Joel Mertz: BFA 2007-2008

Shared Urban Space Documentation

2008-06-26T15:09:00.000-07:00

BFA | Offsite: Opening

2008-06-13T14:36:00.000-07:00

The show was a great success, thank you to all who came. A special thanks to everyone who contributed their photography to the project.

A drawing I made back in Fall 07'. Initially, this was to be the focus of my entire installation. Instead, it ended up being hung outside the gallery by the elevators. It needed to be separated from the rest of my work because it was so much different from the Shared Urban Space Project.

Here I am still in sweat pants and sneakers before the official opening of the gallery. As you can see, the photographs were displayed in a single row that spanned the entire gallery space. This was over 100 feet of running wall space, and roughly 300 photos from the project were able to be displayed in this manner.

This is a nice shot of the postcard/print station. Here participants were able to select photos from the project and print them as postcards. Each photographers name, location of their photo and assignment number the photographer had completed were included on every photograph. Also included was the project's URL. This was another great opportunity to continue to create global growth for my project.

Michael Salter and Kartz Ucci checking out some of the photographs for the Shared Urban Space Project.

Here I am attempting to explain the project after having only a couple hours of sleep the night before and a few celebratory beers.

Print Station: Printer

2008-05-18T18:07:00.001-07:00

Amazingly, the print station printer is working great. The postcards all have the photographer's name on them, the location the photograph has come from, the assignment number, and the Shared Urban Space url. As I have mentioned earlier, the hope is that the user will mail the postcard somewhere else in the world and the receiver will in turn, join the SUS community. I am building the user interface for this part of the project using Flash, and I've had to format each picture individually with its relevant information in Photoshop.

Removable Self Adhesive Paper

2008-05-14T14:48:00.000-07:00

For the long, narrow strips of photographs that will go around my exhibition space, removable self adhesive paper seems like a viable solution for mounting the photos cleanly to the wall. Earlier in the year I did research on this paper for something else I had planned to do. The only problems with the self-adhesive: Will there be bubbles? Will the strips come out straight? Only time will tell... Below is a mock up of the adhesive line of photographs. I made this model about a month ago. The final version will have no space in between the photographs, and the images will be smaller.

HP Self-adhesive Indoor Paper

Print Station: Mounting/Displaying Monitor

2008-05-12T19:01:00.000-07:00

Part of the SUS Project will be a print station, where participants are able to print off any photo in the assignment as a postcard. The idea being that whoever receives the postcard next will join the project. The print station utilizes a touch screen monitor and a printer, which prints on 4" x 6" paper. This monitor did not come with any type of structure for presentational purposes, so I have to build one. I am also looking into ways to mount the touchscreen monitor onto a wall.

An old podium someone built for this particular touchscreen monitor awhile ago:

The touch screen monitor:

Me messing around with some things in my studio:

A TV wall mount I found at Ikea (Possibly one of the better solutions).

Archiving Photos: One By One

2008-05-11T15:48:00.001-07:00

A look at the tedious process of archiving one photo for the Shared Urban Space Project. This process includes labeling a submitted photo with the photographers full name, and the location the photograph was taken in (city, country).

Current Look at Studio and New Projection Screen

2008-05-10T23:44:00.000-07:00

Here is a recent snapshot of my studio space in the Millrace Studio complex. I have accumulated quite a few toys over the year, including TV's, old 35mm slide projectors, touch screen monitors and more. Not to mention a small army of models from all the different ideas I've had for this project over the year. Note the large mural that was at one point, the primary focus of my work.

Perhaps the most exciting recent development is this large data projector screen. It will be used for displaying the Shared Urban Space Project Photos in a slide show. The screen has a contemporary, slightly industrial look that will fit perfectly with the look and feel of the White Stag building.

Another look at the data projector screen. The small metal rectangular prism in front of the screen is actually a frame for a laundry basket I bought from Ikea. Originally, I was planning on using these for podiums for ten different slide projectors. Each slide projector was to be dedicated to one of the ten photo assignments. Now, I'm using the laundry basket frames as podiums for other parts of my project.

SUS Stories and My Latest Thoughts

2008-05-01T13:25:00.000-07:00

Currently, the Shared Urban Space project is nearing 800 photos and 200 participants. I am still happy with my decision to abandon the slide projectors. They are not fitting to a project that utilizes so many newer technologies. This project needs to grow, not be permanently archived with expensive slides. I really see the exhibition of this project as an opportunity to inspire more people to get involved with SUS, and perhaps it will grow in unexpected ways as these new people join.

