tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88694831706239660862024-03-04T21:03:11.904-08:00The Intellectuals CircleThe Intellectuals Circlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17976174224821125115noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8869483170623966086.post-61892230204930362452009-05-18T13:03:00.000-07:002009-05-18T13:20:35.458-07:00New destination for the Intellectuals Circle....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUaag-FZzYLMRgFtoEEDyvEV-D0T7Q4jU-FCQ8NQarKKxLklFaeavbTWwUzlbFkVytoNyX4Fiuqan3rHwXcqcoOQjMdyNP0-85nr9wpWu3-BRuuYETaOVrIcZxGLd992KubJUCq1-Sd8w/s1600-h/hayami10.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUaag-FZzYLMRgFtoEEDyvEV-D0T7Q4jU-FCQ8NQarKKxLklFaeavbTWwUzlbFkVytoNyX4Fiuqan3rHwXcqcoOQjMdyNP0-85nr9wpWu3-BRuuYETaOVrIcZxGLd992KubJUCq1-Sd8w/s320/hayami10.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337260128887729026" /></a><br />On it's ongoing tour of the MIT campus, the Intellectuals Circle can now be viewed in the lobby of Bldg. 32, Stata Center. It is being displayed in the main entrance, TSMC Lobby at the corner of Main and Vassar in Cambridge, MA. It will be on display from May 18th thru June 8th, 2009<br />The public is welcome and encouraged to sit and engage in conversation with friends, colleagues or newly found acquaintances.The Intellectuals Circlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17976174224821125115noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8869483170623966086.post-46192235054493505362009-05-18T12:19:00.000-07:002009-05-18T12:48:40.199-07:00Opening Night April 2, 2009<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiSYA_U10UkRJ4pHsHlE2x18qbTJkY_s3YA6EPn_HmLd-amHf8ksLuqUJurmiQphjeqAT11FemNdkasg4mOLKRcC21cid2CVM0Wu5RWYXpOZZcxgCIeu5ZUFUGPAY6QTqrTM8e7pdJAJE/s1600-h/DSC_7036.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiSYA_U10UkRJ4pHsHlE2x18qbTJkY_s3YA6EPn_HmLd-amHf8ksLuqUJurmiQphjeqAT11FemNdkasg4mOLKRcC21cid2CVM0Wu5RWYXpOZZcxgCIeu5ZUFUGPAY6QTqrTM8e7pdJAJE/s200/DSC_7036.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337253075110137170" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzqms_h2iOi0yuu5ExjfmTsLGRXisdLhzAM5xoqA1N5NJVENGWWPQn3IU1FVzLVGFqGgHer1oQmDQBusdlIqcy6jAK1WrmqtPFqdZluIHgIYkmj2HVy26-3x8AqvkOQYTFRsyR95Bineg/s1600-h/DSC_7039.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzqms_h2iOi0yuu5ExjfmTsLGRXisdLhzAM5xoqA1N5NJVENGWWPQn3IU1FVzLVGFqGgHer1oQmDQBusdlIqcy6jAK1WrmqtPFqdZluIHgIYkmj2HVy26-3x8AqvkOQYTFRsyR95Bineg/s200/DSC_7039.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337252951441792306" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwW-ffhFE1gYpNfBc47wxR4GjloRPS9YtLDTDHy9PyaoQvZoEc5VHnd_dc6MEqbTGBhhaK9TSN3M3tKv_3JSEqriSYtr9RZ456TKiufXawEyPeL9IXjMR7Qo0T7q3mdLrkDsK34zwMBIE/s1600-h/DSC_7061.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwW-ffhFE1gYpNfBc47wxR4GjloRPS9YtLDTDHy9PyaoQvZoEc5VHnd_dc6MEqbTGBhhaK9TSN3M3tKv_3JSEqriSYtr9RZ456TKiufXawEyPeL9IXjMR7Qo0T7q3mdLrkDsK34zwMBIE/s200/DSC_7061.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337252765940586834" /></a><br />Opening night under the vaulted atrium of MIT's Brain and Cognitive Sciences Center was a great success. A very diverse group of participants, students professors, scientists and furniture art enthusiasts sat and discussed hot topic issues of the week. Volleys of short discussions ranging from the study of brown fat burning cells in mice and infants, to whether or not Jason Bay could truly replace Manny in the Red Sox line up. A solid three hours of varied critical discourse was had by all.The Intellectuals Circlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17976174224821125115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8869483170623966086.post-85775812134436653742009-03-14T09:39:00.000-07:002009-05-01T09:13:22.197-07:00The Intellectuals CircleThe Intellectuals Circle seating arrangement promotes a non-linear outlet for intellectual discussion. Participants sit opposing each other around a circular structure, overlapping slightly at the shoulder. The idea behind this type of seating arrangement is to encourage a clear form of verbal communication without visual cues or theatrics between participants.