Projects

Art in the Community Media Center

 

Floors

Throughout the parts of the building to be renovated, the existing floors consist of a terrazzo mop rail/border with inlaid linoleum in the remaining central area of the floor.

The idea is to commission linoleum pattern designs from traditional quilt patterns for these areas (at least the top of the stair, the central lobby, and the community room) .

This idea would incorporate use of a new material in an application that would relate to the existing architecture and tie in with the new design.

The use of quilt patterns brings in the beauty, pattern, and history of this traditional collaborative/community activity. The floor (the metaphoric and actual support platform of the organizations action) contains evidence of the patterns, the relationships, individual harmonies, and dissonances, that have been composed to serve both beauty and function.

The stairs themselves will get a pattern that is based on digital progression; the code system for the relationship between digital and analogue. As one ascends the stairs one's steps count an ascending digital progression from O. As one descends the stairs their steps count an descending digital progression ending at O at ground level.

 

Suspended Container

The need to make the stairwell entryway experientially dynamic was outlined in the "Center" section of this document.

The idea is to commission a hanging sculpture for the space above the stairs. The stairs progress up 1/2 flight to a wide landing and then return with another 1/2 flight of stairs. The object (aprox. 4-6 feet diameter) would be suspended even with eye level at the landing. In this position the object can be viewed progressively as one ascends or descends the stairs; seeing the object from multiple sides. The experience of this object marks ones movement throughout the space.

Metaphors for this object.

transmit/receive listen/speak out/ in

fiber/form line/volume communicate/community

container/community container/message

basket/strainer/holder/carrier

As with other of the projects, this is both a site and a project. The commissioned object will be removable so that in the future other objects may be commissioned and installed on a rotating basis. This ability to change objects activates both the site and all objects that get hung there.

Separate but related to this object is the hanging device. A system for suspending the objects in the space: rope, pulley, and cleat. The cleat could have a lock. There is a beam directly above the central location.

 

Doors

The doors in question are the east side exterior entrance to the stairwell and the two doors at the top of the stairs, one leading to the main Lobby and the other leading to the Community Room. The problem with the doors is outlined in the "Center" section.

These are the doors through which everyone will go through or past every time they come to the center. These are key points for significant repetitive experience of the place, as well as being symbolically significant in terms of access and openness.

If at all possible the doors should have glass in them.

Glass gives interior light and allows a visitor to see beyond the door, before entering. For the exterior door this is a potential security problem, because the entry is hidden from broad view and burglars could be largely hidden from view as they broke in.

For the upstairs doors the fire code constricts the glass to a maximum of 100 squ. inches.

For all of these doors something needs to be done to open, direct, and enhance the experience.

Possibilities include:

1. Spending the extra money on the more expensive doors.

2. Commissioning an artist or collaboration between an artist and craftsperson to make custom doors that meet the code restrictions.

3. Commissioning an artist to artistically alter stock (fire-rated) doors in a way that meets the code restrictions.

 

Audiocast System

The building was originally built with both electrical and gas light fixtures. When electricity was new, often buildings were equipped with both, because electricity was new and not yet considered a sure thing. The West Side library was built a bit late for this lack of confidence in this new technology which allows one to conclude that the gas was a decorative element, as well as a backup system. The gas fixtures (which are not intact) are molded plaster over brass, with a sconce and flame configuration. The flame form in this application could be a symbol for knowledge.

There are 6 of these outlets in the main areas of the renovation. 2 in the main lobby, one on the WYCE side, one on the GRTV side, one at the top of the main stairs, and one at the bottom of the stairs. There are no plans to renovate this system.

As was addressed in the media section of this document, one of the foci of the art projects is to address issues of media. Much of the Media Centers work is electronically mediated communication. Just as the library was designed with a backup illumination system in the form of gas lights, the same conduit can be used for a "backup audiocast" system. The existing gas conduit system is an element of historic use in the building; a use that may have been largely symbolic. The audiocast system of audio transmitter/receivers will be intended as a playful, symbolic, and interactive "backup" to broadcasting and cablecasting. The location of the outlets in diverse locations (some deep in production studios, and some near the public entrance) activate the dynamic of the system and the organization with all of its components.

