are a few ideas I have come up with:


1. Vinyl.
Pros:
(1) Vinyl stickers can be cut into interesting shapes. (2) It would be easy to collage vinyl stickers. (3) I could continue working only on computers. The drawing is all digital right now, so this would help with consistency for the project.
Cons:
(1) I would have to use someone's vinyl cutter A LOT. (2) I would perhaps have to buy my own vinyl cutter (after researching prices, I've found most are just under $1000).

2. Custom Wall Paper.
Pros: (1) Wall paper covers spaces entirely. (2) I could work all digitally and not have to worry about incorporating other mediums.
Cons: (1) Very expensive. (2) Wall paper is only rectangular, which I'm trying to get away from.

3. Acrylic Paint.
Pros:
(1) Paint would have a very nice look and texture to it. (2) If I used a projector to help me paint, I could create a very precise and geometric appearance for the piece, which is not very common in acrylic paintings.
Cons:
(1) Extremely time consuming. (2) Difficult to get precise edges. (3) Expensive. That's a lot of acrylic paint!

4. All Prints.
Pros:
(1) Prints can be cut into interesting shapes. (3) Again, the advantage of being able to continue to work entirely on computers.
Cons:
(2) Expensive. Printing large high quality posters costs a lot.

5. Combination:
Pros: (1) Advantages of both prints and painting. (2) More urban, city feel perhaps. Like something you might find plastered on the side of a building. (3) Might be cheaper than only large, high quality prints.
Cons: None. I like this idea best I've decided, and I'm tired of writing.

Internship

I am currently working on a website for a group at the University of Oregon. They are a student run public relations committee. The following is an image of a test for their site.

SUS Assignments

Coming up with the photography assignments for SUS is one of the most important factors for this project. Below are some tentative ideas for a few assignments (remember that all these assignments are for urban areas only):

Take a picture of any of the following things:

1. The largest crowd you can find (or just a large crowd).
2. Something that's under construction.
3. Someone selling something.
4. Something someone has marked on a public space illegally (graffiti).
5. The tallest building you can find.
6. A beggar.
7. A business person.
8. Someone talking on a cellphone.
9. A person commuting on something that isn't motorized.
10. People at a bus stop.
11. A traffic sign.
12. A bird or any kind of animal.

SUS Participants

Below is a list of cities/countries that I have friends in currently:

1. Holland
2. Boston
3. Seattle
4. Paris
5. China
6. London
7. Chicago
8. Caribbean
9. San Francisco
10. Australia

I will be contacting these people this week and asking for their assistance in this project. Hopefully, this will help the project get rolling and inspire participation from other people who visit the site.

SUS Progress

With my gallery show behind me, I've really been able to make some progress on the Shared Urban Space project this weekend. The project is now open to photographs as well, in order to make it easier for people to participate.

I've re-designed the website for this project. It is now more colorful, and the navigation bar from my personal site has been eliminated. This allows the project to stand on its own. The colors have been changed on the site to suggest a more friendly and less violent undertone. I've decided to stick with the graffiti-esk styling of the site. I am aware of the risk of losing participants due to this style, which has loaded meaning. This is my opportunity however to brand a project anyway that I want. More importantly however, I am more interested in directing this project towards a different demographic. I feel that this demographic is more edgy, more willing to take risks, and will ultimately be a demographic that produces some very interesting photographs (hopefully).