Woolgathering:
Am I dreaming?
Is it still day?
I see lights--



aWordPoembyJeremiahJohnson

Research and Development

Concrete has been poured in molds for hundreds of years. These molds have changed and morphed a few times throughout history. But what about today?

Currently, a few fellow peers and I are researching and developing molds using fabric. The fabric is easy to ship, store, and carry. It dissipates with sunlight as well giving a eco-friendly result.

Here is my mold currently.

The width & a friends hand

The length & the shop manager

Supports

The Shark and the Swimmer

A mean shark was on hunt in the seas
For a swimmer's soft little young knees
The swimmer looked down
The shark turned around
For the swimmer had old knobby knees

The Craft of Research II

The Craft of Research II

Responded to by Jeremiah Johnson

In response to chapters five, six and seven written by Booth Colomb & Williams, I have been shown some interesting incite into the research of a topic. This response will begin with looking at sources, then using sources and finally forming an argument with sources.

I: The ‘research trip’ begins with the topic. I believe that your topic must be flushed out like a wet rag. If you are unable to do this, you will have nothing to pursue. To learn about your topic, start to read. Using sources starts with observation and reading. This will bring to light many issues and problems relating to your topic. Like Booth, Colombs and Williams expressed, crafting a hierarchy to your sources is rather important. This will allow you to understand your topic in three ways: through “raw data”, through “scholarly research” and “mass-circulation.” When I work on sources I tend to forget a hierarchy. So in retort, I tend to push myself toward that direction in remembrance. These sources can be found through the library, journal articles, interviews and internet. Though knowing your source credibility is top priority. Lastly, I find using sources that ‘click’ with the topic in an odd way tend to bring interest to the research.

II: Once you start to find information, you must next record the information. Data recording is important. I keep a journal with me at all times in case I need to record. This will be especially important when you are unsure why your source was used. Sources come in many colours and flavors. I find that understanding this will affect your research heavily. Once your sources have been found, read them once more—read them like they are love poems. You must “actively engage” them to bring forth their full prowess. As I continue to read, I find myself forming arguments and ideas. This is wholesome. Once again, you should start to record you finding. Your research will write itself without extra effort.

III: Your sources are found and your mind is working like a machine; how do you form an argument? The argument will best serve your project if it is in conversational form. The authors wrote, “{…}you make a claim, back it with reasons, support them with evidence, acknowledge and respond to other view{…}.” This is a conversation. I believe by fostering the argument as a discussion with your audience, they will be much happier and more interested. As you form the argument think about your sources; how do they help? Find your claim, use sources to back it and then play devils advocate. This form of active response will create a better argument. Does your argument sound strong? It will once you form credibility. This is done through Ethos, Logos and Pathos. As many novice artists begin, they draw what they know. This is not a good idea. Looking through a new lens and through open eyes recoding what you see rather than what you know will grow an argument like sprouting kelp. Soon you will find yourself swimming through larges amounts of responding arguments and supports rather then a drawing that is nothing like the actual object. But make sure your pre-knowledge is still used. It will provide passion and fire.

Overall, using sources to form arguments is an art form. It takes practice and effort on your part as well as the audience. I find that once actively engaging the topic and research, the information starts to flow. You continue up the road towards finality. So look through your sources, analyze your sources, record your sources and argue with your sources. All actions bring fruition.

Highrise Update

An update on our Highrise project:

We have finished our structures model two minutes early! It is clad with finesse, bolted with strength and lifted with elegance. The highrise so far speaks happily of our progressing design. Starting with a structure supported by dangerous suspension now floats intermittently above a market and green space.

The highrise is held up through a giant sheer tower holding elevators, plumbing electrical and venting neatly within its open mouth. Eight super columns support the cantilever residence spaces which are self supporting with the help of a waffle ceiling. A front sheer tower elevator allows for access all levels. Lastly, a supporting leg holds the building in place.

Waffle Ceiling

Northside of Building

Simplified levels

West side of building

Louver cables

A view from above

The beginning of 'KKE Competition'

What is treasure?
Something Obtuse?
Something valuable?
Something worth money?
Experience?
Memories?
Love?

Is it something that you would never rid yourself of? The object or memory you hold dearest at night in your arms...

{this is a competition to change mere garbage into a treasure}

I started with history. Brought nature into the mix. Threw in some spices. Stirred well. Finally, I received a toy. The history of "garbage" is much greater and stronger than you first imagine. These are items&objects that meant something to someone during sometime. The history may have been from the: 90's 80's 70's 60's 50's 40's 30's or possibly the 20's. 

I need to find what makes history, garbage and treasure mix. 

What would a wee child care for? 

When this child is an elder would he have kept something precious?

