Stage to Screen

Stage to Screen from Laura Thompson on Vimeo.

Outdoor Smoking

People who smoke tend to gather outside in certain spots to enjoy their nicotine and socialize with other smokers. Some people also smoke to gain a sense of solitude or to have a moment to themselves. I want to create a piece that makes smokers more aware of where they are when they're smoking, which I think is often overlooked or secondary to their experience. My plan is to develop a sound piece based on the natural sounds of the environment in which people are smoking and the actual sounds of smoking. I then want to play them in that area, hopefully causing someone to notcie the audio and therefore the space around them.

CFC Inspiration: Cigarettes in the Landscape

Irving Penn

Normally a fashion photographer, this photograph is a portrait of cigarette butts that are decaying and look almost like they're a part of some natural landscape.























Cigarette Art by Tom Deininger

He collects cigarettes off the beach to make his pieces. The shell is composed entirely of cigarette butts. The rabbit's fur is made from old cigarette filters. Both pieces smell very strongly like cigarettes.


































Some very smelly drawing...

Terrarium Update

The feedback I got about my terrarium was that the rope was too clunky the way it was knotted to the corners and it was too close to Vinnie's piece and the light sort of fell out (whoops). So I redid the rope so that it ties into a complex and large knot but the threading is clean-lined. I decided not to go with a smaller rope because I was partially worried about it holding up and because I like the rustic sort of heavy handed feel it gives the piece. I also moved my terrarium to the other side of the room and bought some of those boat ties that you figure 8 rope around and attached them to the wall so that I wouldn't need compost buckets to hold my piece up anymore. I also wired the light back in and left it on for the night. I think it's lookin' good and I see some little green things sprouting in there :)

Classes, Week 5

CFC III-We finished our terrariums and hung them up in our room on Wednesday. I think the feedback I got on mine was fairly positive (minus the fact that the light decided to fall out). Rebekah though the rope was too clunky and I have to agree with her. She didn't give us homework over the weekend so now I have time to mess around with it and fix it.

Human Body as an Armature-We're working on our second long term project and I'm really excited about my idea (see other blog for more information). I'm still doing weekly quickies and we sketch a lot in class and do short activities. I just need to figure out what sort of work I can do in-class on this one on Monday (maybe I should email Sarah and explain to her what's up and ask what I should do).

Aztec, Maya, & Inca Civilizations-Well, we just finished learning about the Aztec and had a test yesterday. I'm a little bit nervous because the test was 30% of my grade and it was only 15 questions long. The majority of the MC questions left it open for you to circle multiple things. I'm not sure if they're giving partial credit. I knew there had to be some kind of catch to how things were set up.

Recycling-We're working on using materials to create an unexpected form. My stamps are coming together into a closed, but very dynamic shape. I really like the way it's going. Last night it dawned on me that I should do a bigger version with used envelopes and then put the two together...AWESOME! I need to start collecting used envelopes :)

Video Dance-I got a tour of ISS yesterday so now I can go work there during downtime on central campus if I reserve a space. Tomorrow I'm doing a 4 hour Duderstadt training session, which will be a good refresher on Final Cut Pro. It never hurts to go over things another time. ISS is supposedly having all sorts of workshops to learn various things. I'm determined to go and learn as much as I can. The Dance on Camera festival is this weekend and I'm really excited about it. I still have to edit my footage from the Power Center and then I have to do the Solo Study footage we took in class last week (so I'm going to be spending some time in the Dude, luckily it's my favorite library).

Speaking of which, I need to drop off the dv tape at Groundworks and return library books...I've built up a nice stack on my printer.

You know, I just realized that the work I've been making this semester is all things that I can be proud of. I feel as though the craft on each of my long term pieces is to a higher standard and I feel like the ideas I'm generating are worthwhile. I need to redo my blood fountain, but beyond that I'm pretty happy with most everything. A few tweaks or reassessments are needed here & there, but I'm falling into a pattern of work that is truly my own and I like it. That's a happy feeling.

P.S. THIS IS MY 100th POST ON THIS BLOG. YAY ME.

More Terrarium Chandelier

Letters to Louanna

This is the latest piece I'm working on for Recycling. My great
aunt had a house full of stuff and one of the things I got when she
passed was a bag full of tons of old stamps that had been through
the mail. They were all off letters she had received, but now
I'm making them into a sculpturally interesting piece (and finally
finding a use for them since they were saved for so long).

Terrarium Chandelier

This is my terrarium chandelier in progress. It's meant to go in a country style breakfast nook (aka it's very rustic looking).

(Left) This is the top. It has a very simple design and the hardware is visible purposefully. I think it adds to the style (and I like it).






This is the underside. It will have mason jars screwed into each lid. Each jar will preserve an herb and create interesting shadows when light reflects through it.









My chandelier hangs from the four corners
of the rectangular wooden frame with rope.
The rope hangs on a pulley system so that I
can adjust the hanging height and easily
access herbs for cooking.

Lucky Dragons

Video Dance Assignment #1: Variations on a Theme

Classes, Week 4

Since I've been so diligent, I'll keep doing a weekly update for those of you who aren't around to see my work.

In CFC III we're still working on our terrariums. I have everything I need except wood, screws, some other hardware pieces & rope. Well, and the compost that Rebekah is going to give me. I'm growing 6 different kinds of herbs. I just need to assemble it (some electrician work required). I will probably go to Home Depot today to pick up what I need. We turned in our first long assignment in Human Body as an Armature. I did a piece based off the lyrics "I'm a fountain of blood/In the shape of a girl." I think that the idea was really good, but I am having some technical difficulties. I really want to install it in a space where I can work on it over time, which should happen soon (I'll explain in a minute). I also need to rework how I route the tubing because that was a factor in the issues. I also want to get a bigger basin. In Aztec, Maya, & Inca Civilizations we're almost done talking about the Aztec already. We have a test this Thursday. I'm a little nervous because that is 1/3 of my grade and you never know if professors are going to throw you for a loop. The class seems far too straightforward. I need to gather materials for recycling. We're using materials to make forms, which I'm really excited about. I want to do something thing and stringy (but maybe with more form like a piece of wire or string with a lot of tension on it). I'm not really sure yet (hence needing to go foraging). We got into a long talk about Cradle to Cradle and recycling, which I really enjoyed. Video Dance is awesome. We watched my first piece (which is a little jenky on the editing if you ask me) and I got some good feedback. Terri said she could see me expanding it and I agree with her completely. I haven't actually touched my Power Center footage yet (which is probably really bad). We also filmed a dancer in class and I'm really excited about that because she did some amazing improvisations and our camera at least caught some really cool footage (I'm sure the others did too). Now for the real news. I am opening a gallery in a storage space in Ypsilanti. It's going to be for installations, collaborations, and other people can rent it for the average daily cost I'm paying to use it (TBD). I think this is such an exciting idea and one of my professors is really excited about it too. I already formed a facebook group and invited people who I think would be a supportive base for this project. I think it's going to be an amazing experience. More info later.