| Dear plastisexy folks, 1. I am super pumped about the new show. Can't wait to check out the space in March(?)--am a bit scattered so don't remember the workshop dates. 2. I hope there's a way of incorporating the ax that the fire fighters left in my apartment. It's quite large and heavy. I can post a photo soon. 3. Thank you, Dexter, for the phoenix comment a couple of weeks ago. Rising from the ashes has been a theme lately. Death, renewal, etc. 4. Have been thinking about Victorian photo collages (recent exhibit at AIC--exhibit has closed but you can probably check out the catalog for it). They were quite popular scrapbook creations for the bourgeois set. The ladies and gents who made them often depicted the heads of their friends and family on animal bodies. These wry, tongue-in-cheek images were no doubt influenced by Alice in Wonderland and Darwinism. Who wants to be a half-ass? Marky? 5. The photo collages and the Patrons of Husbandry has had me thinking about bestiaries [oh, and bestiality]; catalogs of animal types or half human-half critter types. 6. National Order of the Grange started a FIRE insurance cooperative in 1893. |
1.21.2010
Costume Designer's Thoughts
ORGAN!!
Here is the beast---installed in 1905 by the Austin Organ Company of Hartford Conn.
featuring their patented Universal Air Chest System.
Their site:
http://austinorgans.com/history-Yesterday&Today.htm& a geeked out explanation of how their walk in air chest system works:
http://www.concertartist.info/organhistory/works/works16.htm
FYI: the motto in the coat of arms reads:
Behind the fake pipes up top:
Through a small door and inside ...
FYI: the motto in the coat of arms reads:
"SCIENTIA ARTEM ADJUVAT"
Science Aids Art
“The Austin motto has always had the priorities right; science cannot determine, dominate, eclipse or degrade art. It bows to the requirements of art; science is a servant of art."
-Orpha Ochse
1.20.2010
1.19.2010
Bathrooms & Water-fountain hallway
BATHROOMS & WATER-FOUNTAIN HALLWAY
Pew in hallway faces the 2 bathrooms almost symmetrical – when sitting center one can see action in both bathrooms.
Gentlemen at left
Ladies on right
Both bathroom have 2 user capacity/2 stalls, though men’s urinal doesn’t work leaving just one toilet.
The ladies have 4 rolls of toilet paper, men just one
Ladies have 2 mirrors attached on opposite walls making it almost possible to see the back of one’s head
Ladies also have a make-up table under the 2nd mirror
Each have one mirror over sink that has hot/cold water
There are towel dispensers in both
And little trash bins
Men have a plunger
The water fountain does not work and stand right between the two bathroom’s
The hallway is divided on the right (facing bathroom) by double doors into the front landing. On the left by 3 curtains leading to the gallery.
There is a triangular exit light hanging by double door.
There are lightswitches for both bathrooms to left and right of water fountain. Did not see light switch for the lamps on ceiling
Concrete floor
Backyard
BACKYARD
3 trees: one big climbable one, 2 smaller ones. A pine of sorts and a tree that has far-reaching branches but too weak to be climbed on
flowerbeds and pots, there are old florescents and scrap wood in a pile: Things to dig and bury and burn
animals: Birds and squirrels
2 big windows to peer into the kitchen or climb on the iron-grid
there is a chainlink fence which is climbable
the backyward lies below the height of the alley, there are 5 steps leading up and a gate in the fence to exit
working grill
there is a locked door into the building – the room that lies north in the kitchen area?
No outside lights
1.18.2010
Stairwells
Transitional space. The stairs going up are more formal and lead to the church. Stairs down are more institutional and lead down to the bathrooms and basement. Sound of North Avenue present, and it's drafty.
Stairs up: 8 feet wide, 10 stairs, carpeted. Carved wooden railings and dark wooden wainscot panels. Wall of stained glass around double doors. At the top of the stairs is a formal wooden table and chair about 6 feet by 2 feet. Nice lamp on the desk. Doors leading into the church proper are glass paneled so you can see into the church.
One electrical outlet by the desk.
Stairs down: 4 feet wide, 11 stairs, wooden. Floor at the bottom is concrete. Large wooden pews line the walls at the bottom. Enough seating for 10 to 12. Feels isolated and despairing to me down there.
No electrical outlets that I saw. Overhead light that is kind of harsh.
Crap stored behind a portable photo screen.
Forgot my camera. No photos. Pardonnez-moi.
Stairs up: 8 feet wide, 10 stairs, carpeted. Carved wooden railings and dark wooden wainscot panels. Wall of stained glass around double doors. At the top of the stairs is a formal wooden table and chair about 6 feet by 2 feet. Nice lamp on the desk. Doors leading into the church proper are glass paneled so you can see into the church.
One electrical outlet by the desk.
Stairs down: 4 feet wide, 11 stairs, wooden. Floor at the bottom is concrete. Large wooden pews line the walls at the bottom. Enough seating for 10 to 12. Feels isolated and despairing to me down there.
No electrical outlets that I saw. Overhead light that is kind of harsh.
Crap stored behind a portable photo screen.
Forgot my camera. No photos. Pardonnez-moi.
Tasting Room
Odd little space. About 12 by 24 feet, with a storage nook for chairs and folding tables.
Other items: a rolling safe, three small tables, some random lamps, library ladders, a dresser.
One electric outlet in the ceiling, one on the wall.
Ceiling fan with lights, some awful flourescents and a small overhead fixture. Light also comes in from the kitchen windows and over a 3/4 wall separating this space from the kitchen.
