Closing Discussion Notes

• the quirks of the neighbourhood change the familiar into something specific to the area.
• Objectification of a place can happen when you don't live there ie.tourism
• People find it hard to think of impermanence, everything is presumed to be concrete and forever.

• is it the people who live or work there?

• finding community and temporary space links to Kwon's criticism of temporary involvement.

• the detachment of studio work.

• unease created by voyeristic observation of community for our pleasure/interest.
• we need to accept a changing definition of community from project to project.
• a community can be common interests of shared ideals.
• just thinking about community is important and valid.
• there are many problems with definitive labels.

• that it has a unique character.
• it seems to be built on nostalgia, trying to rebuild/return to its former glory.
• could this impression have been created by starting with historical research?
• revitalisation only happens when attempting to regain something lost.

• not much pedestrian traffic.
• a lack of people oriented business Eg,department stores.
• creston used to be more cohesive,death of family owned business (big companies taking stores to the suburbs/strip malls)

• stilgoe talks about people moving to own property, a move towards private living/cars ect.
• there is a breakdown of people knowing/making the effort to know each other.
• routine Vs. change.

• some people never engage.
• one reason is the economic diversity (towne+club)

• there is one than 1 neighbourhood.
• the ways in which economics shape/force a community.

• (history of towne club soda)
• a return to the old way of selling soda,not competing with big business.
• the 'E' really does make it fancy.
• there were 35 flavors of soda and 9 diet ones indicating the closeness of the business to the people.
• it was bought straight from the factory, reusable bottles were returned.
• problems caused by selling in supermarkets and not getting the bottles returned.
• soda sold with nostalgia ("like olden days")a marketing ideal.
• original label design nostalgic like 50's style.

• age old discussion about postmodernist reaction against modernism.
• presenting of a new brands identity.

• ideal of the artist as a citizen, removing the institution.
• new ideas generated by inclusion of more people, the difference of civic studio over other studios.
• ways to stop group work turing into an assignment/delegation.
• the importance of a common interest/commitment.
• we have the freedom to engage in fluid ideas without a top down structure.
• were neil and jesse feeling pigeon holed by being in charge of all graffic design?

• the general fear of not knowing what was going on was felt by many in the studio.

• what if we had gotten into the goo earlier?
• how it has affected us not having facilities.
• the risk that was taken with a large class size.
• the issues concerned with local and global. you have to live in the community to really know it, outsiders see differently.
• people comming into the space activated the exhibition.
• what roles did we play as cultural signifiers?
• driving used to be fun, now everyone hurries and on the defensive.