Wonder Women :: Art & Technology

Part One:
My stress level was for once not that high on Tuesday. I didnt' have much homework to do that night, and it was a beautiful day outside, so I was in a pretty good mood. I usually judge how stressed I am based on how much school work I have, so I noticed that since I was caught up with school, I was getting stressed about other things, but I wasn't stressed about anything too serious. For being at the end of the semester, I think I had my stress level under control, far more so than at the beginning of the semester.
I went to this little plaza area for the hour we had before the presentation, and found out there's a sun dial in the middle of it. I thought this was pretty amazing because I've walked by this plaza a lot, but I never would've guessed that there was an actual sun dial in the middle of it. I layed down in the grass, which was still a little damp from all the rain, and enjoyed the sunshine. It was a very relaxing experience.
My first experience of the installation was that we were only supposed to look at it, not touch it. Then, I finally gained the courage to go inside of the installation and experience it. Once I realized that it was designed to lower your stress level, I thought it would be more successful if the space was completely closed off. There's just something stressful about trying to relax while other people are passing by, looking in on you.
Part 2:
I would evaluate the Present Moment Project as a very dynamic piece of art, because I think it's one that's open to change and suggestions. Instead of saying this is how it is and how it's going to be, the creators of the project seemed very open to hearing people's opinions and suggestions on improvement. Also, I think this project deserves a little more of an explanation than it received. From the current set up, it's just a white, cut off section of a room, something a lot of people may not immediately associate with a stress relieving sanctuary. I think a brief introduction or description is needed to bring people to the comfort level, where they're going to want to try it.
The Present Moment Project, to me, is art because it's manipulating a space to create something beautiful and with meaning. Just like decorating a room can be a form of art, creating a space for stress relief is a work of art, just a unique medium. Art isn't just a painting on the wall, sometimes it is the wall.
I honestly think that keeping kids inside all day during a beautiful day (especially when it's been such a cold winter) is especially cruel, so I would fight for teachers having to hold one day outside of the classroom (depending on the size of the class) College students are so stresed out that sometimes, we really do forget to stop and smell the roses. So maybe a Present Moment Project set up outside would be a good idea for this campus. Not only is it getting kids to slow down while being outdoors to enjoy themselves, but it also gives them some grounds on which to reflect about their stress. Otherwise, I really like the idea of adding water to any installation for the Present Moment Project; there's just something so calming and serence about moving water.

Posted by fjest003 at 05:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Part 1:

My level of stress Tuesday afternoon was high for a number of reasons. In general, Tuesdays are long days for me in terms of class, but there was some added stress due to dress rehearsals for the show performed in this past weekend. I definitely felt my self go into shut down mode, which occurs when I have a lot of things going on. I feel so burdened with things that need to get done that I sort of stop and watch TV instead. My state of being has been in stress mode all semester, and this is the time when it really starts to peak. I feel like I’ve really been doing to much this semester in terms of theatre, and my paper writing commitments have really been procrastinated. Stress and procrastination go hand in hand for me, and I’m really hitting the wall where I have to use the pressure of that stress to get it into gear and get my work done. This is the time of year that will make or break your grades because the bulk of what your graded on occurs in this last stretch. For me, I won’t be able to think about anything else until its over.
During the hour before the presentation I spent some time just sitting in the lounge at Nolte and journaling about my thoughts on stress and space. One of the things I wrote down about the lounge:
“A comfortable place to do work—and doing work is key right now because every space I’m in gets evaluated on the bases of whether it will hinder or help my ability to get work done.”
After jotting down some notes, I decided to go outside and walk to Northrop Mall. I particularly like the mall space on warm days because it is simply nice to see so many people outside lying in the grass or playing Frisbee. I sat down at one of the tables in front of Northrop Auditorium and continued to write about stress. I often feel guilty about enjoying the outdoors like that because I feel like I should be doing something else. And there are always other things I should be doing.
This nagging thought is always in my mind, so while I enjoyed the instillation, I still felt that the brief pause it provided for me from the outside world was all too fleeting. I certainly felt relaxed in the space, and I allowed my vision to blur as I picked up an especially circular stone and held it in my hand. I only wish I new how to carry that feeling into the world and still harness the motivation to get my work done. As of now, I use the high levels of stress as a motivating tool to get through the end of semester crunch time, and I don’t think that that is the best way to get things done in life.

