Escape from reality

Art and context


Well its the 30th of December and I can't stop thinking about the Art and Context module, work submitted etc so in theory I could just stop and carry on some kind of formulaic way or process. Unfortunately too many questions have arisen and lines of thought unresolved. So I can't and won't put it down until I am bit further down the road. Pandoras box has been opened.


Personal Conclusions or others?


I have to raise this point as the process can take two routes 1) read loads of other books to reach some kind of conclusion  or 2) sit and think. 
Both have pitfalls and advantages. A friend has recently finished her PhD and I questioned her approach to her project. An interesting quote, she said for her ( and i think anybody at this level) it was important to be well read so as not to bring up the obvious, and at least try and bring a new angle on a subject). I fully understand this, but as a Ma student I still feel (for me at least ) the latter is a better way at present, as reasoned thought (with all its dead ends and possibly simple conclusions) brings a depth of understanding that second hand knowledge can never equel. Yes it takes longer and is riskier (including complete failure) but its far more satisfying finding a scholar agreeing (or not) with a line of argument than to just 'quote.'
So i have been reading a lot about the concept of 'space, void and mass' and previous ideas and new springing off some other peoples thoughts. So a mixture as time constraints (and my eyes) allow.


The Woods


The personal experience of trying to create a piece of work, along a certain theory has led me to conclude so many angles of design and perspective (whether as an individual or trying to interpret the end user in whom we serve). A few weeks on and I am coming up with solutions that don't sit that well as a designer. The big one being is 'Framework'. That is what we design. The framework will always be loaded with expectation and disappointment, but thats why it needs to be a frame work. Anything to dogmatic and the community left behind with not be able to leave their finger print on the space as it evolves and therefore never adopt the space. With the result that it will be left to local council who will do the minimum as the Council tax payers who shout the loudest will get their way ( put it this way it won't be someone trying to hold down a job on the minimum wage).


Conclusions thus far


1) Modernism never existed as everything has a motive, either from rebellion from something or conformity for acceptance. An opposite is an opposite of something therefore 'nothing' (year zero) cannot be achieved.Year zero only existed once, everything from that point will always have allegory, a time line, and a cause and effect on the aforementioned timeline (ultimately decay ,loss of energy, darkness, void). This is our constraint we can't escape it. 


2) So as an individual I accept this, my baggage/aspirations/distorted view will always come through. So 'pespective' is a distorted lens that we all see through, and yet to ourselves as individuals is as clear as a spring morning. I can only attempt to interpret how others see and aspire. So it has to be an effort from day one to include the community that I will effect. They also need to understand this fact, big picture, long term cause and effect.


3) Framework for others to evolve as they see fit. I cannot socially engineer. Modernism tried this and failed. Because humans are complex and predictions of future behaviour have nearly always been wrong (eventually, at first a theory may well work, but evolution will always take the shortest route, which we so often miss). 


4) Escape. Which can also be termed as 'fantasy'. Most movies portray an idealised world for us to escape to for a couple of hours. Especially the 'feel-good' film. And there is nothing wrong with that, its what we do to regulate (just like the brain uses dreams to stop us going mad, I think 5 days with out sleep starts to lead to madness) and keep our sanity in this unnaturally stressed world that we are still adapting to. So escape and changing escape/fantasy within a design in an urban context is crucial.


5) Play. For adults and children. Another way to release the valve of our restrictive lives.


6) Time line of perspective. I came up with six ( again this is not a fixed rule as baggage effects each of us) stages that describe what i go through over time concerning a space( that becomes a place due to revelation and memory).
first observation= wonder through discovery
            second= familiarity which shrinks the space
               third= invisibility, you just don't notice it
               forth= imprint in your mind/ permanent memory
                fifth= allegory forms as a sequence of the aforementioned events in time
               sixth= nostalgia refection of youth, as death approaches


7) Lanscape is a manmade concept, 

Note, shadow on tree and the ghost behind. Once observed can never revert for the individual as well as the collective.




Enough. I would love to do my symposium again as i think i have cemented some idea's and thrown out others. plus not being under pressure to 'think' has meant more free thought has come to the front of my mind.


I think I could do virtually the whole symposium around a Frank Capra film Eg 'Its a Wonderful life' or a Hollywood musical Eg 'Calamity Jane'


(note embedding not working on you tube.GRRR, click on link etc)

It's a Wonderful life
Colorised version, whole film. Note Frank Capra nearly had the film turned down for its Anti-Capatalist message. Idealised yes, but 80% of a goal is still worth more than doing nothing.