I have decided that there needs to be audio for my exhibit. To make this part of the project successful, I have begun asking for audio files sent in as email attachments from SUS participants. In these audio files, the photographers are asked to talk about an image they have submitted to SUS, or there thoughts on urban photography in general. To see this latest development in the project please visit: http://joelmertz.net/projects/sus/susStories.htm

Getting these audio files has been a very trying task. Using flickr, I have individually emailed every participant of the project asking them personally to send in an audio file. It's been a bit comical, because after every 10 emails sent the program forces you to quit sending letters as a precaution against spamming. So I have to wait ten minutes before sending out another 10 emails or so. I have received about 5 audio files so far, and they are truly amazing. I had no idea how dramatic it would be to have these stories from around the world played in succession. I am very grateful to the handful of people that have sent in their audio files. Thank you!

Yes, I Have Yet Another New Idea...

2008-04-23T20:08:00.000-07:00

Slide projectors don't seem to get at the core of this project for me. Shared Urban Space is continually growing as more and more people join the SUS community and upload their photos to the site (http://www.flickr.com/groups/sus/) Instead of permanently archiving the photos using slides, I've decided a new approach was necessary to represent SUS as a living, growing, breathing project. These ideas include the following:

1. Going back to a single print out of all the images in the project. This time however, make the line more dynamic by presenting the photos in various sizes. The baseline of all the photos will be aligned. This will give the row a more unique shape, better represent the size the pictures were submitted at and the shape should suggest a city skyline.

2. Include a projection of selected photos from the project. Perhaps a nice rear projection.

3. Include a web cam station where people can talk to other photographers in the world who have participated in the project.

4. Include a print station where participants can print selected photographs from the project on a 3"x5" postcard. Maybe use a touch screen for this so a mouse or keyboard won't be needed.

5. Draw attention to certain photos by enlarging them. Creates a more dynamic space and should suggest more of a collection.

6. Offer users an opportunity to upload photos to the project directly in the gallery.

7. Offer users an opportunity to discuss and comment on photos in chat rooms and discussion boards.

8. Give users an opportunity to write in their own assignments somewhere. The new goal for displaying the photos of the SUS project is to generate excitement about the project, encourage user participation and display the large number of submissions to the project.

9. A map with pins in it showing where submissions have come from.

Below: Inspiration, Futurist Photo Exhibition

Below: Suggestion for print-out display of photos:

ProPalette 7000 Film Recorder

2008-04-16T13:06:00.000-07:00

Apparently making 800 slides by myself is going to be much cheaper than sending them out to a service bureau. A film recorder seems to be the best solution:

http://www.meyerinst.com/html/polaroid/pp7000.htm

Using Projectors for Shared Urban Spaces

2008-04-15T10:25:00.000-07:00

Recently, I have come across a very exciting idea for displaying the photos for the SUS online project. Ten slide projectors... each projector will be dedicated to one of the ten photo assignments. The large line of slide projectors would be very exciting I feel. They would be left on auto shuffle, which would make for an interesting sound within the bay area. The lights at the end of the space would need to be blocked out.

Currently I have three slide projectors, but six or seven more are on the way hopefully.

Switch to SUS

2008-04-15T00:16:00.000-07:00

The mural/drawing part of my project has been... ELIMINATED! This was a major decision, but it was an idea I've been toying with for awhile now. I am now focusing entirely on my Shared Urban Spaces Project (SUS). As a reminder, this is an online project I began at the beginning of winter term. Shared Urban Spaces is comprised of ten "photo assignments" pertaining to urban areas. For example, assignment one is: "Take a picture of a security camera." The project asks participants to send in photos that complete one of the ten assignments. The photos are then displayed into online galleries. To visit the project, click here.

The reasons for abandoning the drawing/mural are as follows:
1. The two projects together are too much work.
2. Two projects costs more money than one.
3. The projects don't relate.
4. Shared Urban Space is more interesting.
5. Shared Urban Space has received a more positive response.
6. The drawing/mural is just a drawing/mural.
7. I feel that SUS is challenging me more as an artist.
8. The drawing/mural is safe. It is based on something I've been doing for quite some time: drawing.

