2006-12-19

 

Project Thoughts (Ongoing additions)

Here are a few thoughts on the cart project. Good, bad or just down right silly, I plan on keeping all of them in this post and continually adding them at the end. As always comments are welcome!


A see-saw: the patron sits on one end pushing the bartender up high enough to grab a glass or bottle of something.

A commentary on McDonald's "over 60 billion served" - have a display that tallies up each drink that has been served from the cart.

At all times there is the ability to serve a margarita or some other "exotic" drink.

A vending machine.

A corridor is constructed so that one or two patrons can enter. There are two walls and possibly a ceiling above. Within the walls are small holes from which to pass the patrons hand. The patron can either push a button or speak through another opening approximately head height and order a drink.

All tops, caps, corks, etc are removed and collected in a central container and kept stored for the lifespan of the cart.

Purchase a hot-wire glass cutter. When someone is done with a bottle of beer or a bottle of wine, a server cuts the bottle creating a glass. The glass can either be given to the patron or stored within the cart for future use. Note: the top of the bottle will need to be sanded.

The waste from the cart is inserted and stored somewhere on the cart, ie, bottles, etc.

All glass material once used is crushed into small pieces and inserted somewhere.

Tether food and drinks to the cart - a possible length determiner would be the distance to the "gallery opening" preventing anyone from taking food and drinks into the gallery.

Turn style

Commentary on craft - shaker to laser cutting technology.

2006-12-15

 

Meeting with Allison

Friday December 15, 2006
Meeting with Allison Mitchell, Event Coordinator of Chartwells Catering

Allison and I met at 11am. Since Allison coordinates all of the Chartwell catered events on campus, I wanted to pick her brain regarding the specifics of these events. What types of food and drinks are served and for what types of events as well as what preparation is done for the events.

Allison said that Chartwell has a list of "potential items needed" for all sorts of event types. Before planning an event, the appropriate list is reviewed and each item that is needed is checked so it can be gathered and will be present for the event. She said that she will email me the event item lists on Monday.

Allison said one of the biggest challenges when planning an event is getting tables and other required serving platforms because they usually have to obtain these items from various parts of the campus. Sometimes these items are not returned promptly or are "missing" from their usual locations. She said the assurance of always having a "ready-made" service area would make their life easier.

Allison said that Kim, the Banquet manager and Marie, the Banquet Captain could also be an invaluable resource for information.

2006-12-14

 

review notes

Below is a list of comments made during my review. I'll add the past two days of reviews have been some of the most amazing critical experiences to date I have been a part of. The discussion and critical feedback offered to everyone was not only insightful but honest. I'll also ,the work commanded such a response. It is by far some of the most exciting and compelling work I've witnessed in my year and a half at Cranbrook.

Wednesday December 13, 2006

My review notes from end of the semester reviews.

With regard to obsolete spaces for specific object, Brookes gave an example of houses designed in the 50's or 60's (?) that had built in cabinets for a specific TV. She said that in some cases when the family bought a new TV or the current one broke, the cavity became useless.

The tool belt is an example of an object that has places for specific tools but any brand or many different variations of that tool can still fit.

Bill mentioned that one thing that is constant with the piece is the potential that it is never used without people. He went on to say that it is the "opposite of compartmentalizing people".

The cart can be a "time bomb" that goes off from time to time. Social nature.

Social device

Spectacle. " An elephant walking into the room."

The cart can "alter the life of the party" in some way.

What is it going to offer to the atmosphere?

Creating a ritual of adding something to the party.

Could it be invisible until the act of opening it up; then once open become invisible?

When people interact with it, the event becomes special.

Accentuating the preconceived notions of serving.

Removing all familiarity and replacing it with something new.

Fixed program.

"here's the bar, now it's gone."

Doug mentioned a wall of speakers that Tom Sachs constructed. He said it was enormous with almost 20 speakers in various sizes. He said on the side of the piece, hanging autonomously, was a fire axe. This potentially can change the entire narrative of the project, the introduction of an independent object or device (humor?, uneasiness?, release?). There could be something like this on the cart, an object that transforms the immediate perception of the object.

Respond to my previous work.

2006-12-11

 

review artist statement

For the end of semester reviews, we were asked to compose an "artist statement". I use quotes because it did not have to be a specific statement about our work but could also be a statement about our project, projections, findings in the work, goals, etc. The statements were printed and given to the two "crit leads" and Bill. The crit leads were to facilitate discussion, ask questions, etc. Marty and Leon lead my review. Below is my statement.

Organizing my work space before starting a project allows me to cleanse my thoughts. If my physical space is a mess, my thoughts will reflect that state. Not only does this literally provide me with a clean slate, it also ensures that when I need a specific tool everything is where it should be. This communion of tools and space enables me to work without pause.

The objects I have most recently created grew out of this tendency, this need for an organized environment.

I have created a series of small wooden boxes; each a custom-made home for an individual tool. Beyond functionality, these vessels lend respect to the objects they house. Their design and creation furthers my exploration of process, craft, joinery, storage and ritual.

Recently I was given the opportunity to design and build a functional, mobile artifice for the Cranbrook Museum. The hope is to explore the poetics of organization and the ritual of use. When complete, it will provide an efficient service platform from which to serve food and drinks during museum exhibitions and social functions.

Over the last few weeks, I have sought funding for my project and just recently secured a generous donation. I have also been collaborating with the director of the museum to identify the locations of the piece and various ways in which it will function. I have also been collecting insight from various Cranbrook administrators about other potential uses for the piece. Additionally, I am consulting with catering and event planning experts to learn more about what specific service pieces and other objects the cart will need to house.

2006-12-08

 

Meeting with Bob

December 8, 2006
Meeting with Bob Yares, Event Coordinator of Cranbrook Academy of Art

Bob and I met at 3pm in my studio. I wanted to talk to Bob about the functions that happen on the Cranbrook campus, specifically ones that will utilize the cart.

Bob suggested that there should be an insulated area in the cart to provide a space to put both (but obviously not at the same time) hot and cold food for serving. Hot food might be hot plates or appetizers heated up in another location and then put into the insulation cavity to stay warm. The cavity could also hold ice or other items that need to stay cold.

Bob said that Board meetings might utilize the cart for before or after drinks.

Bob mentioned that there are many business meetings that are held in the DeSalle auditorium during the summer months. He said that the cart could be used on the landing to the right of the auditorium. There also might be brunch served in the Forum Gallery for other events. He said that there might be occasions where coffee or tea is served after a lecture or symposium. There are also small receptions or committee meetings held that might utilize the cart. (*verify what meetings and how many people)

Bob suggested that wine might be poured and served from decanters during events. This way the cart can permanently hold several specific sized decanters.

Bob said that there is a Governors meeting in DeSalle auditorium either every month or four times a year. Coffee and tea are on hand but mainly water is served. There might be 30-40 people at these meetings. (*verify)

Bob said that the majority of food that is served at these events are orduerves such as cheese or fruit platters. Tongs or toothpicks could be used by patrons to serve themselves.

There are about 800-900 people who attend the second year Degree Show opening. Fanfare usually has between 200 and 250 people.

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?

Subscribe to Posts [Atom]