Local Color, Bartram’s Garden West Philadelphia, PA
Stuart Weitzman School of Design
Shenk-Woodman Design Competition
Critic: Annette Fierro
TA: Danny Jarabek
Team: Colby Cox + Camille Escobar + Ryan Lane + Leean Li
January 19-24, 2024
// In the urban melange, distinct districts intricately craft their own narrative through a process of visual readings, herein referred to as a Visualogue; borrowed from “catalog” the Greek “katalogos” meaning “to pick out or enroll”. The compilation of a visualized catalog serves to offer a lexicon of ocular metaphors and in doing so, profoundly articulate the essence and identity of a given locale. A mode of cataloging the everyday, strategically organizing multifaceted visual residue into a comprehensive language. Objects of visual impermanence, posters, murals, graffiti, signage, bumper stickers, postcards, flyers, etc. become objects of reverence. Every object, not simply aesthetic fragments but an insight into the communal psyche.
// The Schenk-Woodman compeition was a week long team effort commencing with participants engaging in an extensive exploratory walk within a loosely defined perimeter, dedicating no less than two hours to a thorough examination and interaction with the landscape. This endeavor was characterized by an emphasis on observation and documentation, seeking to uncover the intrinsic and often overlooked elements that contribute to the essence of the site. Participants were encouraged to adopt an inquisitive approach, focusing on environmental characteristics, auditory landscapes, fauna, historical layers, and the complex web of social interactions inherent to the area.
