MAP ASSIGNMENT. EDMONTON. ART. GALLERY.

robots. robots. robots.

 

I was bored one day. So I decided to put on my own art show. You should come.

DE RIVE DE BORD AL LEYS.

                                                  

                                                      




































Debord’s derive was really interesting to me.

Flow.

Movement within Edmonton is often controlled by roads and building placement.

Certain roadways act as arteries to different areas.

Sidewalks typically control and move walkers in these areas.

In downtown Edmonton your options for movement are limited.

Buildings funnel people in certain directions.

Influence.

I was intrigued by Debord’s reference to walking in a small group.

How does this influence or change the movement?

I felt as though his theory actually worked better solo.

One person flowing through architecture influenced by the general layout of a landscape.

This direct, yet mystic influence of others in your wandering adds a large variable to the results of a successful derive.

Edmonton.

I feel it is hard to move against the flow in Edmonton as there is just so much space to move in this small city.

Here is a list of some places I DO feel like I am moving against the circulation:

1) West Edmonton Mall – Anyone for making this place stroller free?

2) Whyte Ave /Art Walk – I love Art Walk. I hate running into you when you stop suddenly.

3) Hub Mall – After class breaks.

4) Post hockey game LRT – I don’t care about a new hockey stadium. I do care about moving people out of the building more productively.

4) What places move against your circulation?

Restrictions.

I enjoy putting restrictions on my wandering.

By forcing yourself to move in an unusual manner new results and experiences are often formed.

My walking.

I recently walked only down alleys during a walk around my neighbourhood.

This can be a freeing experience and one of exploration.

Which direction and which alley I moved towards had no basis. Or did it.

Social values, feelings of comfort and artistic beauty began to influence my decisions.

Interesting.
I walked for 60 blocks down alleys and didn't see one other person.
I felt extremely isolated at times, almost claustrophobic.
I couldn't turn left or right (unless I came to a t-alley).
As I made my way about Edmonton's alley system I became disoriented.
Without street signs, distinct buildings, main roadways or any form of marker, I felt like I was wandering in another world.

I took some photos.
UPDATE:
I ran out of film the other day and was in HUB mall. I stopped into the Hub Photo store (which I had never been to before) and asked for a roll of colour film. The man was out..."But wait!" he exclaimed. After returning from the basement he had ONE roll which was rolled tightly but worked "just fine."
I should've known...but regardless 24 shots later, the roll was already exposed.
Worst. I'm going for another walk.

To follow soon or soon to follow.

CHARACTERS: PERCY MARSHALL.

 PHOTOS:

CHARACTERS: 

Last week's reading of The Coyote Kings of the Space-Age Bachelor Pad and its unique use of characterization brought me to think about characters in my Edmonton.

I have known Percy for over 6 years and he is by far the most interesting person I have ever met. He has incredible stories which tip-toe on a tight-rope of truth until you meet him and realize those wild stories were 100% true. 

To many he's a local celebrity (the guy who does amazing bike tricks at the bus stop) or the engineering genius or the successful DJ or the hockey all-star or (I sometimes hear stories) he's the guy who had his grade 9 graduation cancelled because his date was a bomb. 

Regardless of what he is perceived to be, Percy is undeniably intelligent, thoughtful and a good friend. 

I asked him to show me a couple of places in Edmonton that are interesting to him:

1: Baron's Red Airplane Model: C-FCKE

Location: NAIT/City Centre Airport

Info: Having graduated from NAIT's Business Program I had noticed some airplanes on the tarmac before. Percy introduced me to a new area of the runway which older models of planes reside. At this point he told me a tale of attempting to purchase his dream plane which still sits covered in snow.
Here is a sound clip of Percy talking about his dream plane:

 

2: Giant Baseball Bat Sculpture

Location: 118ave/97st

Info: My personal experience with "The Bat" was that it was weird, ugly and not needed. That of course was until Percy took me there and I discovered...it spins! Just push it...go ahead try. After getting a ride on the bottom of the bat my opinion has changed. Greatest thing in Edmonton...kidding...maybe.

Here's a sound clip of Percy's story of "The Bat":

3: Saskatchewan Drive Luge Track

Location: Saskatchewan Dr./106st

Info: Percy called me a couple of weeks ago and asked if I was interested in going to a river valley luge track....I declined. But a week later the intrigue continued to linger. After calling Percy he was more than willing to take me to the spot which the photographs do not do justice. It is a 4 feet deep trench with turns which winds down the side of the river valley. The last photo is of me giving it a shot. Unfortunately I did not have any audio of the story but Percy found this spot as it had candles and glow sticks lining its walls on the night he first came. 

If you are interested to see Percy doing what he loves most: