PROJECT - Still/Action Wall/Desk

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Still/Action Wall/Desk

Chicago, Illinois

The client, an artist in-residence at the Art Institute of Chicago’s Sullivan Galleries was influenced by anthropologist Nadia Seremetakis’s concept of the “still act”; moments where a subject interrupts historical flow and practices. The resulting program was to conduct curatorial work for coordination of exhibits (public) and accommodate a rotating series of time-based experiments/interviews (private) revealing the diverse interpretations of “still action”. An $800 stipend was provided for its implementation.

The concept was to find where the stasis of architecture could be modified by the user giving the object two lives; public/private, open/closed, active/static. The still acts interrogate economies of time revealing the possibilities of one’s agency. The result became a pliable, interactive element that requires activation by the users while also serving pragmatic day-to-day necessities; coat & utility storage, work space, display and gathering, public work and private conversation.

The wall is situated parallel to the primary path of approach. It’s presence is no more than a line. Upon activation the desk’s domain expands, orienting the user to the open public path. Rotation of doors and closet volumes create an inner sanctum for privacy between and existing wall for comfort of interviewing participants.

Limited funds defined a simple material palette free of finish optimizing the materials inherent properties. The budget was met by the architect constructing the design.