Virtual Heritage

A lot is going on on the Virtual Heritage scene...

Virtual Heritage Network [VHN], is a new international organisation designed to promote the utilisation of technology for the education, interpretation, conservation and preservation of Natural, Cultural and World Heritage. The network is a physical and electronic network of people and resources in many countries currently working in the virtual heritage community. This organization has been formed through the many ideas from people working in the heritage and technology industry recognising that it is fragmented, and difficult to find other researchers and information.

At the Annual Conference on Virtual Systems and MultiMedia 'Virtual Hertage' is a category all by itself. The conference moves around every year (last year it was in Belgium):

'This year will showcase the most innovative work in the field, including new imaging and modeling techniques, large scale terrain modeling, geo-temporal 3D databases, remote sensing and GIS for culture, laser scanning and data capture, object and image restoration and modeling, virtual reality for museums, kiosks and site explanations. Papers accepted will cover a range from technical tools and techniques, to actual site environments that use new techniques for historical reenactment, storytelling or site reconstruction. Heritage, museum, and cultural officials working with technology are encouraged to submit case studies.'

Maybe we should enter Virtually DUMBO for the 2006 conference in China...?

Making the Bulletin Board

Cork, spray cans, cardboard, tape, etc and the board is almost done! I want it to have that rough graffiti look, but unfortunately I wont have time to do all the writing on it as proper stencils... so it will have to be printed, laminated and put on. Oh well, it is a prototype, and if it is a success, we may be able to have a big wooden one made, that get permanently mounted into the concret of the building... We will leave this to the community itself to decide and organize. The bulletin board has been painted to resemble a huge polaroid photo, which is the base design for the website - this will hopefully create a synergy between the virtual and physical parts of the production.

Flyer 01

This is the first flyer for the project which I will be placing with friends of the project when I spend my last day in DUMBO tomorrow. Will be so sad saying goodbye. The actual production wont be finished for another 3 weeks and the launch party date has not yet been confirmed - it will most likely be last week of April, though. When we got the correct website address for Virtually DUMBO and a specific date Flyer 02 will be send out with this info on it.

Ellis Gallagher

After the Jaffe lecture (see below) I went to see our favorite bartender/musician Del at Alexandra's for a glass of wine and their great beetroot/goats cheese/pistacio salad. While eating the stranges thing happened: Ellis,the waiter, ran out into the street with a big piece of chalk, came back talking about the shadows...? As it turns out, this is Ellis thing: making chalk outlines of shadows. And it looks amazing!

Ellis Gallagher has been tagging and into grafitti for more that 15 years, got mocked last April by this guy with a huge knife waiting in the shadows outsides his house, and started freaking out about shadows. So he started outlining them! Pure street art therapy. And hopefully a new career for Ellis. He has already been in contact with huge companies (such as Nike) wanting to use his works in their advertising and he is working on both books and an exhibition. Ellis told me all about this over a very strange Indonesian clover cigarette (no nicotin, Ellis is trying to quit) with cinnemon filters and we hope to work together in the future. See you at Arlene's Grocery on Monday, Ellis! xxx

Jaffe Juice

Last night I went to hear marketing guru, owner of consulting firm ‘Get The Juice’ and author of ‘Life after the 30 sec spot’ Joseph Jaffe speak at a lecture at the Fashion Institute of Technology hosted by Third Way. This was on the request of my dear friend Thomas – who listen to Joe’s podcast ‘Across the Sound’ – a fact that both Joe and his publicist loved. When members of the audience disputed Joe’s statement that ‘podcats are becoming the direct way into our ears, minds and hearts’ I argued that the reason for me attending this lecture was solely based on podcasting marketing and the ideology of the blogosphere.

My story about being from Denmark, working in New York, a friend in Denmark listening to Across the Sound emailing me, me attending was like the essence of what Joe was trying to convey. So, Thomas, I got a written message for you in my Moleskin from Joe. He encouraged me to send him some audio comments – so maybe we should Skype soon, I can review the lecture, we can discuss its issues, record it and send it to him?

Anyway, the lecture was interesting and made good points, but was nothing radically new for those of us who follow blogging and podcasting tendencies, however for the traditional CEO's of advertising firms that attended I think it was quite rebellious. Joe’s arguments resembled those of Tom Peters – 10 years later, 10 years younger :o) – but very well updated, and better fitted, for today’s digital revolution.

At the lecture I also met David (from Ministry of Culture) & Michelle (from Leashes and Lovers) who seemed like really cool people that I hope to meet again. Michelle was promoting a band called Brother Love Rocks playing at our favorite rack bar Arlene's Grocery. Always happy to promote anything going on there!
David, Michelle if you are free Monday night come to Arlene's around 10 pm for the fab Rock'n'Roll Karaoke night - I am sad to say it will be my last night out in NYC.

Jan to the rescue!

