La Reunion TX: Make Space Installation
Waste Not, Want Not
Waste Not, Want Not is a charged symbol of our struggle with water waste, personal usage, and conservation efforts in our community and nationally. A floating, oversized replica of a white bathtub drain tethered to the ponds edge with a chain made from La Reunions’ natural materials, and found trash. I would like to turn a conscientious eye towards the individuals’ daily water consumption. Simple self-monitoring, like how you wash your dishes or shower, can make a significant impact on stabilizing our water levels and controlling our daily usage. My hope is to jumpstart a community-based conversation on little ways each person and family can use less water daily, and still maintain quality of life standards.
Many Thanks to my Sponsors:
Dan and Karen Cullum
Dallas Plastic Rescue
The Shelton School
Mimi Drew
Cari Weinberg
David Hickmott
http://www.twdb.state.tx.us/data/drought/monthly_ppt/2009-12_a.pdf).
Waste Not, Want Not is a charged symbol of our struggle with water waste, personal usage, and conservation efforts in our community and nationally. A floating, oversized replica of a white bathtub drain tethered to the ponds edge with a chain made from La Reunions’ natural materials, and found trash. I would like to turn a conscientious eye towards the individuals’ daily water consumption. Simple self-monitoring, like how you wash your dishes or shower, can make a significant impact on stabilizing our water levels and controlling our daily usage. My hope is to jumpstart a community-based conversation on little ways each person and family can use less water daily, and still maintain quality of life standards.
Many Thanks to my Sponsors:
Dan and Karen Cullum
Dallas Plastic Rescue
The Shelton School
Mimi Drew
Cari Weinberg
David Hickmott
http://www.twdb.state.tx.us/data/drought/monthly_ppt/2009-12_a.pdf).
Research provided by:
· U.S. Department of Energy
· FEMA
· Energy Star
· Tampa Florida USA Municipal Government
· Water Quality Department, Vermont
· PennState-College of Agricultural Services
· University of Kentucky-College of Agriculture
· Consumerenergycenter.org
· Eartheasy.com
· Wateruseitwisely.com
· Consumersearch.com
· Care2.com
· Toolbase.org
· HuffingtonPost.com
· TreeHugger.com
· HomeEnergy.org
· Drinktap.org
· FEMA
· Energy Star
· Tampa Florida USA Municipal Government
· Water Quality Department, Vermont
· PennState-College of Agricultural Services
· University of Kentucky-College of Agriculture
· Consumerenergycenter.org
· Eartheasy.com
· Wateruseitwisely.com
· Consumersearch.com
· Care2.com
· Toolbase.org
· HuffingtonPost.com
· TreeHugger.com
· HomeEnergy.org
· Drinktap.org
Art Chicas Unidas: Metamorphosis
In coordination with La ReUnion TX Art Chicas Unidas, and the Girl Scouts of NorthEast Texas, Pegasus Charter School, Buckner and Deaf Action Center of Texas I, along with three other artists, participated in a mentor-apprentice workshop to create large on-site installation art. Our project was to create a series of large cocoons that will represent the evolution of change and the passage of time. We studied different forms of how nature conducts transformation by researching the processes of insect metamorphosis. We then began to create the cocoons' structures by wrapping a series of balloons with over 27,000 feet of glue covered, sisal twine. After drying, I opened the cocoons to create miniature scenes that express different metaphors of time passing. Now that some time has passed, the cocoons have begun to decompose due to weather and humidity. I enjoy these new forms as much as the original pieces, and welcome the acquired beauty that only time's passing can give.
Art Chicas Unidas Workshop:
On Saturday, November 7, 2009, a group of 25 dedicated women and girls met at the La ReUnion TX space in southwest Dallas to create on-site installation art. In a mentor/apprentice setting, I envisioned making a series of cocoons, large and small, as a representation of change and growth. I had four girls from different schools in conjunction with Buckner Children & Family Services, Dallas Art Dealers Association, Deaf Action Center, Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas, and Pegasus Charter School helping me to accomplish this goal.
Our process was to wrap balloons with sisal twine covered in glue. We allow the glue to dry for a period of four days, and pop the balloons. The twine will retain the original spherical shape, and then be ready to be creatively manipulated. In total, this project used 27,000 feet of sisal twine, 15 gallons of wallpaper paste, and 14 balloons of various sizes. We began by blowing up the large balloon, called a "Cloudbuster". These balloons get to 7 feet in diameter and are suspended high in the air for promotional purposes.
As it turned out, this balloon was too big, and in the process of wrapping the balloon with twine, it popped. After the surprised screams had died down, we assessed our next move. We decided it was a happy accident and the girls were able to see how to problem solve, and the value of being prepared for failure. We began again. In an on-the-spot decision, I decided to double layer the next large balloon by stuffing one balloon into another, giving it the extra support and density it needed. This seemed to work.
We spent 4 1/2 hours wrapping the balloons in glue-covered twine. The girls were exceptional at following directions. They were extremely involved in the success of the project and each had excellent feedback and suggestions to make the process smoother. Even though they were covered in glue by the end, they were not afraid to get messy and really get into the creative process. I was so proud of them.
The girls had the opportunity to create their own personalized cocoons. They each experimented with different ways of wrapping the twine, and asked me questions on the best ways to construct their cocoons. After making the structural base, they decorated them with found material from the site. This seemed to be the less messy and decorative part for them and they romped around the La ReUnion site looking for the brightest colored leaves, or an exceptionally twisted vine to attach to their projects.