Part 2:

If I were a student representative for an arts committee on campus, my evaluation of the Present Moment Project would be that the space created by the instillation is something that every student should take a moment to experience. It is, at the very least, a nice respite from everything else going on in the world. It is a space where a person can just sit and breath for a few moments with a blank mind. The rocks in the space ground the senses with the sound as one walks on them, the simple gray color with the soft blue lighting beneath them, and the wonderful feeling on picking them up and hold them in the palm of ones hand. I would say that the Present Moment Project is experiential art. Unlike some art, there is no statement being made or a hidden meaning of any kind. Instead it is art that purely engages the senses for the relief of the beholder. Art of this kind is meant to evoke something within the spectator, which I think is the point of any creation. What is unique about this piece though, is that it was created for the spectator and with their best interests in mind. I like art that aims at a greater good, and the aim of this one to reduce stress is very noble.
If I were to propose a project that addresses stress in student life, I think I would focus on creating a program or event that goes beyond providing momentary relief by teaching students, if it’s possible, to devise ways of reducing stress in the same moment as getting their work done. I think deadlines are a source of major anxiety for all of us on campus, students and teachers alike, and it would be wonderful to find a creative way to empower individuals so that they may reduce stress even during times when it may be quite high. I have no idea what form that might take, possibly a workshop of some kind where participants create an pocket size kit or object that helps them focus and relax without being a distraction.

Posted by remu0019 at 01:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Part 1

My stress level on Tuesday was low. I think that the weather played a big part in that -- when it's nice outside I tend to be in a better mood and dwell less on stressors.

I'm rarely stressed. I know, I know, you all must be thinking that I'm some sort of a freak or something, but I honestly don't feel stressed very often. Some of my friends get weirded out by it -- some of them have said to me in the past they wish I would complain about an upcoming test or paper once in awhile. If they're stressed they like to talk about it. I don't. I attribute my lack of stress to both my good time-managing skills and my relaxed personality.

For the hour before the presentation I made several stops. First, I went to that arc thing (very scientific name) on Lily Plaza and listened to my voice sound weird. I know that it has something to do with physics but I can't remember what it's called. Side note: there's a much bigger arc like that between Ferguson and Anderson halls on the West Bank, although that one is much more humorous because people standing down there always feel compelled to shout and scream at the top of their lungs, causing a good laugh for passers-by. Then I went to Starbucks (have to get rid of that FlexDine!) Tasty drinks relax me. And then I sat in the sun with Miranda on Northrop Plaza and we talked about stress and other things. Sometimes if you're stressed it's good to talk it out. I'm not advocating complainging, just talking.

I liked the installation in Nolte, but it didn't do much to calm me. When I need to destress I want to be alone. In my room. Door shut. No one else. So this project space was a little too open for me; I didn't like the idea that it was so open and other people could watch you. The stones on the ground were soothing--nature tends to sooth me. And I also liked the blue light in the floor; it added kind of a "magical" quality to the space. But overall, I probably wouldn't go there to unwind.

Part 2

I would say that it's a great start, but like the presenters noted in the presentation, the space doesn't work for everyone. Everyone deals with stress in different ways, so if that particular installation doesn't work for you maybe one of the future ones will.

The project has to do with art because it's essentially an art installation, except the key point here is that the viewer can interact with it, shifting his or her role from viewer to user. I love that you're actually allowed to touch it, to interact with it. It brings the museum out of art and puts it into the real world.

I like the idea of the Present Moment Project, but if I were to propose a program to address stress on campus I would propose one that targets stress at its roots, kind of like the commercials for that certain medicine that claim to "stop heartburn before it starts." What I mean by that is I would want to create a program to deal with stress prevention and not just stress relief. The program might include talks about how to budget time, organize, deal with personal relationships, works with finances, or any one of the other issues that cause people to stress. The Present Moment Project is great if you already are stressed and need to relax, but it doesn't address the causes of stress. I'm not saying that it should--it has its specific purpose and fulfills that purpose well--but my proposed program would be more proactive.

Posted by teich024 at 12:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

1) My stress level on Tuesday was very low, especially compared to the rest of the semester. Much of my stress was coming from the knowledge that I had to complete my honor’s thesis before the end of the semester and I wasn’t sure that I had managed my time well enough to do that. But since I turned in my final draft of it the Friday before, I felt like the worst was behind me and I could just relax for the rest of the semester. Add to that the nice weather last Tuesday, and I was feeling pretty good.

For the hour before the presentation, Michelle and Kelsey and I went over to the little amphitheater nearby and laid on the grass and talked and enjoyed the sunshine. It was very quiet there, and very relaxing. That hour went by quickly.

