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C
H I N A T O W N I N / F L U X , A S I A N
A R T S A S S O C I A T I O N - R E B E C C A
H A C K E M A N N
Funded
in part by P.E.I.
To
take place in Fall 2008, Spring 2009
P
R O J E C T D E S C R I P T I O N
I propose to station several altered sightseeing binoculars containing
stereoscopic 3-D views of future visionary neighborhood developments
within Philadelphia’s Chinatown and Callowhill in order to show,
address and inspire future change in the landscape and infrastructure.
Each binocular will contain 6 images that can be changed by cranking
a handle. The viewer will either see a past view of that same location
and also several future versions. For example a binocular pointing to
a vacant lot, may show houses that stood there in the past, then it
may show several different future versions of that location created
by different groups when a crank is turned, that show new housing, or
a park.
By placing a sightseeing binoculars in an unusual place, the passerby
may wonder why it is there (there will be only one binocular at each
location with one exception). They will located on various locations
along the Vine Expressway. They will contain images made by the community,
for example school children, architecture students, artists and community
groups, like PCDC.
The public will be able to leave a paper ‘vote’ as to their
favorite image/version of the future of that site. The votes will be
collected periodically and be entered into a database and posted online
as a graph.
There will also be maps listing the locations of all the binoculars
distributed around the neighborhood (and beyond) as well as an interactive
map based website, that will preserve the project.
A R T I S T I C C O N C E P T
The sightseeing binocular normally signifies the site of a tourist attraction,
a scenic point, usually with something far away to look at in detail.
They often have maps to accompany them as plaques, so that the tourist
can identify whatever he/she is seeing in the distance, be it a mountain
range or a city skyline with landmarks. My sightseeing binoculars will
offer a surprise when looked through in that they will not show the
exact real world around the viewer, but will reveal an altered future
version of the cityscape in front of it, that is part real, part fictional
and in 3-D. This is to say that what the viewer sees will be indeed
what is in front of him/her, but a different version of it, be it a
past or future vision.
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