Michael and I looked at some Shipping Containers today. They come in 20 and 40 foot lengths. They are 8 feet wide and 8 feet tall. Doors on one end. We discussed the idea of getting 2 20 footers and configuring them with a patio (outdoor room between them. The bridge is windy and this kind of configuration would provide options for blocking the wind. The opening could be used for rear projection - so it might make sense to direct one opening outward.
The 20 footers are $80/mo. Delivery is $85/hr. service fee. There are tons of permissions and details that would have to be worked out. We also might want to not clutter the bridge with all of these structures.
This rougher unit is for sale instead of for rent. I think they’re asking $1,800.
Here is the little 10 footer.
These are very secure/ lockable, and water tight - no leaks. They could be hot and a bit cold when the temp changes, though they are not large so could possibly be heated up with a space heater. It might make sense to spend 2 mos. on the Bridge then move to another spot to finish the studio.
I heard from a few folks and went with submitting the proper info before the deadline. So we can proceed with determining the feasibility and appropriateness of doing the project on the Bridge. It is still open and the course can be changed as a result of impossible practical issues or a determination that it is not a good move. Please weigh in on your thoughts and concerns. In the proposal I left the project very open and right away spoke to the idea of process and the importance of longer experience with the situation. The statements can evolve as we move forward.
Here is the description of the work: “Civic studio is in session with a project that runs from late August to late December 2009. The studio’s projects emerge from extended engagement in particular situations and contexts. The process is public. During Artprize the studio will present our ongoing studio work to the public. Visitors are invited to keep in touch with the studio throughout the project to see continued results.”
Here is the current work statement: “Since 1999 Civic Studio has worked to develop methodologies and contexts for the creation and presentation of art in public. This work is based in a commitment to expand the relevance and utility of art to everyday life in both practical and imaginative ways.”
The next step is securing the venue. The deadline for that is August 15. Once an agreement is signed we’re on the line to do the project there. Until then it is open for discussion and consideration.
It is strange how studio work transpires. It operates between concept and material in ways that are full of strange possibilities. It is critical to engage ideas and to put them into actualities. Studio work is the most flexible (plastic) - it can be anything, it is also totally about specifics because that is what defines experience - those specifics are form (plastic too). It is our job to work the space between the conceptual and the actual. Energy and action are require all along that spectrum.
This process began with a vague focus on the River. It also involved an inquiry as to whether to engage artprize. When these came together the Gillette Bridge came into focus as a brash, public, potential space for the project. When I inquired about using it - I found out is was being otherwise organized. MOve on to other spaces.
Today I got a call to see if we might be interested in using Gillette bridge as our project site. This was from Artprize folks. This is not a done deal, but a possibility. The deadline to sign up as a project is tomorrow - Friday, July 31st at midnight. So that option is back on the table with lots of contingencies. It is highly visible and would put a different kind of pressure on the studio. I definitely would not do it if I thought there was pressure for us to do something not true to the project. I don’t think this would be the case, but it is difficult to tell the impact that context can have on the dynamic of cultural and creative work.
Some of what is unclear is:
What kind of structure could we get to inhabit the space with. (city, GV, codes, costs)
Could we stay there for longer than art prize. LIke the whole semester - or 2 months or so.
Would participation in ArtPrize be a requirement for us to do a project on Gillette Bridge during Artprize?
Would we need to predetermine what our project is? I’m pretty sure we would not- we could focus on the river or even focus on Artprize research. There would need to be some integrity to the structure of the project and the ideas we engage. (i.e. it makes sense to do the river as subject if we’re over the river - we could also trust the civic studio method of letting the project emerge from our experience with the situation - which might include responding to artprize).
Semi Trailers
We looked at some trailers that are available for rent or purchase today. These are larger than the office trailers, but don’t have heat, and are high up off the ground. A set of stairs or ramp would need to accompany this option which introduces possible trouble. The upside is all the space and wood walls and floor. Also - with some options it appears the outside walls might be an option for large 2d work. Like the office trailers with the large workshop doors, these trailers offer a potential rear projection setup with the big opening covered with a translucent projection surface.
Shipping Container
A big problem with either office or semi trailer is the issue of handicap accessibility and risk in introducing steps and levels into a public situation. One similar structure that does not have this problem is a shipping container. It arrives on a truck rig, but is then placed directly on the ground. The floor ends up being a simple 7 inches above grade. This is much safer and functional. If we got two of them we could configure them to create a space between them that could be functional outdoor space. The 2 structures frame the space, but also might be useful to attach elements to.
Michael and I looked at a couple of buildings and lots of possible sites over the last few days.