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Calamity Jane
Good old Calamity Jane, pure escapism, rufftim and tufftim, can't help but feel good after anything with the Gal next door 'Doris Day'. Bless her. Though off the set her life was anything but ideal. So even those seemingly who have it all financially, don't ...thank God!!

The Deadwood Stage from Calamity Jane (1953) - YouTube


Check out 'I can do with out you' and 'Windy city'

Whats it all about?

Occasionally one watches a programme or hears a lecture and you really stop and think, what on earth am i aiming for?


Well just watched a programme about the photographers of LIFE magazine. To explain life magazine it was a magazine run by photographers first, then journalists. The first real picture on the world for Americans (and the rest of us). 


Started in the 30's then on to when home boy, was in europe fighting another war, through the good times of the 50's when the Americans seem to have everything, but ignoring the elephant in the room (the race issue). Through Vietnam were some of the most harrowing photo's were taken by a magazine that was selling a 100 million copies a week (half the population). With money and influence the magazine searched deeper and deeper into the soul of America, from a small town Barbers to heroin addicts in New York, to civil rights 
riots to the shooting of President's.

The question i ended up with after watching such a programme was humble photographers influenced a society with their images, what the fuck am i doing?


Then as usual a phrase pops into my head ,


Landscape without people is wilderness, the question is, as a Landscape Architect what is driving me???


Humanity, with all its faults. Its not so much about changing the world ,but using the talents we have to help foster change. 


I heard a radio commentary recently saying the spirit of 1968 seems to be returning, well i was 4 at the time so that passed me by, but...surely we can do something??


I am so envious of many of our lecturers as they will leave a legacy....us


What are we going to leave?  It has to be more than a salaried job.


I am never going to change the world, but i may just be a small cog in changing something. Just like those time photographers


Bed and ZVI....BUMP.

A Stirling Moss Job

Cornwall 

Art and Context Trip


Well thought is was about time i put up something about the now legendary trip. 


What is the point?


Well for me it was a chance to really think about 'space' and how i use it as a designer and whether or not i really understand the consequences of an intervention, and experiment if you like. what happens if....


My studio


Rather than going into the in's and out's of the trip. The drinking, screaming in the forest and general getting back to the core of it all, ( and that was just Joey!!!).
The space, Joey and I just wandered off talking the usual crap and came upon this magical spot. Facing the right direction, with just right amount of shade and dampness to create a field of Moss beneath the Douglas firs. In fairness I probably ruined the space, but the space was a false creation anyway due to the forestry planting. A steep bank and hard accessibility also added to the drama. 


So with my simple tools, I attacked! The first (not shown) piece was to contrived, so the second (v in the ground) I just did it, not trying to be contextual, or adding any story, just shape, balance and contrasting colour. Tom and Jim seemed to like it and suggested I do a 3D piece.


Next day, rain, but up on site soon after dawn. A flask of hot water (for black Chai) and biscuits so a happy man.
Saw this decaying stump and just got stuck in, again just intuitively cutting and pasting so to speak. A mixture of additive and subtractive sculpture, only really thinking about the composition. A lot of teeth sucking. Worked like a dog ( no change there), once finished, decided lift the piece by adding more moss for contrast. Then ended clearing all the wood around the various pieces so as not to distract.


Just finished and Jim turned up (one of the lecturers) scrambling up the bank. Had a really good long talk. Pointing out some obvious points which were nagging in the back of my mind. Changed a couple of bits. And if i had time i would of extended one of the pieces.


Learnt?


Well ended up with more questions than answers, which is great as that means that previous views have been challenged, and thus need re-evaluating. So now working on this, learnt more doing this that building a hundred gardens.

Trusty tools, including bare hands

Flat Canvas

Looking up, pre Jim suggestion which simplified the piece

Simplified, framed in extra moss, what does it say? You tell me!

Dug in to expose the roots as to exaggerate the intervention

Just like these Pictures, Goodbye Moss, Goodbye Cornwall






The best unit of the whole 5 years

The Business Model

The bane of  society
Well you may ask surely we need business models for business to run effectively and for growth and thus the prosperity of the general populous. Yes, but were on the chart of importance should it be?


