WORKS IN PROGRESS

RIVER RAFT WITH ANCHOR (IN PROGRESS) FOR HOPEFUL INSTALLATION FOR JUNE

MORE SOON!

R

HUDSON RIVER PROJECT

Along the main stretches of the Westside Highway's bike and walking path, there can be seen several, if not many ever changing manipulations and reorganizations of the landed objects, both natural and unnatural. These creations are done by relatively anonymous contributors. Assuming certain human beings have applied some of the changes and "nature" has provided the others, there remain certain "grey areas" where the arrangement might not be so easily be said to have been created by one or the other. I cannot say, for instance, if the longest tree-trunks-turned-driftwood now serving as possible riverside benches had been placed in that way by a person or people, or simply by the natural process of drifting ashore. It seems either way, mutually beneficial for both people and nature.

The idea of organization as an inherent feature of life systems, human and non-human and this organization as potentially beneficial to both is of particular interest to me. Also of interest is the notion of anonymity beyond the normal bounds of "which person did that?" In this case, it might just as often be thought, "what life force created this?"

To be able to create arrangements and organizations in this forum allows me much freedom of choice in form and virtually unlimited materials. Essentially, the environment will predilect the general aesthetic. The forms and shapes I have made and will eventually make should most often mimic natural forms and shapes. The ideas for arrangements will stem from notable natural arrangements such as groups of branches stuck in rocks, discarded bottles clumped together, larger tree limbs and stumps stuffed into crevices of large-rock formations.

I hope to create an structures that will lead the viewer to wonder where nature left off, if it did at all, and where the assembler picked up. All the while, the creator, or creators will remain relatively anonymous, that is, unless you happen to catch the happening in progress.

ABOVE PHOTOS (Top to Bottom):

Rock Pile Pedestal, Found Plastic Bottles on Bush with No Leaves or Flowers with George Washington Bridge in the distance. Photos taken the day after assembly.

Close up of Bottles

Foreground: Rock Pile Pedestal; Background: Found Tree Branch and Other Wood Shack (Shack did not withstand the weight of the accumulation from this week's blizzard.)

Arch One. This structure has remained in tact for about a month. It was the first of any assemblages or arrangements along the River/Highway. The second arch, built right after the first was completed has deteriorated completely except for the main structural supports which actually still make an arch-like connection. (not pictured)

POST-HOLIDAY CHEER, FOLDING CHAIR PILE

A friend borrowed two dozen general-purpose folding chairs from the closest RC church to be used for a roof-top remembrance service for discarded christmas trees. The service was held a few days after the last day for curbing trees to be composted. Several days later, the chairs remained on the roof, idling shuffling their feet on the outdoor floor. In remembrance of the gathering of remembrance (act of disobedience) I stacked three-quarters of the chairs in the "opened" seating position upon themselves.

The chairs are free standing, as in, they have no support but their own weight and balance. The chairs have been positioned to allow each to open fully. The negative spaces of each chair allow for points of connection between the chairs. The connections made within the negative space, in addition to the increasing weight gained from successive layers create substantial structural support---a civil nudge and slight shake will affirm this.

Set against a city-wide, year-end hangover, the stack of borrowed-from-a-roman-catholic-church chairs hopes to serve as normal societal protest and as a reminder of the possibly infinite exchange of ideas grown out of open gathering.

photo: Tom Curcuruto