RIVERFRONT PARK // ART PROPOSAL 04.17.2020 Ellen + Rajah Factory Town Spokane, WA
1 “People talking without speaking People hearing without listening People writing songs that voices never share And no one dare disturb The sounds of silence. ” Simon and Garfunkel
2 What is a story? The location of this park, this river, the area which became our city, was known as the Gathering Place – where people from the surrounding areas would come to trade goods and share stories. This continues to be the place that gives hope, love and a sense of renewal. Our lives became entwined in the very park where we are proposing this artwork. While our story is deeply personal, it is not uncommon. Many others come to this park to spend time with their loved ones, enjoy a moment of peace, or meet a friend. These moments become memories, sparked back into life at the sight of the goat, the pavilion, or the Lantern. We believe it is the art that holds our collective story. As Factory Town we use a wide range of media, including video, the written word, and photography, but story provides the foundation and meaning of the work. Long before humanity could write or create images - our only way to pass along culture and history was through our voices. It is the most certain way that our histories, our ethics, our sorrows and joys can be transferred from one person to the next. We find ourselves in the grasp of a new era of communication. We are living through a moment where our common and relied upon practices are changing. The norms of our greetings, our interactions are finding new paths. Life finds a way, so they say. Through these changes we adapt and we find new ways to continue to connect. We have always done this, because it is as essential as the life giving water which flows through the core of this city. It is through these connections where we feel closest to one another and how we better understand ourselves. We hope through this work, those stories are shared more and often.
3 Sculpture Plan: Whisper Discs Acoustic mirrors are an old technology. A simple parabolic disc gathers and sends sound waves to a focal point across a great distance. The elegant and timeless design affirms the human at the heart of the sculpture. The voice, the song, or the performance fulfills the meaning of the artwork. The etched design will encourage individuals to approach the discs, discover the whisper effect, and hopefully encourage them to listen and share themselves. Voices in dialogue We will invite a community of writers, poets, and storytellers to create a conversation based on a theme. It is important that the words we share come from the communal space. We will design the typography and etch it into the sculptures. The images shown are only a suggestion, not the final design. Construction The discs will be cast in concrete for longevity and stability. This material can weather abuse from the elements and the loving public. Simple pressure washing can remove dirt or graffiti. Superficial damage to the sculpture will not affect its ability to function. Its technology may have come from the past but it will continue to work into the future. Each disc will be seven to ten feet in diameter enabling voices to be shared up to 300 feet apart. The discs can be placed anywhere in the park as long as they have an unobstructed path between them and are level with each other. We are still consulting with two contractors for job bids. We will be heavily involved in the design and manufacture of the works. We have a concrete expert at the ready and have consulted with him on the budget. Fabrication will take place in an industrial building site in Spokane. It will take approximately three months to build the molds, pour concrete, let it cure, and finish the etching. The platforms will be poured on-site.
4 “ The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn't s aid. ” Peter Drucker
5 Installation Views: Suggested location. Final location to be determined.
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7 “ Poetry is what gets lost in translation. “ ROBERT FROST
8 Materials: Black and white etched concrete
9 Option A: Free standing discs. One black, one white. Words and design to be determined in phase two.
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12 Option B: Cylindrical discs. One black, one white. Words and design to be determined in phase two.
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15 How the discs work: A pair of dishes, typically 7 to 10 ft in diameter, is installed facing each other, separated by about three-hundred feet. A person standing at the focus of one can hear another person whispering at the focus of the other.
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17 “We are stronger when we listen, and smarter when we share.” Rania Al-Abdullah
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