Dialogue [take part in a conversation or discussion to resolve a problem]
Statement [a definite or clear expression of something in speech or writing]
Gina Lorubbio
Gretchen Warner
Meal [a customary time or occasion of eating food] Across history, food has traditionally stimulated social interaction. For this reason, we have chosen the meal to be the vessel through which the artist can relay a message to the community.
3
dialogue
Gina Lorubbio
Gretchen Warner
Process [a series of actions or steps taken in order to achieve a particular end] We began by exploring the table surface and seating configuration that resulted from particular shapes. The table was first envisioned as a circle, and then, we began to think of the pieces that compose a circle. With the pieces, we experiemented with different configurations and the opportunities for interaction that were produced.
5
dialogue
Gina Lorubbio
Gretchen Warner
Critique [a detailed analysis and assessment of something]
The critique of our first iteration was particularly influential. It was held at the studio of Richard Goodwin, an architect turned artist. Below are some of the comments. “Take over whole streets, not just plazas.” -Janet Laurence “Sharing a meal as a way to bring people together is great. Be careful not to over furnish.” -Steffen Lehmann “Great idea, but it could create a barrier. Perhaps it’s an event where you bring out your tables. Architecture is in the text. Instead of creating new tables, maybe the idea manifests itself in the rules of the urban fabric? -Richard Goodwin 7
dialogue
Gina Lorubbio
Gretchen Warner
9
dialogue
Gina Lorubbio
Gretchen Warner
11
dialogue
Gina Lorubbio
Gretchen Warner
13
dialogue
Gina Lorubbio
Gretchen Warner
Lesson [something learned by study or experience]
As architects and designers, our job is to create opportunities for social situations. Traditionally, we have always turned to fabricating physical forms to support these instances. With sustainability becoming such a prevalent issue for the world and especially the field of architecture, it seems as though one of the simplest yet most overlooked ideas is that of creating nothing new. Through this process, we have learned that we should be looking to forms that already exist to create the framework for social conditions. Applying this lesson to our current project, we have decided to stop all designing of a new object. In doing this, we have left it up to the artist to seek out materials that already exist in order to carry out the event. Thus, the artwork will truly be sustainable, addressing social issues while generating no unnecessary waste. 15
dialogue
Gina Lorubbio
Gretchen Warner
Client
Social Issue
[Quarterbred]
[an important topic or problem for debate or discussion]
Who: “Quarterbred is a three year old artist run initiative supporting and presenting hybrid arts projects. Quarterbred is directed by seven emerging artists working across artforms. Quarterbred encourages cross-pollination and experimentation through offering residencies and events at pact theatre, through an open application process, and by curating diverse projects throughout Sydney.” What: Many artists are “interested in work that is experiential, interacting with public participants and functioning within non-traditional spaces.” Audience as Artists: Rather than the artists taking on the traditional role as creators of artwork, Quarterbred often lets the audience generate the pieces. For example, the Word Game Project (shown below) is a video project that is completely user-made. Participants ask questions and provide responses on camera, producing results that are “absurd, hilarious, political, and eerily profound.”
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dialogue
Frozen food sales are up in Australia, which means that less and less people are experiencing the joy of preparing fresh, local foods by hand. Instead, they are resorting to heavily processed foods that they have no connection with.
In 2004, more than 99% of Australian households owned at least one television set. TV is now regularly listed as the number one leisure activity of Australians.
The combination of these two activities results in an uninspired, machine-made dining experience. The connection between people, food, and the community weakens as this habit gains popularity.
Gina Lorrubio
Concept
Precedents
[a plan or intention]
[a person or thing that serves as a model] PostSecret
PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard.
Reconnect Food can be a powerful tool for change. Using this medium, the goal of this event is to reconnect people with the food they eat and the people in their community. By inviting people to bring a homemade dish that is associated with a memory, the hope is that they will develop a love of cooking and begin to appreciate fresh food as opposed to convenient but overly processed frozen meals. Instead of eating in isolation in front of the television, participants will then bring their dishes and accompanying story to share at a long table set up in the middle of George Street. 19
dialogue
great taste less waste: manly food & wine festival
This is an event that minimizes waste while maximing human experiences with local food.
rallies in the street
People have used George Street on many occasions as a platform for social change.
