PARKFIELD INTERVENTIONAL EQ FIELDWORK

http://allshookup.org/parkfield

The Parkfield Interventional EQ Fieldwork is a site-specific kinetic earthwork. A machine controlled and remote field installation that will take place in the township of Parkfield, Central California, USA, mid 2008. This example of earthquake art converges a United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported Californian earthquake list, with the near real time control of an earthquake simulator placed on site in Parkfield.

Parkfield is located directly on top of the San Andreas Fault, and the region itself is the mostly closely observed and monitored earthquake area in the world. Having made two field trips to the USA during 2006 and with the support of the USGS it was concluded that the township of Parkfield is the most site-specific location on this planet to stage such a work. The landowner of the selected site has agreed to have the work installed for a duration of 93 days beginning 28th of June 2008 until 28th September 2008.

Technically this machine driven earthwork is a feedback loop between the seismicity of California and the conceptual interpretation of these reported Californian seismic events by means of the earthquake simulator and a formation of high tensile steel rods. 110 lengths of ½ inch tensile steel rod at up to 12.0m in length will be fixed to the earthquake simulator. These steel rods will oscillate in synchronous motion and chaotic grandeur each time a Californian earthquake is reported.

Conceptually the Parkfield Interventional EQ Fieldwork could be seen to be directly influenced by the late 1960’s and early 1970’s American Earth Art movement. Michael Heizer’s, Double Negative, Robert Smithson’s, Spiral Jetty and the UK’s Robert Morris’s, Observatory are all monumental works that as Morris quotes, “Corresponds with the perception of space unfolding in the continuous present”. The Parkfield Interventional EQ Fieldwork employs these ideas of old whilst defining itself as a temporary and situational work, made for these times and later dismantled and removed. Its future cultural existence after the work takes place will be strictly photographic.

An overview and detailed proposal in PDF fromat can be found at the following url:

http://allshookup.org/parkfield

I am seeking support and expressions of interest from art galleries or institutions in the USA who would be interested in representing the Parkfield Interventional EQ Fieldwork.

I am also seeking support from a non-profit organisation or foundation who would be will to act as a fiscal agent as I am seeking sponsorship from West Coast USA based earthquake engineering companies.

Any comments or feedback please write to dvr@allshookup.org

With Much Thanks

D.V.Rogers
April 28th 2007