Final Project

Okay, this video actually had a lot more failures than successes. Starting with my first attempt to film, after a long day at classes it was already 4:30 by the time I was able to start filming. It was getting dark quickly so I only had the chance to go through each scene once and not look over it. My partner’s camera died on us before we even got to start filming and then my camera died half way through the second cut! My stupid camera never gives me any warning when its about to die! So even then, I did not give up and I tried to at least have something done by filming it on a cell phone camera and emailing it to myself….when I opened the email I saw that the shots were all too dark to see anything.

My next attempt was a successful one where I had a different friend film me and I got most of the video done in one day.

Then, we had the time over Thanksgiving to work on our projects where I thankfully got sick with fevers over the weekend and then had to come back to school and figure out what was wrong with me. Apparently, I have tonsillitis which has caused me to have huge inflamed tonsils and get fevers constantly. I was absolutely miserable and didn’t know how I was ever going to find time to finish my final project…

I did manage to find time in between doses of  to advil to add a couple scenes to the video… enjoy

AND yet another problem!! youtube seems to think that I have uploaded this exact video already when I haven’t…..

Exploring Temperature

Documenting Fever Temperatures

Well, over my Thanksgiving break I started getting sick and having fevers going to sleep freezing at the end of the night and then waking up sweating at the end of the night. I thought that this could be a perfect way to explore my word temperature and probably the only way I could actually use my sickness to get any work done since it inhibited me from getting any work done or even leaving my bed. So I decided to document every Temperature that I had.

Saturday night : 99 degrees at 8:00 at night

Sunday morning: 103 degrees at 8:30 in the morning

sitting in the health center on monday morning: 97 degrees at 9am

back at the health center on monday evening: 98 degrees at 4:30pm

Tuesday night: 99 at 11pm

Luckily I am feeling much better now that I haven’t had any fevers all day.

 

Documenting Weather Temperatures

November 4th- 40 degrees

November 5th- 51 degrees

November 6th- 56 degrees

November 7th- 58 degrees

November 8th- 68 degrees

November 9th- 63 degrees

November 10th- 50 degrees

 

 

Temperature

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tem·per·a·ture  (noun)

1. a measure of the warmth or coldness of an object orsubstance with reference to some standard value. Thetemperature of two systems is the same when the systemsare in thermal equilibrium.

2.

Physiology, Pathology.

a.

the degree of heat in a living body, normally about98.6°F (37°C) in humans.

b.

the excess of this above the normal.

3.

Obsolete. mildness, as of the weather.

4.

Obsolete. temperament

Different examples of Temperature

The earth changes temperature depending an which part you are in.

ICE

Sweat

 

Exploring the Line

The Line

For this assignment, I walked the entire line and tried to discover new things about it. I noticed many things that I do not normally see when I’m doing my daily routine such as a helicopter in the sky or how many objects I can find to use as paint. I especially liked staying near the stream where the water is constantly flowing. The sound of the constant trickling of water was both relaxing and inspiring.

This was my first and favorite exploration. The best way I believe to experience the line is to let it become a part of you. This was a representation of how I have brought the lifestyles of the line into my life and have allowed it to become a part of me.

People Watching

My next method of discovering the line was by exploring the people that cross its path on a daily basis with out even knowing what they are a part of. I sat along a more populated portion of the line for one hour and observed the people that passed by. About 15 people passed by me and countless cars, trucks, and busses. I recorded some of their conversations as well as wondered which part of their day I was observing. I felt very uncomfortable taking their pictures but I made sure I wasn’t caught. Many of my attempts to photograph these people were failed because by the time I had suspected them to be out of earshot from the shutter of my camera, they were already too far away. I did get one good shot of a boy and girl walking down the street. I remember that the boy was carrying an empty red tub of protein supplement and the girl said to him “It’s like a direct line to your body”. Here’s the photo I snapped of them as well as the rest of my observations. 

Found Paint

For my next means of discovering more about the line, I decided to try seeing what types of objects found along the line will leave a mark on paper. I especially liked the marks that were left by the flowers such as the yellow dandelions and purple/red wild flowers and berries. I also liked painting with dirt because I had more control than with rubbing the flowers.  This is my masterpiece. 