My experience of the installation in Nolte was fairly brief; I didn’t sit down there, I just walked inside and stood there for a little while. My immediate thought was that I wanted to play with the rocks, which after listening to the presentation it seems was a common response. I felt a little bit wobbly walking over the rocks, but I didn’t want to sit down because I didn’t like the fact that people would be able to see me sitting there if they happened to walk past. I wanted to be able to enclose myself in the space and not have that connection to the rest of the room be so strong.

2) I think the Present Moment project is really great. It’s true that just about everyone on a college campus is stressed out all the time, and just about no one feels they have time to devote to classes on stress reduction. Especially in the winter when people can’t go outside, I think it’s very important to have these sorts of spaces to keep people from going crazy. I would be all for having one of these spaces in every building on campus, and I’m disappointed that I will be leaving the U before the completion of this project because I think it would have had a really positive effect on my experience here.

The Present Moment project has to do with art in that it takes scientific ideas and data on how to reduce stress and responds to that data aesthetically, creating something that can exist either as a sculptural object that sparks ideas from afar or as an interactive space that provides each person with a different experience.

I think if I were to attempt something to address stress on campus I would want to organize an open discussion between students and faculty members about the issue—I think that there are a lot of things that instructors can do to help ease the stress of students and themselves, like offering a choice of deadlines for projects. This way students can schedule major assignments during lulls in work for their other classes, plus it spreads out the grading for instructors. Leading an optional mini yoga/meditation session during breaks in long classes might be helpful too.

Posted by lips0037 at 11:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Part 1:
On Tuesday, I had a lot on my plate: a soul-searching paper that wasn't writing itself, my Bible study's final meeting that I hadn't prepared for, a farewell letter and gift for our study leader, a dirty apartment that would soon be swarmed by a wonderful group of girls--in short, I had a lot to do. I gauged my stress level as a six.

However, the semester as a whole has been about a two: only one class pertains to my major, the rest are fun (like this class :D) or easy, and I only have fifteen credits. It's been less stressful than prior semesters to the point where I worry because I'm not stressed (can you tell I'm a type-A honors kid?!).

Before the presentation, I sat with Lisa and Kelsey (I just realized that we don't use names much in this class, so hopefully I remembered correctly) on the grass behind Rapson where there's like an inverted hill with stairs (I realize that's not a great description...) and just talked and enjoyed the sun and the air and the grass. It was really nice to forget about the day and just relax OUTSIDE.

I felt like an intruder in the installation; I wasn't sure if it was okay to walk inside, and I never would have thought to sit down or play with the rocks. I really did appreciate the sounds of the rocks under my feet, though--very soothing. The lights were really great too; I can't pinpoint why I liked them, but I really did. However, I did find myself wanting more privacy. Overall though, it was pretty exciting to step into this altered space; it was like a mini-adventure that showed up randomly on campus.

Part 2:
I would say that the Present Moment Project is an excellent two-fer: it provides a means of expression and research for University faculty as well as a relaxing moment for anyone who partakes in it. On top of that, it allows for dialogue between the two groups where there otherwise not have been any; admittedly, if I were not in this class I would have little interaction with the "artsy side of campus life," but this project may have been a way for me to approach the art world more readily.

I think that that is also how I see this installation as related to art: it is a created thing that allows for communication. This may be an extremely broad, encompassing definition, but it works for me.

Even though I didn't think of it myself, I think that the Present Movement Project would be a good project to address stress on campus. It would be nice to have several different installations with different variations so that you could create a space better suited to people who wanted more privacy, people who wanted sound, people who wanted something to do with their hands, etc. If there were more installations, people would probably talk about it more to compare notes. Maybe if we talked more about stress and de-stressing...we would de-stress more?

Posted by hurl0063 at 06:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Keeping in mind your reflective time from the first part of our seminar
class on Tuesday and the presentation during the second half, would you
make a post on our blog reflecting on the following:

Part 1:

Describe:

- how you assessed your stress level on Tuesday afternoon.

- how you compared your state of being - stressed or not - within the
continuum of your experience of stress during this semester to date.

- what you chose to do for the hour prior to the presentation.

- your experienece of the installation in Nolte.

Part 2:

If you were a student representative participating in an arts committee on
campus, how would you evaluate the Present Moment Project?

What, from your perspective, does the Present Moment Project have to do
with Art?

If you were asked to propose a project, program or event to address stress
on campus, what would you propose?

You may address these questions in any manner that suits you.