I would like to give special thanks to Sarah Jane Semrad, Lisa Taylor, Jessica Stewart, and Noel Navarette for inviting me to be a part of such a unique group art experience. Programs like La ReUnion enrich our lives as a community by bringing us together through art. I especially want to thank my apprentices: Vanessa Flores, Dominique Hanes, Vanessa Hernandez, Jacquanda Ladd. I found such creative beauty and thoughtfulness in each of you. Thank you to all of the volunteers for spending a beautiful Saturday helping to make art and cultivate creativity in the next generation of young artists.
Our process was to wrap balloons with sisal twine covered in glue. We allow the glue to dry for a period of four days, and pop the balloons. The twine will retain the original spherical shape, and then be ready to be creatively manipulated. In total, this project used 27,000 feet of sisal twine, 15 gallons of wallpaper paste, and 14 balloons of various sizes. We began by blowing up the large balloon, called a "Cloudbuster". These balloons get to 7 feet in diameter and are suspended high in the air for promotional purposes.
As it turned out, this balloon was too big, and in the process of wrapping the balloon with twine, it popped. After the surprised screams had died down, we assessed our next move. We decided it was a happy accident and the girls were able to see how to problem solve, and the value of being prepared for failure. We began again. In an on-the-spot decision, I decided to double layer the next large balloon by stuffing one balloon into another, giving it the extra support and density it needed. This seemed to work.
We spent 4 1/2 hours wrapping the balloons in glue-covered twine. The girls were exceptional at following directions. They were extremely involved in the success of the project and each had excellent feedback and suggestions to make the process smoother. Even though they were covered in glue by the end, they were not afraid to get messy and really get into the creative process. I was so proud of them.
The girls had the opportunity to create their own personalized cocoons. They each experimented with different ways of wrapping the twine, and asked me questions on the best ways to construct their cocoons. After making the structural base, they decorated them with found material from the site. This seemed to be the less messy and decorative part for them and they romped around the La ReUnion site looking for the brightest colored leaves, or an exceptionally twisted vine to attach to their projects.
I would like to give special thanks to Sarah Jane Semrad, Lisa Taylor, Jessica Stewart, and Noel Navarette for inviting me to be a part of such a unique group art experience. Programs like La ReUnion enrich our lives as a community by bringing us together through art. I especially want to thank my apprentices: Vanessa Flores, Dominique Hanes, Vanessa Hernandez, Jacquanda Ladd. I found such creative beauty and thoughtfulness in each of you. Thank you to all of the volunteers for spending a beautiful Saturday helping to make art and cultivate creativity in the next generation of young artists.
High 5
Nicole and Scott HornNovember 22, 2008 Dallas, TX
High Five is a roughly 30'x30'x7' reinterpretation of the massive freeway interchange located at Interstate 635 and Highway 75. The interchange is recreated from heavy cotton duck canvas and suspended from the ceiling with bailing wire. The undersides of the roadways are bright patterns, playfully mimicking the color coding that TXDOT used in the actual interchange. By releasing the structure from its tether to the ground, the rigid nature of the system transforms into a free-floating series of arcs, ramps, and curves to reveal the beauty of the design.
With this installation we hope to spark an awareness of the conflict inherent in human ‘progress’ and raise questions about continuing an unsustainable model of societal development. The DFW metroplex has the 4th largest population in the United States and is bigger than Rhode Island and Connecticut combined. The High Five project cost the city of Dallas $261 million dollars and was started in 2002 and completed in December 2005. The interchange comprises 37 bridges distributed across 5 levels. The highest ramp is 120 feet in the air which accompanies nearly 60 lane-miles of new roadway and stretches 2.4 miles north/south and 3.4 miles east/west. The High Five interchange presents a daring architectural work, touted by the city of Dallas to be a relief to the endless traffic. Each day people gamble their lives to travel through this dense and often dangerous road system.
The roadway authorities have designed the city of Dallas to be an ever expanding layout where land is cheap and house lots are large. This city sprawl effect dramatically increases the traffic load on our roadways and the amount of time it takes to travel across the metroplex. Due to the enormous population and inadequate public transportation, residents are almost forced to own a vehicle. The pedestrian challenged road design separates the community into two classes; those who can afford a vehicle and those who are forced to figure out our lackluster public transportation system.
High Five is a roughly 30'x30'x7' reinterpretation of the massive freeway interchange located at Interstate 635 and Highway 75. The interchange is recreated from heavy cotton duck canvas and suspended from the ceiling with bailing wire. The undersides of the roadways are bright patterns, playfully mimicking the color coding that TXDOT used in the actual interchange. By releasing the structure from its tether to the ground, the rigid nature of the system transforms into a free-floating series of arcs, ramps, and curves to reveal the beauty of the design.
With this installation we hope to spark an awareness of the conflict inherent in human ‘progress’ and raise questions about continuing an unsustainable model of societal development. The DFW metroplex has the 4th largest population in the United States and is bigger than Rhode Island and Connecticut combined. The High Five project cost the city of Dallas $261 million dollars and was started in 2002 and completed in December 2005. The interchange comprises 37 bridges distributed across 5 levels. The highest ramp is 120 feet in the air which accompanies nearly 60 lane-miles of new roadway and stretches 2.4 miles north/south and 3.4 miles east/west. The High Five interchange presents a daring architectural work, touted by the city of Dallas to be a relief to the endless traffic. Each day people gamble their lives to travel through this dense and often dangerous road system.
The roadway authorities have designed the city of Dallas to be an ever expanding layout where land is cheap and house lots are large. This city sprawl effect dramatically increases the traffic load on our roadways and the amount of time it takes to travel across the metroplex. Due to the enormous population and inadequate public transportation, residents are almost forced to own a vehicle. The pedestrian challenged road design separates the community into two classes; those who can afford a vehicle and those who are forced to figure out our lackluster public transportation system.
