stencils
project duration : one semester
For this semester I will be doing an investigation of graffiti style, stencil based art. The project is inspired by the 300+ photographs I shot while living in Barcelona this summer. The majority of the images in the photos were generated using stencils. I am fascinated by this system of communication and will be taking my own original designs and will propagate them using a stencil. By semester '04 end, my goal is to have stencils designed and applied in real space and begin to photograph them in the public environment, also the finale will be in book format that will display the stencil art as a photograph in public but also incorporate the original stencil artifact that made the art. Part of the project will be ongoing research about the topic. Here are some URL's to see the hype on stencil art.
markmcknight
txmx
bcngraffiti
obeygiant
stencil -- A sheet, as of plastic or cardboard, into which a design or lettering has been cut so that paint or ink applied to the sheet will reproduce the pattern on the surface beneath.
A stencil precisely reproduces a design each time it is laid down and the possibilities for location and frequency are endless, This versatility makes stenciling a very effective identity and branding tool. Repetition is one of the most effective advertising techniques.
It is, there for we identify with it.
Laying a stencil is an In & Out Operation. It is also an illegal operation in most cities world wide. The speed with which an individual can lay down a stencil and get out of dodge makes stenciling a very effective way to spread your message. It is quite possible to post upwards of 50 stencils in one night. That is a lot of free publicity!!
Whether it's an advertisement, a pop culture icon, an underground movement or a socio/political message.
It is undeniable that the use of the stencil has given visual
communication another avenue to infiltrate our day to day environment.
The Phenomenology of the Obey Giant
The first aim of Phenomenology is to reawaken a sense of wonder about one's environment. The "Giant" {stencil} attempts to stimulate curiosity and bring people to question both the {stencil} and their relationship with their surroundings. Because people are not used to seeing advertisements or propaganda for which the product or motive is not obvious, frequent and novel encounters with the {stencil} provoke thought and possible frustration, nevertheless revitalizing the viewer's perception and attention to detail.
"Many {stencils} have been painted over by people who were annoyed by them, considering them an eye sore and an act of petty vandalism, which is ironic considering the number of commercial graphic images everyone in American society is assaulted with daily." (www.obey giant.com)
date : 28 oct 04
Corinne Back
Eric Bailey
Dave Blank
Brian Cannon
Nathan Hayward
Paul Kinchla
Curtis Levesque
Meghan O'Connor
Nicole Pivirotto
Brian Savignano
Matthew Sexton
Luke Shover
Ron Theriault
completed projects (fall semester)
Dave Blank
Kerriann DiLeo
Rene Dolabaille
Ben Jenness
Hedwiga Kulig
Joseph Lambert
StreetShow
project duration : two semesters
Since I was young I have been fascinated by street performers and the zeitgeist of modern urban life. The music being played in the streets is pure and raw. It makes no apologies and edits nothing out. The performers are characters from all over the world, from all walks of life. Six years ago, as a freshman at Montserrat, I shot some of my first images of street performers in Cambridge, Massachusetts. I designed the images into a small mock-up of ideas that would later become the first footprints along the path to StreetShow. StreetShow is more than just the performers who play guitar through the static of an old amp or the rhythm of drumsticks going clack, clack on plastic buckets. StreetShow is the energy of the city. It is the musicians, the spectators, the protesters, the signage, the homeless, the honking cars and the blaring sirens. Then in the middle of it all you can sit on the bricks outside the Harvard Coop and hear some of the most honest sounds ever broadcast. The pure rhythm of the streets.
My proposed project for Senior Seminar Fall/Spring 04-05 will be a multi-media piece that brings together my strengths as a designer, my photography and my passion for the subject matter.
The project will consist of a variety of elements :
Book of original design and photography -- The book will serve as a documentary journal of the process and include photography, writing and editorials about my experience in the field.
8mm film of performances -- Along with still photographs, I will be shooting 8mm film of the performers and other moments of street life.
Audio of performances and interviews -- Audio recordings of performances and interviews with performers and spectators will serve as a powerful element in the final piece. They will be played and edited into the 8mm film.
Still photography -- As part of the final presentation, I will design and enlarge a series of still photographs (24 x 36) that will be mounted in the gallery space.
Each element of the project will be designed to complement one another and work together as one consistent piece.
I have already shot photos and video, and acquired my own street performers licence as part of the research. I have arranged my schedule to allow two full days per week to be in the city working on the project. After six years of ideas and contemplation, I am very excited to have the opportunity to invest two semesters of hard work into StreetShow.
date : 12 May 04