The Endeavors of Week Six
This week has been one of reading, writing, reflection, and sketching.
It is interesting to observe the difference of a picture and a sketch from the
same view point. It becomes a map of myself in a way, illustrating the
directions of my attention and focus. I spent the majority of my time in the
Women’s Garden, specifically at the reflective basin area, due to the topic of
my evocative object chapter. This is the most stimulating area I have encountered
so far, as will be elaborately revealed in my paper. The tree branches are
naked due to the time of the season, and they stretch into the depths of the
sky. I can’t help but feel as though this is a mirror reflection of my mind
when I am wondering through the many gardens within gardens. The atmosphere is
pleasantly provoking. However I came to discover that Mr. DeGolyer, the
original owner of the land, was a founder and CEO of one of the largest oil
companies in the area. Having read the “Extraction” chapter this week, this
struck me as intriguingly ironic. I plan to find out more and expand in my
research paper, but in the meantime here is my Evocative Object epigraph, and
Intro with link:
Hence judgment
is compelled, for its own guidance, to adopt it as an a priori principle, that
what is for human insight contingent in the particular (empirical) laws of
nature contains nevertheless unity of law in the synthesis of its manifold in
an intrinsically possible experience-unfathomable, though still thinkable, as
such unity may, no doubt, be for us. Consequently, as the unity of law in a
synthesis, which is cognized by us in obedience to a necessary aim (a need of
understanding), though recognized at the same time as contingent, is
represented as a finality of objects (here of nature), so judgment, which, in
respect of things under possible (yet to be discovered) empirical laws, is
merely reflective, must regard nature in respect of the latter according to a
principle of finality for our cognitive faculty, which then finds expression in
the above maxims of judgment. Now this transcendental concept of a finality of
nature is neither a concept of nature nor of freedom, since it attributes
nothing at all to the object, i.e., to nature, but only represents the unique
mode in which we must proceed in our reflection upon the objects of nature with
a view to getting a thoroughly interconnected whole of experience, and so is a
subjective principle, i.e., maxim, of judgment. For this reason, too, just as
if it were a lucky chance that favored us, we are rejoiced (properly speaking,
relieved of a want) where we meet with such systematic unity under merely
empirical laws: although we must necessarily assume the presence of such a
unity, apart from any ability on our part to apprehend or prove its existence.
-Immanuel Kant, The Critique of Judgment
The Reflective Basin Area in
the Women’s Garden
Summer White
The Dallas Arboretum’s Women’s Garden is alive
with extensions of itself. The various gardens intend to embody the multitude
of complex qualities pertained by women. They aim to capture strength and
softness simultaneously with poetic architectural designs that symbolize life
force, and promote visions and prayer of wellbeing.1
Here is my prezi, but be careful, it may make you dizzy :http://prezi.com/huvw_2y1kwsl/the-mission/
Log:
(6.5 hrs)Friday Feb 10th: On site dwelling in Reflective Basin area, Drawing perspectives and taking photographs and reflecting in journal 12-4:30, Reading TOSB (The Object Stares Back, James Elkins) 6-8
(4.5 hrs) Saturday 11th: Researching Women’s Garden online and found video of explanation and virtual tour 1-2, drawing view based on pictures taken (very different from drawing actual thing) 3-5, Reading The Mechanism of Meaning by Arakawa and Madeline Gins 5:30-7 (It is like a board game for your mind!)
(7 hrs) Sunday: 12th TSIS 10-1, Start writing Evo chapter 2-3, Reading TMOM 4-6, Meditation 8-9 making way for reflective basin insight
(5.5 hrs) Monday 13th: On site in Reflective Basin area, I embody woman within frame and write about it, 1-3:30, Writing Evo chapter 5-7:30, Reading TOSB 8:30-9
(7.75) Tuesday 14th: Live Modeling (I become an art object) 10:30-1:30, Reading TOSB 2:30-3:15, writing Evo chapter 4-5:30 and 6-7, Read Extraction 8-9:30
(10.5) Wednesday 15th: Finnish Extraction 11-12:30, Write evo 1:30-3, Prezi mind whirling production 3:30-8, Writing Evo 10-11 and 12-2
(4) Thursday 16th: Writing Evo + blog 1-4 and 5-6
Total Hours : 45.75
