African Burial Ground Project:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lnswoyij_40&feature=youtu.be

Roosevelt Island Tramway Project:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vnas7iyA75c&feature=youtu.be

Coney Island Project:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/iFizw8Fp4xQ

The Plaza Hotel Project:
https://youtu.be/XevU_LQqlJQ

NYC Subway Project:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvHe10jJhf8&feature=youtu.be

Seminar 1: NYC Urban Space iMovie Project (20%)
Prof. Benjamin Gillespie
Fall 2017

Your creative project for the semester consists of creating an iMovie representing or documenting an aesthetic landscape somewhere in New York City. You can choose to approach this project in a number of different ways. For example, you might create a video essay exploring the aesthetic construction of the space by documenting various aspects that make it artistic in your opinion, or you might focus on how New Yorkers engage with the space and how it fits into the social landscape of the city. Alternatively, you might utilize compositional aspects of the space to construct your own piece of art. You might even choose to stage and film a performance within the space, exploring its contours in abstract ways or writing a script and making a short film. Be creative! My only requirements are a) that your project be constructed entirely of elements from your chosen space, so nothing in the film should be represented/take place beyond this space, and b) that everyone has a significant role in the creation of the project.

Collaborating in groups of 3 or 4, decide upon an urban setting to focus your project on. This could be a space you know well or one you want to learn more about. It will be required that you visit the space together at least twice and document your field notes while there which you will share with me through two of your blog post assignments. Consider the aesthetic aspects of the space or how you find yourself moving through the space. What kind of creative project would best suit this type of a space? Ask yourself: What kinds of shapes, colors, and textures do you find in the space? Is it natural or manmade (or a mix of both)? Does the space feature architectural curiosities, graffiti, sculptures, murals, artworks, street performances, festivals, gardens, stages, fountains, public meeting spaces, spectacular views, or other notable elements? After observing the space, consider how best to to capture, document, and represent the space in an artistic project.

This assignment asks you to consider the space as a total environment, potentially encompassing artistic, social, political, material, and geographical factors. Cities like New York differ greatly from block to block, and so you might also consider how your particular space is distinct in the landscape of New York. A few examples of urban spaces include: an historic building, a public park, a city square, a community center, a neighborhood, a particular block, a subway platform, a city landmark, a theatre, a school, a church, a museum, public transit, or any other discrete space that has some appeal to you! This space could be encountered on your daily commute, the neighborhood where you live, or a particular area you are drawn to visually and want to consider more deeply through a creative project.

These projects should consist of original footage and representational evidence captured by smartphones, cameras, sketches, sculpture, video, or other means. Once you have chosen on a mode of representation and gathered the materials you need, you thoroughly edit these materials into a short movie running +/- 5-minutes in length. If you’ve never used iMovie, don’t worry! Our tech fellow, Tommy Wu, will lead a workshop with other Macaulay students to help you learn about this program. This project will be completed in a sequence throughout the semester. If you would are interested in showcasing these projects, you can participate in the STEAM festival happening at Macaulay Central Dec 2-3!

*Due Dates*

a) 1-paragraph iMovie Proposal: October 11th

This should be emailed to me by a group leader with all team members copied. It should include: the space you plan to visit, your planned schedule for visits, and how you intend to represent or use the space artistically.

b) Site Visits and Blog Posts: October 24^th and November 7^th

You must visit your space at least twice and take field notes and photos/video as evidence. You should also meet with your group after these visits and discuss your findings, working together to think through how you’ like to approach the project together and how you will divide up tasks. This project is as much about coordination as it is artistic. The prompts for these two Blog posts will require that you have visited your space and taken field notes and pictures/video to complete effectively, so please plan ahead!

c) iMovie Workshop led by ITF:October 25th in class

d) In-Class iMovie Screenings: November 29th