The conduit has been tested. When one person speaks into one of the outlets another person can hear a garbled message at another of the outlets. Funnels seem to amplify the transmission and reception.

Artists will be commissioned to fabricate devices to be installed at the existing outlets. The devices should be designed to amplify the experience of speaking and listening / transmitting and receiving. This can involve sound amplification, reduction, valving, and percussion, but cannot use electricity. Also the objects should accommodate the general vicinity and scale of a fixture, and be durable and easy to use. It is intended that The units will be able to be rearranged to any of the locations with the possible exception of the one at the main public entrance which may be larger. The Media Center can begin by commissioning two fixtures and could exceed the 6 locations by rotating the fixtures, keeping some in an appropriate storage area while others are on display.

These would be intended as usable, interactive sculptures. This keeps the area clear of pedestals and designated floor space, while the art operates next to other devices of work.

 

Fiber Collection

Textiles are used in many cultures in community and cultural functions. Textiles are usually fabricated of local materials by knotting and joining. Knots (techniques of connecting) are culturally specific bits of information. Joined, woven in repetitive sequences make a surface, a membrane, a text, out of a fiber, a line. On a basic level, the textiles show how to form and hold community in media. As the textiles are used for different things at the center, they help hold the accumulation of experience.

A collection of fabric / textiles from various cultures will be gathered in a collection. The collection will be kept together in a cabinet. These are to be working fabrics that are resilient, easily maintained, and able be used in various applications.

There is a stage in the Community Room that is original to the building. It is approximately 16 feet wide and 8 feet tall. The fiber collection will be used as backdrops for this area.

 

Outdoor Projects

Projects outside the Media Center entryway can serve several functions. The need to make the area around the entryway experientially dynamic was outlined in the "center" section of this document.

Also, if treated as a program area of the Media Center, a parklike area that facilitated the mediation of community by being a place for gathering, talking, discoursing, debating, celebrating, and forming neighborhood, community.

Projects that support this kind of gathering furthers the mission of the organization and also adds attention and focus towards the entrance to the Media Center.

There is a plaza area at the east end of the main building section along the sidewalk. Large stone benches at the east end of the main section of the building could make this a little community gathering area just across the street from a longstanding community gathering place, The American Bread Company Diner and Bakery.

The design and use of this outdoor area as an outdoor studio for Media Center programs could be very interesting; poetry readings, community concerts, public debates.

Grants and programs for outdoor sculpture and art in public spaces could be sources of funding for projects such as these.

 

Signage

Signage is necessary to mark the location and path to the Media Center. The overall challenge with this is described in the "Center" section of this document. While it might seem that signage alone could solve this challenge, signs should be looked at as secondary to design elements that mark the way and add openness and accessibility.

Signage should coordinate and blend with signage for the library.

Designs for the signs can either use the type font from the original sings for the building or one of the new type fonts that are a hybrid of traditional font and new typeform.

Likewise color and material could either be traditional (cast bronze, black with gold lettering, cobalt blue with white lettering), or a hybrid combination of traditional and new color scheme.

 

Monitor images

2-dimensional images of varied media (painting, photography) can be commissioned from numerous artists which all fit the same format: The size and format of a video monitor. Locations for the paintings are selected and they can be rotated to different locations.

This number can begin small and increase as funding allows. Images can be stored while they are not on display.

 

Large Images

Several locations in the building might be good for site specific larger images. Works could be commissioned for these locations as funding allows.

 

Media collection

A collection of historic electronic media devices: microphones, televisions, radios, computers . . . can be collected and displayed by the organization. A low enclosed lighted case could be used for smaller objects. A tall pedestal for display of larger objects. This collection can be rotated.

 

Tower Sculpture

As part of the cablecast uplink the Media Center building with be fitted with a microwave tower. The tower will house equipment that will link it to the main cable company tower. This tower could be a unique site for a commissioned sculpture. The sculpture could help identify the building, mark it in the neighborhood, and demonstrate the mission of the organization.

email curator: Paul Wittenbraker