A People's History of the Twin Ports

I created this piece using primarily using Google Maps. I got most of my images from the Northeast Minnesota History Center. I wanted to embed video, but the current google maps only allows still images. Also all the still images had to be hosted online somewhere. I created umn blog of the original files for solely for this purpose. 

The user can interact with the piece by exploring the Twin Ports in a new historical context. They can choose a point of interest based on location and type of topic.

Screenshot

Overall it was a success. One major problem is that I am working with suppressed histories, thus the information out there is minimal. However there are still many more sites I could have add. I'd like to pursue a UROP to expand on this project. 

Final Proposal

Final Project Proposal – Blake Romenesko

The idea I'm most leaning toward is the People's History of the Twin Ports. Where I would create an interactive map showing sites linked to local history of the Anishinaabe, people of color, and the working class. When the user clicks on a site they will see historical images as well as my own photography.

Tools-Google maps is the obvious choice, but I want to look into other interactive map programs. The long term goal would be to create my own interface like the Dijital Pasaj project and even make into a phone app.

Timeline plan of action-

This week I want to get in contact with some people I know. One person I know is well versed in local labor history, another person knows local history about people of color. About six months ago somebody did a presentation at the Duluth Public Library about Anishinaabe sites in Duluth. I think I have the network to find that person. From there determine sites.

Next Week would be to photograph sites and organize map.

3 examples-

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/A-Before-and-After-Look-at-Americas-Great-Cities.html

http://www.worldology.com/Europe/europe_history_lg.htm

http://www.mapsofwar.com/ind/history-of-religion.html

Interactive Media Responses and What-Not

SAM HAGEN'S PEICE
I thoroughly enjoyed Sam Hagen's piece at the Tweed. I interacted with it by deciding which column to stand by which played a different note. Also I played with my distance from the column which caused the note to change pitch. Sam was probably playing with the relation between human and computer. The columns communicated with each other as humans communicate with themselves, which can be commentary on relations.

WILD IDEA

REALISTIC IDEA
I'm actually not sure. Right now I am learning how to code Python which is an app coding language. After I finish my Codacademy lesson(I'm about 1/3 done) I can see what skill I possess to create something in my skill range. 

Pumpkins

Here's some pumpkins that were carved at my house this year:

I made the top one which is says Love > $. The next one down was made by this guy staying at my house named Michael. He named his pumpkin "Vamp Jenkins," and he partially scooped out on inside under the eyes to make it look like it was blushing. The last one was made by Justin. It's a lazy version of the IWW symbol. 

I bought them super cheap from this old guy who sells produce from the back of his truck. He also sold me six squash for $5. 

Links

How to get leap app development kit.
https://www.leapmotion.com/developers

How to learn basic coding
http://www.codecademy.com/dashboard

Duluth Locative - City Hall

Where you are now standing at is Duluth City Hall. It was built in 1928, and is one of four buildings in the Duluth Civic Center Historical District. Throughout the 1930's local farmers, the unemployed, and Communists held rallies here. First Street on the lakeside of the building was also the site to a major labor struggle which led to violent events brought on by the local police.

On April 4, 1938, news workers represented by the Newspaper Guild went on strike for recognition, a union shop, and a union contract. During the strike other union workers associated with the CIO joined the Newspaper Guild in pickets in front of the newspaper offices(where they are still located today.) On May 23, 100 police in riot gear stormed out of City Hall to disperse the pickets with clubs, guns, and tear gas.

Farmer-Labor Governor Elmer Benson supported the striking workers and sent the Minnesota Guard to protect the workers from any further violence from the police. The strike ended in victory for the workers. 

Interactive Media: Myron W. Krueger

Blake Romenesko

Myron Krueger is seen as a pioneer in digital art, augmented reality, and interactive art. His work dates back to 1969; a period before internet, Atari, and arcade machines. During that time he began some early experiments in virtual realty using a system of sensing surfaces and video cameras. Eventually he teamed up with a number of artists and engineers came a variety of pieces that changed the relationship between the viewer and art.

His work generally consists of using a system of censoring surfaces, video cameras, and projections. Very often Krueger uses hardware and ideas from a previous piece to further explore in a new piece. He even continues to work on a single piece for over twenty years to change it with newer technology and new ideas. The timeline of his works demonstrates a fluid evolution. He is also interested with the human-computer relationship as well the human-human relationship via computer. Also he plays the idea of a "composed reality."

Videoplace(1970) is most likely Krueger's most famous piece and biggest contribution to both digital arts and interactive media. The piece was a result of three smaller experiments. It opened as an artificial reality lab at the University of Connecticut and was seen as a pioneering curiosity for both art and science. And now the piece is on permanent display at the State Museum of Natural History at the University of Connecticut. 

Videoplace:

About of Krueger's early experiments Glowflow(1969):

http://www.artelectronicmedia.com/artwork/glowflow

Small Planet(1993) works as the viewer uses their arms to fly around the planet

http://www.iamas.ac.jp/interaction/i97/artist_Krueger.html

*Disclaimer

I need to use this blog for a class, so you are going to start seeing some weird posts that might seem random. You'll notice up above there's a tab called "Interactive Media" as well as posts labeled "Interactive Media." These are posts more for my class rather than the general Zenith Perspective reader. 