<br /><br />Jean Baudrillard, a French cultural theorist, once replied, “There are no more French intellectuals. What you call French intellectualism has been destroyed by the media, they talk on television, they talk to the press and they are no longer talking among themselves.” <br />This response to the question about the state of French intellectualism easily applies to the United States as well. With the phenomena of websites like You Tube, and the culture industry of American media, there is an overwhelming abundance of a monologue culture void of a dialogical outlet.<br /><br />The Intellectuals Circle seating structure is based on the reverse idea of an eighteenth-century prison design, the Panopticon by English philosopher Jeremy Benthams. <br />“The concept of the design is to allow an observer to observe (-opticon) all (pan-) prisoners without the prisoners being able to tell whether they are being watched, thereby conveying what one architect has called the "sentiment of an invisible omniscience."[1] (Wikipedia)<br />Instead of using a centralized theme of observation as a means of control, the Intellectuals Circle allows participants to converse freely on and within the structure's periphery, without direct visual contact with each other. There is no center and only four ways in which to enter, sit and exit. <br /><br />The entire fabrication of the Intellectuals Circle was built at the MIT Hobby Shop. Fabricators included student members from mechanical engineering and architectural programs and Hobby Shop members.The Intellectuals Circlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17976174224821125115noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8869483170623966086.post-16411147054131799002009-03-14T09:06:00.000-07:002009-05-01T09:04:55.390-07:00Opening Event April 2, 2009<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHH5ii-IUUjPhcdLtnsGfXu-UCQARGzhvvaKKDavOXcJ3dR_iDD1gi-oCc2HBBOGMwPx-rNDvbrGIe1cIoFlrxWoCq4l3AwTtqfwGsG1f7eYtn__zZY4tb1Izch67NFNOIcOJL5XVIb8k/s1600-h/Intellectual+Circle+Poster+2009+final.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 372px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHH5ii-IUUjPhcdLtnsGfXu-UCQARGzhvvaKKDavOXcJ3dR_iDD1gi-oCc2HBBOGMwPx-rNDvbrGIe1cIoFlrxWoCq4l3AwTtqfwGsG1f7eYtn__zZY4tb1Izch67NFNOIcOJL5XVIb8k/s400/Intellectual+Circle+Poster+2009+final.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313082040197472898" /></a><br />The Intellectuals Circle: A Seating Arrangement for Mindful Discussion will begin its tour of the MIT campus Thursday, April 2, 2009. The tour kicks off in the Brain and Cognitive Center's Atrium. The Circle will remain on display until May 3.<div> <br />Please visit this site for future installation locations throughout the Summer of 2009.</div>The Intellectuals Circlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17976174224821125115noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8869483170623966086.post-29140497021312214102009-03-14T08:42:00.000-07:002009-05-01T09:15:17.234-07:00The Circle is now complete.....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIuaVA12XnokiF1zfoTvMzdYiHzkxMremIaCujLmbJRT5O4DVVM1UN5gLNonpyoq0cH3xm3UwGAW1T_FOfT2ZyJhb9Opk5DaTgMeYGa2meZOWteuvd6udsHPoqNXgLi19vVy7SxlD1p0/s1600-h/DSC03796.