Gina Lorubbio
Site Plan
Step-by-Step
[George Street]
[a detailed proposal for doing or achieving something] Orient Hotel Restaurant Zia Pina Pizzeria The Rocks Café Phillip’s Foote Restaurant Sailors Thai Rockpool Amoroma Ristorante Kable’s Restaurant The Brooklyn Hotel Establishment Summit Restaurant Ivy Vivo Café Glass Brasserie Azuma Bistro Unit Trust Marigold & Regal Restaurant Pasteur on George Street Yumei Japanese Restaurant Saigon Metro Restaurant Malaya on George Café Kasturi ab’s Restaurant Caboose Resturant
Since the event will be generating zero waste, the tables, chairs and placesettings will be borrowed from numerous restaurants along George Street. The concept of “bring out your tables” comes through, as the restaurants will literally just walk a few steps into the street to set up for the event. 21
dialogue
Reconnect with food, family, and friends. Leave your frozen dinners in the freezer, turn off your TV, and head to George Street. All you need is a homemade dish and a story to participate in an unforgettable evening!
Intangible Advertising To avoid waste, there will be no traditional paper ads, invitations, or tickets. Instead, information will reach the target audience through TV, word of mouth, and the internet. People can then visit the website for further directions. In place of paper tickets, participants only need to bring a homemade dish to share that reminds them of a story. They should creatively write the story down using what they find around their homes.
Gina Lorubbio
Step-by-Step
Document
[a detailed proposal for doing or achieving something]
[record something in written, photographic, or other form]
The Dinner On the night of the event, guests will arrive with their dishes and attached stories. As soon as everyone is seated, the artists will begin their roles as unconventional waiters. Their job is to redistribute the food and memories up and down the long table so that one person’s story can be heard by a participant a few blocks away. They also will be in charge of stimulating interaction among the diners. This interconnection, along with the conversation are the elements that will make the evening extraordinary.
The only tangible remnants of the event are the participants’ stories. These, along with a video made by the artists during the dinner will become a public artwork (perhaps displayed on the computers in the Apple Store) on George Street. The majority of the documentation will live in the participants’ minds as memories and hopefully in the form of a new perspective on food and their community. The vision for the future is that this will become a recurring event, constantly encouraging people to pass up convenient food and their television sets in order to share carefully prepared food and personal stories with their neighbors. 23
dialogue
Gina Lorubbio
Client
Social Issue
[Bill and George]
[an important topic or problem for debate or discussion]
Who: “Bill and George is a fanciful hybrid beast. It functions as the creative headquarters for more than a dozen handsome artists. It’s also an artist run initiative, a community merging point, and an inspired hub for adventurous conversation.” What: “The primary purpose of this artist led initiative is to provide affordable studio space for interdisciplinary artists within a collaborative environment, and to encourage and support experimental and hybrid practice through its program of activities.” Long Table Dialogues: “The Long Table is an experimental public forum that is a hybrid performance-installation-roundtablediscussion-dinner party designed to facilitate dialogue between artists, academics, business figures, community leaders and human rights advocates.”
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dialogue
Where does the family meal come from? “Food accounts for 46 per cent of all retailing turnover in Australia” “Australia’s 50 largest food and beverage corporations produce almost threequarters of the domestic industry’s revenue. Supermarkets and grocery outlets continue to capture the majority of food sales in Australia, with around 60 per cent of the value of total food and liquor retailing in 2006–07.” http://www.dfat.gov.au/facts/food_industry.pdf (may 2008) Queen Victoria Farmers Market, Melbourne
Standard grocery store produce aisle stocked with imported vegetables
Gretchen Warner
Concept
Precedents
[a plan or intention]
[a person or thing that serves as a model]
The Long Table dinners are to address the slow food and local food movements. The objective is to prepare and serve a meal drawing from local and sustainable resources. In addition, the artists should educate each other on available resources that exist to support and encourage community food production. Each item (food, plates, etc...) should be documented along with its origns and path to the final meal. Following the meal, the site should be preserved and related discussion recorded to educate the greater community.
future farmers
2008 Victory Gardens, San Francisco
permaculture education
fallen fruit
public fruit tree mapping
Moor & Young St Community Garden, Melbourne
guerrilla gardening urban public planting
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dialogue
Gretchen Warner
Site Plan
Step-by-Step
[open spaces within Sydney’s CBD]
[a detailed proposal for doing or achieving something]
Sydney Public Space Public Life Report map by Gehl Architects ApS
Scavenge, borrow, re-use materials to create a dinner table to serve a meal.
