03/22/10 Update

Not the most exciting day, but productive none-the-less. Worked on getting together the nearly twenty addresses I've lived at since 1975 so I could send in the PA Child Abuse form. I cast into words the specifications for the kinetoscope kiosk and re-did the budget, but cannot finalize until I hear back from Frank Siciliano, the craftsman.

I then spent the remainder of the day working on the presentation I'm to give at Stiffel on the 9th. I have a DVD well underway. Anyone have a video projector? Unfortunately a lot of time was "eaten" struggling with software issues which seem to now be straightened out. I'm also at work at putting my PC (using a Mac right now) back into service (new hard-drive and total rebuild) so I can video edit with the full suite that will also drive a full-sized TV monitor via a very nice converter box.

Tom Carroll has arranged for a tour and meeting with the Southeast Asian constituency for Friday, April 2. We may also go to the Wat Khmer this Sunday.

March 15, 2010 Update

Met with Susan Hoffman and the social director, Lynne, to get everything in place for videotaping people with their saved objects. The preliminary session will be April 9 with the video being done on the 16th.

At Susan's request, I also put together a hand-bill for her to give out. I did my best to keep things grounded and concrete. People will also get a hand-out at the preliminary meeting and will write in what they are bringing so they can post it on a refrigerator or somewhere prominent. I also plan to bring objects in case someone forgets or perhaps they'll see something from "my museum" that grabs their attention.

This morning I did preliminary drawings of what the kiosk will look like. I'm still experimenting and since there will be loops of 16mm film, I'm trying to figure out how they and the pulleys might enhance the whole design and connect with the overall idea of the project. I will be talking with the planned fabricator, Frank Siciliano, on April 1.

Additionally, I did more poking around the neighborhood, unfortunately my video camera gave out, but I have some ideas of what I want to capture. I also stopped in at the store across from Happy Clams and did some shopping, just to kind of make my presence known.

Historical Images

I didn't think many existed, until yesterday. These are all from the area around the Stiffel Center, on the way to the center, or were mentioned in the interviews. These are just a sample. I went through about 1700 images in the City's online database.

Stiffel and Community Workshop Outline

03 08 10 Adult Workshop: “Objects of Memory”

Facilitator: RA Friedman

Place: Stiffel Center

Proposed Dates: Friday, March 26 & Friday April 2

^Overview:

^{The objects that we keep or collect often connect us in a very direct way to our family history, where we lived, what we did; how we saw ourselves, and the world. The goal of this workshop is to employ small, easily transportable objects that people may have saved: articles of clothing, a letter, a piece of jewelry, or small tools, as a way of revealing these usually unseen connections and inner visions.}

^{The culminating work for this part of the Journeys South project will be a hand-cranked, mechanical movie kiosk that will be able to travel from neighborhood to neighborhood and also appear at various events. The movie “reel” will be very short, only about two minutes and will be a silent narrative montage made up of workshop footage, images and video captured in the neighborhood, oral history clips, and perhaps historical materials.}

^{The workshop is split into two halves. In the first half (1 hr) I’ll explain what the piece is to be and the ideas behind it. I want to see what peoples’ ideas are and what objects people would like to bring, and to handle any logistical issues. For instance, I may be able to provide certain objects from my own collection or borrow should the need arise. I don’t want people to rehearse, so I’ll probably keep exactly what is to happen in the second workshop, somewhat un-specific.}

^{In the second workshop (2.5 hrs), I will set up a backdrop and lights and center-goers will be videotaped somehow engaged with their object. This could be such things as: putting on a hat, opening and closing a folding camera, making paper cutouts, changing a steel phonograph needle. Ideally, I’ll have a second cameraperson on hand. I want to be sure to capture things like close-ups of hands and facial expressions.}