Blind Communication

I came up with the helium rose idea when we were working in class with manipulating roses (the "what to do with a dozen roses" project). My initial concept was "blind communication", sending a gift to a random stranger. You would not know who received your gift, and they would have no idea who it came from. The intention is to brighten up someone's day (even if it is a small gesture). I think it would be an amazing visual statement and a great interactive piece. Hopefully someone far from the Mattress Factory will see this rose descending toward them, it will spark their interest and they will follow it. That is the way I see it happening, though it might not work that perfectly. My design is to tie the bud of the rose with a tiny bit of the stem to a helium balloon that is filled enough to take it a great distance. I just realized that there are twelve puzzle pieces, so I have been pondering a new idea. Each puzzle piece could be photographed and printed small on a light weight piece of paper and place inside the balloon. There would be twelve balloons, one for each person in the class (with their puzzle piece inside and a rose attached). So each person would be letting a piece of themselves float away. I thought having some one in a car follow a balloon with a video camera would be an interesting way to document it (I don't know how practical that is, but it's an idea).
-- Kevin Clancy, Montour High School, Allegheny County

Tape Face

Jenna's zine hanging on the clothesline



Tape Face (Cover)



Lost + Found



Princess Ballerina Astronaut



PRINCESS BALLERINA ASTRONAUT

if you'd asked me what i wanted to grow up to be when i was little, i'd have said
princess ballerina astronaut.

i really wanted to be an astronaut, but i may have wanted to be a ballerina too. i'd tell them i wanted to be an astronaut but i think the fact that i dressed up like a
princess made people say "but don't you want to dance, or be a princess? why don't
you become the first princess ballerina astronaut?"

it always annoyed me later when my obscure dream job was brought up. i said i'd never
wanted to be a princess ballerina astronaut, i wanted to be an architect or something.

when people saw me draw they'd ask if i was going to be an artist. i'd answer NO!
and think they were crazy. they annoyed me. still those people who tell me, "i hate
you, you can draw, the things i draw are stick people, you suck," get on my nerves.
only now when they ask me if i'm going to be an artist, i say YES.

now i want to be an artist and realize it's the same and i haven't changed.

Jenna Boyles

Ryan being interviewed for MF-TV

The Mattress Factory's: Jennifer Baron + Kate Joranson
The Hardest Working Art Educators in Show Business!

Danielle



Kevin

Exploding the Book has been one of the best experiences of my life. It exposed me to so many things, like meeting artists and discussing process, proposing an idea to museum curators, and unifying a group of people to create one installation. This class has been the biggest learning experience. I met Diane Samuels, David Pohl, and Biko through the Mattress Factory. I was able to talk to practicing artists in Pittsburgh, which for a young artist is an amazing opportunity. Art is what makes me happy and consumes the majority of my time. My art takes many forms, including music, poetry, drawing, painting, and sculpting. Art is not always a concrete object. Art is thought. There is art in the process of dreaming. Art can occur consciously and subconsciously. Art is directly related to everything. I have grown so much from Exploding the Book. I met amazing young artists who I could really relate to. This class really opened me up, and allowed me to share my ideas and opinions freely. I have been inspired by the other students, David, Diane, Biko, and everyone else I have met through my class. I am excited to work on another installation, and to learn from another great instructor.
-- Kevin Clancy, Montour High School, Allegheny County

Eileen + David



David Pohl + Carol Skinger

Chelsea's performance with a hammer and rose

Opening Reception

Display of rose art from the "What To Do With A Dozen Roses" project.
Roses were stitched, melted, plucked, made into paint, made into cookies
and eaten, covered with hot glue, smashed with a hammer, reconfigured,
wrapped in wire, frozen and burnt.








Jenna talking with guests.



Ben, Kevin, Ryan, Eileen

MF 14s at the unveiling of "Clothesline Anthropology" 2.18.06

Bottom Row (L-R)

Eileen Joseph, Hanna Schwartz, Danielle Tomson

Middle Row (L-R)

Ben Page, Gretchen Gally, James Pitt, Ben Stroup, Rose Fishman, Jenna Boyles

Top Row (L-R)

Kevin Clancy, David Pohl, Ryan Laib

Missing- Chelsea Greer


Pingting says.....

It was a pleasure and I will treasure the memories.

Keep making, doing, being, seeing and sharing
your ideas, talents, and dreams with the world.

Peace,
David

P.S. - - I'll be returning to teach at the MF, so I
hope to see some of you again. For those of you taking
the next class... I'm looking forward to viewing your
new work(s).

