HW Worksheet

1 Describe this neighborhood.

Where is it?
West side of town, near East Garfield Park.

What does it look like?
The neighborhood reminiscent of many, though one that seems layered in a complex history of accomplishment, strife, pain and victory. In simple terms it seems well worn and lived in, inviting yet not without its rough edges. Vacant lots and burned and damaged properties still lay memory to the past civil riots and physical conflicts that plagued the streets, a constant reminder of what was coupled next to the oncoming gentrification of what may be, and what could be lost or forgotten in future plans.

Who lives here?
A simple question in terms of demographics, but far more complex when taken in perspective of the many individual lives the make up this community. As far as demographics go, it seems to be predominantly African-American and relatively low income, solely off the basis of street activity and physical conditions of housing and what stores there are. As I stated though, to ask who lives here is to ask for an endless network of individual stories, experiences, and lives. Just as any community, every individual and the relations they have form the organic nature of the neighborhood, an ever growing and morphing entity unique containing a seemingly endless potential, even if unrecognized.

What types of services are readily accessible to the residents of this community?
The CTA as means for transportation, but beyond that the services seem far and few. Bountiful food, beyond that of dollar stores and fast food seems few, and the stores arising from any gentrification seem overpriced and out of touch. We didn’t travel around enough, but I didn’t see any schools, library’s, or community centers though they could very well be there. It is nice to see the community taking ownership of their own neighborhood though in terms of “renegade” gardens, and even small scale business on the street.

2 Describe Maypole Lot(s).

What is it?
It is a non profit community group who is moving towards community revitalization and empowement through designing and beautifying local public spaces in which all members of the community can share and partake in. This happens through the organic meshing of artist, designers, and other creative minds with the brilliance and resource that already lies within the members of that community.

Who did it?
It was a colloboration between artist, designers, and other members of Chicagos creative community and those of the many members of the community that the space was in.

What is the purpose of this art?
At its basis the art can be seen simply as beautification, but is much more layered and complex when further anylized. Being that it is installed in a public space, it immediately takes on a social and political roll. This can vary from the building it is created on, to the space it exist in, all the way to the whole history of the neighborhood and the city. These are all influences and outputs of the work. Along those lines, this work also serves as a sense of history, culture, rememberence, and furtherance for the community. It allows them to take pride in themselves, their land, and shared lives while remembering their past both positive and negative and look forwards in being active in whats to come. The actual artist that produce the work also have an integral part in the work as they all bring forth a multitude of directions, views, and complex themes.

What subjects, issues, and topics are raised by this project?
It brings forth the idea of space within a community, condemned as worthless often, and the potential brought forth within it. This is but a physical metaphor for the many members of that community, each having so much untapped potential, brilliance, and skill and just needing the key to unlock the flood gates. The resource is all there within the community and its people, such an important thing to realize. This brings forth other issues such as what is revitilization when gentrification seems to have become the synynom for the word, and also how to continue to build into a community post project when it comes to installing public works and spaces.


3 What types of artists and designers have contributed to the design of CCGT? List categories and examples of the things that have been designed by designers.
Everything from sculptors, painters, advertisement designers, architects, and interior designers. Things designed by these designers involve everything from the large scale project of millennium park, to rooftop putting greens, one of the most eco friendly buildings in the world, to simple side walk foliage.



4 Why is it important for artists and designers to learn about green materials and sustainable design?
It is both an issue of being socially responsible and looking for a progression within the very dialogue of culture and art. As artist we are existing within a world with an exponential growth of “junk”, and use that as a basis for our own production of work, and choose wisely the material in which we produce. By understanding “green” materials it allows for a much more educated and well informed decision.



5 What points did William McDonough and Michael Braungart make in their article “The next industrial revolution”? Explain why they think that designers play a key role in a sustainable future.
They believe that it will indeed take not just a reform or change in how we approach our modern world, but truly a revolution, and change of practice, philosophy and general mindset towards our globalizing world to allow further progress. This is to fall on the designers of our time to craft and form, creating a smart and sustainable tomorrow that not only fosters business and economy but also serves as a betterment to humanity and the beautiful and intricate systems we exist within, both natural and synthetic.

6 What subjects, issues, and topics are raised by this work?
One big issue brought up is our obsession of reuse, reduce, recycle and how it is only a prolongement of the inevidatable. These are but “trendy” patches to a still leaky gas valve that is destined to explode. What we need is a more permanent fix, and change in design, a revolution in which the very approach we take looks to better human life, economic income, and sustain our enviroment from cradle to grave. This revolution is the future, and is now.





7 Why are wind and solar energy important things for artists and designers to think about?
These sources of energy are sustainable, reusable, clean and unending. Understanding that energy is never gained but lost, nearly transferred we must asked our selves the focus of that energy transfer, both literally and figuratively as artist and we’re we put our focus and energy towards change. We must design ways to capture this endless supply of renewable energy in a precise and focused way, this is a part of this revolution.


8 List 3 things you learned about or thought about today.
1. The roll and definition of a community, and the endless potential and untapped energy within.
2. The vastness and possibilites both practically and conceptually of green materials
3. The degree of the revolution that is falling upon our generation to solve for future stability