Posted by Diane Willow at 10:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Part 1:
My stress level on Tuesday afternoon was about average - lots of projects, papers and exams coming up in addition to non-school stuff running through my head all day like figuring out summer plans for housing/jobs and preparing to host friends...not surprised I had come down with a bad cold over the weekend.
This is about the level of stress I feel most of my time and I think I’m so used to it now that I don’t even really consider it stress anymore – I pretty much just accept that this is what college life is like. The only times I’m not thinking about these things would probably be over long breaks from school like winter break, spring break, or weekends when I’ve planned far enough ahead to get everything else done that I feel I need to prior to it. I know final exams are usually considered a high stress time for students, but I think it’s approaching so quickly I don’t really even have time to think about it, but I do wish I had more down time to enjoy my last weeks here before school ends.
For the hour prior to the presentation I went to stand on the special sound point in Lily Plaza; which was very cool and something I hope to share with other people when I walk by it. Then I walked with Nick to Starbucks at the Cube because I think drinking coffee/tea beverages is relaxing and one of my favorite ways to avoid doing school work and spend time with friends. Fortunately it was a beautiful day and we walked back to Northrop to sit outside at the tables. Campus is much more lively and a happier place to be when the weather is nice and other people are outside. I felt much more calm after my free hour and didn’t really think it was worth being stressed out about other things when it was so nice out – although I admit we talked about future plans and summer jobs even during our free time.
At first I wasn’t even aware of the installation at Nolte…I think I walked right by it the first couple of times I entered and exited the room. I probably would have missed it unless I knew I had to find it because I really only think about where I need to be and not always what else is around me. I really liked the blue light showing underneath the rocks, I thought that was one of its strong points because it made it soothing and not just a pile of rocks on the ground. I also liked the soft-wall and think that if I lived in a larger apartment it would be really cool to be able to separate off a section of a room with it. I liked that light could show through it and reflect, but I guess I felt the space was too small. I would either want to be in a small space like that entirely closed off from the public, or have a much larger space like that accessible to the public. I thought it was interesting that later in the presentation there were pictures of the rocks being picked up and examined or played with, but I didn’t really feel like it would be entirely appropriate for me to do that myself when I initially walked in. I also don’t think I would have sat down on the stool or spent a lot of time in that space if I were by myself because I’d feel out of place which is another reason I’d want it to be a bigger space with a lot of seats or bigger chairs to really sit down in for a longer period of time instead of a small stool.

Part 2:
If I had to evaluate the Present Moment Project I would say it’s a great idea and I would definitely be interested in seeing more installations being put into place around campus. Right now it is just getting started and I think it will take a lot longer to really make an impact on a large group of students. I would like to see installations in areas of campus that have more student traffic because that was the first time I had ever been in Nolte and it’s not somewhere I’d go out of my way to stop by on a regular basis even though I liked the space. I am excited to see what happens in Rapson Hall and I think it’s interesting to note the kind of spaces chosen for the project so far. I consider Rapson pretty open to allowing an installation since it is the home of architecture students, and Nolte also seems like a pretty laid-back space, but I couldn’t imagine it in some of the other buildings on campus like Moos Tower or Willey Hall where I feel people are always in a hustle (maybe these are the areas where students need to be reminded to take a moment to de-stress the most).
The Present Moment Project is an art because it takes the mental sensation of stress and tries to construct a physical environment that will have an effect on targeting that stress and hopefully alleviating it or at least making people aware of their current stress level. Just like going to an art museum or gallery allows the viewer to focus on artwork, the environment created by the Present Moment Project aims to get a person to focus on their immediate surroundings instead of thoughts and worries that will be occurring in the future.
If I were asked to propose a project to address stress on campus I would like to see something that really grabs peoples attention and doesn’t require the student to go out of his/her way to be a part of it but also doesn’t force the student to do anything on his/her part. I know I’ve been invited to participate in stress-awareness related events before and sadly but truthfully I would just decline because that’s another thing I don’t want to see on my To-Do-List. I like when I’m walking on campus and I come across things that are right on my way to class because that’s usually the only way I’d find out about them. I love when I walk over the Washington Avenue Bridge and there is stuff set up right where you begin or end walking across. Usually it’s people giving away free food or drinks (which I think makes all students happy) but if there were an installation to walk through for all or part of that stretch it would be something I would definitely remember and it might even get students to walk outside instead of take the bus. I think it would be particularly powerful to have something visual for students to see and think about when they’re walking on campus. I always like looking at the murals painted on the inside portion of the bridge advertising the various clubs on campus so I think it would be kind of cool to see some other kind of artwork along the way. Nature sounds, soft lights, and other outdoor elements are always a plus.

