Project Description

1. To inspire a community to interact with its environment on an empathetic level through the collaboration of art, technology and nature; the community will experience new perspectives on itself and the renewal and preservation of its environment.

2. Project Description Team A PRIORI will interact and inspire local communities to think in a different way about their environment and themselves through use of one to two word biodegradable sculptures placed in a variety of locations and interactive geo-caching game play. The sculptures will serve as a starting off point for individual thought while the geo-caching game play will involve the viewer geographically. The sculptures will be documented over a set period of time to record the natural decomposition. This decomposing will than be related to our connection with the earth. Viewers will further interact by leaving their thoughts in either a message box or on the geo-caching homepage.

3. Mission/Principles/Goals Mission Our surroundings, be it any environment, are easily and often overlooked in the bustle of life. By combining materials from outside sources and art forms found within the chosen environment, it will be demonstrated that the media is a part of the medium. The chosen location for this art installation is a main component to the work of fostering interactivity and progressive thought between humans and their environment. Principles 1- We believe that interaction with our natural environments will help human kind as a whole discover more about themselves. 2- To Use art to inspire viewers to think in a new and different way about themselves and the surrounding environment of the piece.3-In delivering this message, the group is expected to use materials that will not bring harm to their chosen environment. 3- In delivering this message, the group is expected to use materials that will not bring harm to their chosen environment. Goals 1- To visually communicate an idea that is in cohesion with the chosen environment as well as the humans or creatures that may interact with this environment. 2- It is expected this art work will include, but not be limited to, both digital media and materials found in the chosen environment.

4. Visuals

5. Visuals

6. Visuals

7. Visuals

8. Visuals

9. Visuals

10. Visuals

11. Visuals

12. Site Interaction Plan • By design, after first viewing the site, each participant will interact with the installation by removing one of the peat moss pots from any one letter of the site's message to take home and plant. Then the participant will write on a normal business card with a golf pencil their thoughts and interpretations of the site's message. That interpretations will planted in the vacated peat moss pot for others to view. Each site will have a few notes in place for example. (illustration) At the termination of the installation, all the messages will be collected along with the physical materials used. These interpretations will then be combined with the ones posted on the site's blog so that all participants can view the interpretations of others. To prevent redundancies, the blog will have a message to encourage uniquely discreet comments different from those written on the index cards

13. Digital Media Interaction • Digital Media Interaction By design, participants will find the site through geo-caching and then physically interact with the message. Participants will then been encouraged to view and post to the site's web blog. (see illustration 1).  Directly next to the message, a wooden information box with a clear plastic window with the internal dimensions of 3.75" x 12" will hold the business cards and golf pencils. The web address will be stenciled along the side of the box for all to see. Each card will have interactive instructions and the blog address on one side and blank on the other to write on.  Each participant can take an extra card home with web address in order to blog with others.

14. Documentation Plan • Photograph the more human populated site daily to document natural degradation and human interaction. • Photograph second site at least once a week in its nature based location to document natures natural interaction with the sculpture. • Photograph construction process. Setup video camera in a tree or ladder to film a time lapse of the entire construction process. • Photograph the publics response and interaction with the sculpture. Interview a few interacting participants about their thoughts and opinions of the sculpture. • Gather the publics written and electronic responses through our blog and handwritten notes left in place of plants taken. All photos and video will also be documented on the blog. BLOG http://aprioriproject2010.wordpress.com/

15. Schedule

16. Materials, Equipment & Budget • 500 Peat Pots - $23 • Corrugated Cardboard - $20/free • Organic eco-friendly soil - $14 • Site specific plant seeds - $30 • Informational Cards- $ 30.00 • Materials for instructional box - $40 • Earthwrite recycled pencils - $7 • Miscellaneous - $100 • Total = $264, $88 each

17. Team Name and Bios • Ben Rupp’s work explores the experimentation of typography, its legibility, manipulative qualities, the purity of its form, as well as its integration with digital and vintage imagery. His typographic design strives to break the rules of traditional design which creates an unexpected visually stimulating approach that makes his designs as original as possible. His designs have caught the eye of several local companies and churches in which he has done freelance work consisting of numerous logo identities, newsletters and wine labels while still earning his education. He was born in 1985 in Washington DC. In 2004 he attended the Ringling College of Art and Design and graduated in 2008 having studied Graphic Interactive Communication. He resides in Winter Park Florida and is currently earning his MFA at the University of Central Florida where he is studying studio art and the computer. Inspired by his graphic design background from Ringling he currently is designing experimental image books, large scale prints as well as merging his graphic and typographic skills to canvas during his MFA education at UCF. • Patricia Lois Nuss’s artwork investigates the comparative territories of human emotion asit relates to the many facets of culture. Her work has been exhibited nationally, including the Corcoran College of Art and Design in Washington D.C. and the Florida State College Museum of Fine Art in Tallahassee, FL.Nuss was born in 1985 in South Kingston, RI. She completed her BFA in 2008 at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, FL where she is currently pursuing her MFA in Studio Art and the Computer. Through her studies she has brought an awareness of psychology, sociology and woman studies to her work. While her artwork is essentially a self portrait, her photographs manage to transcend the personal and public realm by focusing on the primary emotions all humans’ experience. • James Mason has taught Graphic Design and Digital Media at IRSC since 1999.  He received his B.S. degree from the University of Central Florida in Business Marketing. Prior to entering the teaching profession he worked as a professional video producer, 3D modeler, and animator for several Florida corporations while running a business in multimedia and visual graphics.  James has been an Adobe Certified expert in PhotoShop and Illustrator since 2000, and has sponsored the IRSC Graphics Club for 7 years with the end of each culminating in an annual student exhibition. He continues to develop multimedia for the Florida Oceanographic Society, Hospice, and training videos for the Florida DOE.  James Mason has been presenting Digital Media to local clubs and organizations and has been instrumental in the development and implementation of the graphics and Digital Media Institute curriculum taught at Indian River State College.

18. HumanInteraction Site Possible Locations: • Lake Eola Park http://orlando.citysearch.com/profile/2377248/orlando_fl/lake_eola_park.html  • Winter Park http://www.winterpark.org/

19. Ecology Interaction Site Possible Locations: • Little Big Econ http://www.fl-dof.com/state_forests/little_big_econ.html • Wekiwa//www.floridastateparks.org/weekiwachee/default.cfm