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Huge congratulations to EVERYONE on the outstanding opening reception today! It has been an honor and a joy to get to know you, and to experience your creative, thoughtful and inspiring artworks. What a fantastic turn-out for today's opening! We hope to see many of you soon, for the next Factory 14s class and visiting the museum.

Stay tuned for more pictures from throughout day, which I will post this week here on the blog. If everyone else could share their photos as well, that would be terrific.

WHIRL Magazine Tomorrow

Hi Factory 14s!

A photographer from WHIRL Magazine is coming to the opening tomorrow at 4 PM to take some pictures of all of you!
See you soon!

Well, Come

Clothesbasket Invitation concept/realization by Danielle.
Sock Invitations designed by James and Ben.

Ready To Fly!

Rethinking Balloons

Balloon Releases - Unjustified Concern

Mass balloon releases come under fire from misinformed critics who inaccurately claim releases generate a major source of litter and threaten the ecology. While anecdotal, subjective “evidence” is usually cited to support these assertions, corroborating factual data is rarely presented.

Important facts you should know about latex balloon releases:
Only latex balloons are used by professionals in mass releases. Industry guidelines require these balloons to be self-tied and have no attached strings or ribbons — each released balloon is 100 percent biodegradable.
Rarely do released balloons return to the earth’s surface intact. Studies show these balloons usually rise to an altitude of about five miles. At that point, freezing and air pressure causes “brittle fracture” creating spaghetti-like pieces that scatter to the four winds.
While some balloons don’t reach this altitude, research indicates that in an average 500-balloon release, the unexploded balloon return density is no greater than one per 15 square miles.
Research shows that regardless of the latex balloon’s ultimate form when it lands, it will decompose, forming a natural soil nutrient at the same rate as that of an oak leaf.

Balloon Rethinking

I just read the environmental issue on the blog. I was really disappointed,
but I started to research. I think if we use the correct materials, we can
make this project earth-friendly without completely compromising the idea.
Here are the Industry Release Standards:

The American balloon industry has set firm standards for mass balloon
releases.

1. Releases must use only 100 percent latex balloons
2. All attachments must be biodegradable
3. All balloons must be self-tied
4. Balloons cannot be attached to each other

So if we use biodegradable latex, and a biodegradable rope material we can
do it. The site that you referenced,
http://www.balloonhq.com/BalloonCouncil/facts.html#releases, stated that
most of the concerns are misconceptions. There is a lot of good info, and I
will continue to research. E-mail me with your ideas.

One problem I came across is that Latex can be an allergic reactions, mild
to fatal. This is worth looking into, but 94% of the population will never
have a reaction.

Kevin

What happens when a balloon is released?

Something that I discussed with Jennifer "Popcorn Fresh" Baron this morning was the
environmental impact of releasing dozens of balloons into the air. If they don't
happen to safely land in someone's front yard or nearby tree, what becomes of the rubber balloon itself,
the string? the print inside? Litter? Bird nest fodder? Hmmm. Possibly or possibly not.

Some things and something to think about and more to read on the subject below.
This is the amazing thing!.... On the WWW there's a link to EVERYTHING!

Who'd have thunk it. http://www.balloonrelease.com


What happens when a balloon is released?
A scientific survey carried out in 1989 revealed that on release a
balloon will float up to a height of approximately 5 miles and then
it becomes brittle and shatters into miniscule pieces falling back to earth at a rate of circa one piece every 5 square miles. Problems can arise when a balloon is not inflated properly or fully or is carrying too much weight and therefore does not reach the height at which shattering occurs. This situation causes a potential danger to wildlife and the environment.


We always practice the following steps to insure that our balloon releases are environmentally safe -

~ Never tie ANYTHING to balloons which are being released. Messages can easily be written on the balloons with a felt tip pen.

~ Only use biodegradable balloons. FYI- Latex is naturally occurring material made from tree sap.

~ Always use fully inflated balloons, and release shortly after filling.

More info at: http://www.balloonhq.com/BalloonCouncil/facts.html


Kevin.... any thoughts??

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Exploding the Book! From Book Arts to Installation Arts.
Our course title.
David Pohl.
Our instructor.
Rose Fishman, Ryan Laib, Danielle Tomson, Jenna Boyles, Chelsea Greer, Ben Stroup, Kevin Clancy, Eileen Joseph, Gretchen Gally, James Pitt, Ben Page, Hannah Schwartz.
Our group.
http://mattressfactory14s.blogspot.com
Our blog.
Saturday, February 18, 2006. 2-5pm
at The Mattress Factory
Our unveiling.
Clothesline Anthropology.
Our product from the process.


