TESS CLANCY _ SUMMARY OF SELECTED WORK
ERODING THE CONFEDERACY
EROD
Breaking down Confederate Monuments with Human-powered machines
B
“[The confederate monuments] are a gash in our civic fabric and they need to be either drastically contextualized or relocated...these are powerful objects that need powerful recontextualization.” (Louis Nelson, Professor of architectural history and associate dean in the school of architecture at the University of Virginia).
There are currently 1500 confederate memorials scattered across the United States—750
“[The confederate monuments] are a gash in our civic fabric and they need to be either drastically contextualized or relocated...these are powerful objects that need powerful recontextualization.” (Louis Nelson, Professor of architectural history and associate dean in the school of architecture at the University of Virginia).
Albert Pike Monument, Washington DC
There are currently 1500 confederate memo-
of which are physical monuments. The monu-
rials scattered across the United States—750
ments are solid and heavy, carved from stone,
of which are physical monuments. The monu-
rarely encouraging interaction and designed to
ments are solid and heavy, carved from stone,
instill fear in minority populations. They resur-
rarely encouraging interaction and designed to instill fear in minority populations. They resur-
rect traumatic singular and collective memories.
rect traumatic singular and collective memories.
The primary discussion surrounding these The primary discussion surrounding these
monuments is “should they stay or should they go?” However, to counteract the racism embedded in our society requires more work than this nar row question implies.
monuments is “should they stay or should Memorial to Confederate Soldiers + Sailors Jackson, MS
they go?” However, to counteract the racism embedded in our society requires more work than this nar row question implies.
While Lewis Mumford proclaimed ‘The Death of
While Lewis Mumford proclaimed ‘The Death of
the Monument,’ declaring it “a symbol of soci-
the Monument,’ declaring it “a symbol of soci-
ety’s fixation on death,” philosopher Adrian Parr,
ety’s fixation on death,” philosopher Adrian Parr,
argues that “contemporary memorial culture has
argues that “contemporary memorial culture has
the power to put traumatic memory to work in a positive way.” Taking Parr’s statement about work literally and combining it with the idea that the stay-or-go question leads to oversimplification, this thesis will revolve around the design of
ERODING THE CONFEDERACY
the power to put traumatic memory to work in
Breaking down Confederate Monuments with Human-powered machines
a positive way.” Taking Parr’s statement about work literally and combining it with the idea that
Confederate Monument
the stay-or-go question leads to oversimplifica-
State Capitol Montgomery, AL
tion, this thesis will revolve around the design of
mechanical counter monuments which, powered
mechanical counter monuments which, powered “[The confederate monuments] are a gash in our civic fabric and they need to be either drastically contextualized or relocated...these are powerful objects that need powerful recontextualization.” (Louis Nelson, Professor of architectural history and associate dean in the school of architecture at the University of Virginia).
by the interaction of visitors, will slowly deface, deteriorate, deconstruct, and eventually destroy
by the interaction of visitors, will slowly deface, deteriorate, deconstruct, and eventually destroy
the legibility of the original confederate monu-
the legibility of the original confederate monu-
ments. The machining structures will produce a
There are currently 1500 confederate memorials scattered across the United States—750
cathartic experience resistant to the history and
ments are solid and heavy, carved from stone,
collective memory of the site—while breaking
instill fear in minority populations. They resur-
Stone Mountain Atlanta, GA
place by the regime who erected the monument.
The primary discussion surrounding these monuments is “should they stay or should they go?” However, to counteract the racism embedded in our society requires more work than this nar row question implies.
Memorial to Confederate Soldiers + Sailors Jackson, MS
While Lewis Mumford proclaimed ‘The Death of the Monument,’ declaring it “a symbol of society’s fixation on death,” philosopher Adrian Parr, argues that “contemporary memorial culture has the power to put traumatic memory to work in a positive way.” Taking Parr’s statement about work literally and combining it with the idea that the stay-or-go question leads to oversimplification, this thesis will revolve around the design of
Confederate Monument State Capitol Montgomery, AL
mechanical counter monuments which, powered by the interaction of visitors, will slowly deface, deteriorate, deconstruct, and eventually destroy the legibility of the original confederate monuments. The machining structures will produce a cathartic experience resistant to the history and collective memory of the site—while breaking down and subverting the power structure put in place by the regime who erected the monument.
cathartic experience resistant to the history and
down and subverting the power structure put in
rect traumatic singular and collective memories.
Confederate Monument
ments. The machining structures will produce a
collective memory of the site—while breaking
rarely encouraging interaction and designed to
down and subverting the power structure put in place by the regime who erected the monument.
Albert Pike Monument, Washington DC
of which are physical monuments. The monu-
Confederate Monument Stone Mountain Atlanta, GA