Final Project Proposal: WISDOM ON THE WALLS

   Wisdom on the Walls 

My project will be a Typology of Walking/Not by documenting inscriptions on public monuments, buildings, and streets in Washington D.C. We are surrounded by words in our nation’s capital, no more overlooked or impactful that the simple words of wisdom written on the walls of the buildings, streets and monuments of our nation’s capital. I will compile photos of inscriptions and relevant context to create a typology with an Interactive map (and possibly a Scavenger Hunt for all the crazy statues hidden in DC), with links to places where people can locate the inscriptions, and links to a website or other historical, cultural, political, statistical and geographical information. Make it easy for people to have access to info and ultimately be inspired to ultimately be more engaged and even vote.  I am interested in also doing a hands-on activity of stone rubbings to encourage engagement and raise awareness. 

This is an idea that can bring real-time, modern-day relevance to the old foundational wisdom of the inscriptions. I see a photo of an existing inscription (founding wisdom of the past) joined with a current quote and photo (not inscribed anywhere necessarily) from someone who inspires us today, who upholds the values of our nation’s founders that both share the sentiment of a common theme (Immigration, Politics, Religion, Race, Freedom, Equality, Science, Women’s Rights, Human Rights, Values, Law, Choice). The existing inscriptions are the Wisdom on the Walls idea, and the new quotes are the Worthy of the Walls ideas. I want people to want to be worthy of the wall, to be inspired to high ideals as our founders were. We can also do glaring juxtaposing quotes (ie Trump.) This project is about finding inspiration and re- connection to our common ideal and values as a culture. I am concerned with the divisiveness nature of our country. Let’s get back to simple words, words of unity truth, a typology of enduring truths, wise words, wisdom on the walls. 

In terms of formal considerations, the photos of the whole will be understood together as a

message of hope and inspiration. The words of the inscriptions found around DC can add insight and bring meaning to the chaos and divisiveness happening now. They are presented as formal typology to show impact of single words and inscriptions. Time will be used within the work, the unfolding of time seen through the words spoken throughout the founding and survival of our democracy. The central image (photo) or vehicle that carries the content is one singular powerful word or single inscription that will capture attention and immediately convey a sense of hope, so needed now. The formal aspect of the work function which supports, compliments and helps me to execute my concept includes the formal photo composition, dissemination of contextual information, map showing locations of words and inscriptions, and the interactive stone rubbing component. For the shape or physicalness of the photographs, I will create a black and white and color, digital series of photos, along with paper rubbing images, and possible stickers of postcards to distribute to the public to further spread the message and raise awareness of unity, wisdom and hope as felt through the power of words spoken by compassionate builders and leaders of our country since its founding. The method to make the images for this project is to use a documentary style to capture the words and inscriptions photographically, compile the most powerful images into a typology, print images, create stone rubbings of inscriptions, print and distribute images as take aways. What gives distinctive character to my Wisdom on the Walls project is its timeless quality and enduring style that transcends generations, inspiring people with simple, yet profound words of wisdom, words that literally surround them as they walk the streets of our nation’s capital, Washington D.C.  

Defining where my concerns are grounded are psychological, political, social, and historical. I have done extensive research of the sites and relevant information to consider more ways to bring relevance to the project, socially and historically, beyond politics. The type of thinking predominant in both the forming and the experiencing of the piece is meditative, contemplative, inspiring, interactive. 

Finally, the contextual considerations include thousands of people flooding into D.C now under threat in the context of equality liberty, justice. The belief system in which the piece is founded is unity and justice. Different groups might understand this work differently, but that is the point. I want to highlight our innate goodness and joy. Right now, millions of Americans are feeling scared, hopeless, powerless. This project is not about either side of the aisle and I want to get underneath, outside, and beyond politics and the politicizing of virtue. The historical information and resources I have at my disposal are numerous, especially the Smithsonian Institution, the Department of Natural Resources, Monuments, and Museums. The words that fel appropriate to this project are social landscape, narrative, collective history, social capital, mapping, and archive, among others. 

Beyond this class, depending on how I execute this proposal I may continue to pursue the idea in other mediums like on Instagram. I can easily post daily and have a call to action regarding future elections. I don’t care who people vote for, just vote. This idea will give a platform for a future book, and a foundation to tell stories that extend and illustrate the book’s mission which is to inspire, remind, teach, illuminate and engage. This idea will promote the mission and give people a compelling reason why they should ultimately care. This is not only for people who love DC, but who love history, architecture, invention, courage, freedom, democracy, and the right to vote. It’s a way to bring about a conversation regarding our current values and ideals on a personal level and as a nation in order to move this country forward. 

Notes/Ideas for WISDOM ON THE WALLS Project

• Typology of DC Inscriptions
  
• Documenting Inscriptions on DC Memorials, Museums, Buildings, Statues, Monuments
  
• With a Historical, Architectural, Biographical, Geographical Context
  
• The idea is to engage and inspire people. Spark/Encourage dialogue, awareness, voting
  
• Finding inspiration, ideas, heroes from the past and present
  
• History is written on the walls, are we heeding the wisdom all around us?
  
• Our past is speaking to us every day
  
• What are the founding principles? How far have we strayed collectively and personally?
  
• What were our founders fleeing? What did we stand for then? Now?
  
• Foundationally, we are far from the values our country was founded upon only 2.5 short
  centuries ago
  
• Whose words today will be inscribed on the walls of our nation’s capital?
  
• Worthy of the Wall
  
• In what ways can people be inspired by reading the quotes?
  
• What can people learn about history reading the quotes?
  
• DC is a capital city that inspires
  
• Building a better nation
  
• People who inspired us then- their old wisdom is foundational
  
• People whose lives inspire us today-
  
• People who uphold the values and ideals of our nation’s founders
  
• Their quotes-real time, modern, relevant, political, today
  
• What was it to be American then
  
• What is it to be American now
  
• American cultural history
  
• To spark a conversation
  
• What were the values our country was founded upon only 2 short centuries ago
  
• For what did we fight so hard?
  
• Who are we fighting for now, not foreign enemies, but with ourselves
  
• What does American stand for today collectively?
  
• Different perspectives
  
• Do we understand and appreciate what freedom meant to our founders?
  
• What does freedom mean to us today?
  
• If we were forging a new independent colony in a new land, in search of freedom, what would we be striving to achieve. What would we be running from and what would we be running toward?
  
• Spur people to be inspired to vote
  
• Return to the wisdom of our founding fathers, American scientists, innovators,
  humanitarians, writers, singers, politicians, influencers, athletes
  
• Subjects include-immigration, education, freedom, values, human rights, technology,
  military, religion, science, climate change
  
• In sync and possibly juxtaposing quotes
  
• Reflect on the history of memorial, building, statue’s inscription
  
• What was the context of the quote
  
• Relevance at the time vs. Relevance now
  
• What were the original ideas for America, as a colony, as a nation
  
• What words are worthy to be inscribed on our capital’s walls?
  

• Photograph ideas:
  B/W and Color Etchings
  Artistic Interpretations Stickers
  Book
  Associations in DC that can help
  Smithsonian
  National Park Service nps.gov 

• National Mall and Memorials  INFORMATION SITES
• National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission 
• National Mall and Memorial Parks 
• List of National Historic Landmarks in Washington, D.C. 
• National Register of Historic Places in Washington, D.C. 
• Historical information of the United States

IMAGES:

(EXTRA RESEARCH) 

0. This is a lot of information, but I thought it was relevant to my process so I included it here, but it is only for contextual reference.