umbrellaSpace is an urban gesture. It is a design solution to a social problem.
umbrellaSpace is a transitional space that facilitates interaction among strangers.
umbrellaSpace adopts the umbrella as a familiar, recognizable, urban form and recreates it. A permeable space of interaction is transformed from a private, individualized space. The intervention adjusts perceptions of boundaries and comfort held by observers on the street.

I am looking for people interested in video, performance, and/or architecture to collaborate with me on a project dealing with ways individuals negotiate their private space amidst a much larger urban sphere.

In a workshop run by the artist Kryzystof Wodiczko, I designed a very simple space by attaching two umbrellas to each other. This umbrellaSPACE adopts the umbrella as a familiar, recognizable, urban form and recreates it. A permeable space of interaction is transformed from a private, individualized space. The intervention adjusts perceptions of boundaries and comfort held by observers on the street.

An individual in the urban sphere operates this new umbrellaSpace. He or she can choose to invite people on the street into this space. I’m interested in exploring the range of responses this intervention precipitates on the street: sociological, visual, performative. I am looking for people interested in operating the UmbrellaSpace as well as videographers and photographers interested in documenting the events.

Procedures:

Umbrella Operation
Multiple operators – different races, different sexes, different ages.
Multiple variables – site, clothing, strategy.
Multiple combinations per operator – different clothes @ same site, same clothes @ different site, different strategy @ same site, etc.

Choose a site. The site can be any variety of urban spaces. Active, quiet, safe, dangerous, fancy.
Choose clothing. Clothing can be dressy, messy, normal, strange.
Choose a strategy. The operator should adopt their own verbal and usage strategy – the can use the umbrellaSpace to do errands, to stalk people, to be receptive, to be alone.

The operator should engage the chosen site and invite people into the umbrellaSpace.
After each session, the operator must fill out a brief usage report – each time they use the umbrellaSpace.

• Discrete - The camera should be as discrete as possible at all times. This project is not about how people on the street react to being video taped – they should not be aware that they are being filmed.
  
• Continuous - The footage should be as continuous a possible. I’m most interested in seeing the complete interaction with the space (before middle and after). Try to minimize stopping and restarting the camera.
  
• Vantage points – a variety of shots is crucial. Close-ups to catch nuances of gesture/interaction. Longs shots to contextualize the activity within the site. Shots from above are especially useful in revealing the interaction.
  
• Steady - A good smooth camera person is crucial to the project.