Curatorial Department
San Jose Museum of Art
110 S. Market St.
San Jose, CA 95113
(408) 271-6840
Attn: Chief Curator
This is a proposal to be considered for exhibition at the San Jose Museum of Art.
My name is Adam Jerugim, and I'm a MFA graduate student in the Digital Art and New Media program at the University of California, Santa Cruz. The piece I'm proposing is a large-scale interactive installation called the Robot is the Garden. The purpose of the project is to expose computer components in a way that allows visitors of all ages to explore the inside of a machine as represented by a garden setting. The project would be a perfect compliment to your existing works and to the entire silicon valley theme of technology and computers. Not only am I a graduate student in the area, but I'm also an employee of one of the largest technology companies in downtown San Jose: Adobe Systems, Inc.
Thank you for considering my request. Please feel free to contact me directly if you need additional information.
Sincerely,
Adam Jerugim
Exhibition Proposal by Adam Jerugim – DANM graduate student at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Submitted on December 10, 2007
The project will be a large-scale interactive piece that will allow users to physically explore the inside of a computer as represented by a garden. Users on the inside will be able to track how information and electricity move through the machine. Outside, users will be able to input data, either via basic text editing or graphic editing tools, that those on the inside will be able to track from input device through the cpu and back to the output device.
“Designing the Inside” was the old working title of this project and the purpose of the project is to expose the black box that is the inside of the computer by exposing the functional parts as elements in a garden. The model of the interior design is informed by research into artistic and aesthetic intent by computer designers. The project will work to define what are aesthetics in relation to computer design and to determine to what degree artistic and aesthetic intent play in the decisions those designers make with regards to internal computer design. The final major area of research for this project will focus on technological pastoral and if the concept of pastoral ideal can be expressed by a garden-like-motherboard-setting.
Ideally the piece will allow visitors to gain a better understanding of the way computer internals work and interact. The audience will include people of all ages who simply expect the computers do the work they require without ever thinking about how things actually appear and function on the inside.
The exhibit will be on display for a year from June 2009 - June 2010 - after first being shown as part of the UCSC DANM 04 graduate symposium.
Adam Jerugim
Mailstop W10
345 Park Avenue
San Jose, CA 95110
(408) xxx-2296 (offfice)
(408) xxx-4203 (fax)
email: travlin_adam at yahoo dot com
2006-2007:
Unnatural Selection research & art project with DANM project group
http://unnatural.ucsc.edu/
The group presented two pieces at UCSC Open Studios in March of 2007:
1. Manifest Landscape
2. Hudsen River Bonsai Project
Summer 2006:
"Meta Porch?" project @ Burning Man ’06
http://jerugim.com/bm06/content/IMG_1741_large.html
2004-2005:
First year of DANM MFA study focused on the art of virtual reality as represented in movies and literature.
1998-present:
Photoshop Quality Engineer – Adobe Systems, Inc.
Curated Photoshop Group Digital Photography Show in August of 2003 @ Adobe Headquarters in San Jose.
1995-1998:
Produced & promoted multi-media music events in Santa Cruz and greater bay area. Responsible for all promotional graphic art design for event flyers and posters.
Adam is currently a graduate student in the Digital Art & New Media program at the University of California, Santa Cruz. As a full-time software engineer, Adam has used his evenings and weekends to participate in this MFA program part-time. During the first year of study, his focus was the art of virtual reality, specifically how VR was represented in literature and film. During his subsequent years of study, he participated in the Unnatural Selection project group with other DANM graduate students led by faculty member and assistant professor Elliot Anderson. He is currently focused on his thesis project, the Robot is the Garden, a large-scale interactive garden installation.
Image of Golden Gate Park & Motherboard:
Sketch of front of exhibit piece:
Sketch of top view of exhibit piece:
Sketch of proposed pathway for participants:
Sketch of side view of exhibit piece:
Options for internal layout (all realistic, half & half, or all organic):
Initial project sketches:
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