Patterns of Place is a multi-phase research project examining man-made and naturally created patterns and motifs in Virginia to expose how these often understudied forms convey meaning and have an ideological impact. In the fall of 2021, VCU Interior Design professors Sara Reed and Emily Smith collaborated with the middle Of broad (mOb) design studio, an interdisciplinary and experimental design lab located at 205 E Broad Street, Richmond, on Patterns of Place, phase II. The collaboration was a "mOb mOment," a short-term project focused on getting design students out of the studio and into the city to document patterns of place. Project participants included fifteen VCU students participating in the mOb studio during their fall 2021 semester with the support of mOb faculty and VCUarts faculty serving as mOb mentors.
This phase II project focused on Richmond's 2nd Street. The two defining endpoints were the Gilpin Court Community, north of Interstate 95, and the American Civil War Museum, along the James River. The project began with a walk from endpoint to endpoint, with participants photographing patterns. They were encouraged to discuss what they were seeing and note their questions. After the initial walk, participants printed their photos onto 4" x 4" paper - these were pinned up at the mOb studiO in a grid organizing the photos by participants (rows) and regions (columns). Participants were also asked to create charcoal drawings - interpretations - based on their photos. These were also pinned up at the mOb studiO with a similar logic.
The Patterns of Place project examines how patterns can be juxtaposed to tell a story about the three documented regions. Pattern in this project is defined as an independent motif or a series of repeated motifs. Patterns can be defined in many ways, and project participants were encouraged to explore this.
This phase II project focused on Richmond's 2nd Street. The two defining endpoints were the Gilpin Court Community, north of Interstate 95, and the American Civil War Museum, along the James River. The project began with a walk from endpoint to endpoint, with participants photographing patterns. They were encouraged to discuss what they were seeing and note their questions. After the initial walk, participants printed their photos onto 4" x 4" paper - these were pinned up at the mOb studiO in a grid organizing the photos by participants (rows) and regions (columns). Participants were also asked to create charcoal drawings - interpretations - based on their photos. These were also pinned up at the mOb studiO with a similar logic.
The Patterns of Place project examines how patterns can be juxtaposed to tell a story about the three documented regions. Pattern in this project is defined as an independent motif or a series of repeated motifs. Patterns can be defined in many ways, and project participants were encouraged to explore this.
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