A conversation between a dying Steve Jobs and Bill Gates ended in a humble appreciation of each others skills. But the give away comment for me was Bill's using the phrase of the conversation "well, we have a difference of opinion of our business models" and there is the give away comment. The model first, then how to execute it, whereas Jobs view was innovation and connection. Innovation was primarily about the end user, for example the iphone, before that product the phone market resembled the TV market at present, confused, unconnected (how many handsets does it take to watch TV now!!!) and short term. Connection of products and operation systems learn one then you can operate all the other applications , ie get 'Pages" (macs 'Word') then all the others have the same interface...simple. 
Try that with an Adobe product! A circle in Photoshop is different from InDesign which again is different in Illustrator, and before you say well they are different products so they have to be different, ask yourself who are you thinking about the engineers who build it or the end user? Who is your primary concern? Making life easier for the engineer or the end user?
Thats why artists and engineers have to work together, either on their own and you get a pretty product that crashes all the time or a product that works, but is overcomplicated for the ordinary user and therefore not used.


Make IT simple...Three moves 
We now take it for granted that we buy a phone and use it, not spending hours trying to find stuff and reading reams of instructions. It has to be intuitive to reach the majority otherwise you have a product the excludes.

So which is the better model? 
The one were you sell as a product that is short term, rushed to the market (the ipad has been promised for over 10 years, not until battery life was improved would it be released), selling something that is shiny and status driven or a product that is aimed for everyday people to use, setting bench marks rather than following, actually trying to improve people lives rather than just trying to get cash out of their pockets.


Its always about the end user


"They just don't get it" (Steve Jobs) in reference to Google and Microsoft's approach to product design




As Landscape Architects and Garden Designers we need to 'GET IT' otherwise what is the point? Vanity, personnel status, wealth? 
All chasing the wind, here to day gone tomorrow, all is vanity, as Solomon is alleged to have written.


Conclusion
The end user determines design.
This is our mission, if not, go and get a job in the City.


Legacy, what are you going to leave behind?

A bit of what you like

Urban Noise Crit


Well after working hard on this it seemed to be appreciated, even if it was probably a bit safe on the idea front.




General Points from Robert And Benz


These are the points that are general to all of us.


1) Short, sharp and snappy. Keep on subject don't try and cover it all.


2) More ambitious!!!!


3) Before and after, make it clear.


4) More sketch up for massing, as in buildings etc.


5) Image and Annotation otherwise a slide waisted.


6) No PDF. Use Powerpoint (or equivalent) carful with film.




Personal Crit


1) Could be more contemporary


2) Lighting was lame


3) More adventurous


All very fair points, so more pushing the envelope, so to speak.




Urban Noise Video 1 Minute (watch in HD/full screen for best effect)




Well it seemed to cause a bit of amusement near the end, not sure why, so answers please or is my Asperger's cutting in?
A bit romantic and poetic thanks to Vaughn William's 'Lark Ascending' (but not 
the obvious bit) going into a lovely minor key.


Always felt it had too many slides and the first few were a bit messy, generally needs tightening up and a bit more of a radical proposal.

A bit muddy on the lighting, and also a bit too many dark spots, has an East German Border feel about it. 

Worked hard on this one to try and get the sunrise through the tree, really not that easy, half blinded myself getting photos of similar sunsets. The important thing is the silhouette effect. The tree opposite should be much darker and the lens flare not quite right. More birds, though Mr Fox i like. Slowly getting atmosphere even if its not that subtle at present.

Dappled light and distance seem to work well. Plus grumpy teenagers out with Mum (much rather be on my Nintendo). pleased with the grass, trees improving.

Now a week of AutoCAD.

My least favourite programme, but found out today (thanks Paul) that files can still be converted to Bryce, but you have to convert to 3Dmax from AutoCAD.

Another 100 hours of my life gone i suspect.

Got a test copy of V-Ray, may give it a go as Photo realism is the in thing.

Thats it......

Winging It

Is defiantly not good for you!


Well our group (group two Green Cranes) got away with blue murder today. Tom and Benz were very generous with their marks for us. Well done to Lisa, Jimmy and Ben, also all who contributed to the hashed together presentation.
Some of the other presentations were very slick and deserved the high marks that they got, particularly liked the model of Andy's group, the graphics of the Isle of Dogs group and the Piano concept of Joey and the crowd. Well done to all, plenty to plagiarise sorry, be inspired by.


So we have now divided some of the work out to peoples strengths ( read comfort zones). The plan being that we all place our work on Dans mobile me account and then put together a slick, stunning and well thought out presentation.


A couple of sequential sketches.

