So, we finished the group part of the Mexico excursion today. Whew. I think everyone collectively sighed. Seriously, we could have done the whole thing in 2 days instead of 5. By the sounds of things, I was in the lucky group. None of us were really pushy or overly sensitive or so set on an idea that we couldn’t listen to others. Of course there were compromises and some teeth gritting, but that’s people. I actually really liked our process and the intent behind the work. The end product was okay, but it’s not my favorite part.
The assignment: The purpose of the group project was to “…create a site-specific work which creates or evokes an experience for all participants. It was to activate and transform the space…” and “…transcend mere objectness.” Also it was to “…draw upon our experiences in Mexico.” We were also given the perameter that it should be easily transported in a bag or box, ie nothing needing crazy construction.
My group which consisted of Jessica, Kimberly, Britney and myself decided upon a little wall with 5 stairs. Our intent was to use the space to evoke the mystery and awe that we had all felt at some point as we passed from the public spaces outside Mexican hasienda walls into the private and magnificent gardens hidden beyond them.
We constructed a partition and ceiling for the wall made of burlap to enhance the enclosure felt by the wall and to focus the observers eyes upon the ground and the journey up the stairs to a landing. In the midst of construction yesterday, I threw a piece of blue plastic on the ceiling and the sun shining through it was awesome. We decided to incorporate that into the piece, constructing bottle shapes to reflect on the tiled surface of the ground, reminiscent of Barragan’s blue bottles and vases that he seems to love so much in his houses and to add a sense of surprise at coming around the corner of the wall. The ceiling of burlap extended up 2 stairs to force the participant to almost crawl up the stairs – and when they came out they were 3 steps from a landing which held an oversize constructed tile (like so many we’ve seen) with glass mirrors that reflected the trees above. Hopefully a moment of clarity.
Overall, I really liked the idea. The tile thing IMO was a bit too much… Mikey even said that she thought the mirrors would have been plenty. But some of the group was insistent upon tiles and colors, so what do you do? Eh, group project… it’s done and now we can drink tequila.
The other groups also came out really well. I think it was a success – I just think it could have taken less time. (Although where us LA grads are used to limited, crazy time, the others would probably have fainted.) 