The Mystery of Clough Island

In 1946 the government received unusual radioactive signals coming from Clough Island in Duluth. Professor Whiteside of Chicago got hired by the U.S. Government to inspect the island. According to recently declassified documents he found the ruins of a lost civilization and a strange machine. During the investigation he disappeared and was never seen ever since.

Reflection:

Moviestorm is a pretty neat program. It has a number of both pros and cons. The program allows you to do things most student filmmakers would unable to do such as special effects, large sets, and large casts.  However it can be restrictive on some things as well. The Moviestorm avatars often don't have the same liberty that the human body does. The human face can do an infinite amount of expressions that the avatar can not. There were other specifics that I had to manipulate Moviestorm to do that would be easy in real life. The program is great to create humorous and/or magical scenes, but less efficient in much more. 

Another Kayaking Adventure: Under the Bridge to the Big Blue

I went kayaking again: no surprise there. 

This time I launched from Rice's Point.

There was a ship. It almost killed me(well not really since it was moving slower than a drifting milk jug.)

I cut across the bay and kayaked along Park Point. 

I wasn't sure if the lake was going to be rough, so I thought I'd check it out. Mostly I just wanted to kayak under the lift bridge. 

Over 1,000 ships from across the globe pass through this canal....plus my kayak. 

Through the canal I was ventured out into the Big Blue. 

On Wednesdays the yacht club has sailboat races, so I was followed out the canal by an entourage of sailboats. 

Also the tourists on the piers kept trying to talk to me. I hate tourists. 

Eventually it quickly got really dark and cloudy, so I headed back full speed. I didn't beat the rain which was fun. 

First Zenith City Kayaking Adventure!

On my two year anniversary of moving to Duluth a dream of mine came true: I brought a kayak to Duluth. I always have been fascinated with Duluth's waterways, but I was always restricted to many parts of the city due to my landlocked handicap. Fortunately I now have water transportation. My first adventure was to explore a part of the St. Louis River Estuary including Clough Island, Spirit Lake, and Spirit Island. 

I brought my kayak to the river via Tuska style. 

This was my route: starting at the top and moving counter-clockwise. Red means on water. Yellow means on land. 

I launched my kayak out of an old slip and started my adventure. 

One of the places I always wanted to explore was Clough Island. It is the largest island in the estuary. 

I landed on the island and continued on foot.

Fun Fact: Clough Island is actually Wisconsin. 

I followed a system of low used trails and came to a meadow. 

I didn't explore too long as I was barefoot and the meadow was thistle central. Also I realized how large  the island was and decided to come back another day. Later I found a nicer spot on the island to land which has a picnic table on a sandy beach. There's also I hear of ruins of an old farm on the other side of the island as well. 

I made sure to make a friend before launching. 

My next spot was in a widening of the river called "Spirit Lake." And at its center is "Manidoo-minis" or "Spirit Island" for the English speakers. My core fascination to this island has been its significance to the Anishinaabe. The Anishinaabe(or Ojibwe) were originally from the East Coast. An oracle of sorts told the Anishinaabe to move or be destroyed(as the Europeans were coming in around this time.) They migrated to different places slowing moving westward. Every time they landed somewhere a magis shell would rise out of the sand and tell them where to go next. Manidoo-minis was the sixth and second-last site of the migration until ending the migration at Madeline Island in Wisco. The "Spirit" name of the island, lake, and nearby hillside comes from the legend that you should read HERE. 

With this in mind I approached the island with caution. 

The geography of the island is strange. All sides of the crescent-shaped island are steep clay bluff, but on the tips are small lowlands great for getting access. 

I liked Spirit Island much more than Clough Island. Its much more grassy, easy to explore, and has great views on all sides. 

I eventually said "Gigawaabamin!" and called it a day.

I heading back by going on the other side of Clough Island which is separated by the mainland by a series of small islands and channels. 

I was able to return to the views of the city before sundown. 

Can You do me a Flavor?

Go to this link:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151924918973265&set=a.10151924918038265.1073741840.69221658264&type=3&permPage=1

And "Like" the photo on Facebook. Why you ask? So that I can win money.

Miigwech!

Amnicon Falls State Park

I haven't blogged in months. Here's a post, so you all know I'm not dead. My sister gave me a (Wisco) State Park sticker. I've always wanted to visit the state parks around the Twin Ports and now I can. So Courtney and I went to Amnicon Falls State Park which is only about ten miles from Superior. 

The upper Amnicon Falls.

The whole time I was like, "This stone is pretty."

We found a lifetime supply of clay, so we made heads. Courtney's on left and mine on right.

Eventually we came across a quarry...

...so we jumped in.

I did jump in the quarry via rope. It stung my hands, so I only did it once.

The stone from this quarry was used to build the Fairlawn Mansion in Superior. 

Afterward we found the meadow where the quarry's loading yard used to be.

We just hung out there like hippie children for awhile then moved on.

We gandered upon more waterfalls then called it a day.