In 2010, intrigued by the patchy cellphone and wifi access on Vinalhaven, I introduced a challenge to DesignInquirers to find an access point and then Tweet what they observed in front of them. This was meant as a modern-day development of the Mass Observation Group’s methods from the 1930s, through a kind of brief, imagistic observation of the here-and-now. The implication that we would not be tweeting links or comments on other tweets was part of the joy, perhaps the subversive joy of the project. It countered the distraction of social media with a blast of the here-and-now. The project did accumulate a healthy handful of submissions from Inquirers (see below) but was never published. Access 2014 presents a great opportunity to revisit the project with the benefit of four years of technological “progress” and hindsight. Most literally there will be more access points on the island. But also, I am more conscious of a critical perspective on social media, one that might better inform the project. How, for instance, does it confront or support the fragmented, industrialised time that we inhabit?
I will contribute the project of gathered tweets from 2010 and 2014, led by a introductory set of musings on time, disorientation, fragmented attention spans and the creative possibilities of short form social media.
Pleasant River Observations 6-22-2010
INTRO to come (also names could be dropped
In the field across the street, there are smaller rocks on top of the big ones. They may have been placed there by people, but maybe not. (Emily)
A dog bounding through tall grass, tail wagging, ears flopping, tongue hanging. Two girls hanging a paper rainbow celebration in the barn entrance: “Happy Joy” replaces “Happy Birthday”. They run down the grass path to the shore. (Charles)
What I thought at a distance was a milkweed pod exploding, turned out to be a piece of silver duct tape stuck to a blade of tall grass, near the garden, to the east of the lilac tree. (Debra)
Wind moving through the leaves of the tree. Birds. A mechanical sound in the distance. Silence regained. (??)
Lying prone on the warm wood slats of the deck, feeling the sun on my face. Eyes closed. (Anita)
In the barn, bark is peeling from a piece of tree trunk, chopped to make a cutting block: ax marks scour the surface. A game of ping pong is beginning, a discussion. A colleague walks through the barn, in his right hand a camera, recording footage of pockmarked floorboards. (Peter)
At the closest tree to the double barn doors. Laughing. A “caution” pesticide sign printed in green ink, disguised by green roots. (Chris, Rick)
Following wet panting dogs on the mowed path circling past the water’s edge, a boulder. Letters made of wood, weathered and attached to the granite: “Christopher Grant Sparrow, April 25, 1956 – September 10, 1979.” (Margo)
A candy-colored paper garland crackles in the breeze, a threshold to JOY. (Chris)
Water, trees, grass, a colleague walking in the grass. Trees rustle. A dog sunning in the wildflowers. A cool wind. A smile. (Meghna)
Ospreys dive, a bulldozer thumps, children shout, crows caw, water shimmers. (Johnny)
TWEETS (Still draft…trying to get more data & reorganize chronologically)
pete5000
Eating the last piece of Charles’ olive bread on the plane #dijoy 14 days ago via Twitterific
pete5000
After the rain, oily fish tacos and a double rainbow in Rockland Harbor. #dijoy web from Jeffries Point / Airport, Boston
debraparr
# Walking along the marginal way on Lane’s Island. Wild iris, rock cairns.#dijoy
pete5000
#dijoy morning sun reflects off last night’s party streamers; a dance of colors across the flip flops on the wood floor 2:48 PM Jun 25th via web from East Bayside – India Street, Portland
pete5000
#dijoy Four email-thirsty Inquirers pop up at the ARCafe to drink their data. Chris & Debra suggest it’s a pop-up DI within DI. 2:32 PM Jun 25th via web from East Bayside – India Street, Portland
accnacnyc anita cooney
The crabapple tree next to the new granite path and new granite benches at the library provide perfect shade from the sun #dijoy Jun 24th
pete5000
#dijoy 3 white-haired ladies eat salad at the Gawker. “It’s awful good,” a croaky voice. “Haven’t had a real good salad in a long time.” 4:56 PM Jun 23rd via web from Vinalhaven, ME
Chris Moore?
I’m no longer self-conscious about my lack of a mobile phone. One bar, half a bar, no bar…
?
Frantic e-mails, tweets, and messaging among boisterous youngsters, new friends, and kindly locals at the #Vinalhaven Public Library.
debraparr
popup DIJoy: coffee, ice, worldcup…#dijoy 2:40 PM Jun 25th via web
debraparr
light island air, sun, another day ahead of thinking about design and joy#dijoy 8:49 AM Jun 25th via web
debraparr
Rocky coast. Wind from west. Seaweedy formations. 2:27 PM Jun 24th viaTwitter for iPhone
debraparr
nice accents in the library#dijoy 1:34 PM Jun 23rd via web
debraparr
at the library in vinalhaven. sitting a table with Chris & Beth observing fog rolling in after a morning questioning joy…#dijoy 1:13 PM Jun 23rd via web
pete5000
#dijoy twisting sandbar to LTG island becomes visible with sunglasses 2:36 PM Jun 22nd via Twitterrific
seanwilk seanwilk
Found a signal, state beach, vinalhaven. #dijoy http://yfrog.com/f178725934j2:32 PM Jun 22nd
via Twitter for iPhone
John DeGore Diggy
enJOYed an ice cream cone
John DeGore Diggy
#dijoy my twitter app is evil, saying it didn’t post when it did 1 minute ago via mobile web from Vinalhaven, ME
pete5000
#dijoy Espresso in the cup leaves a brown stain on the index finger 14 minutes ago via web from Vinalhaven, ME
pete5000 pete5000
#dijoy At the ARCafe (High St & Mountain). Feverish tapping of keyboards, delicous breezes through the open window. 16 minutes ago via web
Gabrielle Esperdy GEinNYC
Mud on the beach turns a dog’s paws black. #dijoy 18 minutes ago via TweetDeck
pete5000
#dijoy On the rocks at vinalhaven state beach: seabird vomit (clumps of chewed crab shells) 20 minutes ago via web
Ben Van Dyke benvandyke
#dijoy sea kayaks and playful seals… Closest loc: 44.102671,-69.109350 Oak St Knox Maine US 22 minutes ago via API
Gabrielle Esperdy GEinNYC
Roses by the shore have no scent. #dijoy 22 minutes ago via TweetDeck
Gabrielle Esperdy GEinNYC
Walking on the beach while talking on the phone, Anita fails to notice the driftwood. #dijoy 27 minutes
ago via TweetDeck
John DeGore Diggy
#dijoy we cling to the network even though we have more freedom with out it 28 minutes ago via Twitter for Android from here
John DeGore Diggy
#dijoy we cling to our connection with the network, even though the lack of it provides freedom 37 minutes ago via Twitter for Android from Vinalhaven, ME
pete5000 pete5000
#dijoy On the Poor Farm deck; a snail with a golden shell; I move it into the sun 11:44 AM Jun 20th via web from Vinalhaven, ME