Project 1: Play

     Our first assignment was to create a conceptual piece of artwork inspired by "play". While many of my professors seem to think hashing over countless ideas and documenting anything that flutters through the mind while brainstorming are efficient techniques, different strategies work better for me to conceptualize my art works. For this project I began just relaxing in my free time and thinking about what I used to play when I was a child. I tried to avoid the predictability of board games or kiddie crafts. After I got my basic idea, I push and pull the idea around in my head until I feel it is complete.

     Eventually I decided to make an interactive game. When I thought of play as a form of art, I thought of creating something through a fun interaction, that also trains the mind and body in some way. Art is creation, and playing is a puzzle, so I wanted the piece to have some level of difficulty.

     To the left is an instillation by Quynh Vantu. The boards were hung perfectly at her petite, 5" height. This way, people passing through her museum space could see how she sees the world for a short time. Quynh Vantu's work reflects a cleverness and humor I admire in an artist.

     Eventually I came up with an idea to make a giant Cats' Cradle. I figured this game was perfect to replicate because it is not only challenging, the player creates a piece of artwork. There is also emphasis on the MOMENT of creation. Like an idea, a string takes shape into a beautiful piece of art, and in seconds it can be destroyed and returned to an ordinary string. I feel that by making the string large enough for many people to share, a group of people can create together. There are also many complex forms that can be made with a cats cradle, so it can be a learning tool to better problem solving, communication, and observation skills.

     When it came time to purchase my 2$ roll of ribbon, I decided to choose a bright red. I decided this, because the ribbon reminded me of an eastern Asian folktale. The red string of fate; where lovers and people who are meant to be together are connected by a spiritual red string. The string bends and tangles, but it will never break. Not only does this play off of my love for Asian art, It surprisingly reminded me of something unexpected from my childhood. When kids would pick the pedals off of flowers, and alternate "He loves me. he loves me not. He loves me." I think it would be a quaint and humorous touch in an exhibition of my final piece, if there were instructions to creating the string shapes hanging on the wall, along with many large pieces of string. Families and friends could start all holding the strings, then as the string takes shape, some fingers are often dropped off and no longer used. By the end of the shape, the group creating together can see which people are still holding onto the ribbon, and therefor destined to be together forever.

Below is several pictures of my ribbon, which on its own is quite striking, in my opinion. I love my piece; not only is it a tedious interactive puzzle game, it holds beautiful meaning, and every time some one picks it up, no matter how talented they might be, they can feel like an artist creating something special with their loved ones. The bottom right picture shows a simple string shape known as the Witches broom.