Trumbull_final statement

Dylan Trumbull

Lia  Halloran

Art and Science

Trumbull Final Project Statement

            My final project for Art and Science is titled “constructed space for means of documentation”.  “Constructed space for means of documentation” is a video installation piece that uses three different mediums. The three mediums that are being used are two video projections, one sculptural piece and a sound piece. These three mediums are combined together to revolve around the same theme and concept, which is the education of SMAP.

            “Constructed space for means of documentation” is all about the creation of a false reality to connect and explain to an average audience NASA JPL’s knowledge in a humorous way. The installation uses a homemade SMAP with household objects that is aware of its blemishes, wear and tear, and its imperfections. This contrasts the real SMAP made my JPL, which prides itself on perfection of their space crafts. We learned while at JPL the many tests that go into making a spacecraft be able to operate in space. This sculpture sits in the center of the space on top of a green screen cloth. A green screen is an object used for the creation of false space. By adding it in I am using it to acknowledge the creations of a false reality or deception and the use of the technology throughout the piece. The sculpture also is being hung by thick and silver wire that is not easily hidden. Behind the sculpture is two projected video pieces on the wall. One video has SMAP the sculpture piece flying in space. The video once again shows the viewer the non-seamless edits and affects. The second video shows SMAP the sculpture and a subject covering area entering and exiting the frame right to left. During the video ruptures in the sculpture become aware. The final piece of the installation is a sound piece. The sound is a cliché space and technological mix. The two mixed sounds are meant to reference the spacecraft and the location in which it would be flying.

            “Constructed space for means of documentation” is a piece that revolves around the science and space community and the happenings that are going on. SMAP has been an eight to ten year time lined project and with the October projected launch date it is of high interest to a lot of the science and space community. My installation piece references a lot of SMAP’s actually major parts aboard the satellite. My sculptural SMAP has been simplified really focusing on the few major parts of SMAP, which are the boom, antenna, base, and solar panels. By using all the information that I gathered at JPL from specialists of the SMAP team I was able to simplify and attempt to reach and inform a greater audience of what SMAP is and about.