The Softness of Things
Week 6, Reflections

Chimes, canvas, long distance connections, jacking, lights... what
exactly have I been up to? I don't see a particular connection between
my projects within and of themselves. I do see a theme of exploration
within myself: the mobile. I am fascinated by mobiles. Their
lightness, agility, beauty, and even more so when combined with light
and shadows. Exploring these thoughts occurred with the chimes and
light. I tried to think about long distance communication, another
interest, but but it didn't stick. I think I have become particularly
fond of conductive thread.

The connection between the concepts studied in class and my works are
serial. There is a connecting link in my work through interests, but I
think that is independent of the flow the class. Conceptually the
classes themselves have a great flow. Modules to connections to
networks, these are the abstract foundations of the course. From there
we delve into sustainability and open source. By focusing on these two
topics, not only is the tone of the class set, but our mode of thinking.
Think about the global community, communicate and act decisively.

I just had a wonderful conversation with Alex, which, I think, brought me
to a central point of change in creation these days. Our generation,
referring to those living today, brings the death of the individual.
Mind you, this is not written in a negative way. Open source software,
and many industries such as gaming, chemistry and architecture, have
developed a complex base of tools which make up their toolbox. The
creators from these various genres are limited by their toolbox, their
creations are reflections of the knowledge they are able to wield. The
difficultly of creating a new tool is continually increasing. So much,
that we must, or are better served, to act collaboratively.

This is the challenge of our society. Never before has such
collaboration been required, or so many horizons in front of us. I
believe it will take many generations before we feel comfortable working
collaboratively, assuming no catastrophe falls upon us. This is the
message which open source and sustainability is hailing.

-- Wed, 17 Oct 2007 22:05 -0400

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