Gray Space – Augmented Space Project

The Gray project was an attempt to illustrate an invisible space that exists for everyone through the use of an imaginary space and an imaginary character. The space was supposed to feel familiar to those entering it and yet unfamiliar and unsettling as well. Familiar objects covered—as with a house left—though the coverings were meant to be sheer almost as well as if covered in a film of dust, and the edges of the coverings were dyed a gray to appear dirty. As if they and the objects had been there for some time, but had also been used; the coffee stain on the desk, the book on the chair, the fact that the fabric on the chairs had been sat on.

My original intent was to create a sort of critique on the large roll that technology claims over our lives and how that can be detrimental. However, I was not opposed to other readings of the space which is why I did not wish to specify that negativity; perhaps in part because of my own feelings towards technology. I feel that it can be detrimental, but I also feel that it can be a great tool that should be used in a wide variety of ways.

The other element that I wished to include was the fact that I view art and books as a form of augmented space or a tool that can be used. They create a space that is differentiated from reality even if they do come in physical projects, though that my own opinion though that connection is shakier and varies. There are shades of gray throughout, not everything should be cut and dry that would be boring.

While the space was meant to be ambiguous the sound file was meant to be negative. The intent of the sound piece was to be the sound of someone typing, talking on instant messenger while the speaker attempts to get the typer’s attention. Since Gray exists in an imaginary space and is an imaginary person he/she cannot respond; however the cadence of the typing increases with the intensity of the voice (or that’s what I tried to do with it.)


Things That Did Not Work:
-     Covering fabric was not sheer enough, especially not with the lamp light that I used.
-    Lighting did not work
-    Sound file needed work
-    The carpet did not convey the intended cohesion of space and in fact detracted from it.
-    Items and placement needed to be more thought out
-    Seeing more people inside beforehand would’ve been helpful. (In essence more trails set up's and more testing before hand would’ve been a good idea. Editing.)
-    Implied items were a good thought but not all implications will read the same to other people. Consider carefully before implying things.
-    Over complicated, remember simplify.
-    Consider the delineation of space and the purpose of it (inclusion of the audience or apart from, though I feel with this piece the audience was meant to explore the space though other aspects were not clear enough as it is meant to be an illustration of a familiar and yet fictional space.)

Things That Did Work:
-    The sheet walls worked fairly well though they needed to be higher.
-    Use of the light source from the window and the inclusion of that outside influence something affecting the space and the structure that was unpredictable. (Unseen presents?)

Well...

As I suspected a success only in that I tried something new. The thing that bugs me the most is a number of things I should've thought of and didn't and a number of things that I did which just didn't work.

Still I guess with anything you have to try and try again. It's about the trial and error process, as long as we're willing to work. I find it rather amusing how I can set out with an intention and a plan and it just doesn't come across.

The mental image in your mind is never what actually exists. Anyway, I'll post some pictures and more tomorrow I need to sleep now. Hopefully sleep. I haven't been sleeping well, this is a problem. *disappears*

On The Subject of Gray

Gray is a fictitious character that was created solely for the purposes of this project. Gray is meant to be neither wholly female or male but an androgynous combination there of; though of course the audience will probably identify more with the male or female aspect of Gray.

The character exists in a world between our own and augmented space, in a limbo world that is neither here nor there. Gray is in essence the link between the two, the place where people begin to loose touch with reality. While Gray can hear us and see us he/she can not directly interact with us only through the medium of technology.

Thus I picture Gray being essentially a ghost that sits between you and your computer screen, between you and the TV or right inside your ear when you're on the cell phone. He/she is everywhere and nowhere all at the same time.

Reasons Why You Test Things

Well I tried to do a test run tonight/today. It both succeeded and it failed.

I got all the fabric measured, cut and the edges dyed. The gray turned a little more green then I wanted it to; however, with the dimmed light I think it will work. Either way I don't really have time to re do it.

Lap top sound will not work. The speakers on my lap top are simply not loud enough. So unfortunately the sound check--the main reason I wanted to do this and spent all day trying to put everything up and together--failed.

Still, I have come to the conclusion that even if this project does not succeed the way I want it to, I have done what I set out to do with this class. I have tried something I never would've tried other wise. This project is of a scale and of a nature that isn't like anything I have attempted in the past. It's something I've wanted to do but I'm not sure my own initiative would've pushed me to do it--still who's to say what I would've done. It's rather a moot point now.

At least everything is on campus and mostly ready. I have the sound file in a wave format and an mp3 format so I can fuss with that at home tomorrow night some more. It is probably not the most sophisticated thing in the world but we all have to start somewhere. With those words of wisdom it's time for bed. *disappears*

Edit: On another note; however, I did figure out that I need to make the space smaller. The furniture that I have isn't going to nearly fill up the space enough. I think it won't be too bad though if I shrink the space somewhat.

Laugh, It is Good For you

So I was running around yesterday doing things that needed to be done. I left the MP3 recorder with my dad and asked him to record some sounds of him on the computer, since I got some of my sister and myself. Lol, I just said sounds.

*laughs* This is the problem of trying to do something when someone knows they're being recorded. I snuck it in on my sister. ^^:

I said I wanted something that was more feminine (my sisters games, make rather feminine sounds with her off and on in the background.) So I finally sat down to listen to what my dad recorded for me today. *laughs* This is how it starts out, well mostly: A Real Man's Computer

(So blogger has an image option and a video option but no audio option, silly blogger.) Lol I did get some stuff I could use off the end of the recording though so it works.

And then the very end after all that about a man's computer, "Well my computers hung up, locked up. I either need to hit it or just leave it. I think I'll just leave it."

Edit: Of course about ten minutes after I sit down to see if I can't figure out SoundBooth, CS4 decides it's time to update.

Alright...

So this project got put off until this coming Tuesday which was a wonderful thing. I have no idea how I would've finished it and gotten done with the piece for Nocturnal Accretions all at the same time.

Lotus is over with.

Nocturnal Accretions is over with.

Now it's back to work. Here is the plan thus far for the rest of the time remaining. To make use of it wisely (or to attempt to anyway.) Though the thought is often there, it is so easy to fail on the follow through.

1. Measure, cut and dye the fabric after turning things blue at Rowland's this afternoon.

2. Tonight/Sunday morning finish putting together the sound files. (Two tracks one more feminine and one more masculine, theoretically.)

3. Test run through Sunday early afternoon and then test run with Amy. Make sure everything is there for Tuesday; tall lamp, coffee table, books, small lamp

4. Monday final touches on sound files.

5. Tuesday do not forget computer.