Project 3; Progress Post 4

It is done!

I said this in the last post, it's not perfect but I'll take it. Id say it's a win overall and I'm happy with it.

I got all the pieces glued and I used sticky tack to get the structure attached to the base. Really, its 98% of what I had in mind and I'm impressed with myself for being able to recreate it to that level. My next step, if this were real, would be figuring out the materials I would need to build a functional prototype. 

And honestly, and I just might keep this idea in my back pocket. I'm passionate about what it means to me and I wouldn't mind trying to make this come to life further.

The idea and symbolism of my monument was directly inspired by my personal response to monuments across the US being removed. Given that the monuments are removed in feeling rooted of fear for the past, I felt what replaces them should be rooted in pride for the future. Participants enter the monument with their original ideas of the world and how it works, therefor the first rooms are designed to disrupt that perception. As light comes through the holes and slats of the otherwise dark room, high contrast will be created over all surfaces and the participants; it will alter how participants will literally view each other. However, holes in the wall will be made small enough that participants cannot easily view out of them as this is not the intent of the first room.
Participants then move into the second room, where the high light-dark contrast will continue. However, carved into these walls are words with intended positive and inspiring meaning. The catch is, participants cannot read the words while they casting shadows through the room. Instead, the words are carved so they can be read while looking at the walls, in large fonts, which should encourage participants to look out to the world through the words. In a literal sense the intent is to urge participants to connect these positive words to the world around them. Any words which the participants cannot easily attribute or relate to becomes a call for action to help change or develop the world into a greater place.
Finally participants enter the final room which they have not yet visited. It serves as a lingering separation and reminder of their responsibility to change the world into something better than which they found it.