Connect

Last week I installed a number of the iAm series pieces "buffet style" in a gallery space. I invited some friends in and asked them to interact with the pieces. The event resulted in some new inspirations and a lot of laughs.  

[in]tangible ft. iAm connected

For the 2016 Zoom Conference, I co-curated an exhibition of current and recently graduated MFA/MA artist works from students across the US. We installed the show on the 4th Floor of the Kenilworth Building. Below are some images I shot quickly of the opening. See also the beautiful curatorial statement written by my co-curator. 

For this show, I installed two of my CNC machined socket pieces from the ceiling on opposite sides of the gallery. I mostly wanted to observe how people reacted to the pieces. Some people actually tried the earplugs on and hoped for sound, and ultimately were disappointed or intrigued and looked up to towards the ceiling. Some people didn't even notice the pieces, or that there were two of them. Some people were startled by their presence. And, some people asked, "so what's this all about?" 

I am so happy with all of these responses.   

I am continually thinking about connections through the iAm series; technologically mediated connection, interpersonal connection, physical connection and touch, spiritual/divine connection, and connection to the universe, space, and time. Some people are so disconnected from some of these relationships that they are perplexed when they have an encounter. Some people are critical of their connected relationships have huge expectations, and are left ultimately disappointed. Some people don't even notice their connections and some notice their connections in hindsight. 

iAm, like a spider suspended, waiting for something to land on or intercept, and remind that we are the creator of our universe and web of connection. 

iAm - sockets

A couple weeks ago I started experimenting with plasti-flex, the material I am casting the iAm sockets out of. This part is currently functioning as an interface with the wall, a transitioning material. The initial mold was created out of a 3D printed prototype and some left over Oomoo rubber. I wanted to test out the plasti-flex so when I heard someone in the studio had some extra rubber, I just quickly grabbed the test print and a Tupperware to make a test mold. The makeshift mold allowed me to quickly test the colors and flexibility of the material. The fit turned out really nice. 
I've since re-designed and machined a new socket piece for the final mold and have poured some ReoFlex30 over it. I should have some really nice sockets once this mold is ready to be used. TBC

















iAm - Functional?


When I came up with iAm, I hadn't considered its actual use to be part of the project, but today I am starting to feel different about its function. On multiple occasions, from members of my graduate committee, other professors, classmates, and visitors to my studio, I've been given the suggestion to place "more directives" near the iAm socket, such as footprints. I've never been entirely into this idea of footprints because it reminds me of childhood experiences at the zoo and museums... But while the footprints in the museum did make the adventure of locating the Tyrannosaurus skeleton more suspenseful and thrilling, those feelings have never been what I've been aiming for with iAm object itself. I want iAm to be a boring object, so the directives must be more subtle. It is my hope that this will allow the adventure, thrill and suspense to be something that can occur in the viewer experience. With all of this being said, I was, however, curious about the stance a viewer might take near iAm when being used. So, today I decided to take a piece of newsprint, some uncompressed charcoal and use iAm. Keeping in mind people may spend varying amounts of time at the object, I set an alarm and decided I would do a 25-minute standing meditation plugged into iAm. So, I set up a video timelapse on my iPhone, rubbed my feet with charcoal, stood up, and plugged into iAm. Immediately upon plugging myself in, I start to follow my breathing and posture, like how I start a normal meditation and then the first thought pops up - I think "How am I going to clean this up?" Eventually, I was able to let this thought go, and remembered that I should just simply enjoy this beautiful 25-minute break from worry, thought, the past, and the future. My body began to relax, and I started to notice that with my inhales and exhales my body was moving ever-so-small-ly towards and away from the wall. "iAm a buoy." I was tethered, connected, secure, and comforted by the distance between my body and the wall. The wave of experience could not knock me from this place because I was designed to float, to be anchored, to be a symbol. (Wow, who knew 'being a buoy,' could be so powerful?) I didn't anticipate this, but my alarm didn't go off. I ended up standing comfortably at iAm for 50 minutes before coming out of my meditation, knowing that what I had experienced was enough to satisfy me for today.