Week 4: Hydroponics with David Kim

This week we had David Kim as guest lecturer and hydroponics workshop facilitator.

David shared his personal work as well as collective work with Sally as part of Biome Arts.





Next we discussed some of the basics of hydroponics and aquaponics and some of the different methods to set up small and large scale hydroponic systems.

Then we created our own small-scale aquaponic aquaria using betta fish, aquatic plants and a floating raft system for hydroponic growing of wheatgrass, lettuce or herbs.

Styrofoam raft construction








Filling tanks with aquarium sand






Adding cholla wood and aquatic plants






Adding water and betta fish








Never be without a large bag of wheatgrass seeds - a bio-artist's best friend! Easy to grow with minimal light and a very quick growing cycle. Also a healthy addition to smoothies.

Constructing the rafts and adding seeds. In addition to wheatgrass we also had basil and lettuce seeds.

Getting acquainted with new friends/collaborators

 

A finished aquaponic tank by Sydney

HOMEWORK 

1. Choose from the two ideas discussed in private meetings this week and write a full proposal for your midterm project to your blog. Be sure to include 3 sketches/inspiration images as well as answer all the questions on the information sheet for the project.
2. Familiarize yourself with the work of Mary Mattingly and the Swale website. Come to class with at least two questions to ask Mary when we meet with her on Swale
3. Swale Plant Report - Part 1 due as blog post before class next week. Don't forget to "claim" your plants via blog post/check the blogs of your peers before choosing so that we do not end up with overlap. You should choose at least one plant from the list on the handout, you can also choose one from the full list of plants on the Swale website. Be prepared to give an oral presentation on your research to your peers during class next week.

INFORMATION FOR NEXT CLASS - 10/5 

FIELD TRIP TO SWALE

WHAT: Field Trip to Mary Mattingly's Swale

WHERE: Swale is currently docked at Concrete Plant Park in the Bronx

WHEN: We will MEET AT SWALE AT 4PM

BRING:

• Full water bottle
• Sensible, close-toed shoes for walking on gravel paths
• Information from your Swale Plant Report for your oral presentation on your research (can be on your phone or paper)
• A pen/pencil and notebook with blank paper and writing surface for a design exercise

OPTIONAL:

• Sun protection (sunblock, sunglasses, sunhat, etc., though it will be late in the day) 
• Light jacket as it may get cool after dark, especially on the water
• Food to supplement a salad 

Note on dinner: for this field trip we will not take a regular dinner break but instead will make a big salad together using plants collected from Swale and likely leave a little early. The salad will be more of a light meal than full dinner so if you would like to bring any supplemental food such such as personal snacks or better yet a dish to share that is acceptable (though not required). 

Also please WATCH THIS SPACE or your EMAIL for any last-minute changes due to weather, though as of Saturday the weather looks ok (mostly sunny, High/Low of 79/63 and 10% chance of rain).

Directions to Concrete Plant Park:

Concrete Plant Park can be accessed by taking the 6 train to Whitlock Ave. You should be able to see Swale docked in the Bronx River from the East of the subway platform as you arrive which will give you a sense of the direction you will be walking to reach it. Exit the station and turn right onto Westchester Ave. Walk about a block to the pedestrian entrance to Concrete Plant Park. You will need to walk a ways down the pedestrian path toward the large industrial structures (namesake of Concrete Plant Park) to reach Swale.

You should plan to arrive/be on board Swale by 4pm so please leave extra time for travel.

Week 3: Chelsea Market Tasting Tour

This week we went on a guided tasting tour of Chelsea Market, Gansevoort Market and surrounding area.

This will be good research for later when students will create their own artwork using items collected/created from Chelsea Market in a single day art-making challenge.


Food class and friends on the High Line



Mortadella sandwiches from Caponne's




Students try steak tartar from Dickson's meat market


Cheese and dried figs



Kale salad and beef pies from Tuck Shop

 
One of the chefs from Oppa shows the class a demo on torching and presentation.



Ice cream from Ample Hills went fast!

At the end of class we looked at homework on the blogs and discussed ideas for midterm projects.

HOMEWORK:

1. Review of Starving Artists' Cookbook Panel at MoMA PS1 Art Book Fair (Sunday 3-4pm)

2. Two ideas for your midterm project - post 1-2 paragraphs description and 1-3 sketches/inspiration images for each idea to your blog

NEXT WEEK:

We will do a hydroponics lab with visiting lecturer David Kim in which we will create our own small aquaponic ecosystems (hydroponic food growing system with a fish in it). Please remember that you will need to be responsible for transport and care of your fish after class! 

UPDATE: for Class on 9/21

Our Chelsea Market guided tasting tour is confirmed for this Thursday so we will meet at our regular time, 3:20pm in the drawing room on the 3rd floor and proceed to Chelsea Market from there as a group.

Please arrive on time as we will depart from SVA to walk to Chelsea market promptly at 3:30pm.

Summary:

What: Chelsea Market Guided Tasting Tour

Where: Meet in 3rd floor drawing room (regular classroom)

When: 3:20pm (regular class time, please do not be late)

This information has been sent via email, but if you are a vegetarian please let Sally know ASAP via email so that we can make arrangements with the tour group. Unfortunately that is the only dietary restriction they can accommodate at this time.


NOTES ON HOMEWORK:

If you have not yet completed the homework from last time, please do so before next class, there is no new assignment for this week.

Also, looking ahead, this week's assignment will be a review of the Starving Artists Cookbook setup at the MoMA PS1 art book fair so please make arrangements to plan on going to that this weekend.

The other part of your homework will be to post two ideas for your midterm project to your blog. Include 1-2 paragraph descriptions for each idea and 1-3 sketches or images for each.

Week 2: Color and Pigment Making with Food

This week we used various techniques to create pigments from various food stuffs. We looked at a slideshow with examples of artist who have used food pigments, for example Ellie Irons, Invasive Species Pigment Making and Linda Weintraub, DIY Pigments.

See also this an information sheet with more information and links on various techniques for pigment making.

Preparation and ingredients



Some foods such as berries can be crushed and used straight, to produce more intense colors some ingredients can be boiled and reduced, adding water to any drier ingredients (such as spices).





Rob, Sydney and Daniel make reductions.




Viviann, Jiawen, Lala and Zihong preparing pigments.


Some of the resulting pigments





We also looked at methods of making prints using fish (Gyotaku) and other food stuffs as stamps (onions, cabbage, corn, onions)

Zihong tries gyotaku printing.




Boyan gives himself a tattoo with food pigment and a henna stencil.




Lisha and other students work on making artworks with the pigments.




Some of the resulting artworks




Documentation photographs by Robert Herrera.


FOR NEXT TIME, 9/21:

There is no new assignment for this week, but if you have not already created your blog please create and send a link to both your instructors and if you did not complete the assignment last week use this week to catch up.

Looking ahead your assignment for next time you will be to write a review of the Starving Artist Cookbook display at the MoMA PS1 Book Fair next weekend so please make arrangements to attend the Book Fair next weekend (panel Sunday, September 24, 3-4pm; Book fair Sept. 22-24).

Also watch this space for details about this week's class, will be updating in the next few days.