Thesis Completed = Graduation!

Kristina & Mette completed their Masters degree this week - this was celebrated with the other 15 Culture Production graduates at a few very messy events - click here to view photos. To read the project outline and about the collaboration please clickhere. To download the 80 page thesis Virtual Spaces of Identity please click here. Work on the production Virtually DUMBO continues...

Work in Progress: Thesis

We are working instensly on our thesis Virtual Spaces Of Identity:
Culture Production is a relatively new field exploring fundamental questions on the role of culture and art in society. The key element within Cultural Production is to apply theory to practice and vice versa. Virtual Spaces of Identity investigates this by creating a production, Virtually DUMBO, which can help develop the HDC’s work with preservation and provide a practical and theoretic suggestion to how and why virtuality can play a role.

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!