Mapping Charlotte ARTA 3000-002

Levine Museum March 6, 2010

2010-03-18T09:11:00.000-07:00

Layered Perspectives - exhibition photos

2009-12-02T09:59:00.000-08:00

Photos of "Layered Perspectives", our video installation at UNCC's Rowe Gallery (lower level). The exhibition will be open until December 10, weekdays from 10 am to 4 pm.

some creepy adventures in noda mill

2009-10-29T11:35:00.000-07:00

Photos for Parallel Video Shoot

2009-10-26T16:39:00.000-07:00

These are a few sites of interest spanning from 1883 to 1924 and are all located in uptown Charlotte. I am working on narrowing down my photos to just three or four sites and will re-shoot these shots with there present backgrounds.
I visited uptown today and noticed only one building that was still standing, and that was the Ivey Co. which was located at tryon and 5th st. My goal is to shoot each location, starting with the first for a few seconds, then walk to the next location, still filming, and shoot the second, and so on and so on till i link all the photos together. In between shots, i will speed up the film and then slow it down when the frame matches one of the photos.
For a few of the photos with people, I will need a few volunteers to help as "stand ins". I plan to film the location by 'panning' and when i get to the exact frame of the photo i will pause for a moment, thereby matching the peoples place/posture as in the photo, then continue to pan the camera.
I'm hoping to set up times to shoot soon.

City Exploration Game - Map

2009-10-25T17:39:00.000-07:00

This map shows all the locations we visited and explored during the city exploration game. Each color marks a different person

Our Change

2009-10-23T22:09:00.000-07:00

Our lands have been paved with a vast history. Forgotten Earth buries our cities memories below caps of stone and dirt. Our history is not forgotten as our neighbors remind us that we are rich in the history of gold. We have risen from farmlands to one of America’s largest financial empires. The past has created our foundation and woven the soil below this great city.

Mapping Adventure/ project images

2009-10-22T22:31:00.001-07:00

unedited images from the mapping adventure and snug harbor

2009-10-22T19:42:00.000-07:00

varies pictures of plaza midwood area....

historical properties

2009-10-22T15:56:00.001-07:00

http://www.cmhpf.org/surveydesignationlist.htm

This website is amazing. It gives a long list of historical properties in and around charlotte. It includes the address, current owner and their information, and usually pictures.

Elmwood photos

2009-10-17T21:40:00.000-07:00

here are just a few of the shots I took in the graveyard. I found a couple of soldiers, lots of reverends and other religious leaders, and a couple names I recognized from local areas such as Myers Park and Orr road.

parkwood

2009-10-16T13:28:00.000-07:00

parkwood: convienance store and church. church surrounded by barbed wire. lots of no trespassing signs. an old lady on her porch that didn't like me in her neighborhood or to take her picture. a roofless abandonded building. hand written signs. junk. boarded up windows and condemned houses. plaza midwood to come.....

Tour Pics from Monday

2009-10-12T16:23:00.000-07:00

video_documentary_1

2009-10-10T05:48:00.000-07:00

walking tour of charlotte

2009-10-10T05:25:00.000-07:00

The City tour 10/02/09

Wesley Lynch

mapping charlotte adventure

2009-10-09T05:12:00.001-07:00

I stayed in downtown the whole time. Some of the noises I heard were: hammering, buses, motorcycles, ducks, cars, whispering, and yelling.

The city streets are paved with gold

2009-10-08T23:07:00.000-07:00

Below the foundation of the city are gold mines vast and dormant. Our city has a rich history in gold and in 1799 began the first documented finding. From the conception at Reeds farm to the foundation of Trade and Tryon Street gold mines lay throughout our lands.

mapping game pics and responses - Ruhi Brelvi

2009-10-08T14:08:00.000-07:00

on the way back to the office.

At the plaza, I had to find water source.

When I found the park. It was really quiet. You didn't hear anything. and the mosaics were beautiful

I had to take a picture of the skyline of the tallest building I saw. I can also hear the water fountain and it drowns out all the traffic and gives a sense of peace.

