Collaborating with the Modesto Art Museum, //Bii: Watch is creating a four-part video response to Modesto’s ranking as the most unlivable city in the country. Through this video, we will explore some of the reasons for Modesto’s low ranking and re-imagine ways for the city to become a more livable place, or even a Utopian society. Our goal is to confront the area’s poverty of imagination by using art — videos, architecture, design, and gameplay — to inspire creativity to help solve the area’s many urban problems.
The four videos, each about 5 minutes in length, are structured around the city’s official slogan “Water, Wealth, Contentment, Health” and explore the city’s livability issues through its architecture and urban design. While the videos document the city’s architecture and design, they are primarily expressive and experimental in their poetic interpretations of each topic, and live video is incorporated into the installations. According to the American Institute of Architects, architecture and urban design offer a powerful perspective for exploring and finding remedies for a city’s livability issues. We have chosen this perspective to highlight the arts and their unique contribution to exploring the area’s deep seated urban problems. The perspective also focuses on art and artists as agents of change, and builders of the community.
WATER
Water serves the entire project as a unifying metaphor and visual image. It is a symbol for the area’s abundance and potential economic prosperity. The Water video explores the specific importance of water in the economy and environment of the Modesto area. The video includes the city’s bridges, canals, and waterways, particularly the Tuolumne River running through downtown Modesto, as well as a component of live video. Water is also a way to re-imagine how Modesto can protect environmental resources and conserve landscapes, particularly along the Tuolumne River. The video explores how conserving landscapes can lead to personally and communally rewarding recreational and cultural opportunities.
Produced by JGomula
Collaborating Artists include: Julie Strong, Brittney Miller, and Alyssa Martinez.
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Water. Actual video footage, without live video component.
Water. Final piece, requires webcam for live video capture and Flash Player.
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Performance of Water with live video. Dancers from Deep Root Dance Company.
R.A.W. @ the Garage, San Francisco.
WEALTH
The Wealth video examines the economic well-being of the city through its residential architecture and neighborhood design. The video explores issues of livability, particularly the city’s high rates of home foreclosure. The video explores ways to re-imagine Modesto neighborhoods, overlaying hopes and desires of individual Utopias on areas of blight and decay; allowing Modesto to rise as a Phoenix and return to its notoriety of the mid twentieth century. Variety creates vibrant, pedestrian-friendly, and diverse communities and accommodates residents in different stages of their lives.
Produced by JGomula
Collaborating Artists include: Julie Strong, Brittney Miller, Alyssa Martinez.
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CONTENTMENT
The Contentment video examines the perception of citizen’s of the city through their participation in the annual LOVE Modesto volunteer day. On April 2, 2010 over 5,000 people contributed to this city-wide church sponsored event. The documentary video explores practical issues of livability, specifically the Habitat for Humanity projects within the Modesto. The video documents concrete ways to re-imagine Modesto neighborhoods, overlaying hopes and desires of individual Utopias on areas of blight and decay.
Produced by JGomula
Collaborating Artists include: Julie Strong, John Fandl, Eric Medina, and Alexis-Kim Priela
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