User:KadenceEnglehardt

=Humanities I/The Commons=

Bio
Bonjour! My name is Kadence Englehardt, and to be quite honest, I'm not exactly sure how to classify myself. Currently, I'm a 22-year old living in Seattle, WA, studying Interior Design at the Art Institute of Seattle. A Hoosier by birth (for those who are perplexed by this label, a "hoosier" is someone from the great Midwestern state of Indiana - sarcasm intended), I awkwardly attended kindergarten through high school in my hometown of Evansville, IN, a place of which I've never felt exactly fond or to which I really belonged. It was as though I had been transplanted...from where I was could never really be certain. I graduated in 2005, and then moved to Terre Haute, IN to attend college at Indiana State University. After one year of flip-flopping and switching majors, I finally decided that I would just study abroad for the heck of it. In the fall of 2006, I moved to Braunschweig, Germany, where I knew absolutely no one and nothing about the city. While studying at TU Braunschweig, I traveled extensively, and realized that my true passion was architecture. Returning stateside in the fall, I had changed my major to Interior Design, fully expecting to live my dream! However, I quickly realized that I wasn't able to live in Indiana with the same gusto that I once had. After a short visit in March of 2008, I decided to transfer to AIS and move to Seattle; the first place I'd ever felt like I actually belonged (in the United States, at least). My life has been one change after another for the last four years, and I've enjoyed every minute of it. I'm extremely spontaneous, curious, rather loud, and I love to smile. I spend a lot of my time reading, writing and taking photos. My favorite designers are Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe, and IM Pei. I plan on earning my Master's of Architecture at UW after graduating from AIS, with an emphasis on Historical Preservation. I hope to eventually move back to Europe, with my other half and (currently) fiance, Chris, at some point in the future.

Midterm Research Project
Ghost Bike located at 4th & Bell, Seattle, WA

International/Seattle Ghost Bike Movement
In December of 2009, on my normal walk to work, I noticed one day, that a white bike had appeared. I asked myself Has this always been here? I eventually came to the conclusion that it had not, and I began idly wondering exactly what was its purpose: Is it someone's bike?; Why is is COMPLETELY white?; Why did they decide to put it here, if it doesn't belong to someone?; etc. Each time I walked by, another question would occur to me. Then I would quickly go on about about my life, until the next time I walked past. When this project came along, I decided to delve a little deeper into the meaning. It simply took me writing "white bikes + Seattle" in GoogleSearch, to find out the truth.

In 2002, a San Francisco based artist, Jo Slota, originally came up with this idea of painting old bikes, or pieces of bikes, - "I see them as 'dead bikes,'" said the artist - a ghostly white color and putting them in seemingly random places (Bedell). Originally, he only recorded the project on a self-maintained website, but later, in 2003 when cyclist-awareness groups in St. Louis began placing the "ghost bikes" in places where bikers were injured or killed to increase awareness, he was somewhat perturbed. Now, the artist says he is "flatter that this idea has proved so potent and adaptable" (Bedell).

Ghost bikes are now an international art awareness phenomenon: they are sometimes placed by organizations, other times family of cyclists hurt or killed, sometimes permanent and are in major cities throughout the world, including Britain, New York, Germany, Australia, Mexico, and Italy - just to name a few (GhostBikes.org). The movement here in Seattle, began in August 2005, headed by the anonymous folks at GhostCycle.org; it is based primarily on increasing motorists of cyclists' presence on the road and their right to be there (Ghostcyle.org). The original 40 bikes were strategically placed at the 40 most dangerous spots in the city, with signs that read, "A cyclist was struck here" (Bedell). On the GhostCycle Website, there is a map of the locations of the original 40 bikes, and a listing of stories that are part of each cycle.

There is an eerie-ness about these bikes, especially those that are placed anonymously. This is somewhat in their nature, as anyone can place one somewhere - there's even a "How-To" section on the GhostBikes.org website (GhostBikes.org). The bike that is on my way to work (located at 4th and Bell), was not one of the original 40, but stands just as the rest, without a sign of its history or purpose. It did, however, make me think differently as to why it was here, and what it stands for. Though I am always careful when driving, I'll always double-check now for bikers.

In 2008, as their entry into the International Documentary Film Challenge, Team Go! (led by Dylan Reibling) created a short film about the Ghost Bike Movement that swept the world. The film could be no longer than 7 minutes, and the filmmakers have only 5 days to create a masterpiece. Ghost Bike KadenceEnglehardt 06:52, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

Sources:
Bedell, Geraldine. "The Spectral that Haunt our Roads." Arts. 5 October 2008: The Guardian. 2 February 2010. . == GhostCycle.org. "Press-Kit." GhostCycle.org 2 February 2010. . == GhostBikes.org. "Locations." GhostBikes.org 2 February 2010. .

Final Public Art Project
KL Project Flyer posted on Community Art Board.

The KL Project
The KL Project is an ongoing public group art project, to which anyone can submit work, as long as it is on a 4x6 postcard. The "KL" stands for my first 2 initials, Kadence Lynn. I've always been fascinated by the way people work in groups, especially volunteer groups which ultimately only result in the pride of having done something for the greater good or being part of that group. I decided this would be an interesting experiment to see how that kind of group works.

I posted advertisements in the "public" of Seattle, WA, including community boards at Daniel Smith's Art Supply, at UW and AIS, as well as leaving pre-cut postcards with information about submitting all over Seattle. I virtually posted classifieds "Calling for Artists" to craigslist, Seattle Weekly, and the Stranger. I also mass-mailed many of my own friends and family that DON'T live in Seattle personal "invitation" to participate, and gave them to as many people as I could. I strategically placed postcards throughout many public places, such as coffee shops, banks, and even places at AI. Originally, I printed 100 postcards and 5 posters. I also started a "hub" where those which submit can watch to see what others have sent in.

Ultimately, I hope to "present" submissions online as well as in an exhibition in Seattle. Currently, I DO have a place in a possible show, but I have to get submissions FIRST!

For more information, please visit The KL Project

KadenceEnglehardt

Self-Assessment
I'm really excited that I had this class. It was really interesting, and I'm glad that I took it seriously and participated in discussions. I found that I was was often finding many times that there were things I would think about or relate to that which I learned in this class. I learned to really appreciate - even more than I already did - that which is art. Even more interesting, I've reevaluated what I consider to be art. Before this class I never thought of graffiti art as a form of art, but after watching the film, Style Wars, I have a completely different view of it. I've learned to question more than I ever thought I would.

I think one of the best things I got out of this class, was initiative or a springboard opportunity to begin a project I've been conceiving for quite awhile, The KL Project. Because of this class, I actually got to devote time to it, as my commitment to school and the work that goes along with it, often keep me from working on my personal or side projects. Having to do this "public art project" gave me that outlet. I'm glad that this can be an ongoing project, and that I now have a basis upon which to build.

Other Thoughts
“Replace fear of the unknown with curiosity.”

“Live intensely. Love intensely.”

“Masquerading as a normal person day after day is exhausting. So I don’t.”

I just have to keep telling myself, "Judge yourself less harshly."