Week 6
Kate's Physical Computing Journal
Some Thoughts on the 6th week of Physical Computing....
Ok, this week was really about thinking up an idea for the midterm. Still feeling a little bit frustrated with the limitations in terms of ideal projects but we decided to do something simple but fun. This way we won't be too frustrated and can really learn a few things. I like motors.
http://www.mit.edu/afs/athena.mit.edu/org/m/museum/exhibits/ganson.html
This guy is unbelievable. Found on the art link list. Check out all his little movies...they are worth it. http://www.arthurganson.com/pages/Sculptures.html
Again there seems to be a human quality to his machines. I really like the idea of the sculpture that writes faster as it is pushed, the machine that moves the chair out of its way so that it can continue on its path, and the wishbone that is pulling it's own power source. There is a playfulness in Ganson's work but at the same time there is a disturbing feeling.
Ganson has succedded in using technologies in obvious ways without making us feel we are looking at a machine. We see a machine but we are more interested in what it is doing...where is it going, why?, what is it trying to say. His pieces allow us to ask questions, they do not tell us the answer.
I wish that we could have him as a speaker instead of all the business men we have in our Applications class. Then I would feel like I was getting the kind of information I came here for. I did not come to an art and technology program to focus on upperclass white males in the business world. I would much rather listen to someone who was speaking about using his mind to create then using his mind to make money off of people. Sorry for the rambling..just a little frustrated with the speakers we have had.
First of all, keep it simple. I can't work above my own experiences. I have to take what I know and use it to create something. In a way this is good. It should inspire creativity. Limitations as challenges.
Turning a DC motor on and off
Setting up the capacitors was easy. I'm still a little unclear about what the necessity for them is. More later.
Chair which turns on a projection machine focused on an old window. Sitters bodily positions direct the imagery being protrayed. Sound is also employed.
The idea of discomfort and how to amplify that. What does our own space mean to us?
Things that are stolen.