artist book summary

I designed the book to demonstrate collective memory while exploring how prions contribute to memory recollection.  The book consists of a center image of a prion with nine panels branching out of the center.  The display of the prion image in the center with the panels branching out represents the idea of a central nervous system with dendrites branching out from the brain.  Each panel displays a different image representative of collective memory.  I selected images of collective memories such as Olympics opening ceremonies, graduations, birthdays, weddings, social traditions, and experiencing nature’s beauty.  I decided to focus on the celebratory aspect of collective memory with less of a focus on death and destruction.    

With each panel there is an accompanying folded version of the panel’s image.  The folded image encourages the viewer to think about how much of the original memory is lost while they try to unfold and shape the paper into a recognizable form.  How does memory change over time as we try to recall it?  How much is missing from the original memory? The panels display the most complete and whole version of the original image, however the original image has been altered by the size of the panels.  Therefore, there are no original images displayed.  The lack of original images demonstrates how often memory is altered as soon as we try to remember it.  There are varying degrees of alteration, with the original image cut to fit the panel and then the panel image cut and folded into a three dimensional object.

Prions, or infectious proteins, have been shown to play a role in long term memory. Prions infect other proteins by causing them to misfold.  The foldable images represent prions with the ability to be folded correctly or incorrectly by the viewer.  The viewer’s interactions with the “prion” will determine the correct or incorrect memory.

Capturing the Friedmans

I think one of the reasons why this documentary was so unsettling was because it did not have any definite answers.  We never find out whose version of the story is correct.  It was also upsetting because I believed that Jesse and the father were wrongly convicted and victims of the hysteria surrounding child abuse. I thought the father was guilty of some crimes but not what he was sentenced to prison for.  The complete failure of the criminal investigation and interrogation was frustrating.  It demonstrated the importance of research in the field of child memory and how impressionable they can be. It was striking to see the two scenes where one police officer described the correct method of child interrogation then another officer described the complete opposite method where the child must be led answer the questions.  Hopefully with a more accurate understanding of eyewitness testimonies less of these cases will occur and less lives will be ruined.

artist book progress

So I finished (mostly) a mock up of my book backbone as I call it. Each of the flaps will have a printed image on the inside with the folded image tucked in there some how (I am still figuring that part out).  The outside image is of a prion where each flap has a section of the image.  The unaltered image of the prion will be in the middle printed on the nonagon. I am thinking of putting the artist statement on the back of the nonagon. I will sew the flaps on to the main nonagon.  The flaps have to folded down in a specific order for the prion image to be correct.

splinters

I found these cool images where the artist distorts the original image by physically cutting and pasting images to alter their affect and appearance.  Although the artist's intent was not to imply memory themes, I can't help of thinking how these altered images could represent how memory changes. Either way these are both funny and creative.  http://www.hifructose.com/the-blog/993-lola-dupre.html

artist book stuff

I am trying to create an interactive experience that will demonstrate the theme of collective memory while incorporating the idea of how prions contribute to effective memory.  I am planning on using collective/shared memories as my source of photos.  Each page of the book will have a picture that is not modified as well as a pouch of some sort that contains a folded version of the image.  The reader/viewer will be encouraged to unfold the image and try to see how the folding image relates to the unaltered image.  Can the image be recognized in its folded form? 
      My reasoning behind this is to demonstrated how memory changes as we remember it and we lose some details and fill them in with what we are currently experiencing.  The folded images will have pieces missing, so it will be as if the folded image represents a memory of the original image.  It is an experiment to see where different folds will lead the viewer to interpret the memory. 
    Prions are infectious proteins that can cause other proteins to become infected.  The process of changing a regular protein to a prion involves a misfolding of the protein.  Prions have been shown to play a role in long term memory.  Will you misfold and become infected?

Here are some works in progress.  I plan to make the folded images at a larger scale and am open to suggestions as to what kind of paper would work for folding and not ripping.  I am also planning on experimenting with various 3D shapes that the folding can create.  Maybe trying an image on both sides of the paper, making it harder to match the original image to the folded image (various degrees of memory loss), or varying the location of the folding outline printed on the image.

Saving History

Frances Densmore recording Blackfoot Chief singing a song (1916) 
This photo caught my eye because of the clashing of the two worlds.  On one side there is "modern" technology and the other a very traditionally dressed Native American.  The two sides of the image are joined by the gramophone projecting into the man's face.  This makes me wonder what he is singing and how she talked him into singing for her.  I love the idea of preserving history by recording stories and folk songs.  When memory fails you can always turn to sound to preserve memory.


I found this cool website of recorded folk music http://www.folkways.si.edu/index.aspx that was started in 1948.

Photo/Memory and Me

The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about how I can apply what we have learned in this class to my major (Biology) is what Dr. Queen told us about multitasking and how none of us can do it effectively.  I remembered this when I was reading about community ecology this weekend, (no music was playing).  What also comes to mind is the fact that memory is fallible. So how am I supposed to remember what the island equilibrium model is? (I didn't, I had to look it up.)  Memory is not only fallible but it changes as we try to recollect it. "We reconstruct the past to fit our schematic expectations" (Lilienfeld, Lynn, Ruscio, & Beyerstein, 2010).  Our memories change to fit what is happening in the present, they are shaped by other memories and experiences.  With this concept in mind I realize why it is a good idea for scientists to accurately record their experimental findings.  Without detailed proof of the results, corrupted memory would have to be relied upon.  
       The excerpts from Proust was a Neuroscientist by Jonah Lehrer benefited my studies of biology because it introduced the concept of how the brain regulates memory.  I had vague background knowledge of how the brain works but I had never learned the details of how memories can be recalled with prions and CPEB.  It also changed my perception of prions which I had associated with deadly degenerative brain diseases.  Neurology is an important field of study because if we can understand how the brain works we will be able to understand why memory is fallible.