Amodern

Issues / Amodern 5: HARLEY PARKER

TRANSLITERATIONS, SPACE AND FORM

Jennifer MarmanDaniel Borins

Found materials juxtaposed into a social setting. A sculpture that plays dislocated sounds; to echo disconnected forms.1   A serial repetition of forms. A minimalist relief sculpture that is interactive.2   The needles measure the proximity of the viewer to the surface.3   A billboard and matching park bench. The viewer completes the piece.4   High art and popular culture in a continuously rotating cycle.5   An architectural feature presented... Read more...

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Found materials juxtaposed into a social setting. A sculpture that plays dislocated sounds; to echo disconnected forms.[1](#fn1-6533 "_Multimedia Dome_, 2000. Astroturf, fibreglass, foam, pleather, plastic, electronics. 11’ diameter x 2’.")
02 jm db 2003 presence meter c
A serial repetition of forms. A minimalist relief sculpture that is interactive.[2](#fn2-6533 "_Presence Meter_, 2003. Analog meters, aluminum, electronics, glass. 5’ x 8.5’.")
03 jm db 2003 presence meter c
The needles measure the proximity of the viewer to the surface.[3](#fn3-6533 "_Presence Meter_, 2003. Analog meters, aluminum, electronics, glass. 5’ x 8.5’.")
04 jm db 2006 in sit you
A billboard and matching park bench. The viewer completes the piece.[4](#fn4-6533 "_In Sit You_, 2006. Trivision billboard, park bench. 10’ x 20’; 8’ x 4’ x 2’")
05 jm db 2006 in sit you
High art and popular culture in a continuously rotating cycle.[5](#fn5-6533 "_In Sit You_, 2006. Trivision billboard, park bench. 10’ x 20’; 8’ x 4’ x 2’.")
07 jm db 2009 project for a new american century room 01
An architectural feature presented as a sculpture. Thematically, an image of authority, of watchfulness.[6](#fn6-6533 "_Project for a New American Century _Room 1, 2009. Plywood, cement, glass. 18’ x 24’ x 24’.")
08 jm db 2009 project for a new american century room 02
The previous room informs the second one. The visual impression produces art works.[7](#fn7-6533 "_Project for a New American Century _Room 2, 2009. Paintings (4): Acrylic on canvas; 66” x 66” (each). Sculptures: Cement, laminate, plywood, hardwood, fluorescent light.")
09 jm db 2012 we built excitement
A series of works presented as if they belong to a locale, a formal movement, a place in time.[8](#fn8-6533 "_We Built Excitement_, 2012. Various sculptures.")
10 jm db 2012 we built excitement
A painting contrasted against a composed backdrop. Two forms challenging each other.[9](#fn9-6533 "_We Built Excitement_, 2012. Defrag. Acrylic on canvas, on vinyl background. Painting: 48” x 60”.")
11 jm db AGH collaborationists
Sculptures and installations of similar and divergent aesthetics, composed into an exhibition space.[10](#fn10-6533 "_The Collaborationists_ (Installation view, room 01), 2013. Various works.")
12 jm db 2013 flip out
Colour takes the place of time, composing itself into positions of abstraction.[11](#fn11-6533 "_Flip Out_, 2013. Split flap display, silkscreened vinyl, powder coated metal, electronics. 9’ x 5’.")
13 jm db agh Flip Out
To arrive at compositions expressed through technology, computer code, and natural rhythms and sounds.[12](#fn12-6533 "_Flip Out_, 2013. Split flap display, silkscreened vinyl, powder coated metal, electronics. 9’ x 5’.")
14 jm db 2013 pavilion of the blind
The exhibition space with built structures referring to architectural space, and also to mechanical paintings.[13](#fn13-6533 "_Pavilion of the Blind_, 2013. Blinds, panel glides, powder coated aluminum, motors, micro controller. 10’ x 32’ x 4’.")
15 jm db 2013 pavilion of the blind
A rumination on modernity as opaque, translucent, and transparent.[14](#fn14-6533 "_Pavilion of the Blind_ (detail), 2013. Blinds, panel glides, powder coated aluminum, motors, micro controller. 10’ x 32’ x 4’.")
16 jm db Input Output view
To design a machine as sculpture that performs a recognizable but abstract task.[15](#fn15-6533 "_Input Output_, 2013. Powder coated metal, plastic paper, machinery, micro controller. 42” x 49” x 57”; Basket: 33” x 26” x 26”.")
17 jm db 2013 input output
A geometric basket is filled with volumes of empty paper, and then retracted into a black void.[16](#fn16-6533 "_Input Output_, 2013. Powder coated metal, plastic paper, machinery, micro controller. 42” x 49” x 57”; Basket: 33” x 26” x 26”.")
18 jm db 2009 Google
