PROJECT
Group Seating Structures
Human Interactions: Creating
Culture
COURSE
Interdisciplinary/ 3D
TIMELINE
5 Weeks
INSTRUCTOR
Micki Spiller
OUTCOMES
Core Concepts/Language
Making
Inquiry
Reflection
Synthesis
Community
MATERIALS/TOOLS
Wood, cardboard
DOWNLOAD
Lucy Orta Durational performance with the film Modular Architecture (1996), 2017 / 56 Artillery Lane group exhibition / Raven Row, London / Photo: Amy Gwatkin
ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION
For this final project, students are divided into small groups to create their own “culture”, by creating a seating structure that serves a particular moment of interaction. This “culture” will not be based on politics, religion, ethnicity or race, but rather a group of likeminded people coming together for enjoyment of similar interests: such as-yoga culture, coffee culture, Game of Thrones watching, chess playing, Minecraft, etc. After researching and analyzing specific cultural behaviors in context, students will create a seating structure that enables people to interact while performing the chosen task. The seating will serve EITHER to facilitate social connection or create social barriers. The prop will be used in a video-documented
performance and displayed as a final presentation including a 2 minute i-movie. This final project requires being aware of our experiences while engaging in them, and creating for the purpose of a larger group rather than for the individual.
PROCESS
Groups of 4-5 students research the focus of their agreed culture and share images and text on Milanote. They then decide a focus for their designs by selecting one of the following structural methods:
A. When individual structures are combined, they form one structure.
B. Cohesive in some way- by material, colors, or use of similar shapes.
C. Same design- build for each individual’s unique body proportions.
Week 1: In pairs, students create a scale model of partners.
Week 2-3: Students create a 3” scale model in chipboard proportional to the small person model, which is then scaled up to a cardboard structure with a written critique in the form of a thank you letter to their partner.
Week 4-5 After checking the functionality of their models, students return to their original groups and move to the full scale structures in the woodshop.