Jan Larsen owner of The Xpo Gallery in DUMBO has offered to both help out with the placement of the infamous DUMBO bulletin board that we have been trying to realize; AND The Xpo will host our launch recpetion! The gallery has even got both internet and projector. Fantatsic. I have contacted SuperFine and 68 Jay street bar for sponsoring purposes - hoping they will cater the event. The launch reception will most likely be held at the end of April or in early March.

Bienvenido a Miami

Went to Miami for a few days to visit my old travel mate Adam. Had a great time! Adam lives in the funky South Beach with a view to die for (see photo). Nice to get away from the cold. Back in freezing New York now stressing out with all the details that need to be done before I leave next week!

Meeting with Simeon

Met with Simeon today and had a good talk about how to promote the project/the production. We would like to do a small launch event in DUMBO where the production would be show via a projector. This will probably not take place until at the end of April or early May – which means that the team may not be present, but Simeon will speak on our behalf and maybe we can send a video or something. I will talk to people in the community about this and try and find a location. We are still working on trying to get a bulletin board up in the neighborhood – and hopefully this could also be part of the launch. Where to put up the bulletin board is an issue that has not yet been resolved.

When Virtually DUMBO is ready for use the DNA will help us send out emails (and mail) to the community encouraging them to test out the site and post something on the blog. Friends and members of HDC should also be informed about the project – either through email or the newsletter. Flyers and a press release regarding Virtually DUMBO will also be made – the flyers will be placed in DUMBO shops, galleries and bars and the press release send to local newspapers.

Art opening @ SuperFine

In celebration of Womens History Month, SuperFine and White Studio NYC present a group art show themed 'Women and their bodies'. Last night was the opening with DJ, performances, great food and obviously wine (see photo above). Great night!

Presentation for Zukin's PhD class

Yesterday I presented our project at The Graduate Center on 34th/5th Ave for Prof. Sharon Zukin, her PhD students and David Lung - professor of architecture at Hong Kong University and a specialist on historic preservation in Hong Kong and China. Kenneth and Martin came along and filmed so we can use everybodys comments on the project as material for the thesis. Before the presentation Kenneth, Martin and I also had a meeting to discuss the status of the programming, minor design changes, content for the written Concept and to admire Kenneth's new MacBook :o).
Another SWITCHER on the team... yes!

Tanya Rynd

Interviewed the very lovely Tanya - one of 'the girls' from DUMBO based restaurant SuperFine (also know as community center, town hall, gallery, venue depending on who you ask). SuperFine is a true DUMBO (and New York) institution - and its three owners has proven over and over again that passion and heart is what drives success, and their business strategy equals their life philosophy and vice versa.

Design Update

Here is a .pdf document with our updated
design concept for Virtually DUMBO.
And here is our uploadet test site (work in progress!).

Albert Maysles

Today we interviewed the amazing filmmaker Albert Maysles. He talked about the importance of documenting the world as a way of creating ‘a common ground’ where we can better understand each other despite our differences – and through understanding come to love one another more. His warmth and generous spirit was truly inspirational.

Thank you, Al, for showing us your world. Don’t forget to say Hi to Richard Gere tomorrow… We will stay in touch! Love, Kristina & Metz

Exhibition Concept

As part of our exam we have to exhibit our project at Malmö Högskola alongside every other graduating student; and preferably in an artistic way illustrate ones graduation project.

Our exhibition will be in the form of an installation – a projected slideshow of photos, illustrations and video collected through our project process. The installation will be projected onto a white wall framed by a paper boarder that reads ‘Framing the Process’. Along side the projection will be a folder that contains our individual profile and CV as Cultural Producers and a sign that reads:

This installation frames the process of creating a Cultural Production with the intend of portraying what it is, we as Cultural Producers, are able to achieve, how we work and what drives the process. This installation contains imagery of inspiration, of what we have created and of what we have experienced working on our exam project/thesis ‘Virtual Spaces of Identity’.

The project combines theory and practise by having both a written part (the thesis) and a practical part (the production):
The thesis Virtual Spaces of Identity aims at examining how virtuality can be used to map and document specific areas of tangible and intangible cultural heritage. The production Virtually DUMBO examines how virtual representation of DUMBO can portray and preserve areas of the DUMBO neighborhood culture and become a virtual bulletin board for the community.

To further promomte the skills of Cultural Producers beyond the walls of this institution, please feel free to take home a Profile/CV of Kristina Karlsson & Mette Ohlendorff who created this project.

Artists and Neighborhoods

Have artists served as a vanguard for the forces of change within neighborhoods? What effect has preservation had on artists, and vice versa? Specific case studies included SoHo and Tribeca, neighborhoods that began as homes and studios of artists and are currently historic districts nearly devoid of resident artists; DUMBO, a neighborhood that is filled with the homes and studios of artists and is currently seeking historic district status to mitigate the increasing development of the area; and Williamsburg, whose artistic identity will soon become a casualty of recent rezoning.