Source local food and produce at farmer’s markets, community gardens, and from the natural environment to prepare a meal. 29
dialogue
Gretchen Warner
Step-by-Step
Document
[a detailed proposal for doing or achieving something]
[record something in written, photographic, or other form]
The artists should meet to dicuss a specific site within the CBD and divide up the tasks for the meal; like, food, seating and decor. The life-cycle of each item should be documented with photography, sketches, and use of a standardized record sheet. After items have been sourced and and processed, the artists should meet for a Long Table Discussion and share their findings. The entire meal (from set-up to clean-up) and the related discussion should be recorded with video or audio equipment.
Record
No.
[a thing constituting a piece of evidence about the past, esp. an account of an act or occurrence kept in writing or some other permanent form]
name date location condition contact
The process should be diagramed in terms of the life-cycle.
Proposal relating to Long Table Discussions of Bill and George
before_____________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ during____________________ __________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ after______________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________
Level 1/10 - 16 William St Redfern NSW 2016
All record sheets documenting the materials should be displayed on site following the Long Table Discussion. Any leftovers from the meal should be preserved and displayed. In addition, an audio or video recording of the discussion should be available as part of the post-exhibition. Documentation of the event is to provide the general public with a detailed understanding of the life-cycle in contrast to today’s industrial processes. 31
dialogue
Gretchen Warner
Reflection [serious thought or consideration]
Gina:
Gretchen:
Exploring Sydney as a site in terms of social and cultural aspects, rather than soley physical dimensions, has significantly altered my approach to design. As an architect, I now recognize my role in studying these environments. Any design proposed design should focus on the people and not rely on purely tangible mechanisms.
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dialogue
Gina Lorubbio
Gretchen Warner
Glossary
Precedents a person or thing that serves as a model Process a series of actions or steps taken in order to achieve a particular end
[definitions]
Reflection serious thought or consideration Communal participated in, shared, or used in common by a group or community
Social Issue an important topic or problem for debate or discussion
Concept a plan or intention
Statement a definite or clear expression of something in speech or writing
Critique a detailed analysis and assessment of something
Step-by-Step a detailed proposal for doing or achieving something
Dialogue take part in a conversation or discussion to resolve a problem
System a set of connected things or parts forming a complex whole
Document record something in written, photographic, or other form Lesson something learned by study or experience Meal a customary time or occasion of eating food Platform opportunity to voice one’s views or initiate action 35
dialogue
Gina Lorubbio
Gretchen Warner
References
http://firstdraftgallery.com
[websites]
http://www.greenmagazine.com.au/
http://www.neural.it/
http://www.transitionsydney.org.au/ http://www.serveyourcountryfood.net/
www.slowfoodnation.org
http://www.greenhorns.net/
www.eat-ins.org
http://www.foodpower.org/
www.livingthing.net.au
http://www.goodfarmmovement.com/
www.absoluteastronomy.com
slow food sydney http://slowfoodsydney.com.au/
www.futurefarmers.com www.openair.org
richard goodwin http://www.richard-goodwin.com/
www.recetasurbanas.net
quarterbred quarterbred.blogspot.com/
www.cca-actions.org www.superuse.org
australian tv statistic http://cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/populartelevision/
www.thirdangel.com
post secret http://postsecret.blogspot.com/
www.openarchitecturenetwork.org http://cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/2030/
great taste less waste http://www.lgsa-plus.net.au/resources/documents/Great_Taste_ Less_Waste__MANLY_260307.pdf
www.billandgeorge.org/ 37
dialogue
Gina Lorubbio
Gretchen Warner