It is exciting and much less stressful to now have to only deal with the problems relating to one of the projects. The largest problem I have to deal with now is determining how to present the 600 photos (this number is still growing!) from the SUS project in a gallery setting. One idea I have is to display the photos in a single row that goes around the walls of the "bay area." This would be a successful strategy in some ways, because the bay areas are massive in size (60' x 20'). A single row of the photos would easily fill up the space I have available (see below).

Photos displayed in single row that goes around the walls.

Show Title Ideas

2008-04-15T00:11:00.000-07:00

Following are a few ideas I've come up with for the title of our show:

Binary Fusion
Turning Point
01101100111
Positively Organized
Streaming Data
Loose Ends
Loose Wires
Digital Deconstruction
The Lone Pixel
Digital Reconstruction
Computing Space
Calculated Space
Every Pixel Counts
The Satellite Project

Visit to White Stag Building

2008-04-14T23:45:00.001-07:00

On Friday (April 11) we were able to finally visit the White Stag building as a class. The building was beautiful, and construction was farther along than I had expected. Our exhibition for the BFA program will be on the fourth floor of this building... hopefully. The space is actually quite interesting. There is a lot of space too, much more than the gallery on the main floor. We are not showing in the gallery anyway however, as it is still under construction. I have picked out an area for my installation on the fourth floor. It is being referred to as a "bay." There are three bays on the fourth floor, which measure approximately 60' long by 20' across.

First floor: Lobby.

First floor: Gallery under construction.

First floor: Gallery under construction.

Fourth floor: Bay area.

Fourth floor: Main walkway.

Fourth floor: Bay area.

Fourth floor: Classroom.

Fifth floor: Architecture department.

Fifth floor: View from east windows.

Fifth floor: Architecture department.

Fifth floor: View from fourth floor walkway.

Fourth floor: View from south window.

Fourth floor: Office.

Fourth floor: Office.

Fourth floor: Bay area wall.

New Artist Statement: Includes Shared Urban Spaces Project

2008-04-02T14:16:00.000-07:00

Joel Mertz
bfa statement

Above me, below me and to either side were lights. Lights of all colors, flashing sporadically, seductively, each with their own sense of urgency. Neon lights that grew from the sides of buildings as if they were alive, and they consumed entire structures whole. There was no end in sight to this limitless symphony of color and chaos. I shared this experience with more than a million other people, who made the landscape even more surreal and overwhelming. This was my first experience in a major metropolis. I was walking along Nanjing Road in Shanghai, China when this barrage of intense visual stimulus engulfed me. Nanjing Road is known as the busiest street in the world.
This excitement, the movement, and the perpetual energy of urban spaces have always inspired me. There is a feeling of endless activity to an urban space that compels me to explore and ultimately become a part of its processes. Quite literally, I have explored the urban space for years using cameras. My goal on these outings has always been the same: to capture and identify the smaller elements that make a city what it is.
For all city inhabitants, the idea of what a city is can very greatly from person to person. Some have great pride in their city, while others see only trash, pollution and increasing environmental concerns. Obviously, our outlooks on urban living are not quite so narrow. Even the simple and mundane elements of a city, from the pigeons in a street to the small marks etched into a public bench, all have some kind of impact on how we view and understand our urban landscapes. There are certain elements however, that are inherent in all of our cities. These are the elements we all recognize and see nearly everyday. These are the elements that connect us.
The goal of my terminal project is to create an image of a city that everyone can relate to in some way. In order to achieve this, I am creating conversation about the smaller elements in our cities that we oftentimes overlook, using an online-based project entitled, “Shared Urban Spaces” (SUS). http://joelmertz.net/sus.htm This global project invites people to examine their own urban environments through ten different photography-based assignments. Photographs are submitted to the project online where they are organized and displayed in onlnine galleries.
Individually, each photography assignment functions with its own unique purpose. Assignment no. 1 for instance, asks participants to take a picture of a security camera from their city. With this assignment I was trying to make people more aware of how often they are being watched, without perhaps even realizing it. The images from all ten assignments together however, serve a much different purpose. Together, these create an image of a city, one many people can recognize. Currently, the Shared Urban Spaces Project has over 600 submitted photographs and nearly 200 members. The finalized plan for displaying the collection of these photographs is to align them into a single row that will span around the gallery.
As a supplement to this project, I have created my own fantasy urban landscape based on photographs from the SUS Project, my personal photographs, and my own imagination. This fantasy city is a 12’ x 4’ drawing that attempts to convey the energy and commotion common in any major metropolis. The landscape is comprised of hundreds of colors and includes even the smallest details, like those examined in the SUS Project. The final installation of this drawing will utilize removable self-adhesive paper. After printing onto this paper, unique and unrefined shapes will be cut. Finally, these shapes will be collaged directly onto the gallery wall using the self-adhesive property of the paper. This technique is similar to the manner in which posters and fliers are plastered onto walls around the city. An additional time based element may be included with this mural.