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIuaVA12XnokiF1zfoTvMzdYiHzkxMremIaCujLmbJRT5O4DVVM1UN5gLNonpyoq0cH3xm3UwGAW1T_FOfT2ZyJhb9Opk5DaTgMeYGa2meZOWteuvd6udsHPoqNXgLi19vVy7SxlD1p0/s200/DSC03796.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313073490408152418" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ODSqzTR9DHa9h82sLwA8u6dgISeiSWedhWQLhJPiLkquShehBVk7vJDKS0FqxxUSRCzMecnlp-7QgxRW-MJ-cbc7tR5mIVnZRrDYZkeFzpHrVM0KBuyt8yR-0zeIs3iXEA0ctzdqcDU/s1600-h/DSC03802.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ODSqzTR9DHa9h82sLwA8u6dgISeiSWedhWQLhJPiLkquShehBVk7vJDKS0FqxxUSRCzMecnlp-7QgxRW-MJ-cbc7tR5mIVnZRrDYZkeFzpHrVM0KBuyt8yR-0zeIs3iXEA0ctzdqcDU/s200/DSC03802.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313073350628406274" /></a><br />After a short break and a re-infusion of new student help (o.k. and a month's worth of procrastination), the circle is now complete. When we started this project it was but a concept, that <div> is now realized. </div><div> </div><div>Thank you, MIT Council for the Arts, MIT Hobby Shop students and members, Anderson and McQuaid Lumber and Festool. Without your generous support and patience, this project would not have been realized.</div>The Intellectuals Circlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17976174224821125115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8869483170623966086.post-45361639428927528662008-11-24T16:40:00.000-08:002008-11-24T16:50:52.442-08:00Testing....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmJq5XHXMB2H-i6WKN1NeQ69q7nN-WLXAquk-u07JgyiuVZQrpF7UqB9uF4j6npM6OVCIlKRJAdEvgplNFk8ef9Vc9B1r-1stobTmKOBUAIco_lZM1lQKm5if8Fb3vqe6_hZDAOfZgzk/s1600-h/Danielle+and+Bernard+IC+chair.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmJq5XHXMB2H-i6WKN1NeQ69q7nN-WLXAquk-u07JgyiuVZQrpF7UqB9uF4j6npM6OVCIlKRJAdEvgplNFk8ef9Vc9B1r-1stobTmKOBUAIco_lZM1lQKm5if8Fb3vqe6_hZDAOfZgzk/s320/Danielle+and+Bernard+IC+chair.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272391234144103570" /></a><br /><br />With the help of Bernard and Danielle, many long minutes of sweat equity and testing go into every seating area to make sure things fit and flow.The Intellectuals Circlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17976174224821125115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8869483170623966086.post-31601557632678713052008-11-24T16:28:00.000-08:002008-11-24T16:39:09.617-08:00Assemblage, assembly...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxe9KvWE2KOAP1J4IhuF5HWnUJMcxmmPstRKImM1G67DsllEXYoEhAAFmlR_rwgLqs-jzcLSVxwZ_zv_o4ZuuIKwmEQB-f0hjEpb90QP_gHKPICMOmIpT-5BjogMaBTTpdYj_lJGNXiq8/s1600-h/DSC03601.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxe9KvWE2KOAP1J4IhuF5HWnUJMcxmmPstRKImM1G67DsllEXYoEhAAFmlR_rwgLqs-jzcLSVxwZ_zv_o4ZuuIKwmEQB-f0hjEpb90QP_gHKPICMOmIpT-5BjogMaBTTpdYj_lJGNXiq8/s200/DSC03601.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272388050661340466" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxp3iMMP3_dVjMYAm3NnbtX3fkGfIMJvx7YgPCb9mQUHameADHmi7jqhqK_oENg537orho6tDa4__QXo4fIMCC68HT4dIzpfqrCxEPDY2SjRMxdodv0xbxcMhRWg8MPpF5rBWGpwVMMU/s1600-h/DSC03193.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxp3iMMP3_dVjMYAm3NnbtX3fkGfIMJvx7YgPCb9mQUHameADHmi7jqhqK_oENg537orho6tDa4__QXo4fIMCC68HT4dIzpfqrCxEPDY2SjRMxdodv0xbxcMhRWg8MPpF5rBWGpwVMMU/s200/DSC03193.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272387828212757362" /></a><br />After a bit of fidgeting, fussing, and gentle persuasion a seating arrangement takes shape.The Intellectuals Circlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17976174224821125115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8869483170623966086.post-1460230712116552672008-09-29T14:46:00.001-07:002008-09-29T15:00:35.403-07:00The sum of a lot of parts...