Charles
and Ray Eames, House of Cards
Joseph
Cornell, Untitled (Solar Set)
The Museum
as Muse: Artists Reflect
MoMA 1999
Mark
Dion. The Great Chain of Being. 1998
Museum
of Jurassic Technology
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Contemporary art practice often involves selecting, combining, and configuring groupings of objects (found and made) in deliberate contexts and locations. Design as well employs arrangements, juxtapositions, and the complex practice of deliberate collecting and combining of elements into found and constructed contexts.
This assignment also references the cultural practice of collecting and presenting objects and images. Museums and galleries gather objects, images and artifacts and create displays as presentations of human significance. We wish to learn a bit about these practices and institutions here. What is the impact of varied modes of display? How is meaning (and perception) effected by context (environment) and juxtaposition (groupings /combinations /placement).
In this project we focus on the interplay between and among objects/images in a collection. Looking, learning, and forming combinations that stimulate and challenge curiosity, interaction, and meaning-making in the viewer.
The assignment is to form 2 collections: one is a set of images, the other is a set of objects. The two collections are completely separate projects.
Guidelines:
- 1.Quantity of Elements: Each collection can be made up of between 5 and 9 objects/images.
- 2.Origination of Elements: At least one of the images/objects in the collection must be made by you. At least one of the images/objects in the collection must be found. (copyright acknowledged). The remaining items are either made or found. (the determination of "made" is broad and can include altered or adjusted objects.
- 3.Container: Create/design/remake/decorate a container that houses the objects/images. The purpose of the container is multiple: It is to House, protect, transport, display, present, introduce . . . .
- 4.Size: The expectation is that the images will be between the size of a playing card and a letter size paper. The expectation for the objects is the maximum would be about the size of a hand. If you wish to deviate from this size guideline, confer with instructor.
- 5.Each set (the images - the objects) is a whole project. Be responsible for, and deliberate about each and every detail of the presentation.
Other Notes:
The goal in this project is to collect a set of images/objects that maximize the generative and multiple meanings among and between the objects/images and about them as a whole group.
Create a complete interactive experience. The container - what is on the outside - how it opens - what is on the inside - how the objects/images are presented - how the objects/images can be arranged or interacted with - how the container closes.
Processes of forming collections in the studio:
- random collection then connection
- gather then edit
- use any creative problem solving method
- start with the container
- start with curious objects/images
Motifs -These are suggested ways that you can think of collections. These are motifs or models upon which you can structure or organize your collections. However, take note that the project is not to make one of the following.
- Portfolio - a set of images
- Deck of Cards - a set of images that interact and have meanings
- An Exhibition - images and objects together for their interactive and combined meanings as well as having individual meanings.
- Display - things arranged and amplified for a higher purpose
- Story - a set of elements that are put together for making bigger meaning. Good stories have multiple meanings, held by the same elements, and dependent on the ways the elements can interact in varied ways.
- Tarot Cards - a set of elements that represent and hold other ideas that relate to how the elements can be configured
- Box set - a multilevel set of images, texts, and sounds, that are together for meaning.
- Album
- Games - an interactive set of things that relate to other ideas - meaning made through interaction.
- Erector Set -a set of elements that can be combined in different ways to make a higher ordered thing.
- Legos -a set of elements that can be combined in different ways to make a higher ordered thing.
- Wonder Cabinets - a collection of things that illicit wonder, put together to create a bigger sense of wonder
- Catalogues - an organized set of items arranged to make easy further actions - locating, buying, comparingBaseball Cards - a set of images that are all versions of the same thing, visual information and statistics that transmit style, pose, history, mood . . . -they relate to social and personal history, meaning can have to do also with possession
- Barbie and her stuff - a set of elements that hold and demonstrate certain ideas of style and presentation - these are made more powerful through interaction
- Toolbox - a set of things that each mediate a material change - individually, and as a set promise fixability.
Additional Notes
To maximize the possible connections between objects or images it is good to work with things that do not get stuck specifically in one meaning. Often this sticking is the result of a strong literal meaning as opposed to a figurative or associative meaning. The main point is that a first step to negotiating multiple meanings involves at minimum recognizing singular - literal meanings. In this project move away from the literal into the figurative.
For the benefit of our studio an OBJECT EXCHANGE box has been created and resides in or near the CPS room (who ever put it outside the door two thumbs up to you for embracing my idea)-Sara Wassenaar. If you have objects at home that you think would work for the project, but they don't fit with your idea, put them in the box. Maybe you will see something that sparks your imagination take it and find something to leave in its place, so the ideas and stuff increase.
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