Update on Shared Urban Space (SUS)

2008-03-26T00:57:00.001-07:00

Shared Urban Space currently has 163 flickr membes and over 600 photographs. To view the flickr version of this project, visit here yo: http://www.flickr.com/groups/sus/

Release Self Adhesive Paper

2008-03-04T22:41:00.000-08:00

To execute the collage/installation model, I've decided to print on adhesive paper. Because the installation needs to be removed at the end of the exhibition, I'm looking for a release self adhesive paper. After a little bit of research, I was pleased to discover that this kind of paper is reasonably priced when purchased in bulk. Below are a few possible choices I've found for this product. If anyone knows about this kind of paper, please leave your comments!

Paperworks:
http://www.paperworks.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=PS-SPP&gclid=CKK62vL89JECFQY3gwod_S7syQ

Notes:
12” X 18”

Outdoor Adhesive:
http://www.graytex.com/outdoor-self-adhesive-paper.htm
Notes:
Waterproof, extremely durable.

Nextag:
http://www.nextag.com/self-adhesive-paper/search-html
Notes:
Lots of choices here. See: http://www.iboyds.net/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=37205

Pronto:
http://www.pronto.com/mpm/Encad-1937010-Self-Adhesive-Coated-10304719488-CG

Papertec Inc.:
http://www.papertecinc.com/specPaper.cfm#release

The 5 Models

2008-02-28T18:35:00.001-08:00

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

2008-02-11T01:01:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-06T14:22:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-05T21:42:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-02T14:20:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-02T14:17:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-02T14:01:00.000-08:00

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).

SUS = BNP

2008-01-29T23:54:00.000-08:00

BNP has become SUS, or Shared Urban Space. A tentative template for this project has been created and can be viewed by clicking here. Information about this new project can be found by visiting the site.

Laverne Krause Gallery: Made in China

2008-01-29T18:57:00.000-08:00

The reception for my first exhibition at the University of Oregon went off without a hitch last Monday (January 28, 2008). The exhibition featured myself and a small group of students who all participated in the University's study abroad China program. The show featured work inspired by our trip overseas.

Having only the weekend and a budget of $100 to set up the show, I'd say it ended up looking pretty awesome. A large moon gate with Chinese lanterns was built to the entrance of the gallery, with bamboo on either side. Inside the gallery were many plants, rocks and a few bowls of water. We also constructed a red movable wall for the entry. The rest of the gallery was painted with different shades of gray. The gallery was carefully lit to create a peaceful and intimate mood.

My piece was of a giant city that I spent over 100 hours creating in Adobe Illustrator. I used only the pen tool, photographs from my trip, my imagination and every color Adobe had to offer. It was a fun project that I enjoyed working on.

To make the piece more engaging for the viewer and to try and really bring the work off the page, I utilized 4 television sets that flashed random images based on my illustration. Randomly, one of the TV's would go into a frenzy and flash nearly 100 images per second. With the four TV's flashing in front of the giant mural I had painted (41"x 85") I was trying to create a sense of chaos, a sense of being overwhelmed by flashing colors and the frenzy of a fictitious but very real urban landscape. The piece was primarily dealing with urban sprawl and the crowdedness of our cities. I liked the idea of using TV sets because I thought of them as televising our tragedy of over population, like a message from the emergency broadcasting association.

The show will be open at the Laverne Krause at the University of Oregon from January 28th - February 1st. The Laverne Krause Gallery can be found near the main entrance of Lawrence Hall.

To view the video documentation for this installation, please click here.

To view the video documentation for this installation, please click here.

BNP: Going Global!

2008-01-16T00:33:00.000-08:00

In Borrowed Navigation Project (BNP) I explored a random city using random directions given to me by anyone willing to participate. To push this project further and in a new direction, I'm making plans to take BNP to a global scale. My concept for this project is to create a simple list of navigational directions. Participants for this project, including myself, will film their experience of following these directions. For the final presentation I will play the videos of those who participate side by side. Finding participants from other countries will really make this project successful.