From the first class period in October to the February of a new year, this class has been focused on the meaning of a message. Through physically dissecting what a book beholds and discovering the truth behind the diverse connotations that the written word has, the MF 14s have explored many ways for an individual to communicate ideas, stories, and truths.
When planning the final installation project, the group wished to tell their own story—by exploding the book, story, and written word. The stories of a diverse group of individuals come to life in a tangible form of clothing, clotheslines, and a huge puzzle. While each message may be different, the concept stays the same: truth is not simply sketched in stone for one must go into the heart and soul of the story to get the message. Walk into the minds of different individuals. Envelope yourself in the study of others. Let your story fly away in a balloon. Become part of the art experience. And never judge a story by its façade.

-Danielle

Putting the Pieces Together

Just to let everyone know if you didn't get David's email... We are hanging the puzzle pieces tomorrow. I'm coming after school (4 o'clock for me) until 6 (or it's done). Please make sure your piece is there!
And for everyone who was still at MF on Saturday for my catastrophe (long story, ask later) my piece will be right side up!

Also, about the artist statement thing, I am going to try and write something later (if I have time [application for Ecuador goes out tonight!]). If you have already started it or are planning to start, let me know. I think that we should try to collaborate on this.

*sigh* I can just tell it's going to be a long night.
~Gretchen

Tomorrow

I just got back from the thrift store, I got glasses for kevin, old lady hankerchiefs and a baby bonnet. I saw the piece when I went in on tuesday and it looks awesome! You guys really got a lot of work done. We should try to cover details for the rose balloons (who, where, when) tommorow in class.
Also details for opening, who can bring what (Jennifer can give some money to anyone who brings in food).

If anyone can come in early tommorow OR stay late that would be great, I will be there at 11.

Tommorow we should definatly try to work on the zines for at least an hour.

-Eileen

Off the Page: From Book arts to Public Art

Factory 14s Youth Art Course

Off the Page! From Book Arts to Public Art
Session II: Saturdays: March-May 2006
Instructor: Mary Tremonte
For ages 14-18
Cost: $125 ($110 MF members); scholarships available.
Register for this Course Online

Artist Statement for Clothesline Anthropology

Hi all!

Everyone here at the MF is very excited about your opening. Your piece in progress looks fantastic and the title you chose is so thought-provoking. Many museum visitors have been enjoying the work and asking questions all week, so we have been handing our your lovely invitations.

This Saturday, or over the next few days, please have someone, or a group, from the class write the text (one-page is fine) for a wall panel to be placed in the Lobby near your installation, and to be used as a hand-out. Please include all of the basic info about the course, such as course title, date of the work, names of the artists, title of the piece & instructor name. Similar to the invite, but this document should serve as an Artist Statement about your final work, coming from the perspective of the class, in order to introduce your creative process and the installation to the museum's viewing public. Perhaps some of you might want to work on this together? Maybe include some of Kevin's text about the rose and balloon project, and/or some text from the blog? Could you please e-mail me this when it is ready, so we can make a sign and xerox copies? Or, Eileen and Gretchen could put the text onto a disc and leave it on my desk. Please let me know if I can help with this step in any way.

THANK YOU!
Jennifer Baron

blind communication

I came up with the helium rose idea when we were working in class with
manipulating roses (the "what to do with a dozen roses" project). My
initial concept was "blind communication", sending a gift to a random
stranger. You would not know who received your gift, and they would have no
idea who it came from. The intention is to brighten up someone's day (even
if it is a small gesture). I think it would be an amazing visual statement
and a great interactive piece. Hopefully someone far from the Mattress
Factory will see this rose descending toward them, it will spark their
interest and they will follow it. That is the way I see it happening,
though it might not work that perfectly. My design is to tie the bud of the
rose with a tiny bit of the stem to a helium balloon that is filled enough
to take it a great distance.

I just realized that there are twelve puzzle pieces, so I have been
pondering a new idea. Each puzzle piece could be photographed and printed
small on a light weight piece of paper and place inside the balloon. There
would be twelve balloons, one for each person in the class (with their
puzzle piece inside and a rose attached). So each person would be letting a
piece of themselves float away. I thought having some one in a car follow a
balloon with a video camera would be an interesting way to document it (I
don't know how practical that is, but it's an idea).

Kevin

improvising and letting

I do not really have a planned piece, I am just improvising and letting the work
go where it wants to. I am using paper mache, charcoal, paint, and maybe
some found objects. It may be completely different by Saturday.

Kevin

Hanging Clothes