A 300 year in the future (yep we still wear Jeans so my time traveller friend tells me, and they re-named the Snickers Bar back to a Marathon, so all is not lost for humanity) picture of a flooded London, with high rises losing their lower floor, but in tact as they were designed with that in mind (thanks Ambica). Also floating houses that move with the tide. Not very pleased with this one a bit rushed thus the distant buildings look a bit naff. Generally looks photoshopped thus the effect of belief is lost.

Much happier with this one. Set for the more recent history by the edge of the River Lee. Maybe some better refection of the sky in the water and more dappled atmospheric light, but it seems to work in a, Jekyll painterly manner'

Friday another  1 min silent presentation, particularly difficult for the likes of Jimmy, Ben, Dan and I (who says women are the talkers).

Curry, Bed and digging tomorrow at Hadlow......Nice.

In Art I am out of Context

Or that at least how it feels


Normally I don't comment on class crits, but this is an exception to the rule.
Why? Well sometimes one is overawed with wise and insightful advice and this was one of those occasions, for me at least.


As someone who loves Modernist/Constructionist art (though no expert, just get it) I have always been a bit suspicious of Post-modern art even though generally I like it. The point that I always struggle with is the allegory bit.
Connecting art with place, context, history etc. Surely must be better than the isolated modernist piece that relies on just being, were ever its placed.
I suppose ignorance always leads to suspicion (on my part ) so listening and taking extensive notes was a huge help to get somewhere to understanding this side of the art world.
I am very aware of the Emperors New clothes syndrome and like anybody else i don't want to sucked in and mugged. I don't want to be separate and exclusive from people, and the people we serve as designers/artists, otherwise its pointless and at worst vain.


Though the whole 'space' and 'place' difference is where its at for me, as jogging peoples memory or getting them to see a space as a place and thus valuing it, is the reason for our occupation....'its about people.....stupid'. How we do it depends on all the other factors of context (but there are occasions were we create the context for others to follow, like the modernists) and in my opinion the God of context should be a small g.


On a personal note (like the above was somebody else's opinion) the crit on my work was spot on and really didn't think about the message being too simple and thus once solved (like a crossword puzzle in a daily paper) the piece would be ignored. So a bit more depth from my side of the gene pool, unlike the rest of my classmates who generally had thought through their work to a more in depth state with questions still to ask.


My conclusion its about the end user and their interaction on daily basis for my Car Park in the dullest of Suburbia.


As a sign off point the lecturers have a depth of knowledge that comes from actually creating such works with all the wrestling of justification and doubt that goes with the territory, as well as being well read. To be able to bounce back such wise words can only come from the deep pool of experience.

Pencil, with iconic Google pin as destination

Thin from the side and tilting back took look as if it landed like an arrow.

Quick bit of PS

Its' Just a Minute'

But not with Nicholas Parsons


Edited the original, cut the music (outch) to a minute if i had more time i would've edited out the middle as the ending is good. Sorry Mr Brubeck.


The video has a more snappy feel if a bit rushed in places , anyway next time.

As Changeable as the Wind

Theme Project , silent (well almost) presentation
Well rather jumped upon finding out that we had only one minute to present, (rather than the assumed 3) so my 2 min video was lost in is minor glory. Also no sound on the machine (so i will endevor to upload some drivers so that we can all have sound if not bring a lap top in and play them simultaneously, as your lap top does the sound and the picture on the TV)


Other point to remember are, all MAC users save to mpeg-4, not a quick time movie as it won't play(as Jimmy tried too).


Video 
Well rather rushed so the idea was not executed properly but with a bit more time would've refined it. The pace was set by the music and thus that i was annoyed that i could not play the whole 2 minutes. Admittedly we were the guinea pigs. So next vid will be more refined i hope. 


Full screen button next to 'Vimeo' press while playing 

The Boys Are Back In Town

Or is it the Goodies?
Either way the inter tutor banter was alive and well. So we all met for the first time as a large group (40+) and Tom, Robert and Benz took us around the Embankment, South Bank, Grays Inn and back to Somerset House. Stopping occasionally for some observations about the good, the bad and ugly practice of previous designers.




Some points that I picked up


Noise
The issue of noise pollution and its effect on humans emotionally. Ways of screening ie the building next to the railway line blocking out the noise from the railway line to the South Bank. Effective use of the space for commercial enterprise, similar ideas in Holland ie the large car showroom that spans the edge of a motorway in glass and steel.


Space
Human scale and were to use appropriate width of path ,ie high footfall 11m but would be wasted and feel like an urban desert in an area that that does not have the density of population to justify such a scheme.