Above: Fictitious video still from the final project.

Above: Sketch for the project (click to enlarge)

Borrowed Navigation Project: Revisited

2008-01-14T13:44:00.000-08:00

I have an opportunity to explore my previous project, "Borrowed Navigation" on a more in depth level. I want to work with an art student from somewhere else in the world. My idea is that both of us will follow the same set of directions to explore our surrounding environment. We will both film our experience with following the same list of directions. The final piece will show both of our videos side by side. This project would be particularly interesting if I was able to work with someone from another country.

Recent Ideas and Goals

2008-01-07T12:43:00.000-08:00

Urban sprawl... why is it significant? How can I represent this? Urban sprawl is significant because it leads to overcrowding of spaces. I am now interested in representing overcrowding through actual installations in the urban environment. I plan on studying and researching more on population growth, building expansion rates and psychological issues pertaining to claustrophobia and personal space.

For the video installation that will be played in combination with my still image, I want to experiment with having the video play through an old black and white TV. The video represents my version of the ending of the world, which occurs due to an over expanse of human population. It would make sense that such an event would be televised. Using a TV set will hopefully help to secure the video (which is very abstract) within this context. I am not quite sure how to connect a laptop to a TV (especially an older set) but I will most likely leave the laptop exposed.

End of Term Review

2007-12-18T22:21:00.000-08:00

My review at the end of the term went well and gave me many new ideas. It was held in the BFA studio and my panel consisted of John Park, Colin Ives, Ty Warren and Jesse Sugarmann. I decided to focus more specifically on the sensational aspect of urban spaces, and the visual over stimulation of large metropolitan areas. Some people on the committee suggested I deal strictly with environmental issues. Although this is something I care about, it is not where my passion is. Anyway, I consider the over visual stimulation of larger city's to be a kind of pollution all its own. From my review, an interesting collection of websites came about:

http://www.192021.org/
film: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103767/
http://www.woot.com/

Photographing the Urban Environment

2007-11-29T21:13:00.000-08:00

For some five or six summers I worked construction. During this time we traveled up and down the west coast, staying in random (and often small) towns for weeks at a time. I often would go out with my camera and explore the surrounding urban environment. I have begun compiling these photographs (and others) of urban spaces specifically for this project. Unfortunately, I've begun to realize that most of the photos taken from my construction experiences were from small towns and aren't in at all like the major metropolis's I wish to explore.

View Photographs From:
Eugene, OR
China
Seattle, WA

Inspirations for this Project

2007-11-27T13:10:00.000-08:00

China
-limitless colors
-commotion, business
-energy
-lights

YOU TUBE LINKS:
nanjing road
big coke

Mondrian
-emphasis of the primary colors
-color relationships
-lines constructed with awareness creating rhythm
-simplification of forms

Piet Mondrian, Broadway Boogie-Woogie 1942-1943, Museum of Modern Art, New York.

Kandinsky
-uses of color
-philosophies on inner necessity
-spirit and outlook on human emotion
-interest in color symbolism and color psychology

Wassily Kandinsky's Composition VII, 1913. The Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.

Society of the Spectacle - Guy Debord

"All that was once directly lived has become mere representation." -Nicholson-Smith translation, thesis 1.
"The decline of being into having, and having into merely appearing." -Ibid., thesis 17.
"The spectacle is not a collection of images, rather, it is a social relationship between people that is mediated by images."

Dziga Vertov - Man With a Movie Camera

-excitement and passion for a growing city
-unique angles of a city
-portraying human interaction with the city

The Industrial Revolution, late 18th and 19th Century
-move from a static society to a bustling one
-machinery and factories
-spirit of invention
-excitement of building and creating

2 Diagrams for Installation Proposals

2007-11-26T17:37:00.000-08:00

Now that I've decided to incorporate a time based element, it is important to consider how the two elements of the project will be presented. One possible proposal is to leave a blank, white rectangle in the middle of the drawing. The time based element would then be projected into this space.

The second proposal is to have the drawing and the time based element side by side to each other. For compositional reasons, I feel that these should be the same size, or at least the same height.

Their are pros and cons to either set up, but projecting the time based element "into" the drawing seems like the most interesting use of the two.