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tul8K4734T-6etWg-nFD-ZqSA_KkDSGEZ9Fx2QwBW9SIfiXUznk2IDXAxgix-2Qx5UomCWUJ678JnHyEceE3z83TM8h3WWjlVPqOROUkJiAfdjm9j-bQVrn50b4YQRfX147FXTMCWsY/s1600-h/DSC03294.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tul8K4734T-6etWg-nFD-ZqSA_KkDSGEZ9Fx2QwBW9SIfiXUznk2IDXAxgix-2Qx5UomCWUJ678JnHyEceE3z83TM8h3WWjlVPqOROUkJiAfdjm9j-bQVrn50b4YQRfX147FXTMCWsY/s200/DSC03294.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251566455164847698" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDuHITnU1DJRFhyphenhyphencGd4AqpeHkzzT2mgLjtEr5VSf9XrlP_YVvcoqXuvttOvmedSMCCqhF6f0-inUmNB4TZEDmBf9GygsfvYkMwfW_DqlsWR6OHnayvuZyyAvv2Vuf_sibMFYlxevQ8pY/s1600-h/DSC03303.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDuHITnU1DJRFhyphenhyphencGd4AqpeHkzzT2mgLjtEr5VSf9XrlP_YVvcoqXuvttOvmedSMCCqhF6f0-inUmNB4TZEDmBf9GygsfvYkMwfW_DqlsWR6OHnayvuZyyAvv2Vuf_sibMFYlxevQ8pY/s200/DSC03303.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251566458949444546" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL395mw5Vp_0H0mg24TaiYCO2KY2wkJQcX2BtmJIUIiuhs9GSUPnMLgdnKqB6DE8NiVHNQ1lkCU6O8EnuKlUGoPP-SaaWXJL0sZ1IKGLkUFZ_WyYSawKpIcvgLideC-BdpgI5pmdPirCE/s1600-h/DSC03306.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL395mw5Vp_0H0mg24TaiYCO2KY2wkJQcX2BtmJIUIiuhs9GSUPnMLgdnKqB6DE8NiVHNQ1lkCU6O8EnuKlUGoPP-SaaWXJL0sZ1IKGLkUFZ_WyYSawKpIcvgLideC-BdpgI5pmdPirCE/s200/DSC03306.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251566461999929266" /></a><br />Starting with 230 board feet of mahogany, we produced 40 legs, 20 armrest, 16 circle laminations averaging 7 feet in diameter. We cut 720 Domino mortices and 200 people hours into the project we are ready for assembly.The Intellectuals Circlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17976174224821125115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8869483170623966086.post-35956289387317857202008-09-09T14:21:00.000-07:002008-09-09T14:32:31.524-07:00Bend it like Baudrillard...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzEkk1klhejcKF-b-QTI7K2WxscOMGfo_Yp8v61bqAtpAg2-TY_j9DcRcKmk1CnF-RkAy3M8BmSp3D0xdpv0rA5GxuTMmW0IaXsHC7mxtDq4PFVXIky6lJa3B9HLCYrTWm1b17RxurZk4/s1600-h/DSC03198.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzEkk1klhejcKF-b-QTI7K2WxscOMGfo_Yp8v61bqAtpAg2-TY_j9DcRcKmk1CnF-RkAy3M8BmSp3D0xdpv0rA5GxuTMmW0IaXsHC7mxtDq4PFVXIky6lJa3B9HLCYrTWm1b17RxurZk4/s200/DSC03198.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244137643497182354" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkqQVUlJMXJptjNFcTqnHcl5n5YzMn_sk7JmnKcQ-0XLFLCqq3mW9rGOf2LsakG0BLJS1nXrMD6NR-ZcRTSFsOoBxnw6xN_0Y7PrfnZSG2j3Uz0QFFKVrLEO4zDSyLYtDk95Jx-o1bMYQ/s1600-h/DSC03208.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkqQVUlJMXJptjNFcTqnHcl5n5YzMn_sk7JmnKcQ-0XLFLCqq3mW9rGOf2LsakG0BLJS1nXrMD6NR-ZcRTSFsOoBxnw6xN_0Y7PrfnZSG2j3Uz0QFFKVrLEO4zDSyLYtDk95Jx-o1bMYQ/s200/DSC03208.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244137454002235714" /></a><br />Lots of cutting of 1/4" x 1" x 120" mahogany strips to stack laminate the curved seat. 427 strips to be exact. Student fingers turned black but never bloody. The black happens when the acids from ones hands react with the tannins in the woodThe Intellectuals Circlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17976174224821125115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8869483170623966086.post-71731095239075489902008-09-09T11:41:00.000-07:002008-09-09T11:51:03.212-07:00Check your head with your drawing<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTZeen0ZnOK7fuuvryPcfP3-M-XFLDWCrzGEigPr3bdIFdD67kUHLjYpy4hZHhLiR0hyphenhyphenzcBPxkWLXmnvWzktT3uXD0XVl86JkUtrOs6eucCX9FN5-zE7QBTzzacHHwQLYz3qDvDcUseo/s1600-h/DSC03188.