b/w animation of elevation at dig as of 7192011

short animation taken from 5 photos of Paul at the site showing the level of ascension.

Raw footage_Paul_ 7 17 2011

Paul is a regular to this spot. He and his brother have grown up in the neighborhood. He sees this place in some regards as a birthright. They both played in this area as children and continue to use this shared space that I now inhabit with them. He has very strong opinions about the site and the dig. The dig as communicative tool is evident in that as a shareholder in the public space I must listen to a multiple set of voices. Paul, William, local dog walkers Pat and Lorraine are a few of the human voices that regard this space very differently from my approach, so I am aware to heed their advice...but they are not the only voices I collaborate with.

Raw footage at site 7 14 2011

This is unedited raw footage of a conversation with a park/site user. This is one segment of a series of clips taken as I was working on the morning of July 14th. Paul arrived, guitar in hand, and occupied his spot, a place he states which possesses great nostalgic value.

july 11 2011

Dig as of July8 2011

These shots are taken from atop the northwest parapet. The combined elevation from atop the wall to the floor of the trench (running along the sewer line) is approximately 10 feet. From this vantage point you can see all existing piers. Running parallel to the exposed sewage line and directly behind the foreground foundation pier is the southern most extremity of Phase I. Everything north of that pier will be dug to a depth of six feet.

Photographs show the overall lay of the site and the progress of the excavation as of July 8 2011.

carving to 6 feet

fig.1

fig.2

fig.3

fig.4

To give a sense of orientation, the concrete piers are sitting at the original ground level. The top image, as well as the bottom two, give an indication of the current depth, which is approximately 4.5 feet. The projected depth is 6feet in the area surrounding this north facing pier adjacent to the north facing berm.

Visible in the second image (fig.2) is an example of an earlier embedded mask. The mask was made from mud taken from the site and mixed with manure. This earlier version of the mask, though relatively delicate in construction, hold up well to the natural and unnatural elements. The intention is to encrust the faces of all the walls.

Depth and elevation (construction of walls and berms) of the site will take place in simultaneous phases. Phase I, is the construction of the north and northwest berms as well as excavating the areas adjacent to and around the north concrete pier (shown in the foreground in fig.1).

The area of the two middle ground piers during Phase II will be dug to a depth of 4 feet and the area directly behind the piers , Phase 3, will be the atrium with stairs, 2 feet in depth to the first level of the site.

In figure 1 you can see the beginnings of a retaining wall that bookends the large pepper tree shading the site. The retaining wall is made of packed dirt and mortared with mud. My plans are to pack and stack the face of the wall with sun dried brick, filling the interior with excavated dirt. Proposed height of the wall is 4 feet as a sufficient height once the excavation is complete.

Within the wall I have planted Morning Glory seed in an attempt to create a colorful and delicate barrier to the west side of the site that will entwine itself along the wall and in the tree. The purple blooms will add a natural and striking contrast to the varied tones of the soil.