NEW ARTIST STATEMENT

2007-11-20T23:09:00.000-08:00

bfa statement:

Above me, below me and to either side were lights. Lights of all colors, flashing sporadically, seductively, each with their own sense of urgency. Neon lights that grew from the sides of buildings as if they were alive, and they consumed entire structures whole. There was no end in sight to this limitless symphony of color and chaos. I shared this experience with more than a million other people, who made the landscape even more surreal and overwhelming. This was my first experience in a major metropolis. I was walking along Nanjing Road in Shanghai, China when this barrage of intense visual stimulus struck me. Nanjing Road is known as the busiest street in the world.

This excitement, the movement, and the perpetual energy of urban spaces have always inspired me. There is an inherent sense of chaos to an urban space that compels me to explore and ultimately become a part of its process. Quite literally, I have explored the urban space for years using cameras. My goal on these outings has always been the same: to capture and identify the smaller elements that begin this system. At this level, a much different structure begins to reveal itself. It is one of order and simplicity. In larger metropolitan areas, I believe it is this underlying structure that allows the chaos to function as it does.

I am interested in both where this chaos begins, but also where it will lead. How limitless is mankind’s ambition to build? How will this ambition and desire transform the landscape? In Shanghai, over 400 high-rise buildings are built every year. The cityscape literally evolves before your eyes. Obviously, this rapid expansion comes at a price. It drains natural resources, compromises the living situations for millions in the city, and has numerous other implications to the environment.

I want to address these issues by creating a fantasy urban landscape. My urban landscape will be inspired from my own personal experiences in urban settings, my photographs and videos of various cities, and from my own imagination. I plan on using vector graphics as my primary tool for illustration. Upon completion, the scale of my urban landscape will be large. This is to convey the notion of a limitless urban space. Through detail and a wide color palette, I also hope to convey the chaos and energy inherent in all large urban spaces. To push my concept even further, I want to create a time-based element that will accompany my illustration.

This time-based element will utilize the buildings and other forms I have created in Illustrator to construct an entirely new landscape, one that literally does evolve before your eyes. Using programming, I essentially will bring my cityscape to life. Buildings will either spring up from the ground, disappear, or be replaced by other buildings. The end result will be an ongoing, ever-changing urban space. A time feature will let the viewer know how long the space has been evolving. The illustration accompanying the piece will be a reference point as to where the landscape initially began.

Outline for New Artist Statement

2007-11-20T22:44:00.000-08:00

1. Background Story - my personal experiences with big cities
2. Passion relating to the subject
3. Theme/Subject - fantasy city, limitless space, ordered chaos
4. Process - inability to draw, years of night time photography in cities
5. Event Work - idea for final piece

My Original Artist Statement Sucks

2007-11-20T22:12:00.000-08:00

To fix this, I met with Professor Tan and discussed my thoughts on the project so far. I also went back and did additional research on the industrial revolution, Russian constructivism, and looked at Dziga Vertov's Man With Camera.

Meeting With Professor Tan:

-mega city
-constructed space
-future of constructed spaces
-sensation of urban space
-where are we headed?
-imaginative, combined with real experience
-vectors are mathematical representation of form
-chaos and order; structure; traffic patters
-rythm
-urban space: fantasy
-2d space is fictional from the beginning
-city space is 3d
-collapsing experiences into 2d plane
-what can man made be? or mean? how far can it go?
-a limitless space
-the industrial revolution
-generating a city through programming
-everyday the landscape would be different; it evolves
-vectors are readily portable
-changing landscape
-moving elements vs. time based

Brainstorming:

-the possibilities of what man can build
-fantasy city based on real experiences, imagination
-2d image of a 3d environment
-negative chaos/positive chaos

The Show

2007-11-20T22:09:00.000-08:00

The BFA exhibition will take place in Portland in the gallery at the UO White Stag Building.

Free Write On Artist Statement

2007-11-20T21:50:00.000-08:00

5 words: energy, line, space, color, location.

traveling distances exploring senses exploring sensory sight vision perception perspective angle shape form division dividing space negative space bright colors vibrancy radiance walking under passing through passing between noticing not noticing above below streets lines parallel lines adjacent lines geometry circles rectangles traveling upwards traveling across great distance origin of location final destination terrain hills lakes ponds a mountain a hill signs symbols direction stop go noise traffic overhead honking bustling groups traveling solo traveling in a group clouds smog the sky empty space filled space rhythm, distance in between, cars movement of cars buses, asphalt black building gray windows looking out structure shape steel concrete wood plastics fiber iron pollution electricity work commerce generate generate generating using water using electricity using space uses of public space fountains benches fire hydrant fire department police department protection order law structure function purpose developing development under development spaces of beauty spaces of neglect forgotten spaces seldom used spaces walked on spaces over used spaces worn spaces deterioration erosion growth buildings grow old buildings collapsing the city as living moving breathing eating consuming organism the city is shifting the city collapses the city expands the city adjusts to fit peoples needs people must adapt to what the city provides the structure of the city sidewalks building streets specified areas of travel specified ways of communication advertising relaying information receiving information business residential taxes penalties rules to follow lines to guide us engineers professionals architects government politics designers committees planning controlling developing resolving policies funds development deconstruction expanding contracting falling failing resulting indecision commut commuters work unemployed homeless trash nature natural streets bushes concrete planters concrete no color gray seeing forward buildings tower above 3 dimensional space zoning commercial zone residential zoning light industrial a city on the river a city in the desert a city a city a city

GPS

2007-11-20T21:46:00.000-08:00

As mentioned earlier, Borrowed Navigation Project brought up the idea of incorporating a GPS navigation system for my project. I am not very familiar with this technology, so I did some research on the prices of hand held GPS systems. They sound like they aren't too hard to use, although it looks like I would be needing to buy software in addition to the GPS device to actually create something useful.

(left) Garmin GPSMap 60Cx 60MB
$320 and (right) Garmin GPS 72 Track Plotter
$160

Most of the hand held models I've come across have been fairly expensive unfortunately, and I am still unsure at this time whether or not I want to integrate this technology into my project.

Artist Statement, Revisited

2007-11-11T15:55:00.000-08:00

I am still working on refining and creating a compelling artist statement. It's difficult to articulate your work into words, but I feel the more I work with it, the better I'm getting. Here's the latest version of my artist statement. If you know anything about artist statements or my work, posting any comments here would be very appreciated! Thanks.

Artist Statement Revisited:

I am creating work that is readily accessible to the public, regardless of their background or experience in art. I strive to depict urban spaces that we are all familiar with. Through the use of color, layering and movement however, I aim at representing these spaces in a new and exciting way that compels the viewer to explore the landscape of the canvas.

I have never been proficient in drawing subjects accurately. From this limitation however, my own style has come forward. Discernible by unique shapes, blocks of bold color and a minimal use of line, my compositions tend to build themselves much like any city would: one piece at a time.

Humans are an integral part of the urban landscape. However, I am portraying only the buildings they’ve constructed. In this way, I hope to pose certain questions to the viewer that reveals something about human nature. Why are we naturally compelled to build and construct on such a large scale for instance? What are the impacts and environmental implications of this?

Having recently visited China, I am very interested in the answers to such questions. In Shanghai for instance, massive skyscrapers and towering blocks of concrete are springing up from the ground on nearly a daily basis. I want to illustrate this in my work by portraying an urban landscape on a truly massive scale. This size will work well in a gallery space, make for an exciting and eye catching piece and will also hopefully make the viewer consider the environmental significance of building on such a large scale.

"Borrowed Navigation Project" Follow Up

2007-11-06T01:51:00.000-08:00

I recently completed my "Borrowed Navigation Project" and was both interested and surprised with what I ended up getting out of it: new ideas for my project. (To view this project more in depth, please visit http://www.joelmertz.net/borrowed.htm). The concept of directly interacting with the physical space of an urban landscape seemed to be more interesting to my peers then the idea I had planned for my project initially. I have seen a great deal of exciting work that has been created in this area of art. Graffiti Research Lab is one such organization that comes to mind. The possibility of dealing with projectors, GPS navigation systems, and other tools like video and photography have suddenly entered the picture for me.

With such variables entering the equation of my final project however, I feel as though I would have to start over almost entirely in regards to my thought process. It's a frustrating prospect, but one I am willing to explore if I begin to find something that interests me in going with this direction. I feel as though I seldom have the opportunity to really explore my own ideas though. This year provides an opportunity for me to do just that. The drawing I've begun (my initial idea) is such a natural process for me. It flows along without a hitch. I want to express the types of colors and shapes within my drawing to others because they are so inherently within me, and they represent my own, personal view of the world.