Large sliding doors that do move, but are heavy. Space can be enclosed from the rest of the basement.
Sound seemed very alive but not bouncy in this space--acoustics very precise. this makes it feel very private and intimate to me. Nostalgic somehow.
Could fit about 10 audience members in here.
No photos.
Other items: a rolling safe, three small tables, some random lamps, library ladders, a dresser.
One electric outlet in the ceiling, one on the wall.
Ceiling fan with lights, some awful flourescents and a small overhead fixture. Light also comes in from the kitchen windows and over a 3/4 wall separating this space from the kitchen.
Large sliding doors that do move, but are heavy. Space can be enclosed from the rest of the basement.
Sound seemed very alive but not bouncy in this space--acoustics very precise. this makes it feel very private and intimate to me. Nostalgic somehow.
Could fit about 10 audience members in here.
No photos.
Lutheran MIssionary Work
Quotes from a longer post about Lutheran missionary work. Take a look at the link if you want to read more.
http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/NORWAY/2003-11/1069093109
"My experience has been precisely this, that always having to consult oneself, always being alone in every undertaking, constitutes the most depressing feature of mission life. For surely external hard times, when they prevail year after year have an unnerving effect; anyway, we cannot deny that it is so in our case. Certainly one is sorely tempted by many disheartening thoughts when one looks over his work--realizes how insignificant it is, how little fruit appears; yes, often there are times during which I consider myself the most superfluous person in the whole world and my heart weakens, my knees shake, and my arms fall powerless to my side. But worst of all is the fact that one has no ministerial brother whom one can consult and from whom one can receive assistance in moments of weakness."
"I think most people...will believe that there are both freethinkers and blasphemers and many who show no interest in the church...But now consider that the Norwegians in Portland...are more indifferent in a churchly sense than they are elsewhere in America. Is there no excuse for the fact that this situation has come about? I maintain that there is. I think it a wonder that such church interest as actually prevails still exists among the people...and no one can fairly blame the people for leaving the Lutheran church and 'going over to the sects," as the expression goes, when the work of the church has been carried on as it has been done here."
http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/NORWAY/2003-11/1069093109
"My experience has been precisely this, that always having to consult oneself, always being alone in every undertaking, constitutes the most depressing feature of mission life. For surely external hard times, when they prevail year after year have an unnerving effect; anyway, we cannot deny that it is so in our case. Certainly one is sorely tempted by many disheartening thoughts when one looks over his work--realizes how insignificant it is, how little fruit appears; yes, often there are times during which I consider myself the most superfluous person in the whole world and my heart weakens, my knees shake, and my arms fall powerless to my side. But worst of all is the fact that one has no ministerial brother whom one can consult and from whom one can receive assistance in moments of weakness."
"I think most people...will believe that there are both freethinkers and blasphemers and many who show no interest in the church...But now consider that the Norwegians in Portland...are more indifferent in a churchly sense than they are elsewhere in America. Is there no excuse for the fact that this situation has come about? I maintain that there is. I think it a wonder that such church interest as actually prevails still exists among the people...and no one can fairly blame the people for leaving the Lutheran church and 'going over to the sects," as the expression goes, when the work of the church has been carried on as it has been done here."
1.17.2010
Findings: The Kitchen & The Flag Room
THE KITCHEN
Overview…
It is really dirty- dirty dishes about, open seasonings, crumbs everywhere, dirty mop water
It is chaotic and careless
There are fly strips and mouse traps
It holds all the machinery of the building…the furnace, hot water heater, breakers, alarm system, phone connectionsThe sounds…
Dipping
Ticking
The backyard & alley
Hum of the refrigeratorEverything makes noise…the cabinets, the drawers, the appliance doors
With all the chaos of this room, it should be louder
The smell…
Faint bacon smellThe refrigerator is sour
The lighting…Single fluorescent tubes
One incandescent light
Large window- daylight and alley light
The inventory…a mere taste of what is there…
Push mower & rake
Food- there are oils, seasonings, the fridge is full; it is a working kitchenComputer components & a fax machine
Kitchen tools- pots, pans, service pieces (real & disposable), mugs, plates, knives, etc
2- 55gallon drum garbage cans
2 coolers
Coffee maker & Microwave
Random plants
Large chalkboard & cork board
2 sinks
Appliances- stove/oven, refrigerator/freezer
An island with cabinet space
2 tables, couple of chairs, and a stool
The temperature…
Average but drafty near the door and the window
THE FLAG ROOM
Overview…A cluttered room to dump things in…no real purpose
The windows look like they open and have 1’deep sills
It is carpeted; same red as the church
Walls are painted, the ceiling is peeling badly
There are 6 coat hooks on one wall at about 4’h
There is also a bar for handing clothes running wall to wall; doesn’t look very well anchored
There is a small (8”) kick-out from the wall, near the door, that create a 3’ wide stoop that would be comfortable to sit on
The sounds…
The traffic on North Ave.
The smell…
Like an old closet
The lighting…No fixtures
2 stain glass windows- daylight, streetlight (North Ave.)
A mirror is opposite the windows
The inventory…
Carpet rolls
Wood scraps & shims
Mop heads
1 TVs
1 2-drawer wood filing cabinets
Extension chords
Plastic tarp
3-step ladder
Stereo componentsWooden chairs- 5 child size, 1 regular
Shop vac
6 Tore up couch cushions3 cans of paint
2 box fans
2 metal folding chairs
A long poled grabber of sorts
A wheeled wagon approximately 1’wx4’lx 3”dThe temperature…
Touch cooler than the church, due to the drafty windows
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