Catching Up...

We have slowly but surely been getting out to the site more often. Last week James and I had to make a quick run to confirm some measurements, the studio attempted a design charette on site, we set up a grid on using string and stakes, this past weekend we helped out the United Way in a site clean-up, and this past weekend we all disembled the Ron Box (aka mini-block). We have been working on designing a new box that will serve as signage for the Keese Park. This new block will carry our studio emblem/logo and it will clearly explain the previous students' interventions on the site. We also plan to include a history of the Keese Barn so that the memory of what was is not lost or forgotten completely.

Last week we divided into smaller group with three students focusing on the Signage Block and the rest focusing on the Super Porch. I think that the shift of our attention to the Signage Block was a relief as we were finally able to DO something on the site. On Saturday February 16th, we all worked together to tear down the mini-block. From the block we salvaged 3 old doors which had been integrated into the construction. Two of the doors are intact (the glass is shattered in the third door). I personally would like to see the glass and the doors re-used somehow in the design. During the site clean-up on the previous Saturday, I decided to collect and separate the broken glass we were finding in hopes that we can somehow use this later in the construction (as an aesthetic element). The earlier students collected the liquor bottles and used them as citronella candle holders during an on-site event with the community. I thought this was a very clever and creative way to turn trash into something that can be appreciated.

This past weekend we have also begun to purchase supplies for the construction of a mock-up of the Signage Block. We are running into the inevitable problems of large scale modelling but we hope to have the mock-up completed by Wednesday.

I have been designated as the Project Manager, probably because I have a tendancy to get a little bossy. As the PM, I am responsible for projecting a budget and schedule and tracking our progress in both. I have set up an Excel file for the budget and have already begun entering in the purchases we made this weekend.

I have heard through the grapevine that some of my team members have agreed (on everyone's behalf) that each of us will contribute $100 for the mocking up of the project...yikes! I am more in favor of a fundraiser effort: I think that if we earn the money or budget it more carefully we will be more economical in our spending.

Though we are progressing somewhat slowly, we ARE progressing. I think that completeing the mock-up will boost the energy and momentum of the group.