DArlen Projects: February 2011

Monday 21st. February 2011, 8.00A.M-9.00A.M.

Nestled in the Diego Martin Valley, is the workshop of Edward O'brien. The welder that I will be collaborating with to build the Rehuman Seat.

Day 1 - We meet just for a few hours, threw up a rough mock up. To get our heads around the how and why.

The pictures below may explain further the process.

THE PLAN DRAWINGS.
For the Rehuman Seat 2010.

THE COMMISSION IS FOR TWO SEATS.
Which will give you this kind of body position.

THE JOURNAL.

JOURNAL DETAIL.

TOP VIEW, JOURNAL.
That's another project altogether, which will be installed somewhere in the future.

MOCK UP.
The black and yellow lids are the seats, the white medical box will be the table.

THE MOCK UP.
The lenght will have to worked out manually, to get the personal feel of the body.

Mr. Edward O'Brien.

THE SEAT, ONE.
What came up was the connections. Connecting one seat to the other seat, making them detachable, portable and being able to store comfortably.

How will we stabilize the seats, so they wont rock.

TOP VIEW.

MEASUREMENTS WILL HAVE TO BE PLACED IN MANUALLY.

THE WORKSHOP.
Getting it started is an interesting process of regarding, disregarding and disgarding.

A SOLUTION?
A cross bar can be used to stop the rocking

SIDE PROFILE, WITH CROSS BAR.

FRONT VIEW, WITH CROSS BAR.

CROSS BAR, DETAIL.

THE CONNECTION SYSTEM FOR THE TABLE TO THE SEAT, NEEDS TO HAVE THAT CURVE MOVEMENT.

CROSS BAR, FRONT VIEW.

Day 1, was illuminating for both of us as, we got to know each other. You talk some philosophy and life talk you bound in some small way that makes the relationship easier.

You have this deadline and everyone else have other work to do, schedules have to be worked out.

There is the design and sticking to the integerity of it.

Then there is the comission order and delivery.

There is the economics, materials, capabilities of the workshop, problem solving and skill.

That will see this to the end.

We meet next Monday.

This project is an extension of the Sculptural Playground and the Redesigning the Mile Post Project proposals. If possible, it is the ultimate example of social sculpturing that I know of. What a piece of art work it will be, it encapsulates all the forms of art, film, interactivity, art works, site specificity, installation art, Urban planning, architecture, muraling, theory and philosophy.

I see it important, to speak to or journal this particular activity in Aripo. The village council elections. As an artist, I'm at ground level witnessing, something that is coming from a community, that wants a shift in their collective futures.

How as an artist/newly arrived resident participate in this shift.

The Aripo village is settled in the Northern Range, between Arima to the West and Vanlencia Village to the East. Aripo, is included in the Heights of Guanapo, which have a population of 1086, 2000, population housing census.

Aripo is a farming/residential community, with coaoa, fruit, cressels, christophene and cressels.

There is an ecological interest in the area, with Asia Wright having land there, a cottage is three already, hikers come up to hike, there is hunting and the presence of the oil bird cave and Leroy Clark have his studio there.

If we consider that development can be focused in.

Farming- with value added- cocoa to chocolate/ fruit to juices, cottage industy.

Eco-tourism- Bed and brakfast, community owned cottages/resturants, camping, tours etc.

Community Based Development- Overall aesthetics of village which will include the entrance, river spots, playspaces, community centre, communial spaces within the village etc.

The question is what role can we play as artist/designers in aesthetizing their dreams.

What will it look like?

What will be the political and social ramification of this type of intervention?

How it works. The village council supervisory team, sends the president or member from all the village council for training. On finishing they return to the village and impart knowledge to the council and community. This is a contractrual agreement for three years, if broken the council and in extention the community is held responsible for repaying the tuition fee.

The village council must then draw up a community development plan. They will be assisted by consultants in this phase.

On completion of the proposal they will be invited to a funding party where the different village councils will present their proposal to funders.

How many are choosen, I'm not sure.

I'm optimistic that artists/designers can contribute a revolutionary contribution to the concept of social sculpturing and make a serious contribution to the discourse on Caribbean aesthetics.

THE BRIDGE.
Here is the main entrance of the village, if you continue beyond the bridge you will reach the Asia Wright Centre owned land.

DETAIL OF BRIDGE.

AT THIS TIME THERE IS A CEPPEP CREW THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE ARIPO AREA AND HAVE EMBARKED ON CLEANING UP THE THE AREA.

GOING INTO THE VILLAGE PROPER.

HOUSES OFF THE MAIN ROAD.
HOW WILL AN ARCHITECT, RESPOND TO THE VILLAGE IS AN INTERESTING INVOLVEMENT.

THE RC SCHOOL.
INTERSTING TO NOTE MAJORITY OF THE CHILDREN GO OUT OF THE COMMUNITY FOR SCHOOLING.

THE LOCAL BAR.

THE MAIN SHOP.

THE DATTA CENTRE ENTRANCE.
THEY HAVE SPRITUAL PILGRIMAGE, THORUGH OUT THE YEAR.

STAIRS HEADING INTO THE CENTRE, YOU WILL EVENTUALLY MEET THE RIVER.

THERE ARE SEVERAL SPRITUAL CENTRES IN THE VILLAGE.

COMMUNITY CENTRE.
THERE IS A KITCHEN, AIR CONDITIONING, AUDITORIUM, STAGE FOR PLAYS AND A CONNECTING PLAYFIELD.

PLAYFIELD.

INTERIOR OF COMMUNITY CENTRE.

ARIPONIANS CAME OUT.

BEGINING OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

THE CAME OUT IN THEIR NUMBERS.

VILLAGE COUNCIL HEAD TABLE.
Was made up of the Village Council supervisory team on the right. They manage village councils throughout Trinidad and Tobago. To the left was the present village council

CONCERNS.
There are certain concerns in the community. One, is how the present village council is being runned. There is a division in the community. There is evidence present that the political system has divided this and I'm sure other vunerable communities. You hear it, feel it, see it.

THERE IS TO MUCH DIVISION.
This stated over and over, with applause coming from the audience in agreement.

BALLOT TIME.
There was the overall consensus that something was wrong, the Village Council Supervisory team. The elections was cancelled and two people were voted in to sit on the present council to supervise the process to the next elections. It was also mentioned that Aripo, Caura and Lopinot village council always have to be disbanded, why?