http://berlinfuture.wordpress.com/

Future plans

After the crit, I began thinking more about how the project will actually be implemented. At first, we (as a class) were focusing on site and creating work that was more site specific so I started this project with those ideas in mind. As the project has developed, it seems clear that in my case, time is of the essence and is more important the physical location of the project. With that said, I think the next step for this project would be to contact the others who are working on similar things and put together a show.

While I was teaching, I put together a student show at the Northern Forest Heritage Park, and although it was poorly attended by the students, it was not that difficult to put together. That space would be too small for this show although I think the location is excellent.

I am slightly hesitant to get myself into something like this right now (meaning thesis semester) but I think I will be able to share the work with the other people who have been so interested in a creative voice during this process/time in Berlin.

I would also like to hire a programming to finish the tiny program I started that would create a web showing visitors connections to the mill. Like the paper, this would be another form of a guest book that would display the names of those who came to the show and fillled out the form.

If I attempt to put this show together I would like to talk to:
Andre Belanger
Barry Kelley
John Gallus
Katie Kelley
Roland Simard

Notes from the crit

--Idea of mill as a site--or a place within a place.
This is very true and is an interesting way of looking at it. Roland talked about the satellites and although I edited it out, he also talked about the areas (Burgess, Cascade etc) being separated ethnically like the neighborhoods were.

--Has the feeling of a memorial-there is nothing wrong with memorials.
How do you created the fully ritualized experience?

--Are the sounds actually tied to specific sites as previously mentioned? It seems like the stories/sounds were more general.

--What is the user experience? What will the vats holding the paper look like, will there be a gatehouse where the headsets are given out?
(Weird because there is a tiny little gatehouse near the wood yard that would be good for something like that.)

--What is the potential for this as a gallery installation (especially with other people doing similar things?

--Memorial as marker--maybe this is the moment--voice to collective memory

--(For gallery space) Have interactive elements not just paper but maybe you can leave your own story.

--This seems important since things are moving quickly and will change. . . now seems like the time for this type of project (because later attention might shift to protest of development, moving ahead etc)

--How do you transform the reflective moment to progressive thought?

--Maybe people are not thinking forwardly because of the way the questions were framed but also because it might not be the right time for that.

Harold Fletcher? (Wow, no idea what names were said)
John Moulpe ? (Totally made that last name up)

One thing this project has helped me understand is the process of creating a public piece and how the work takes shape with the advice of others. I have made a chart to document who I've emailed/talked to and who they have talked to (that I know of ).

after the trip

So many interesting things happened during my trip up North. I was able to meet with Frumie and take a tour of the mill site led by Carl Belanger, a former mill worker who is now employed with North American Dismantling. Here are few images from our trip. I may post more images on the project blog.

I was able to record several people including:
Steve, Deb, Roland, Gary, Larry, Norm, Arielle, Alyssa and Tyler.

The recording was interesting and it was more difficult to find "random" people to do it than I had anticipated. At the arena, many people were shy and did not want to be recorded. When I worked at the Berlin Reporter as a "photographer" I was amazing at getting people to answer my person on the street questions. . . then I remembered that I would ask them the question--write it down--then pull out the camera. Most of the people would allow me to take their picture since they had already responded. Plus I had a digital camera (big deal in those days) and I would show them the image to make sure they liked it.

While interviewing Roland and Gary, who both left the mill in 2001 when it closed the first time, I was surprised at how emotional they became when thinking about the situation but then I realized it was due in part to their recollections about friends and other more personal memories.

Most people had a few ideas about what could/should go on the site but this part of the project is becoming hard for me. Since we know that North American Dismantling owns the site, we know that they are looking to sell the site. Carl reported that there are already interested parties. This means that the community has very little input as to what actual will go there. I do think that who ever purchases the land will try to be a 'good neighbor' but it seems as though there is little space for input.

Despite all of this or maybe because of it, there will be an open forum on the site discussing what should be done there. The citizens will propose ideas (I think) the city has applied for a $100,000 grant to develop ideas (and I guess market, promote etc) and present them to the North American Dismantling company or more appropriately, who ever buys the site from them.

big weekend

Next weekend, while I am home for the break, I am going to record as many people as possible. So far I think I will be able to interview:
Gary
Roland
Marianne
Gerry
Jill
Justin
my mom
grandmama

I am going to start small. I am not sure if I have a meeting at Plymouth State because I have not received any confirmation but that could be very useful. The process is starting to get a bit confusing and I am not exactly sure what my role in the project will be.

Last week during my phone call with Frumie we talked about the possibility of using the brainstorming ideas as part of the Tilosten grant that the city is seeking to provide North American Dismantling with ideas for development. I was actually quite surprised that my ideas might be considered and was a little bit wary of the situation partly because I know that I will not be in Berlin next year or much at all this year to discuss them or develop them. I had to make it clear that I was unable to make a long term commitment.

I also now keenly aware that my blog is being read by someone other than my mother. Hi MOM! I think it is great but I was a bit surprised to get responses from both blogs.

Chris's idea about the civic center made me think of my other idea that I presented members of the Androscoggin Valley Economic Recovery while I was teaching. ( I never knew if they took it seriously or presented it to anyone else)

The Cabelas idea:

During the 2004 elections I watched segment on the news about the Cabelas vote. Basically, both candidates were trying to show they were outdoorsy and enjoyed hunting etc. Kerry was duck hunting. Anyway, they explained the phenomena of Cabelas and how it was not just a store but an experience. Customers drove for days and camped in the parking lot. They took classes and recreated in the area of the store.

I suggested we woo them and try to get our own Cabelas. I am not sure how you entice a business to come to a certain area so thats why I thought the AVER group could help. In the end, Cabelas is in the process of opening a store in southern New Hampshire in the Hooksett area. Development is complicated.

Responses from the blog etc:

Shawn- doing a similar project
Amy- graphic designer interested in the project and might be able help out with promotion
Chris - idea for a civic center for concerts, sporting events etc.
Tim- interested in the project

Notes from Frumie

• Technically the city has no say in what happens on the site and is trying to get a grant to give proposals to the company that owns the land
• The discussion has to be started soon because if the project is done after the decision is made for the future of the site, then it is not as effective
• If the people have no choice and then they walk around and hear themselves talking about the future but the future is already decided ----then this is depressing and mean
  
• Right now the site is under tight security
• Plymouth State image collection and website
  
• Meet with everyone involved on Tues or Wed to talk about where the ideas are intersecting
  
• Maybe collect ideas in a database?
  
• Work into other grants with Becky Rule etc.
  
• Center for the Environment--Plymouth State
• Tech College in Berlin GIS certificate
  
• How will children be involved? If at all?
  

Just contacted by a person working on a Berlin DVD. . . not sure if this person is involved with the Plymouth State project or not.

AANNH

The new head of the heritage park responded to my email today. He told me that they are seeking grants themselves and could not help with the project financially which is fine and was not my concern. More interestingly, he told me that Frumie at the Arts Alliance was developing a similar project called Berlin stories. This is weird because I have emailed Frumie and been in contact with her and I did not understand that the alliance was working on something like this. I see it as an opportunity to collaborate and I hope this can work out.