Comments for CitySpinning http://cityspinning.org temporary architecture Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:13:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 Comment on “Voice” under the old Yamuna bridge by prayas http://cityspinning.org/2008/07/14/voice-under-the-old-yamuna-bridge/#comment-8564 prayas Wed, 06 Aug 2008 04:09:38 +0000 http://cityspinning.org/2008/07/14/voice-under-the-old-yamuna-bridge/#comment-8564 Hi Nick! It was quite a conversation starter but only in the dense residential areas (slums) and the marketplaces that I walked through... At the parliament not really. What got people curious is what they saw as the novelty of the jacket and its functional benefit to them, many wanted to make one like that. The statement and its positioning at each place led to a few fights and arguments too: at the flyover, in Okla, in McDonald's. I am making the lightbox more integrated with the jacket now, so i looks more like a part of the jacket... wonder what effect it will have on its visibility? Thanks for dropping by! Hi Nick! It was quite a conversation starter but only in the dense residential areas (slums) and the marketplaces that I walked through… At the parliament not really. What got people curious is what they saw as the novelty of the jacket and its functional benefit to them, many wanted to make one like that. The statement and its positioning at each place led to a few fights and arguments too: at the flyover, in Okla, in McDonald’s.

I am making the lightbox more integrated with the jacket now, so i looks more like a part of the jacket… wonder what effect it will have on its visibility?

Thanks for dropping by!

]]> Comment on “Voice” under the old Yamuna bridge by Nick Tobier http://cityspinning.org/2008/07/14/voice-under-the-old-yamuna-bridge/#comment-8414 Nick Tobier Tue, 05 Aug 2008 02:34:58 +0000 http://cityspinning.org/2008/07/14/voice-under-the-old-yamuna-bridge/#comment-8414 You also offer a service--a beacon, a night light, an oasis of light in darkness. This project makes me think not only of seeing a light on at the end of a dark road, but the navigational potential of other bright objects (like stars) that at first seem distant and indistinct, and then become clearer and more intense. Much like seeing this backpack from far away as a beacon. Are people hesitant about approaching you with this on your back, or do you find it has been a conversation starter? You also offer a service–a beacon, a night light, an oasis of light in darkness. This project makes me think not only of seeing a light on at the end of a dark road, but the navigational potential of other bright objects (like stars) that at first seem distant and indistinct, and then become clearer and more intense. Much like seeing this backpack from far away as a beacon.
Are people hesitant about approaching you with this on your back, or do you find it has been a conversation starter?

]]> Comment on A tulsi (basil) plant at every tea stall by Layne http://cityspinning.org/2008/02/09/a-tulsi-basil-plant-at-each-tea-stall/#comment-7722 Layne Thu, 31 Jul 2008 03:48:57 +0000 http://cityspinning.org/2008/02/09/a-tulsi-basil-plant-at-each-tea-stall/#comment-7722 Hello! I am a gardener and am trying to grow Tulsi seedlings for one of my clients. He's from India and just recently came back from the Himalayas with a ziplock bag full of seeds (some even still on the stick). He told me they were from a very special plant and trusted me to get them to grow. I've had no luck as of yet, and I've tried everything I've learned thus far. Do you have any suggestions being at that location? Is there a certian type of soil? Should I try and imitate a certian kind of environment? Any suggestion would be much appreciated! Thank you and keep up the good work my brother! Hello! I am a gardener and am trying to grow Tulsi seedlings for one of my clients. He’s from India and just recently came back from the Himalayas with a ziplock bag full of seeds (some even still on the stick). He told me they were from a very special plant and trusted me to get them to grow. I’ve had no luck as of yet, and I’ve tried everything I’ve learned thus far. Do you have any suggestions being at that location? Is there a certian type of soil? Should I try and imitate a certian kind of environment? Any suggestion would be much appreciated!
Thank you and keep up the good work my brother!

