Field Trip

1. The theme of the Biennial is "Action/Reaction", where artists of various mediums created thoughtful works responding to current events and social concerns for a panel of judges putting together the 2010 California Design Biennial at the Pasadena Museum of California Art. Broad enough to appeal to a wide range of artists working in vastly different mediums, the theme seemed extremely vague at first, but the specific concerns of current times ended up creating a much stronger and more unified thread through the works than the indistinct 'theme' written on the wall. The pieces spoke to the viewer about environmental consciousness and it various applications through architecture, fashion, product design, and graphic design. Each artist approached the subject differently, some proposing a solution to wastefulness or using recycled or 'green' materials, others promoting awareness of the issue, and still others speaking out against wasteful, environment harming practices. I find the theme extremely relevant as it addresses issues in the forefront of social discourse at the moment and rather than just repeating tired viewpoints, brings about fresh ideas, solutions, and beliefs from artists in forms other than a newsreel or protest.

2. The theme is extremely well expressed through the objects on display. For example, the Graphic Design Program at California Institute of the Arts, created a slick and informative "Better Bikeways" campaign, that utilized clean, clear, colored signs to mark out bike paths and maps with bike routes to provide useful navigational information to cyclists in Los Angeles. The campaign responds to the 'action' in contemporary society of global warming and excessive greenhouse gas emissions with the 'reaction' of promoting cycling as a means of transportation and not just sport. The signs use good design in order to efficiently and aesthetically inform cyclists of routes so that cycling becomes an even easier mode of travel with the aid of beautiful signs that will not be rejected by the neighborhoods they route through because of their appearance.

3. I believe that the object that captured the theme most closely was the Sava Pool designed by mark Cavagnero Associates and Paulett Taggart Architects. The structures both responds to the current event of environmentalism, the common them running through the exhibit, but also to the many characteristics of its surroundings. It is built of sustainable materials such as concrete and aluminum, that are also low cost and therefore ideal for the construction of a public facility. The vast amounts of glass, and the inviting design keep the building made from very industrial materials from being too cold. The pool facility responds to its unique setting in a San Francisco park near a thoroughfare and neighborhood by being both durable and aesthetically pleasing. The low cost of materials also allows the park to be available to visitors for very low cost, and therefore be a more useful facility for residents.

4. The object I found most interesting was the stack of fuzzy folding chairs by Tanya Aquiñiga. The fuzzy and colorful chairs totally upend the usual feeling associated with folding chairs, replacing the cold, hard, and industrial, and the warm, soft, and colorful, and in this way Aquiñaga upends the now traditional idea of cold industrialism in modern furniture. What I find most intriguing about this piece is the pure oddity in something changed in only one way, and how this oddity left an unshakeable feeling of 'wrongness', which made me question why I should wrong at all at the sight of a comfortable and inviting folding chair.

5. The object I found least compelling was the collection of goth dresses with the hornlike decoration. I felt like it least addressed the theme of Action/Reaction or the inner theme of environmental consciousness. The dresses, with their overload of spikey horns and matching uncomfortable antelope horns did shock, but didn't seem to have much of a message behind this shock.

6. I got a very good overall impression of the exhibit. I felt it was very cohesive while still offering a wonderful variety, with photos, installations, fashion, architecture and transportation models, and products designs. One additional piece that I really enjoyed that I did not get to talk about was the inflatable kayak by Advanced Elements, since it both reflects an outdoorsy spirit and ingenious design.

Later,

Christina