As part of our Irrigate creative placemaking workshops we are doing something called Observation Piece, inspired by happenings and other relational, participatory art projects. We set out with attendees around the neighborhood to perform placemaking together, creating an art piece with our attention, actions and sharing. Artists are experts at noticing the overlooked and using their curiosity about the everyday can lead to new understandings, connections and narratives. Try it in your place!
To date 50 artists have created this artwork and can now be listed on our title card (and put it on their resumes):
Observation Piece, 2011
Harry Kent Risa Tritabaugh Tara Tieso Sheronda Orridge Brenda Bell Brown Viv Corringham
Naomi Cohn Geri Connelly Jim De Feo Mackenzie Lee Karen Loe Sheldon Gitis Joseph Lipscomb
Charles Denton Blaine Garrett Timm Brazil Brian Miller Amy Wortman Jada Schumacher Nathan Hanson
Carly Schmitt Rena Kraut Preston Stinson Theresa Crushshon Heather (Desdamona) Ross Betsy Schaefer
Alex Roob Richard Broderick Helen Broderick Douglas Vaughn Chamath Perera Alan Skamser-O'Neil
Anita Sadler Anna Cioffi Barry Kleider Claire Thomas Clifford Dodd Holly Stone Jesse Golfis Katie Ka Vang
Louise DeCramer Mark Granlund Michelle Trevino-Davis Nancy Stiefeld Patricia Weyandt Sara Udvig
Shannon Forney Simon Carvalho Stephen Bougie Galea Vajxyooj
Take 10 minutes to wander alone around the defined geographic area. Observe and notice your surroundings, follow your curiosity about the everyday. Use these guidelines to prompt your seeing.
- Identify surfaces - buildings, sidewalks, boundaries, streets, crowds, patterns, details, natural and human made
- Recognize spaces - interior, exterior, also negative spaces, in between buildings, windows etc.
- Find incongruities - things that seem out of place, often they can suggest a narrative or a starting point for further curiosity.
- Connection- what is the relationship between things that you see, context for the whole scene.
Regroup and tour the area, sharing things you noticed during your observation and why they stood out to you.