MADAGASCAR INSTITUTE FEED

this just took me FOREVER to figure out a problem with my coding.

3 HOUR TOUR

CEMETARY TOUR (MAIN CLIP)

CLIP_22 from FRANCIS WATTS on Vimeo.

MASSACHUSETTES

MY UTOPIAN COMPOUND

I am starting a Utopian Compound in LA.  I will be arriving late-June/early-July to begin researching locations, finding like minded individuals interested in being a part of this, and investigating funding – here is an initial description of what it is, though nothing is written in stone.  The intention is to make this an "our idea" and not a "my idea."  but contact me if you are interested.

UTOPIAN COMPOUND

This is an idea for taking an empty shell and turning it into something wonderful – the rebirth of the Charlie brown Christmas tree, if you will.  Fill the space with creativity, genius, and passion.

THE UTOPIA

There are 2 sides to the idea of “utopia” as it is used here.  The first being a very traditional aspiration, and that is to create something NEW - something BETTER – a better way to LIVE.

The other side is darker – its one of maximization.  The optimization of pleasure, virtue, whatever the ideals of the utopia are.  In this case it is the optimization of IDEAS, a factory that produces things. but its not really dark, necessarily – but take from it the idea where that there is continually SOMETHING going on, whether its people making things, people learning things, people get shit faced drunk – people are doing SOMETHING.

THE PHILOSOHPY

To live life simply, cheaply, but VERY WELL.  To have very little in life that is not made by our own hands, and cannot be fixed by our own hands.

There is a certain ann rand philosophy percolating here.  Just out of frustration I have the desire to disconnect from society.  Those that have come before us have really fucked shit up, and I really see no reason to be listening to them, or doing anything that they say. 

I am not so much an anarchist.  The logic goes, if I need something, I can work for someone, and “earn” the money to buy it.  Taxes are taken out, some of which goes to good things, but MOST of it goes to CRAP.  Social security is the biggest fucking ponzie scheme EVER, and puts Madoff to shame.  I am never going to see a dime of that money – so why contribute?  Seriously, why contribute?

If I can make the thing myself, fix the thing myself, grow the thing myself, I don’t have to let any money go where I don’t want it to.

Green building, and none of this pussy “green” bullshit I see on tv.  I’m talking about REAL green, having to scavenger for building materials that others have deemed worthless, and dumped – also buying recycled products too.  And not ALL green necessarily.  Lets put some good fucking soundproofing in those walls. Ability for privacy is important.

THE ELEMENTS

The idea is to find an empty space – a BIG empty space and fill it up.  Fill it up with people/ideas/energy.  While the following may seem like a very specific roadmap, nothing is set in stone, and indeed it is very much the ideal, with the understanding that any physical form will be something less than imagined.

LIVING SPACE

Nothing too dramatic hear – thought the goal is to create a very efficient fun space that allows for extreme privacy and extreme socialization.  Versatility is important, and a great kitchen too.  Kitchens are the most important spaces in the home.

STUDIO SPACE

Ideally, all residents maintain and use a studio space, but outside artists will have space as well, coming and going as they please.

THE SHOP

Contains the tools for both working in wood and metal – and whatever other equipment is needed for any other method of production.  A kiln would be great, perhaps a darkroom, a cnc machine (we could build one ourselves) would absolutely rock.  Silk screening equipment – sewing equipment –whatever.

OUTDOOR SPACE

Of course there has to be a grill, and some sort of place to enjoy the outdoors.

GARDEN

Mostly for residents, but it could be for others as well.  But nothing fancy here – though it would be great if this were on the roof – and some sort of grassy area for lounging, maybe even a tree or two?  And there would also be the compost heap.

GALLERY/LECTURE/PARTY SPACE

A space where a lecture series can occur – where artwork can be exhibited, parties with bands can be held (maybe 2 different spaces – one large, and one small)

But as for the gallery, it would show works by people in the studio, a portion of the proceeds from any sale would be distributed in some fair manner across artists.  (Providing the incentive to promote “the group”)

LECTURE SERIES

A series not meant to “show work” but to teach, and EDUCATIONAL lecture series by both people inside and outside the compound.