]]> Comment on Before I visit Vidarbha: a sound installation by prayas http://cityspinning.org/2008/06/28/before-i-visit-vidarbha-a-sound-installation/#comment-4144 prayas Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:49:07 +0000 http://cityspinning.org/2008/06/28/before-i-visit-vidarbha-a-sound-installation/#comment-4144 Thanks for the comments and suggestions Zack. I agree about your comments about the elements I used, also your "leads" about ways I could develop these further are valuable. Am trying to understand sound more and the way people could interact with it... ideally the sketch should have interpretive details and aesthetic impact at the same time. The physical installation should allow viewers to delve into both. Sophea Lerner (a sound artist from Australia) who visited Khoj on the open day also critiqued me on using these elements. She also gave some good feedback on the way the speakers could have been installed. The way I installed it was producing a lot of reverb. I am working further on this. I would actually aim to install it again at CEMA/srishti this semester once it is refined further... Thanks for the comments and suggestions Zack. I agree about your comments about the elements I used, also your “leads” about ways I could develop these further are valuable. Am trying to understand sound more and the way people could interact with it… ideally the sketch should have interpretive details and aesthetic impact at the same time. The physical installation should allow viewers to delve into both.

Sophea Lerner (a sound artist from Australia) who visited Khoj on the open day also critiqued me on using these elements. She also gave some good feedback on the way the speakers could have been installed. The way I installed it was producing a lot of reverb.

I am working further on this. I would actually aim to install it again at CEMA/srishti this semester once it is refined further…

]]> Comment on Before I visit Vidarbha: a sound installation by Zack http://cityspinning.org/2008/06/28/before-i-visit-vidarbha-a-sound-installation/#comment-4053 Zack Sun, 29 Jun 2008 19:08:07 +0000 http://cityspinning.org/2008/06/28/before-i-visit-vidarbha-a-sound-installation/#comment-4053 Prayas - Cool sketch wish I could have seen the installation. Although there is a lot of theoretical rigor and this sketch has allowed you to gain some technical expertise I am wondering about the experience of the viewer/user. I downloaded the app. and my experience was one of being caught in the empty cold cybernetic void of the electronic media. I am no closer to empathizing with the farmers or understanding the root causes of their suicides. Does repeating the inability of the english-language electronic media really increase our understanding or make us more cricitcal about the media? Is this project the answer to a different question than the one you have asked? While this instrument 'displays' a datascape of the farmers suicides portrayal in the media, I am wondering if it really "interprets" these events. That would require a point of view and an editorial tone, which you would take, or co-create with you users (if the piece is interactive and activley co-authored). In actuality, the experience of using the mouse on a wobbly surface strikes me as being one of the most elegant parts of the installation. The challenge or frustration of navigating the datascape creates some parallel with the struggle you are sonifying. The soundscape itself uses the usual pedestrian elements of interactive audio: sine waves, slowed down voices, and text-to-speech synthesizers. However, all of the elements of this project have great potential, and it is an excellent sketch. I look forward to seeing if you pare down this baroque installation to something more direct, or if you spend more time massaging the elements into something both beautiful and haunting. However, you are off to great start. Prayas - Cool sketch wish I could have seen the installation. Although there is a lot of theoretical rigor and this sketch has allowed you to gain some technical expertise I am wondering about the experience of the viewer/user. I downloaded the app. and my experience was one of being caught in the empty cold cybernetic void of the electronic media. I am no closer to empathizing with the farmers or understanding the root causes of their suicides. Does repeating the inability of the english-language electronic media really increase our understanding or make us more cricitcal about the media? Is this project the answer to a different question than the one you have asked?

While this instrument ‘displays’ a datascape of the farmers suicides portrayal in the media, I am wondering if it really “interprets” these events. That would require a point of view and an editorial tone, which you would take, or co-create with you users (if the piece is interactive and activley co-authored).

In actuality, the experience of using the mouse on a wobbly surface strikes me as being one of the most elegant parts of the installation. The challenge or frustration of navigating the datascape creates some parallel with the struggle you are sonifying.

