Wildtimes
Wild Times merged 3D printing, social engagement, and a 2,680-mile thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail (from Campo, Mexico, to Manning, Canada) as a means of meditating on wild landscapes—both geographic locations and the terrain of our psyche. I was particularly interested in the correlation between our shrinking untamed natural spaces (Only 3 % of the contiguous US is considered wildland) and our sense of personal contentment during this time of increasing pressure to mine our experiences for social media.
Throughout my 5.5-month hike, I sent photos, 3D files, blog posts, Instagram posts, and related public programming to a series of five West Coast museums and art venues, where the transmissions were printed, installed, and shared, evolving into cumulative exhibitions.
Each day I hiked, I “collected” a rock using a photo app on my phone. These images were converted into 3D mesh files, which I then transmitted to the museums I was working with. The museums printed the files, live in the gallery using 3D printers, in colors coded to the elevation at which I found the rocks. Over the course of the hike, this pile of rocks evolved into a colorful cairn, both a sculpture and a map of my journey. Additionally, in juxtaposition to these 3D rocks, I sent back photo files, which were also printed live in the gallery. The images were framed and hung salon-style throughout the hike. While both the rocks and the images are photo-based and their printing is created line-by-line, the understanding they offer and their presence differ greatly.
Public programming included Formulary for a New Wildness (group therapy exploring the concept of the wild in everyday life), a hero’s journey writing workshop for teens, and an improv comedy dérive through the city.
Wild Times was made possible through a Creative Capital Grant, the support of Makerbot, Microsoft, Wholefoods, and generous Wild Times Kickstarter campaign contributors.