I had to take a picture with something green in it. and the jumble of voices and the train sounds. and its stank REALLY bad.

same as the last one but I liked the tree

after I found a number with two 5's in it.

after i followed someone in high heels

after I walked 4 blocks for the letters in my name.

after I walked 50 steps. when I was taking the picture I heard this popping sound. It turned out to be the flag hitting the pole.

Students' Fields of Interests

2009-10-06T20:56:00.000-07:00

Our fields of investigation (as of October 2^nd):

Jessica Alford:

- wants to explore the diversity of Charlotte: people, city and land

- this week: Jessica plans to go to the James K. Polk Museum and see what she can find out there

Elizabeth Arzani:

- will explore the Plaza Midwood neighborhood, and how it has changed over time

- this week: Elizabeth wants to find out more about Good/Bad street, define this definition and research how it became Good/Bad street

Austin Ballard:

- is interested in changes in the city, how the old is replaced for the new and how the city is disposing of its old buildings, infrastructures and people

- this week: Austin will direct a video shoot with 3 other students where 4 cameras will be set up at the 4 corners of an intersection

Timothy Boettcher:

- is interested in the cultural history and people of the area, and finding some of Charlotte’s history that has been overshadowed by the dominance of the banking industry

- this week: ?

Ruhi Brelvi:

- wants to find out more about the Muslim community in Charlotte and their position within Charlotte’s larger community

- this week: Ruhi will start a statistics list about the Muslim population in Charlotte and start interviewing people among the Muslim community

Suje Garcia:

- wants to explore and research the Gold Rush era in and around Charlotte

- this week: Suje plans to find out about the locations of the Gold Mines in the area and make first contacts with specialists

Maya Haslett:

- wants to focus on the people who shaped Charlotte to become what it is today

- this week: Maya wants to take photos of gravestones and start researching their names to see if she can find out something about these people

Wesley Lynch:

- wants to document different social areas of Charlotte and relate his findings to society at large

- plans to document our class project from beginning to end

- this week: Wesley plans to come up with a list of social places / venues and might start documenting in some of them (video?)

Amanda Markham:

- plans to map the subcultures in Charlotte, based on the most distinct neighborhoods (University City, NoDa, Plaza Midwood, Uptown, South Side). She hopes to discover the relationship between these subcultures and find out what that means for Charlotte as a whole.

- this week: Amanda wants to take photographs and interview people in one of these neighborhoods

Hannah McBride:

- wants to explore how her life was influenced by events that happened as she was growing up in Charlotte

- this week: Hannah wants to try and find materials that documented her childhood (photos etc.)

Karen Pierce:

- wants to explore how urbanization has changed the land around Charlotte through new development, as well as how abandoned infrastructures are reclaimed by nature

- this week: Karen will find people living on farms outside the city that she might be able to interview, and possibly start interviewing some of them (contacts: Maya and Hannah)

charlotte exploration game

2009-10-06T19:38:00.000-07:00

so I took a lot of photos! so I tried to minimize it by about 50% and it's still a lot, but oh well. I didn't take a bunch with people because i started to veer away from the city and on street where there weren't any people. All my pictures are in reverse so you might want to start at the bottom for it to make sense when i talk about it.

The rest of these are when i walked 5 minutes until I found something interesting and some from the walk back to mccoll.

Here I had to turn 90 degrees and walk for 5 min. I found some interesting natural areas, along with neighborhoods.

these were down the street where I had to find the quiet, so i just kept walking away from the city. still noisy but no people and not as hectic.

These were right out front bank of america:

These were first where I followed a man in a business suit into the bank of America building:

mapping game photos

2009-10-06T16:25:00.000-07:00

Documenting a Phone Call

2009-10-06T14:45:00.000-07:00

Exploration Game Observations

2009-10-05T20:47:00.001-07:00

I was to find a park. I found a sitting area on the corner of N. Church and W. Trade. This man posed and asked me to take his picture.