#1. One is a recently vacated Design studio in a former gas station. It is very nice space, big windows with projection possibilities and a nice size (gas station) lot. The area is between Heritage Hill and Heartside really in the medical office area. Not close to River or Center of Artprize activities. We could make a proposal to use the space.
#2
Ground floor of a renovated office building. This is 1/2 block from the center of town at fulton and division. Practically next door to the new UICA building under construction. The space is very nice and visible from the street.
This is in a great spot to focus on ArtPrize research and possibly do some programs related to it. This is prime space. If it rented or sold during the project we’d likely have to move - possibly into a less accessible space in the same building. Again this is something we’d need to do a proposal before getting an idea what is involved.
#3
I looked into things in the proximity of both the river and artprize and came up with the corner of Fulton and Market - kitty corner from the BOB - as the center of things. We could propose to use a corner of the parking lot at this spot. May be owned by Amway - or possibly the City.
I checked out some trailers today at a company friendly with GV. (not sure what kind of deal we might mangage). The trailer would enable us to have a meeting and equipment space with basic necessities. This too can be put virtually anywhere. This would minimize our “display-gallery” use of spaces, but also get us to make use of other spaces in the city. It also opens up the development of the use of outdoor space - which is public and visible. It should be warm most of the semester. It would be interesting to make use of outdoor space - kind of like camping. We can always try to find other gallery space for displaying any gallery-type products. Potential sites under consideration are: the lot south of fulton or possible spots near the city equipment shops off Market Avenue. Each would require multiple permissions and arrangements for utilities. These are not handicap accessible so that may be a holdup if the spaces were to be treated as publicly accessible space. Bathrooms are not included so we’d need to get access for that somewhere or get a portajohn. Portajohns are $70 mo.
The trailers are set up with 2 rooms; a meeting room, and a tool room. They can be reconfigured if need be. There is a regular door in the meeting room and a cool garage style door in the tool room. There is built-in gas heat and electrical hookup.
The trailer model in the pictures is 8 feet wide and 30 feet long. Meeting room is 16 feet; tool room 14. The pictures are deceiving - better to find a comparably sized space and look at it.
It turns out that one of the few sites with direct access to the river is GV property.
There is a rock bank along the river by the GV eberhaard center just north of Fulton. It looks like there is a (low water) path under the Fulton Bridge that leads to a plot of land just south of the River that feels quite natural. GV has a parking lot south of Fulton on the River. The parking lot extends under a wide span of 131. providing a large covered area. I happen to know that this was the site of an extensive archeological dig which was required before GV could develop the site. All along the river are important native american historical sites. This might be a possible spot for a project worksite using a trailer.
For many years this focus on the river as a studio site has been lingering. The river is a historical, natural, industrial, recreational, spatial, and poetic/symbolic form. When I’ve researched doing a studio on the river it seems that doing a studio on a bridge would be quite interesting. It is a bit brash and showy, but also a great visual and conceptual place from which to take in the river.
There is a pedestrian bridge right in the center of town that I just found out is called the Gillette Bridge. It is essentially “Lyon Street”. I runs between the old Civic Auditorium entrance to DeVos Hall and the Gerald R. Ford Museum.
Practical issues include what shelter we would have and use. Options include a camping trailer, an office trailer, a shipping container, or a semi trailer.
I was worried about bathroom facilities. Then I found that there are bathrooms right in the park by the Ford Museum. They are open 8-8pm every day.
The bridge is one of the designated sites for Art Prize. If we did the project on the bridge there might be a way to be a part of Art Prize.
With past work from civic studio on the structure of clubs and associations (see the Towne Club project from the Creston “rock shop” studio), it would be good to follow up with with at one specific hall. This one on Lane street has always caught my eye. It says Ladies only, which would work for almost all of our group.
One of the mythical sites in GR is Punk Island. It is an island just north of the RR bridge (north of Wealthy). It is accessible from the rr bridge with some climbing. It is called “punk Island” because it was a favorite hangout of the punks. George is particularly interested in the bridge and brings it up often as his ideal place to live. Thus the research on Houseboats on the Grand. Another former studio member - Otis from the WEalthy project- is on the punk island kick this summer. He thinks a ferry system is not out of the question.
I’m in the process of looking into this as a real site for the studio. It would be ideal to have workspace in the adjacent City property to the East. There is room for a remote work trailer. Space in one of the buildings would be preferable.
The whole property from Wealthy to Cherry - used to be the city wholesale food market.
Working on or next to Punk Island would also work with focussing on the River.
It might be good to develop a way in which the island could be a site for future temporary art projects.
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