2012 Exhibition

Velociplosion (A Muybridge Influenced Spatial Event)

10. Velociplosion (A Muybridge Influenced Spatial Event)

Animated stop-motion mechanics in tangible space

The iconic photographic explorations of Eadweard Muybridge depict and distill continuous movements, from the mundane to the exceptional , into isolated frames of regard. These exercises, intentionally or otherwise, allow the idiosyncrasies of an object in time to be represented out of context, within a two dimensional medium (the genesis of cinema). This transformation is inherently one of reduction, contraction, minimization ‘Velociplosion’, an event of matter and light for Dlectricity, proposes to inverse these operations and re-contextualize these frame into space.

This exercise intends to reverse engineer a mechanical phenomenon into a set of sculptural ‘frames’ across 100 feet of installation space. By constructing a series of identical objects in linear space, modifying each successive object slightly, and successively illuminating each object with a brief but powerful strobe, we may intimate Muybridge cell-motion with tangible, three dimensional objects. As subject matter a form has been selected that is both easily manipulated and commonplace to the urban vernacular- a street bicycle.

Artist Information

Alisyn Malek

Alisyn Malek

Materiality expert, fiber artist, and globe traveler. Actively involved in a volunteer programs bringing science and gardening into local Detroit schools. In my paid time I work at GM as the business manager for electrification and in my free time I am owner/manager of Corktown Studios. Corktown Studios is an artist collective located in Detroit’s re-emerging North Corktown Neighborhood providing affordable studios for its members as well as exhibition space for area artists and the community. Corktown Studios, in conjunction with complementary rejuvenation projects in the neighborhood (hospitality, housing, agriculture) aims to contribute to the emerging identity of the area as a diverse and accessible hub for community-oriented creatives.

Jake Chidester

Jake Chidester

Architectural designer, artist, and maker. (‘Pretty good designer and builder of things’.) Distilled, my work investigates place, often as an implied consequent of activity. The hegemony of image in experience, input/ output space, implied space, and the exaggeration of volume through slowing and exploding of process are generally present in my work. I work professionally as an architectural designer for an international design studio, am adjunct faculty at Lawrence Technological University’s College of Architecture and Design, and co-own Corktown Studios.