I followed these women and they were so busy gossiping with eachother they had no idea i was following them or photographing them.

This is the wire along to the side of the building that i want to go take too.

These are the weeds growing in the cracks of the cement around the building.

This is the abandoned paper company building with windows shattered/busted out looking like a pattern with no rhymn or reason.

I was to find something natural. I found this old abandaned paper company building. Vines and greenery have overtaken the fenses and weave in and around forming what looks like a cave. The corner of W. Trade and N. Popular.

across the street from previous picture.

I was to follow the wind for three minutes and ended up on s. mint and martin luther king jr blvd. I have been here severel years earlier and stood on the staircase that is now locked up.

I was supposed to count eleven doors and enter the eleventh door. i counted eight and ran into a road/sidewalk block.

the doors i want to go take.

more of third st. and s. church st.

This i found after finding someone shorter than me and going the opposite direction for three minutes. i really liked what i found.

These are the guys in buisness suits that i followed for five minutes and theyhad no idea i was following them.

This was the first assignment - to find the closest newspaper.

This was the first thing that caught my attention on the way to Trade and Tryon.

Hannah McBride- Charlotte Exploration Post

2009-10-05T13:50:00.000-07:00

2009-10-05T13:20:00.000-07:00

Summary First Meeting (full day workshop, Friday October 2, 2009):
- student introductions
- short writing exercise: describe your trip to the campus this morning: pay attention to details
- syllabus, class objectives
- presentation of participants' artworks and discussions about students' individual fields of inquiry: finding ways to get started on individual investiations
- McColl Center: exhibition and studio visit with Diane Hughes
- City Exploration Game with random instructions via cellphone
- discussion of game

Assignments for next meeting:
1. upload your observations (written notes) and photos taken during city exploration game to blog.
2. start your investigations in your individual fields of interests - as discussed in class. Upload your results on the blog (as possible) and bring results to next class for group discussion

Class Syllabus

2009-10-05T11:22:00.000-07:00

Topics in Art ARTA 3000-002, Mapping Charlotte (video/media Installation)

Instructor: Sonja Hinrichsen

Class meets at: Macy 107

Fall 2009, October 2 – November 19 Phone (studio): 704-332-5535 ext.57

Credit Hours: 2 Email (pref): sonja@s-hinrichsen.net

Class Schedule:

Friday October 2^nd: full day workshop 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

Friday October 9, 16, 23, 30: 10:00 am – 12:50 pm

November 9 – 19: production and installation period, several meetings will be scheduled

In addition students will be required to work independently on their projects outside the class meetings

Course Description: This class is an artist-student collaborative art/research project with the goal of creating an installation piece or series of pieces. We will be working with media such as video, sound and photography. The media/materials will be decided during the work process, and might in addition include more traditional materials, as they seem fit for the piece(s). Our work might also include intervention-/ performance-based events executed in situ at selected locations. The class will culminate in an exhibition at Rowe Gallery.

The project focuses on examining Charlotte in its present and past through exploring, mapping, and researching. We will address subject matters of Charlotte’s history, recent or historic events/people, city architecture, social/demographic structures and much more. Subject matters will be discussed in class and will be based on your as well as my interests and experiences. Exploring techniques can include video and photo mapping, recording sounds, journaling, sketching, interviewing…Students will be able to choose their preferred work methods while at the same time having opportunity to learn new approaches and techniques. Research can be conducted online, in libraries, photo archives, historical societies, local museums, or even through meetings with specialists like historians, architects, city planners etc. Decisions will be made in class as a group, through discussion. Students will then work collaboratively or individually on assigned fields of research and agreed examining/mapping/interviewing (etc) projects, in situ events as well as post-production (e.g. video, sound, photo)

Course Structure: regular group critiques will be held to discuss ideas, brainstorm on working methods and resources, and discuss the individual/group achievements in their progress. Open discussion and participation is expected of everyone. In addition students will offer presentations of acclaimed artists whose work is relevant to this class. Group trips to local research institutions /museums may be scheduled. Students are expected to work independently within the project, which includes conducting their own research and finding appropriate resources. Collaboration is strongly encouraged. Work outside the class meetings will be necessary to accomplish the class requirements. Prior skills in digital photography, video and video editing are of advantage, but not required. I will provide introductions in photo / video, image processing and video editing (such as Photoshop and Final Cut Pro). However, in addition, you will need to be inspired to experiment and learn on your own.

