Guest Editor’s Profile – Natalie Fisher
Posted: September 18, 2011 Filed under: information, Natalie Fisher Leave a comment »
Natalie Fisher
Dayton, OH.
Specifically Centerville, which happens to have the largest collection of original stone buildings in Ohio.
www.natfishphotos.tumblr.com
In terms of your things, what does your space (studio/office/living area) look like? please describe.
I have a hereditary inclination to be a cluttered pack-rat, so my space tends to overflow. But I like to think of it as eclectically organized. My small studio space (which I share with my boyfriend) is colorful, functional enough, and ever growing.
Where do you normally get your things?
I like to poke my head into flea markets and the like, but I get most of my things from rummage sales or as gifts from people who tend to know what I’m into. I’m also turning into a frequent convention go-er, which is where I pick up most of my more specific collectibles.
What is your prize possession/”thing”/collectible/tool?
Overall, it’s any thing my grandmother gave to me: a jewelry box (and whatever came inside), a prayer book, her handwritten notes, or the wax teeth she carved when she was studying to be a hygienist.
day 297 – four transition sites
Posted: September 18, 2011 Filed under: broken, creativity, found, Karen Wardle, Uncategorized | Tags: art, nature, photo, winnipeg manitoba canada 1 Comment »
The central image is one of my favourite images. A bird had built a nest in an electrical box at the site of an abandoned bottling factory. This factory comprised of a steel shed with a variety of tanks, equipment and conveyer belts scattered about the grounds, is now overtaken by vegetation and wildlife. All the sites shown here illustrate spaces that are in transition; places once habited by man that are now being reclaimed by nature. If these sites are no longer exclusively nature made or manmade then what are they?
The study of cybernetics can be used to achieve a deeper understanding of complex biological, social and ecological systems, and is used to help us understand the world around us. It is also a term used in reference to artificial enhancement in many ways including biological and social structures. As humanity expands, our social, political, architectural and transport networks spread across the globe and our influence over the planet increases. We implant structures on top of and under the ground, into the oceans and into the space around us to enhance our capabilities. Our influence can even be seen on a genetic level as we experiment with plant and animal life. The impact of our chemical pollutants can be seen across the planet. If we can refer to ourselves as cyborgs because of our technological implants, pace makers, artificial limbs, wheelchairs, or ipods then can we not go so far as to say that our planet too is a cybernetic organism?