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTZeen0ZnOK7fuuvryPcfP3-M-XFLDWCrzGEigPr3bdIFdD67kUHLjYpy4hZHhLiR0hyphenhyphenzcBPxkWLXmnvWzktT3uXD0XVl86JkUtrOs6eucCX9FN5-zE7QBTzzacHHwQLYz3qDvDcUseo/s320/DSC03188.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244096046298160930" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuL8tY2_ZVe263kk7Mu7YZRSgANr5XSlInXFvFsbx9jL30XfxK3PHAUrYiscS6Z1ye4wd-VeVtg2cOA4my54GxBtABJhnWN_46jmdQcJhD4KUM85g8N2haQdvO4Zry-6rnwvzpVgQv8Wo/s1600-h/DSC03191.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuL8tY2_ZVe263kk7Mu7YZRSgANr5XSlInXFvFsbx9jL30XfxK3PHAUrYiscS6Z1ye4wd-VeVtg2cOA4my54GxBtABJhnWN_46jmdQcJhD4KUM85g8N2haQdvO4Zry-6rnwvzpVgQv8Wo/s320/DSC03191.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244095484944986690" /></a><br />We are continuously checking the original layout versus the full scale mock-up versus common sense. So far the "tools of ignorance" have worked in our favor. The Intellectuals Circlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17976174224821125115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8869483170623966086.post-13240023366965465092008-09-09T11:29:00.000-07:002008-09-09T11:38:36.073-07:00Break it down...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrBDalne4cR-gUNydD1Io-W4gl20EVAs0aI4x1zs72ikaj4iXehAdmAu3KjEMy44P550wXPHTikWV_hvr1p7fbj9ZJeVijgmp3WSgNNUpee6o2GzBtnaXbhAamnozkB45U2IRfRJj0lw/s1600-h/DSC03293.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrBDalne4cR-gUNydD1Io-W4gl20EVAs0aI4x1zs72ikaj4iXehAdmAu3KjEMy44P550wXPHTikWV_hvr1p7fbj9ZJeVijgmp3WSgNNUpee6o2GzBtnaXbhAamnozkB45U2IRfRJj0lw/s320/DSC03293.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244092833091842738" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiynUEfgnv0sPOMx1Fk0kYEjrn_QBfW6GXlr6ekEEUVl4mIHEhMUonSwKZpbqTGgvFDl_T4kmnNCjW9u5I_kqqBqbW9_DVYy9Oy0sPPTbY123THf22ZYVynCafCw97YP84N-hIrgdG5Y_I/s1600-h/DSC03292.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiynUEfgnv0sPOMx1Fk0kYEjrn_QBfW6GXlr6ekEEUVl4mIHEhMUonSwKZpbqTGgvFDl_T4kmnNCjW9u5I_kqqBqbW9_DVYy9Oy0sPPTbY123THf22ZYVynCafCw97YP84N-hIrgdG5Y_I/s200/DSC03292.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244092077830456402" /></a><br />Breaking down material = lots of little piles of wood.<div><br /></div>The Intellectuals Circlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17976174224821125115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8869483170623966086.post-74175393047363713512008-09-09T11:00:00.000-07:002008-09-09T11:07:01.370-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUI-j8SOXPFtK_6q-C8BtjB6ItklB15Qawp7TkWjcVr4z46NWi5f26cLe3B6tp_oinUWbrk3RB1nixn68Xp_HuKl_Y6LYFSh7K3aE714AXkzJhnGWcokmCbi1a35W4j2XRWvAKGGwl02Q/s1600-h/festool+zack.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUI-j8SOXPFtK_6q-C8BtjB6ItklB15Qawp7TkWjcVr4z46NWi5f26cLe3B6tp_oinUWbrk3RB1nixn68Xp_HuKl_Y6LYFSh7K3aE714AXkzJhnGWcokmCbi1a35W4j2XRWvAKGGwl02Q/s320/festool+zack.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244084683977549522" /></a><br />Student members of the MIT Hobby shop volunteer through out the 08' Summer to work on the Intellectuals Circle. Many of them are new to woodworking and are eager to learn a new skill and the process involved in designing and building a piece of furniture for the public.The Intellectuals Circlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17976174224821125115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8869483170623966086.post-50955980584061543932008-09-09T09:44:00.000-07:002008-09-09T10:59:45.593-07:00If you build it...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitdmoLSp1LqXOc4DxDTHoxit-_WgUujdnazXL3NXPg0ahgsL2NUHKgjUfKBd_bMQ1zJotLjveOPh1CrYSVFepXlJdIL18MpsIy44-U5B9t6Y2YEmkvG9EjuyRhrC8Z9rdjsW-i889drHQ/s1600-h/DSC03286-1.