#assign5

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Assignment 5: Zodiac Identity Puzzle (Instruction and Artist Statement)

(Here are the instructions and "artists' statement" type write up I created for our project:)

Instructions:

Flip over all the wedges so that the text sides are facing up.

Pick four wedges that you feel describe yourself.

Turn over the wedges, so that the patterns are facing up.

Piece together the wedges like a puzzle to form a half circle.

Observe the patterns that come together to represent your own avatar.

 Mission:

 According to the zodiac system, a person is pre-determined to embody a set of characteristics based on the date they are born. While this system may sometimes be accurate, astrology propagates a rigid view of pre-determined identity and representation. An individual’s personality is more often a unique set of characteristics. Through this game, the user is given the power to concretely create a pattern that depicts their unique combination of traits.

 Patterns and meaning:

There are four wedges for each of the twelve zodiac signs. Each zodiac sign is portrayed through a unified, unique design (see “Key”). Each pattern is as an abstract representation of the astrologically defined characteristics. Beyond unique patterns for each zodiac sign, each of the twelve signs belongs to one of four elements (earth, wind, air and fire). Each sign’s elemental classification is depicted through a border that reflects the specific element.

As the user chooses which characteristics they feel adequately describe themselves, the semi circle created is an avatar of how the user views their own personality. It is possible for the user to choose all four wedges of a single sign. If this is the case, a pattern will seamlessly come together to represent unification between the user’s views of themselves with the structure of the zodiac. If the user chooses wedges from different zodiac signs, the pieces will fit together, the outlines of the borders will line up, but the patterns of each wedge will be varied. 

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Assignment 5 - Project development, questions

-What program should we do the designs in (so we can then send them to the laser printer to print)? Do they need to be vectors/done with the pen tool? Etc?

-What dimensions do we want our designs to be? Depending on how big the piece of plywood we use, we should do some dimensions off of that so we can fit all 12 pieces on one sheet. We also don't want these things to be too huge either... I also think we should try to stay within a set handful of shades of a color (for example, each design can only use 3-4 colors max... black, grey, white... because the laser cutter can burn in different shades but can't print color) to keep all the pieces unified. 

-Where should we get materials/where are we making this? 

-Conceptually: Source: http://www.astrology.com.au/astrology/12-signs-of-the-zodiac/

+12 zodiac signs  

+ each of which fit into Fire, Earth, Air, Water (maybe depict this through a border? each design for Earth, example, will have the SAME border. that way if people pick 3 different "things", if they are all the same element they will still achieve some unity)

+ Break down each sign into 3 puzzle pieces

   --- mantra (ex. Taurus: I am the best yet I am humble)

   --- key life phrase (ex. Scorpio: I Will)

   --- characteristics (okay, maybe have the user pick 2 of these, so making 4 pieces) (ex. Pisces: Loving, sensitive, intuitive, spiritual, idealistic, victimised and moody)