Found Conversations

For this exploration, I decided to take the idea of watching people one step further by actually listening to their conversations. I learned a few new things about these people that crossed paths with me on the line and didn’t even know I was listening.  

In the stream…

The next exploration I did involved standing in the stream for an hour and observing anything and everything I could as time passed by. The first thing I learned was that my left rain boot is not waterproof! That made the rest of my exploration slightly more uncomfortable. I also tried climbing the steep muddy walls above the stream with some success I was able to climb out with out getting my clothes too dirty. While in this space I took notice to the constant flow of water. I saw a toad which was very exciting for me to spot because it was only about the 4th time in my life that I have ever seen a toad. I could hear cars on the street in the distance and some crows. After about 30 minuets my feet started getting cold. I noticed the flowing of the water around my feet and the way the tiny pieces of moss on the rocks flowed with the water. I heard a cricket chirping near me but I couldn’t find it anywhere. Previous to this experience I didn’t realize how slippery the rocks could be and that that could be a danger to me…good thing I had a buddy

Miscellaneous Stuff I Found

Unfortunately, the world we live in has become very polluted by people. Any area that people live in you are likely to find some sort of garbage laying around. I decided to walk the line and pick up some of the various “interesting” objects that i found. My favorite objects are the orange bouncy ball and the blue string. I wonder where they came from and if the people who had them before me enjoyed them as much as I do. 

Helicopter sighting!

As I was walking the line I heard the sound of propellers and looked up to find a helicopter hovering in the air! Theres something about flying objects that are so compelling to me. Even though I see an airplane about 5 times a day at home, I still look up and stare every time one passes by. I wonder about where they are going and if they will make it there safley. Sometimes if the airplane seems to be flying really low I wonder what would happen if it were to crash into the nearest building and if I would be able to get away in time.

Personal Territory Tour

My personal territory is the space along the red railing and everything that i can see in front and below me

.         

50 things I discovered about my territory.

1. A key on the concrete ledge that says “DEFIANT” on it…I wonder where it came from.
2. There is a steel bar below me.
3. The bar is buried beneath a twisted forrest of leafless vines from a bush.
4. Fallen leaves are intertwined with the vines.
5. I can hear the bubbling and trickling of the water.
6. The water flows into a tunnel.
7. In the distance, I can see that the water goes under a bridge.
8. At one of the patches of rocks in front of me the water swirls by quickly and creates a tiny white “rapid”.
9. There are many clumps of rocks that stick out of the water at certain points.
10. The tunnel is ribbed on the inside like a soup can.
11. There is a giant bush to my right that is about 50 ft. long.
12. The bush is think with bright green and yellow leaves.
13. At the tips of the stems of the bush there are hair like tufts of stems
14. The stream bends left and right.
15. There is a poland spring bottle.
16. The concrete ledge that I am sitting at has 5 cracks in it.
17. The railing is red.
18. The railing is made of metal
19. The railing feels cold.
20. Some of the paint has chipped off the railing.
21. The metal is rusted where there is no paint.
22. At the base of the railing there is an interesting rust mark.
23. The concrete is mostly blackened over
24. Parts of the concrete feel slimy.
25. Where there aren’t patches of black, the concrete is white.
26. To my left are a bunch of leaves with twisted branches like the ones on the metal bar.
27. The leaves are green, yellow, and red.
28. Some of the trees along the stream have lost their leaves.
29. There are birds chirping.
30. There is a random plant sticking out of the leaves that has white orbs on it.
31. The trees are as tall as four of me.
32. From my ledge to the bottom of the stream is about 3 of me.
33. Directly beneath me is a cinderblock.
34. The water is about 2 of me across.
35. The stems of the big green bush look like bamboo.
36. the stream is in constant motion.
37. The rocks are very slick.
38. As I was standing here it began to rain.
39. Drops are accumulating on the railing.
40. I wonder how they made the tunnel there if it already had a stream running.
41. A bird is chirping loudly.
42. About 15 people have walked by since I’ve been sitting here.
43. There is a blue jay in the tree.
44. Its dark out now.
45. The only light comes from the street lamps and the headlights of cars.
46. I can see the green traffic light.
47. I can’t see the flowing water anymore.
48. 33 cars and a bus have passed by since I’ve been sitting here.
49. 2 cars beeped
50. I hear a group of kids laughing in the distance.