Tribeca gallery owner and HDC board member Hal Bromm will moderate the panel. Our very own DOREEN GALLO, an artist and long-time resident of DUMBO - whom was kind enough to spend part of her 50th birthday doing this (HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DOREEN!); Nicholas Evans-Cato, an urban landscape artist working out of a studio in Vinegar Hill; Jenny Dixon, director of the Noguchi Museum in Long Island City; Robert C. Rosenberg, founder and president of the Rosenberg Housing Group and Stephen Goldsmith, a sculptor and director of the Frederick P. Rose Fellowship at the Enterprise Foundation and former director of planning for Salt Lake City, will be the panelists. Speaking from their personal and professional experiences, they will discuss the role of artists in changing neighborhoods and how artists both effect change and are affected by it.

Race and Preservation

Also discussed at the HDC annual meeting was the issues concering Race and Preservation. Historic preservation in America began as a movement to preserve monuments to the great figures of mainstream American history. The Panelists addressed the issue of why historic preservation has been traditionally focused on that narrow perspective of local and national history and how current examples of preservation are being incorporated into sites and communities of diverse cultures. The discussion tackled the question of how preservation can better appeal to communities that are either newly arrived or more concerned with social issues.

Harlem historian, preservationist and author Michael Henry Adams will moderate the panel, which will include: former City Councilmember Bill Perkins; professor of urban affairs and planning at Hunter College Tom Agnotti; and professor of history and director of the Rutgers Institute on Ethnicity, Culture and the Modern Experience and history professor Clement Price.

The Real Economics of Historic Preservation

It has often been said that historic preservation benefits property values. It has also been said that preservation is a deterrent to economic development. What are the real financial consequences of preservation practices? How do they differ between residential neighborhoods and commercial districts? Can the long-term effects of preservation on economic and housing development be predicted or even distinguished from other factors? Do historic preservation practices and legislation lead to gentrification and population displacement?

These concerns and questions was discussed at the HDC annual meeting led by Eric Wm. Allison, co-chair of Pratt Institute’s historic preservation graduate program and member of HDC’s board of advisers, who was the moderator of the panel, which included: Red Hook, Brooklyn, developer Greg O’Connell; journalist and a commissioner of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission Roberta Brandes Gratz; and Columbia University professor and assistant commissioner for local legislative affairs with the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development Carol Clark.

Dr. Robert Fishman

Robert Fishman teaches Urban Design, Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of Michigan. He received his Ph.D and M.A in History from Harvard and his B.A from Stanford. He is nationally recognized as an expert in the fields of Urban History and Urban planning and policy.
Dr. Fishman gave this years keynote speach at the HDC's annual meeting Saturday 4th March and talked about the rise of historic preservation as a professional and popular movement coincided with the 'urban crises' devastating American cities. For some, preservation represented at best nostalgic escapism from current urban problems, at worst a form of gentrification seeking to isolate favored areas from general ruin. Dr. Fishman argued that preservation seen in its true context has been an integral part of the larger 're-urbanism' and recovery of the American city.
To view Dr. Fishman's books click here.

Alex aka Paranoid Larry

We met musician Alex (better known by the public as Paranoid Larry) at the '68 Jay Street Bar' in DUMBO, who teaches music at a Manhattan High School by day, and does gigs at night. Alex lives in Brooklyn Heights, but has been hanging out on DUMBO for over 20 years. Check out Paranoid Larry's video 'White Trash Christmas' here.

www.paranoidlarry.com

Amanda Barrow

Amanda Barrow is a visual artist who has lived and worked in DUMBO for the past 3 years. Her art work is in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the New York and Boston Public Libraries, and the Museum of the Book in the Hague, The Netherlands. Amanda is a very active member of DNA (DUMBO Neighborhood Association) and wants too keep real estate prices at a level where both artists and families can afford it.
www.amandabarrow.net

111 Front Street Galleries

The 111 Front Street building in DUMBO houses a broad range of galleries and studios. Last night they were open and exhibited diverse art in the many different galleries - from Andy Warhol photographs to nineteenth century etchings of Historic DUMBO. Bill Nogosek kindly took us to the exhibition and introduced us to more of DUMBOs community.
www.frontstreetgalleries.com/

Bill Nogosek

We interviewed the wonderful pop-inspired artist Bill Nogosek who has been a resident of DUMBO for 28 years! Bill is concerned with DUMBOs real estate issues and fear that new artist will not be able to afford studio space, which will eventually be devastating for the entire art scene in New York.

Loopy Mango

Loopy Mango is a beautiful gem! Founded in November 2004 and opened for business on December 31, 2004 in East Village. It is co-owned by a crochet designer Waejong Kim and an artist Anna Pulvermakher. Waejong designs one of a kind crochet clothes and accessories. Anna is currently working on a series of woodcuts as well as making crochet jewelry and accessories. In December 2005 Loopy Mango moved to DUMBO, Brooklyn.
www.loopymango.com

Jan Larsen

Interview with gallery owner Jan Larsen (yes, part danish) gave us a good insight into the thoughts of young business owners in DUMBO. Jan, as many people in DUMBO, has got a socalled 'Live-Work' situation going on, and is keen to see the area grow into a warm and friendly community for both artists and families.
www.thexpo.com