Liz Nofziger Project Journal

Posted: October 9, 2006

settling into the Berwick studio now...it takes time to get comfortable. fantastic to have space again after being without since Feb.

my goals for these 10 weeks are very broad (finding a way to examine/evaluate/challenge/improve/capture my process of working site-specifically) while being specific to the particular project at hand: the approaching exhibition at Columbia College this March. I'm having some difficulty articulating distinct, or clearly attainable, goals in the vast, unpredictable, spontaneous realm of process, but am working to discover/define these by delving in.

So, I'll begin to break it down, noting the process thus far:

- site visit in june...met w/ director and preparator. incredible to have such an opportunity and people who are willing to allow for so much openness and support. will have the opportunity to work w/ student assistants...must consider this as I develop a plan.

- on-going research into the physical and psychological natures of the site, its architect, its past and current uses

- the dreaded title request....this always comes long before I'm prepared, but somehow pushes the development along:

Dear N,

since yesterday was a holiday i took the liberty of deciding that today was fine for sending the exhibition title.

Here's what i'm thinking, and some background. please let me know what you think...if it conjures up any immediate, unsavory reactions, let me know:

Core
a new site-specific installation by Liz Nofziger
(this is sort of a sub-head...not really part of the title but maybe useful in descrip?)

This word is interesting and pertinent in an array of ways while being open enough to allow great flexibility:
-simply meaning the central, innermost, or most essential part of anything.
-as a verb, meaning to remove this essence
-anatomy— heart
- central portion of the earth, beg. at 1800 miles below surface
-computer science—memory/RAM
-magnetic core/electricity/
-geology-a cylindrical sample of earth/rock/etc. extracted to study the strata undisturbed
-physics...core is where fission occurs (like in a nuclear reactor)
-term used in various ways in ropemaking, anthropology, mettallurgy, carpentry, phonetics, etc.
-core or kore (kohr-ee) is in greek antiquity the sculptural representation of a young woman, esp. produced prior to 5th century. Also, Core is another name for Persephone in classical mythology, esp. as symbol of virginity.

-looking into the building's past and current uses (core sample to build upon)
-thinking of the earth's core after seeing amazing lava flow in hawaii...got some great footage too which may play a role
-am planning to play w/ scale and can imagine having various centers/cores revealed from different perspectives.
-little bit biological, little bit sci-fi
-thinking of how to incorporate physical vibration...referencing presses and the architecture spec. designed for this, and maybe the unstable/passionate/slightly unpredictable core

This is all quite ambiguous at the moment, but i'm starting to think about clear/concrete direction. I'm going to get into the studio at the berwick (the residency) earlier than expected, and the first thing i plan to do is make a scale model of the glass curtain to begin experimenting w/ ideas of how to transform the space...this scale model (either physically or in photos) may be part of the exhibit, and certainly, if funding comes through, the publication.

That second grant i'm going for is due soon. i'll send you a copy of my letter of intent FYI.

hope you had a good long weekend. best, liz.



- now at the Berwick I've begun a 1/2" scale model of the 2200 sq ft gallery....a real volume to experiment within

I'm trying to put my varied strains of research into visual form, allowing connections to emerge.

thinking toward my opening discussion...