3 conceptual art things outside the classroom

1. San Jose Biennial: I came across many types of vehicles that are powered by human strength. I saw this two person ferris wheel titled "Over the Top" created by Steven White. The structure is activated only by the arm muscles of the two people. I found this appealing because the artist created this piece with two questions in mind:  “How much fun can you have without a motor?”, and “How beautiful can a machine be?” Many of the pieces I saw at this festival were concerned about sustainable energy. This piece "merges furniture with mechanics on a large scale."  It is a visual and an interactive piece of artwork.. Here's a photo of the ferris wheel

2. I also noticed a bicycle that looked like an egg at the Biennial. I tried to research it online because I thought it was funny, and the person moving the bike kept saying how she was an egg. Well, this piece actually has an interesting story. It's called the "Egg and Sperm Ride" created by Janaki Ranpura. It's described as "a long distance date with destiny." The egg biked pedaled all the way from Minneapolis to meet up with "Sperm Riders." The sperm riders are just bicyclists wearing helmets that look like they have sperm on them. haha. The project is exploring human partnerships.
Egg and Sperm Ride

the Egg

3. SF MOMA- I came across a sound installation by Bill Fontana called “Sonic Sounds,” which are basically sound sculptures. They generate the 5^th floor walkway into musical instruments and use the kinetic energy of walking passersby to “create an acoustic translation of physical space.” The installation uses hypersonic speakers attached to the ceiling and railway, and vibration sensors that are activated by the steps of those walking by. An audio-sensory experience is created when the sounds are reflected off of the surrounding walls and are heard around the entire bridge and staircases. I really love the concept of giving things that aren’t entirely physical like sound or movement, and giving it life by creating a soundtrack with it.

Improbable Monument

 Research and Development of Concept

"A survey once found that gifted children (truly gifted* as opposed to public school definitions) watch an average of less than 5 hours of television a week during their preschool years.  Compare that with a national average of twenty-five hours a week (beginning around the second birthday), and you can begin to appreciate what a drain on the brain the idiot-box truly is."
- John Rosemond, psychiatrist and author


Children and Statistics
Approximate number of studies examining TV's effects on children: 4,000
Number of minutes per week that parents spend in meaningful conversation with their children: 3.5
Number of minutes per week that the average child watches television: 1,680
Percentage of day care centers that use TV during a typical day: 70
Percentage of parents who would like to limit their children's TV watching: 73
Percentage of 4-6 year-olds who, when asked to choose between watching TV and spending time with their fathers, preferred television: 54
Hours per year the average American youth spends in school: 900 hours
Hours per year the average American youth watches television: 1500

The Aim:
to create a monument that allows any visitors the ability to interact with it. This monument provokes childhood remembrance, awareness of the too large an influence the TV has on our culture, and the encourage people to use their imagination.

Monument Specifics:
Approximately 10 x 16, the size of a shed
Made from wood, oak and painted with water resistant oils
Cement mold of playground carousel

This monument is pretty versatile and can fit in many settings and situations. I picked Union Square because there are many different types of people there, of different ages and backgrounds. It is busier and people are usually not self-aware aside from the daily grind. I think this would be something fun for people to interact with.

This piece can also be in locations that compliment its nature, like a library for example, where imagination use through books is welcomed.