ARE 130: studio project 2

This is the studio project 2 for ARE 130 at the University of Arizona.

The theme of this project is focused on the University of Arizona bicycling community.
The team is composed of Elizabeth M. Rainey and Juan Brandenburg.

Artist Statement

The idea of community can be thought of in so many ways, with every individual
inevitably choosing specific factors that he or she considers the proper way to
define their personal community. As Juan and Elizabeth went about looking into
the different areas around the University of Arizona, we noticed that the
definition of community does not end once one thinks have discovered a group
who seem to have a similar interpretation. Instead it continues to change,
grow, and develop based on the individuals, places, time, location, etc.

The University of Arizona has an interesting community which exists side-by-side
to its walking students all on their unique journeys. There is a lot to be
gathered from this smaller community residing within the transportation system,
from what bike they ride to where and how they park it. In addition, riders are
at times significantly neglected and ignored by those of us not joining in on
their transit, even to the extent of not recognizing their presence on campus.
Curious to delve deeper into their community, Juan and Elizabeth Rainey set out
on a journey to capture the best they could in photographs the possible
statements, emotions, vibes, and an over all “personality” of the bicycling
community.

We attempted to show some of the different ways that this small but energetic
community of Tucson can be seen in day to day life, only with a closer eye than
you may notice as one of these bicyclists zooms past you on your typical walk
around the University of Arizona. What we discovered was, just like any other
community to which you do not belong, there is so much to gather and witness
that you on your own may not have thought of or been able to experience. It
seems as though our camera lenses enable us to almost see through the eye of a
bicyclist, if only for a fleeting few photographs.