Exploration #17

Create a sculpture using only the objects I have in my territory.

  

I made this sculpture using leaves from the trees in my territory.

The Tour Guide.

Exploration #36

Assign magical powers to inanimate objects. Or come up with a fictional story about them.

Upon first arriving in my territory, I noticed that a key was left on the ledge, on the metal key the word “DEFIANT” is engraved. There are boundless possibilities for this key…but the truth is that it holds a gift as well as a curse. Those who hold the key hold the power to do things that the average person would never do. For some, this key gives them evil tendencies to break the rules. Depending on the hands that the key falls into, it could empower a person to do something magical such as defying gravity or possibly criminal things such as opening the vault of a bank and stealing all the money. The key was left in this spot because the last person to own it was sick of its manipulative powers and wanted to leave it in a place where only someone with good intentions would find it, a person in need of an escape will stare at the stream and feel at peace. With the key present, if you loose yourself in the space for long enough, you might just start to feel its power coming over you and you will feel as if you are floating over the stream.

At the bottom of the stream is a lone cinderblock….or so it seems. The truth is that under all those rocks and mud is an entire city of the water elves. These people are at one with nature and are the reasons for all the crazy weather here in Alfred. If you want to please the elves you must bring them gifts, then they will bring you good weather. These gifts must be well thought out because if you offend the water elves…they will send you crazy weather. This is why the weather in alfred tends to be absurd at times. Only one thing can please the water elves and that’s cookies. The elves have a strange addiction to cookies and sometimes they will listen to your requests if you bring them.  What you must do is leave the tray of cookies on the “X” that is marked on the bridge with the red railing at exactly 11:10am SHARP! Then, you must promptly leave after you have delivered the cookies. If you stick around to try to catch one of the elves it will bring 31 years of disastrous weather so don’t try that one buddy. Though the elves will happily take your gift…compliance isn’t guaranteed. They prefer chocolate chip, but peanut butter and sugar cookies will also be accepted.

Exploration #1

Assignment: Look around the room and pick 10 things that you didn’t notice when you sat down.

1. Zebra Print Towel.
2.  Umbrella on my bed.
3.  Fish food.
4.  I hear someone watching tv.
5.  Box of fruity pebbles.
6.  Pen sitting above my drawers because the one I’m using is running out.
7.  Hair clip on my roommates bed
8.  Penny on the floor beneath my closet doors.
9.  Piece of tape on the ceiling above my door.
10. 1. Leaf underneath my drawers.

 This is what my side of the dorm room looks like. When doing this exploration, I was sitting on my bed against the wall and looking at all the things around me that I hadn’t noticed when I first sat down. 

Exploration #6

Objects that relate to or remind me of my childhood.

Rosary Beads- My family and I used to go to church every sunday when I was younger but since then we have stopped going.

A thank you card from my sister- The card is thanking me for being the maid of honor in her wedding. For my speech at dinner I talked all about my fondest memories of my sister and most of them were from my childhood. When I read the card, it reminds me of my childhood and all the things my sister did for me to help raise me.

A beaded bracelet- My sister got me a huge bead kit for christmas one year and I used to make bracelets with it all the time for my friends and family.

A paper towel with a drawing on it- When I was a child, I used to watch my mom doodle on a napkin or a newspaper while she was on the phone. For some reason, paper towels became my paper of choice when it came to drawing and I would chose it over drawing paper.

A photo booth picture- It was my birthday and my mom let me and my friends take a picture inside the photo booth at the mall. I find it comical how all five of us had to squeeze into a frame that was only meant for two. The friends in this picture were some of my first best friends but I am only friends with one of them to this day.

Success Rock- A piece of metal with the word success engraved into it. My friend used to always give me random things whenever I would go to her house without me asking. This is one of them.

Hair Tie- I used to hate having my hair brushed and I would cry whenever my mom tried to put it up into a ponytail.

The tops of soda cans- My friends used to play a game where we would take turns flicking the top back and forth and say a letter for each time. When it finally fell off, the letter it landed on and would be the first letter of the name that the person who flicked it would marry.

A tiny seashell- This reminds me of my uncle’s beach house in rhode island that we would drive up to every summer. I remember the long road trip that we had to take from long island and me asking every 10 minutes if we were there yet.