Posted by beckx214 at 08:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Part 1:
Last Tuesday, I evaluated my stress level at a five on the dice (that is, five out of six), six being totally beyond functioning, and 1 being a serene summer morning with an agenda waiting to be filled with Arnie Palmer's beachside. Well, being at five, I was quite stressed, and it is in part due to the fact that within two weeks time, I need to find a full time job to pay the bills and for the excess Haagen Dazs I have turned to settle the storminess that is my last semester. On the continuum of the entire semester, I would say its been relatively similar, although I do remember having one or two comfortable evenings way back when, not to be seen since.

So you can imagine that an hour of free contemplation time was a bit miraculous. So I began by sitting outside of the Bell Museum of Natural History in that adorable little pseudo-wild nature space. It was nice for while, I even made a little pinecone person, but it wasn't long before riotous frat boys across the street ruined the semi-quietness of it all. I figured there was no way I would be able to absorb myself in contemplation, so I decided to call a friend who I haven't seen in over a year and haven't had the time to call for a while. And I have to say, it was the best hour I have had in a long time.

The return to Nolte was nice as well, and the present moment project space was definitely like no other space I have experienced. For me, the rocks were the most soothing aspect of it, because I was one of those kids who used horde rocks in my pockets. Don't worry, I didn't steal any! I liked how they were all very smooth, and they reminded me of those worry stones that you're supposed to hold to release stress. So I guess it worked for me. I sat there for a little bit just staring at the wrinkles in the paper and feeling the uneven ground beneath my feet.

Part 2:
If I were asked to evaluate the Present Moment Project, I think I would just tell people that they should go if they want to see and experience somehting different, with the disclaimer that it was not an adventure like skydiving, but perhaps, in the spiritual sense it can be. I'm not sure what it means to evaluate this installation: how do you critique something that is both art and a usable public amenity. I think it is art in many different ways: It pushes the boundaries of how we use public space. It challenges us to give ourselves, if even just for a minute, a breath of fresh air and a clean screen to be able to think of the things we actually want to think about, if anything. It provides a space in which our spirituality can intermingle with our public life. It opens the door for more and different projects with a similar aim. If I were to propose a project, program or event to address stress on campus, I think I would try to organize a campuswide yoga event covering all the greenspace in the Mall.

Posted by Kari Volkmann at 11:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As you all know, I was unable to attend class this week because I had the opportunity to shadow/interview Dave Dahl, who is the chief meteorologist for KSTP Channel 5. I had to shadow him for an assignment for another class, but I would like to reflect on my time at the studio and connect it with the discussion of art and technology, and the discussion of stress.

Dave has worked at the studio for 31 years, so he has seen the gradual and drastic changes in technology over the years. When he started, they used an easle with a map set on it. Technology was nowhere near what it is today. After his first few years at the studio they started using a big plexi glass map that they would draw on with markers while giving the forcast. A few years after that, KSTP Channel 5 was one of the first studio's in the country to use a computer graphics generator as a part of their weather forecasts. This eventually led to using multi-colored maps with graphics and satellite photos to show cloud cover.

Continue reading "Shadowing Dave Dahl" »

Posted by matth120 at 02:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Stress in general ---
well... As the end of the semester is in sight I find my stress levels rising... It seems as though the procrastination that has taken place in the past three months has had little pay off.... Now I'm left with a ton of work to compete and all I really want to do is hang out outside. I usually deal with such stress by making tea... I watch the water transform from cold stagnant water to excited bubbling tea... I think... It may be getting a little hot right now... But soon I will have tea...

Stress in Nolte---
I find myself being fairly productive in this space... I'm sitting over by the present moment unstallation... Next to the unconvincing fake plant... I'm not inside the space, but being by it helps me to focus... Maybe it is bexaisei know that there is a place near by where I can relax... I feel that the rest of the space in nolte is open for students to relax while being productive.. I find the fake plant a little distracting...

Venturing outside---
being outside is giving me slot more distractions--- it reminds me of how every summer I try to bring a book the beach but never read it.... Last summer it was the awakening .... I thought it was an appropriate beach book... Being outside does make me worry a lot less about the things that I need to do... I think that nature reminds me that things are more complex than the deadlines
that are creeping up... Papers will get written and read and life will go on...

I just realized that I wrote all of this in the entry body... Since I'm in my phone it will have to stay there since i cant copy and
paste

Posted by Benjamin Faga at 08:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)