Style of Drawing

2007-11-06T01:23:00.001-08:00

I plan on carrying out my initial proposal with a specific style of drawing I've been working with over the last year. This style has evolved from previous works I have made as seen below:

I'm drawn to using bold colors coupled with numerous geometric shapes. These elements fit together like pieces of a puzzle. I want to create a drawing of the city so elaborate and detailed with these elements that when the piece is viewed from afar, it looks completely different; A hodge-podge of colors and shapes that resembles something of a Pollock. I like the idea of conveying the city in such a way, because for me, the city has always held so much energy. It's this excitement and vibrancy that I wish to capture in this project. The strength of the piece lies in its vast size and the attention to detail I hope to patiently create.

My Original Proposal for BFA Terminal

2007-11-06T01:14:00.000-08:00

We're beginning to discuss our artist statements this week. My initial proposal, which was written roughly six months ago, is as follows:

I’ve always been very interested in the city as a place of communication. Within this lively, colorful and densely crowded space, there are literally millions of messages being transmitted at any given moment. Some of these messages are communicated quite directly, by means of expensive corporate ad campaigns that aim at capturing our attention as consumers. Other messages are less direct with their intent, for instance street graffiti. Such scribbles from spray paint and markers are the product of a much different culture, perhaps trying to tell society another story. Still yet, there are signs that direct us where to go, dictate the flow of traffic, and remind us all of the rules and laws we must obey as citizens.

I want to explore different forms of communication within the city. As one part of this project, I intend on using photography in conjunction with Adobe Illustrator. I want to capture images of the city where I feel there is a certain visual language being used to communicate a message we might not typically notice or consider as being relevant to our daily lives. These images will be brought together in a massive collage and re-stylized using a technique I’ve been experimenting with in Adobe Illustrator.

I also wish to explore the concept of communication overload using video as a medium. By displaying brief instances of different kinds of communication in our cities I plan on producing a unique texture of visual chaos that will hopefully represent some of the problems related to our era of “information overload.”

Finally, I plan on using the Situationism movement as well as Guy Deboard as inspiration for my ideas related to the city as a place of intereaction and communication.

"Borrowed Navigation Project"

2007-10-23T19:24:00.001-07:00

To begin looking at my final project from a different perspective, I've created an assignment for myself. I'm calling this performance, "Borrowed Navigation Project." I will be exploring a random city using random directions given to me by anyone who wishes to do so. The concept is inspired by Guy Debord and his book, "The Society of the Spectacle". My journey into the great unknown will be documented via video and still images, and will be commencing this Thursday, October 25th at an undisclosed location. You can post me a direction to follow at a message board I've set up online (no longer availble). Or, if you wish to give me a direction during the actual day of the project, I will be accepting text messages all Thursday @ 503.419.7765. If you chose to post a direction I will be using it in my performance.

I hope that this experience will lead me to areas of a city I would not have otherwise found. I also help to gain a greater sense of the city as a physical space; one that can be mapped, charted, and recreated to fit an entirely new and different space.

Shanghai Mural

2007-10-23T19:02:00.001-07:00

For the beginning of my project, I've collected several images from my recent trip to China. I arranged all of these on a mural. The large 6' x 3' mural is now hanging above my computer. I plan on referencing this mural frequently as I begin drawing in Adobe Illustrator. It's very important to me that I keep the landscape of my city fresh and exciting... I don't want a dull landscape of different colors of rectangles. The buildings in Shanghai, China (where most of the photographs in my mural were taken) are surprisingly diverse. The architecture is much more stylized, much more unique than it is here in the United States. There's an apparent effort taken by the architects in China to out-design everyone else in their field. The result of this unofficial competition is a distinct landscape of highly original (not to mention enormous) buildings, with no two alike.

The Studio

2007-10-23T18:57:00.000-07:00

The studio is coming along, although a little slowly at this point. There are some excellent resources available here however that I hope to make use of (namely the coffee maker). Everyone has a large desk, and the computers upstairs in the studio are excellent. We even have a lounge! And a chandelier is on the way?

The Journey Begins

2007-10-09T19:08:00.000-07:00

Student Name: Joel Mertz
College: University of Oregon
Major: Digital Arts
Web: http://www.joelmertz.net/

Welcome to my 2007-2008 BFA blog. I will be recording the year long process of my final project at the University of Oregon, my BFA terminal project. The pieces will be exhibited in Portland upon completion.