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitdmoLSp1LqXOc4DxDTHoxit-_WgUujdnazXL3NXPg0ahgsL2NUHKgjUfKBd_bMQ1zJotLjveOPh1CrYSVFepXlJdIL18MpsIy44-U5B9t6Y2YEmkvG9EjuyRhrC8Z9rdjsW-i889drHQ/s320/DSC03286-1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244082819150512322" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>Mid May, 2008<div>With a generous grant from the MIT Council for the Arts, a helpful discount from local lumber sellers Anderson and McQuaid, along with the help of Mike Servant at Festool, work on the Intellectuals Circle begins.</div></div>The Intellectuals Circlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17976174224821125115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8869483170623966086.post-27528102645525931212008-08-15T13:56:00.000-07:002008-08-15T13:57:40.906-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2bvWTfbfeAnu85kPD5kmwoV-c-pYKy60BQmxFxO66BK2y72QYf7mEQDDABcwOzfsjbOKvxULEHDp-F-bcYXEuMfet05aWLiTrQ98ZDy43xf3Pz0mgNkbkMDLDJAhuaU4wgJK7UCH3rJ0/s1600-h/DSC02537.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2bvWTfbfeAnu85kPD5kmwoV-c-pYKy60BQmxFxO66BK2y72QYf7mEQDDABcwOzfsjbOKvxULEHDp-F-bcYXEuMfet05aWLiTrQ98ZDy43xf3Pz0mgNkbkMDLDJAhuaU4wgJK7UCH3rJ0/s400/DSC02537.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234851366867389106" /></a>The Intellectuals Circlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17976174224821125115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8869483170623966086.post-73273670260458261332008-08-15T13:07:00.000-07:002008-08-19T15:22:03.538-07:00The Intellectuals Circle The Intellectuals Circle is a seating arrangement that promotes a non-linear outlet for intellectual discussion. There are four sections of four opposing seats. The circular footprint is 12 feet in diameter. Participants sit opposing one another around the circular structure, overlapping slightly at the shoulder. The idea behind this type of seating arrangement is to encourage clear, verbal communication without visual cues or theatrics between the participants. The Intellectuals Circle will be placed around public spaces at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's campus throughout the course of a year. <div><br /></div><div>Jean Baudrillard, a french cultural theorist, once replied; "There are no more French intellectuals. What you call French intellectualism has been destroyed by the media. They talk on television, they talk to the press, they no longer talk among themselves."</div><div>This is in response to a question about the state of French intellectualism which easily applies to the United States as well. With the phenomena of websites like You Tube, and the culture industry of the American media, there is an overwhelming abundance of monologue culture void of a dialogical outlet.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Intellectuals Circle seating structure is based on the reverse thinking of an 18th Century prison design by English philosopher Jeremy Bentham's, Penopticon.</div><div>"The concept of the design is to allow an observer to observe (-opticon) all (pan) prisoners without the prisoners being able to tell whether they are being watched, thereby conveying what one architect has called the "sentiment of an invisible omniscience" (Wikipedia)</div><div>Instead of using a centralized theme of observation as a means of control, the Intellectuals Circle allows participants to converse freely on the periphery, without direct visual contact with the person closest to them. There is no center at all, only four ways in which to enter, sit and exit at will.</div><div><br /><div><br /></div></div>The Intellectuals Circlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17976174224821125115noreply@blogger.com0