Google the search engine presented as friendly corporate citizen; a service that has changed knowledge.[17](#fn17-6533 "_Google_, 2009. Acrylic, powdercoated steel, electronic/ kinetic components, custom software. 27” x 60” x 5-1/2”.")
19 jm db 2009 Google
Google, a form of total information awareness – always watching – following you.[18](#fn18-6533 "_Google_, 2009. Acrylic, powdercoated steel, electronic/ kinetic components, custom software. 27” x 60” x 5-1/2”.")
20 jm db agh black boxes reel view
A built environment that influences the works that are installed in it. The art works are suited to the environment.[19](#fn19-6533 "_Reel to Reel_ (Installation view), 2013. Powder coated metal, polyethelene film, motors, electronics (and Shredded).")
21 jm db 2013 Reel to Reel
Contrasted against Google: Listening to erased tape from the Watergate scandal.[20](#fn20-6533 "_Reel to Reel_ (Installation view), 2013. Powder coated metal, polyethelene film, motors, electronics.")
22 jm db 2011 black boxes
Contrasted against server farms harvesting and holding all of the data ever produced, and that will ever be produced.[21](#fn21-6533 "_Black Boxes_, 2011. Powdercoated steel, elecronics, drywall, drop ceiling, lights, glass doors, carpet.")
23 jm db 2014 smart cube
Depicting opacity and translucency against an optical background.[22](#fn22-6533 "_Smart Cube_, 2013. Glass, stainless steel, PDLC film, electronics (plinth). 26” x 26” x 26”.")
24 jm db smart cube SAAG
The transparent void turns opaque when the viewer approaches the cube.[23](#fn23-6533 "_Smart Cube_, 2013. Glass, stainless steel, PDLC film, electronics (plinth). 26” x 26” x 26”.")
25 jm db smart cube SAAG
And becomes clear when the viewer moves away from it.[24](#fn24-6533 "_Smart Cube_, 2013. Glass, stainless steel, PDLC film, electronics (plinth). 26” x 26” x 26”.")
  1. Multimedia Dome, 2000. Astroturf, fibreglass, foam, pleather, plastic, electronics. 11’ diameter x 2’. 
  2. Presence Meter, 2003. Analog meters, aluminum, electronics, glass. 5’ x 8.5’. 
  3. Presence Meter, 2003. Analog meters, aluminum, electronics, glass. 5’ x 8.5’. 
  4. In Sit You, 2006. Trivision billboard, park bench. 10’ x 20’; 8’ x 4’ x 2’ 
  5. In Sit You, 2006. Trivision billboard, park bench. 10’ x 20’; 8’ x 4’ x 2’. 
  6. Project for a New American Century Room 1, 2009. Plywood, cement, glass. 18’ x 24’ x 24’. 
  7. Project for a New American Century Room 2, 2009. Paintings (4): Acrylic on canvas; 66” x 66” (each). Sculptures: Cement, laminate, plywood, hardwood, fluorescent light. 
  8. We Built Excitement, 2012. Various sculptures. 
  9. We Built Excitement, 2012. Defrag. Acrylic on canvas, on vinyl background. Painting: 48” x 60”. 
  10. The Collaborationists (Installation view, room 01), 2013. Various works. 
  11. Flip Out, 2013. Split flap display, silkscreened vinyl, powder coated metal, electronics. 9’ x 5’. 
  12. Flip Out, 2013. Split flap display, silkscreened vinyl, powder coated metal, electronics. 9’ x 5’. 
  13. Pavilion of the Blind, 2013. Blinds, panel glides, powder coated aluminum, motors, micro controller. 10’ x 32’ x 4’. 
  14. Pavilion of the Blind (detail), 2013. Blinds, panel glides, powder coated aluminum, motors, micro controller. 10’ x 32’ x 4’. 
  15. Input Output, 2013. Powder coated metal, plastic paper, machinery, micro controller. 42” x 49” x 57”; Basket: 33” x 26” x 26”. 
  16. Input Output, 2013. Powder coated metal, plastic paper, machinery, micro controller. 42” x 49” x 57”; Basket: 33” x 26” x 26”. 
  17. Google, 2009. Acrylic, powdercoated steel, electronic/ kinetic components, custom software. 27” x 60” x 5-1/2”. 
  18. Google, 2009. Acrylic, powdercoated steel, electronic/ kinetic components, custom software. 27” x 60” x 5-1/2”. 
  19. Reel to Reel (Installation view), 2013. Powder coated metal, polyethelene film, motors, electronics (and Shredded). 
  20. Reel to Reel (Installation view), 2013. Powder coated metal, polyethelene film, motors, electronics. 
  21. Black Boxes, 2011. Powdercoated steel, elecronics, drywall, drop ceiling, lights, glass doors, carpet. 
  22. Smart Cube, 2013. Glass, stainless steel, PDLC film, electronics (plinth). 26” x 26” x 26”. 
  23. Smart Cube, 2013. Glass, stainless steel, PDLC film, electronics (plinth). 26” x 26” x 26”. 
  24. Smart Cube, 2013. Glass, stainless steel, PDLC film, electronics (plinth). 26” x 26” x 26”.

Article: Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Image: Smart Cube by Jennifer Marman and Daniel Borins. Used with permission.