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

An artist is invited from another country to come and live/work for free in a studio, with the idea that at the end of their time, there is a gallery show of the work produced.

PEOPLE

So the result is different groups of people – the live/work people, and the work people.  Oh and then there are the party people.  The number of people this involved is undetermined and is probably subject to how large a space is found.  But 4-5 people living, 4-5 additional working seems like the low end of the spectrum, with double that being the high end of the spectrum – but I don’t want to limit more or less as a possibility.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Depending upon the community perhaps, there is an opportunity to help out the neighbors.  A summer art class for local school children for example?  Perhaps part of the “garden” becomes a community garden.  But the idea is to be friends with the community, not try and change, and in fact, resist any hints at gentrification.

LOCATION

Somewhere where land/rent is cheap, but not far away – industrial areas seem like likely targets.

PURCHASE vs RENT

Ideally, it would be great to be able to purchase the land.  Ultimately, the “compound” would be run somewhat as a business, to allow the investors essentially to not have to work.  Hopefully the investors would be the residents.  This is the most underdeveloped aspect of the idea.  But why put a lot of energy into something you don’t own – money is tight these days, but where is my tarp money?  But yes, maybe buying is unrealistic (I have a little money, but not much), but it’s still the goal.

AGAIN WITH THE POINT

The point is to live really well, instead of going out, get everyone to come to us.  Fill the space with genius and creativity.  CRITICAL MASS.

NOTES ON PRESENTATIONS

If I was ever in doubt about the validity of the course of this project, my experiences as a juror earlier this week has erased all.

I wanted to gouge my eyes out I was so frustrated. I was frustrated by the LONG MEANDERING presentations, and drawings that don’t SAY anything.

The first person up droned on and on for seriously 15 minutes. I could not believe the professor did not try and rap things up. I was further infuriated by the discourse afterwards. The program was a restaurant based on ideas of PATTERN, and the first jury member to get up and talk started questioning whether the wine rack could “fit” where it was indicated on plan. I actually yelled at this woman a little saying I hope she really wasn’t going to waste everyone’s time talking about whether the wine rack was resolved.

Point of the story –be careful. You don’t want to be talking about the bathrooms or anything (you want them in there – the building, but don’t talk about them – that is unless…)

To this girl’s credit, it seemed that she had thought a lot of things out/through, but she went on to describe everything. The jury doesn’t have time to respond to everything, only a few things. YOU CHOOSE those few things.

But one of the important things about spending A LOT of time on producing clear presentations is that it allows the jury to be EFFICIENT with their time. If there is confusion through lack of clear presentation resulting in the jury talking about other things (a la – the wine rack.) this is inefficient and unhelpful. A clear presentation helps the jury HELP YOU.

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Additional comments to think about outside the context of this story to think about.

MAKE IT INTERESTING: in a make believe world, the jury pays full and equal attention to everyone. But this is the REAL WORLD. So make it interesting. This is simply done (in theory) by establishing a meaningful relationship between you/your project and “the audience.”

SPEAK SIMPLY AND CLEARLY: don’t be the cliché architect (or student) who tries to use complex words (or even made up words) to try and sound smart. Besides the JURY will include NON-ARCHITECTS. And this is an important point by the way – there will be NON-ARCHITECTS on the jury. They will be from related fields, but they will NON-ARCHITECTS (at least in the traditional sense). ALSO – this is a presentation you family should be able to understand.

FRAME: remember your presentation is the “frame” talk about things you want to talk about, and don’t talk about things you don’t.

PRACTICE PRACTIC PRACTICE: seriously, this is something that you need to practice a good bit for (or be verbally quick on your feet). But pair up in your practices so that you are not advancing the slides yourself. This is IMPORTANT when you practice, DO NOT be advancing the images yourself. If you do practice presenting by manually advancing your images as you practice, it will be a complete disaster in the real presentation and you are not the one advancing. Practice in front of your friends/family regardless of what they “do” their voice matters, just as yours.


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Watch other pecha kucha’s
Watch the video (and others) on how to give good presentations.

Be checking back in the blogs for more info from me. This is just one of multiple to come out of the pipe today (later).

Also, look through all blogs for comments I have made – there is A LOT of useful information embedded in the blogs. Spend some time sifting.