Long Term vision
300 years? or at least the provision for evolution over that period. Careful positioning of trees with the long term view. Creating a web of open space. Analysis of land use.


Gabriels Wharf
Village feel due to human scale of shops to open space felt a bit like the set from the 60's series ,The Prisoner ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zalndXdxriI&feature=related ). Spooky.


Boza Bikes
Tom talked about Forum Magnum Square and why its a disaster.


5 Elements in Design
Buildings
Landforms
Paving
Vegetation
Water


Urban Theory


1)Jane Jacobs
2)Holly Whyte ( a particular favorite of mine, Mr Placemaker ' in my opinion)
http://felixfatfunk.blogspot.com/2011/02/its-about-peoplestupid.html
3)Billy Hillier
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_syntax


Is it about  DESIGN or URBAN THEORY? or is there a third way (heard that somewhere before Mr Blair)?   =  THEME DESIGN


IE
Urban food production
Urban Forestry
SUDS ie a swamp
Quiet Space...(white noise Paley park NY, a brilliant study of human activity in a small space)
Specialised Space ( ie south bank skate area)


some pictures including, south bank skate park with some err colour, an interesting small landscaped space, not sure. Turbine hall Tate, never bored of theis space and building. An old Datum mark, always interesting when you find them. Finally the griil over the stones below at the rear of Somerset House.

Wandered away to the Thames never to be seen again.....

9/11 Memorial

A Twilight Zone moment

Gassing away on Tom turners blog (Garden Design And Landscape Architecture Blog - Gardenvisit.com ) and going through the process of flushing out idea's and arguments it struck me that a Chinese proverb i suggested fitted the site with an eery and ironic note.

“He who seeks vengeance must dig two graves: one for his enemy and one for himself”

-Chinese proverb

I suspect the designer did not have this proverb in mind, but........




I will now be on the Pentagons 'one to watch list' Its nice to be appreciated.

I love Photoshop......

Kiss, Kiss, Kiss


Sad i know but I am always amazed what can be done with photoshop and just 'playing', not following any instructions 

Any way a couple of bits Photo's played with and as usual i seem to love the Atmosphere that can be created, even though its a bit dark....

Original

A silhouette of cranes

A bit more moody

The sunset on another age

You can smell the thick tar like smoke

Enough i hear you cry, your Favourite and why???

Now back to work!!!!

Sussex Praires Visit

Visit


Poped over to the Sussex Prairies with my friend Whit. An interesting visit, rather surreal walking into the space a real non Genius loci moment. The Gardens are there as an example rather than trying to fit in to the surrounding country side.

The planting and effect is stunning, though as designers one always has a critical eye or at least an opinion.  


Worth a visit. 


http://www.sussexprairies.co.uk/

Isle of Dogs, first visit.

My Site


Well once confirmed by Robert. I had a good look round the Isle of dogs and my good friend Natalie was right, it has changed a lot (and for the better in a lot of cases). So found my self riding round talking to people about the Isle and what changes have taken place since 1983 (when i left).


Still a good potential site as the middle is still relatively undeveloped since the 60's, with pockets of development here and there, but no real big pig picture strategy, thus islands and no joined up communities.


On talking to a Joiner who had lived on the Isle for 40+ years, it was interesting to here the wax and wain of relations between the incomers and natives (so to speak).


Overall the gentrification of certain area's has led to the mixing of social/financial classes and once the barriers of communication are broken down, ie people making the effort to invite each other round their homes/gardens or meeting in one of the many pubs around the island (still quite a few, but not as many during the times of the docks, which had special licensing hours).


Also struck by the comment that area feels 'Safe and Clean' like a giant Cul-De-Sac. Even when i was living there it was relatively quiet and all the stories about the East End were highly exaggerated (i used to go running at 10pm before it was fashionable, never a problem).

Thanks Steve and Mr Newton for your input

My Old House 

My old house with the first ever bit of garden design (at the tender age of 17)

Three different level planters in second hand yellow stock bricks, flemish bond, all one brick thick.

Very stained due the fact that i did not seal the inside with sythaproof. Thus the wall was alway damp thus algae. The final and highest cube is to hide the dustbin (though not a wheelie bin,not invented in 81). Cleaned (with acid) the brickwork on the house and re-pointed (weather struck).

                        The original side of the street 'Coldharbour'

The pub at the end of the road (The Gun), plus new development (very pastiche) which is the standard 1980's yellow brick slightly in context though garish.