Bending Theory

On a recent trip to Newcastle I was ecstatic to discover the Millennium Bridge. Designed by the architecture firm WilkinsonEyre the Bridge rises up into an elongated and elegant bend before descending down onto the opposite bank, counter balanced by a swooping arch that rises into the air to support the base. Walking across the pedestrian bridge, I was full of glee marveling at the simple but profound idea of the bridge producing an indirect path - rather than cut firmly and strictly across the Tyne river the Bridge offers a soft journey, as if proposing that one consider the view, or daydream a bit along the way... It made me appreciate the simple fact that embodied within the Bridge is a form of theoretical perspective that one might begin to apply to the built environment in general. Situationist dérive or fanciful form? Whichever way the Bridge takes the idea of being a pedestrian as an opportunity to explore the surrounding environment, and how radical that such an urban project (costing no doubt millions of pounds) would put forth such a theory of the bend.

Dominion

Fellow U.C.Riverside Lecturer Michael Wilson screened his film Silhouette City tonite and it presents a fascinating portrait of Christian extremist's transformation from a radical fringe movement in the 1970's and 80's to the mainstream political force that it is today. It's compelling on many levels... one of which is the way evangelical Christians have framed America as holy place with a god given right to rule the world. Through the course of the film, we watch various sites – a small compound in Arkansas, a place of worship or the entire geography of the U.S. – perform rhetorically as the location where god's will might be enacted. The film is a nuanced and telling examination of religious fundamentalism in America.

Experimental Group

an application for utopian building consent has been made
a proposition has been put forward for Vertical Common in Smithfield Market, Central London
notices were posted at the site on 5th May 2008
to view the proposition and have your say go to http://www.experimentalgroup.org/blog

Berlin - city in the throes of its own détournement

Critical Art Ensemble artist Steve Kurtz finally cleared

Nice to read today that Steve Kurtz' case was dismissed by a judge when, after four years of legal wrangling, it was finally brought to trial.
Read more on the story here.