Materials/Equipment/Facilities

Video cameras, digital still cameras and sound recorders can be checked out from Atkins Library as well as other departments. You are welcome to use your own camera equipment if available.

Equipment such as video projectors will be available for the class meetings.

There will be a modest budget for additional materials. Materials might be unconventional and creativity might be necessary to determine how /where they can be acquired/found.

We will have access to computer Lab (Macy 106 A) for image processing, printing and video editing.

This course requires a great degree of autonomy in the use of technical equipment, materials and production. Be prepared to experiment.

Our final presentation will be an exhibition at Rowe Gallery. Students are required to participate in installation and de-installation of the show.

Documentation

Process documentation will be an essential part of this project, since some our work will likely be temporary and transient. This is especially true for intervention- and performance-based events. It is important to document your participation/activity within the project with photographs/video. In some cases documentation might be our only record of our activity, and will therefore be of major importance for the creation of our final installation. You are encouraged to take photos of your work, activity, contributions at all times during the project.

Artists you may want to look up:

Sophie Calle

Allen Ruppersberg

Janet Cardiff

Bill Viola

Gary Hill

Shirin Neshat

Isaac Julien

Harun Farocki

The Atlas Group

Johan Grimonprez

Allan Sekula

Tracey Moffatt

Joan Jonas

Willie Doherty

Kim Stringfellow

Christian Boltanski

Suggested Periodicals:

PARKETT

frieze magazine

Sculpture Magazine

Art Papers

flash art

Art in America

Art Forum

any other art magazines

Useful Research Institutions:

Levine Museum of the New South
http://www.museumofthenewsouth.org/

Charlotte Museum of History
http://www.charlottemuseum.org/

Charlotte Public Library and Library Archives http://www.plcmc.org/locations/maincarolinacollections.asp

The historic landmarks commission
www.cmhpf.org

Historic Charlotte, Inc.
www.historiccharlotte.org

Mecklenburg Historical Association
http://www.meckdec.org/

Charlotte Regional History Consortium
http://www.charlotteregionalhistory.org/

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Class Etiquette

· No personal sound systems, radios etc. are to be brought to or played during class.

· Please switch off all cell phones during class.

Disabilities

Every attempt will be made to accommodate all qualified students with disabilities. If you are a student with a documented disability, please see me as early in the semester as possible to discuss the necessary accommodations and /or contact the disability services office.

Safety

Students must take the initiative in their own safety, as well as the safety of others. Students need to clean up after themselves, remove their works after class and store their projects/materials so they are not in the way for others using the facilities.

CLASS POLICY GUIDELINES:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

The UNCC Code of Student Academic Integrity – Please read the University catalog for further information or go to www.legal.uncc.edu/policies/ps-105.html

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

Attendance during class hours is required. I expect you to come to class and to work to the best of your ability with a positive attitude. Beyond class hours you are expected to put in as many hours as it takes to fulfill your responsibilities within the project.

The following attendance schedule will be in effect for this class:

· Each student is allowed one excused absence during the semester.

· Additional absences because of illness must be accompanied by a doctor’s note.

· Lateness or leaving early from class: each time a student is more than 15 minutes late or leaves early, absence is recorded.

GRADING / EVALUATION

For this course there will be no grades, but only pass and fail. Your success will be determined by your overall participation in the project, your ability to fulfill project responsibilities assigned to you, your active and thoughtful participation in critique discussions, your in-class presentations, your ability and willingness in collaborative work, your technical achievements, your readiness for experimentation, your efforts in and outside the class meetings, your class attendance, and your positive attitude.