The soundscape itself uses the usual pedestrian elements of interactive audio: sine waves, slowed down voices, and text-to-speech synthesizers. However, all of the elements of this project have great potential, and it is an excellent sketch. I look forward to seeing if you pare down this baroque installation to something more direct, or if you spend more time massaging the elements into something both beautiful and haunting.

However, you are off to great start.

]]> Comment on “Voice”: a jacket to say what you want. Anywhere. Anytime. by sweta http://cityspinning.org/2008/06/09/voice-a-jacket-to-say-what-you-want-anywhere-anytime/#comment-3964 sweta Sat, 28 Jun 2008 12:42:06 +0000 http://cityspinning.org/2008/06/09/voice-a-jacket-to-say-what-you-want-anywhere-anytime/#comment-3964 hey guys it looks like an excellent idea. I would want to know more. but i dont know who to get in touch with...will anybody just let me know who's brainchild it is after all and how could i get more info on this hey guys it looks like an excellent idea. I would want to know more. but i dont know who to get in touch with…will anybody just let me know who’s brainchild it is after all and how could i get more info on this

]]> Comment on Making the bottle farm for public spaces by Zack Denfeld http://cityspinning.org/2008/04/12/making-the-matka-farm-for-public-spaces/#comment-2935 Zack Denfeld Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:20:51 +0000 http://cityspinning.org/2008/04/12/making-the-matka-farm-for-public-spaces/#comment-2935 Other self watering plant systems: http://www.instructables.com/id/Self-Watering-Plant-Container-out-of-a-2-liter-bot/ Other self watering plant systems: http://www.instructables.com/id/Self-Watering-Plant-Container-out-of-a-2-liter-bot/

]]> Comment on “Voice” @ the Parliament + Rashtrapati Bhavan by Zack Denfeld http://cityspinning.org/2008/06/13/voice-the-parliament-rashtrapati-bhavan/#comment-2908 Zack Denfeld Mon, 16 Jun 2008 03:29:57 +0000 http://cityspinning.org/2008/06/13/voice-the-parliament-rashtrapati-bhavan/#comment-2908 How could they not let you in? I thought it was your place? To be honest I am amazed you made it as far as you did.: http://www.boingboing.net/2007/09/21/mit-student-arrested.html How could they not let you in? I thought it was your place? To be honest I am amazed you made it as far as you did.: http://www.boingboing.net/2007/09/21/mit-student-arrested.html

]]> Comment on “Voice”: a jacket to say what you want. Anywhere. Anytime. by prayas http://cityspinning.org/2008/06/09/voice-a-jacket-to-say-what-you-want-anywhere-anytime/#comment-2736 prayas Fri, 13 Jun 2008 09:33:29 +0000 http://cityspinning.org/2008/06/09/voice-a-jacket-to-say-what-you-want-anywhere-anytime/#comment-2736 Walking around Delhi, many ppl were interested in having the jacket, right now I think I will distribute this thru workshops... make your own jacket across a few days or something. I was thinking more in the direction of people making their own jackets to have their own messages, but submitting messages to me sounds like a great idea too! will think more around that... Walking around Delhi, many ppl were interested in having the jacket, right now I think I will distribute this thru workshops… make your own jacket across a few days or something. I was thinking more in the direction of people making their own jackets to have their own messages, but submitting messages to me sounds like a great idea too! will think more around that…

]]> Comment on “Voice”: a jacket to say what you want. Anywhere. Anytime. by Zack http://cityspinning.org/2008/06/09/voice-a-jacket-to-say-what-you-want-anywhere-anytime/#comment-2659 Zack Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:28:35 +0000 http://cityspinning.org/2008/06/09/voice-a-jacket-to-say-what-you-want-anywhere-anytime/#comment-2659 Great project Prayas. How are you generating statements to be worn? How will distribute the technology? Is there a way that people can submit statements to you that they want displayed? Very cool. Great project Prayas. How are you generating statements to be worn? How will distribute the technology? Is there a way that people can submit statements to you that they want displayed? Very cool.

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