The experience of the purest mind brings to light something vast in mankind--something wholesome and powerful. We find true love in treasures. These may be something small and meaningless or something grand and expensive. But in truth it is something you care to keep for all eternity. Something that only your beloved may inherit.

An ancient toy for my childhood--shipped neatly in a old shipping crate--delivered with history of man and animal. Drudged-up through past materials crafted in a new dawn in an ancient style. This is precious to me--this is a treasure. The experience of the organic wood shaped effigy nicely fitting the hand. A packing crate brazened with the luxuries of the 20's and style of the 1890's. This items is an antiquary object of sorts. Something that I may be myself. 

While it fits me, my experience, my metaphor--it also harbors 'solid craft' and well refined skill. It is something that can be loved, bought or gifted. It is a treasure.

Something Obtuse? Yes

It is a skillful endeavor to find the metaphor of man. Of myself in fact. I tried to work towards something that really speaks of my values and ideals in design. How so? Through recreation of past into present. Through my love of the folklore, archaeology and traditional toys. Through skillful wood crafting. Through imagination and romanticism. Through elegance and simplicity. Through the use of experience to describe the nature of an object--the phenomenological connection to the object. Through the use of skill most of all. It is not simply an object but a manifestation of my design, my 'brain' & my subconscious.

All object here crafted from recycled materials - plywood, cherrywood, copper wire, printer ribbon, springs, screws, TV clamp, glass, rusty nails & old varnish.

A Response to a Book

The Craft of Research

Responded to by Jeremiah Johnson

In response to the chapters presented by Booth Colomb & Williams, I have been exposed to a vast array of ideal in writing. The main points focus on researching both a topic as well as the reader. I will express my analysis of three topics: the audience, the topic and the problem.

I: Know thy audience. When focusing the skill in crafting research and writing, taking into account the human appraising your discourse is intelligent. Your writings exist as a medium to the readers. It must be formatted so they learn, focus and interpret while enjoying the experience. This is just as important as the topic itself. Do you write a technical draft for school children? Do you write a children’s book for a CEO? Let us then question our audience. We need to design our writing and research so the reader cares for the topic as well as feels a need to listen. This will bring your topic to a strong denouement and allow the audience to enjoy every moment.

II: Be particular. Now that we understand audience as a key component, we must find a topic. I find that designing a topic is more than a choice. It stands to reason many quantitative and qualitative questions. You must sift through your experiences, your cares, your knowledge and emotions. With so much to labor through, choosing becomes difficult but is imperative to the reader. You must not simply throw facts their way. You must make it condensed into one topic. This topic then forms one question. Firstly, finding topics in your interests can help. Do you truly care about your topic? Secondly, narrowing the topic is vital. “A topic is probably too broad if you can state it in four or five words:” (39) Penultimately, the topic must mean something—it must become a question. This will allow your research to take roots. I believe this to be both the hardest and the most rewarding step. It focuses the project. Lastly, the topic must make a difference. The audience needs to know why it is significant to them. You must also know so you can write. Finding the question will focus your topic into a problem that the audience wants to solve.

III: Make it significant. Why is there a need for your topic? Will it make a difference in the real world? This may be the most important focal point. All designs should be much grander than a pretty object placed neatly for the audience to view; it must make them marvel. So deciding a problem for your topic to revolve around is vital. This problem also needs to be solved. In your design, what will it produce that solves this problem in the real world? I find that the greatest projects are grandiose enough to reach for the moon, but personal enough to be solved simply, easily and in a well to-do manner. The choice of economy is important as well. Will this project be solved by the wealth of a ‘prince’ or is there a design with the same prowess that is cheaper? All problems can be solved multiple ways. Finding that solution is something you must work towards. The problem though must first be found.

In Final Response, all parts of the design process are holistic and intertwined. They respond to each other, change & morph and progress to an ultimate closure. Researching is the first step in the project. This allows you to find the seed that forms something powerful. You can do this through your audience, your topic and a solvable problem. So let the research reign as it is crafted from the depths of experience.

A highrise Site Model

Our Site Model
An industrial part of the city
Laid with old aged structures

The use of pallets to construct the model spoke highly of the space
To bring our highrise to this industrial area will potentially 
bring back the 'old-time romance' & wealth to Rincon Hill

Conundrum:
Am I under some spell?
What can I do about this confusion?
I have a problem, I am unable to understand the issue?


aWordPoembyJeremiahJohnson

A Past Post in Present Time

I love to design 'games.' These objects should be held on a pedistal and honored as a sculpture of taste. While some are wretched the act of creating a 'game' is wonderful, trying and perplexing.

For my grandparents, a game to enjoy!

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