Lessons Learned
Public Art is Fun
One of the part I enjoyed most about the deployment of this installation is the public setting in which I installed, and broke it down. This provoked a number of great conversations, and feedback from people who were interested in the installation, or the process surrounding the project. It initially caught goal-oriented ol' me off guard trying to stay highly focused on getting things done. I quickly realized these conversations were actually more important than progress on the piece, especially since there was no deadline for it to be installed or removed. Oh and public art in a cafe means easy coffee while you work, and that's always good!
Take Pictures
One of the lessons I continue to be challenged by in pursuing my projects, I learned again here. Take Pictures. Especially in one-off installation work, this is really the only chance for others to see your work, if they aren't able to see it in person. To document this piece, I had to rely entirely on pictures taken by others, because I failed to take a single one myself. This is a big mistake. Although it is hard sometimes, to interrupt the flow, or a moment, with the act of pulling out a camera to document, this single act has the potential to allow your installation to keep on giving, beyond its initial site exhibit. This is also a key component to marketing yourself, your aethetic, and your body of work. In my case, I don't consciously neglect to take pictures, rather, I unconsciously forget to take them. Going forward, I consider this unacceptable, and will need to develop a mechnism (note to self? alarm? friend reminders?) to ensure that I document my work. Don't make this silly mistake yourself, especially if your work is single-use, or you're intending to have any kind of art-based career!
