posterfinalll.pdf

 

pamhplet.pdf

 

The Invisible Shape of University Past

 

 

Project

 

The Past

During the Vietnam War an American, on about May 10, 1970, immolated himself on the campus of the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). His name was George Winne Jr, and he was 23 years old. He placed a sign next to himself saying "For God's sake, stop the war." At 4pm in the Revelle plaza, he lit the gasoine soaked rags he had placed on his body. SRS Police responded quickly, smothering his body to put out the flames. One was badly burnt as well. Winne was rushed to Scripps Hospital where he died from 2nd and 3rd degree burns over 94% of his body...at 2am May 11th. He was fully conscious until his death, stating that his choice was "very personal and spiritual," and instructed his mother to write a letter to Nixon demanding the cessation of the Vietnam War. His dying words were "I belive in God and hereafter i will see you there."

 

Students lit candles and crafted a makeshift memorial to Winne, in the center of Revelle Plaza, where his immolation began. However, the Triton Times ran an article a week later making a point to justify Winne's actions, and chide students for trodding through the candles on their way to class.

 

The permanent memorial to him on the east side of Geisel has an artistic skeleton imprint to remember this act (whether it was done in the position he died is unknown). It is unlabeled.

 

The University

The burning took place admidst a series of violent and nonvoilent student protests at the University. However, it was Winne's actions that prompted a phone call from staff at the White House, seeking to interview students at "troubled universities" on their political stance.

 

It is not a result of Winne's actions that prompted the University to establish seperate colleges. The third college had already been under way during this period. However, the University's subsequent architectural choices were greatly influenced by the student uprisings and Winne's action, wherein the design of public spaces and Price Center were specifically geared to discourage mass movements.

 

Location

 

 

The supposed location of immolation, at least according to the most known version of the event.

 

 

 

The permanent memorial, in a rarely-trafficked garden on the East end of Geisel Library, towards the South side of the snake path.

 

 

Inspiration / Implementation

 

 

The Shape

 

 

 

This is an estimation of the dimension of the projection. However, when the shrine will be filmed, there will be candles, flowers, and notes surrounding the piece, to bring intimacy and convey meaning. Furthermore, fully visible in one of the notes will be "George Wynne Jr. 1946-1970" and on another "In God's Name, End the War," and finally "I believe in God and hereafter I will see you there."

 

 

Who Will Be Affected and How?

 

Many students are told during tours of campus, or various orientations, a short blurb about what happened. Usually, it is along the lines of "some guy in the 70s burned himself alive in Revelle Plaza. He died." However, this blurb is rarely accompanied by "His name was George Winne Jr. and his permanent memorial is all the way across campus on the East side of Geisel Library. It's hidden behind some bushes to the south side of the Snake Path. Oh, its also unmarked." Considering that the student who died when he skateboarded into a tree not only has a memorial and a plaque, but its location is also the same as the event. Hence, the goal of the project is to garner awareness for who George Winne Jr. is, the curious disparity of his memorial and the actual location of his actions, and perhaps re-invite a mass mobilization in the one area of UCSD best suited for it.

 

 

Positive

• May generate interest and/or curiosity about the history of UCSD and student action.
• Experiments with a new form of visual communication that is novel to UCSD, and the artist herself.
• Generates discussion and reaction from persons who prior, would have remained passive or isolated in their crossing of Revelle Plaza.
• Generate discussion on the war that is happening right now.
• Memorializes George Winne Jr. in a tasteful manner, and draws attention to the memorial that exists, as well as to the true location of the event it commemorates.
• May generate the placement (or transferrence) of a memorial to Winne in the Revelle Plaza, or the inclusion of the memorial in student guided tours of UCSD.
• May generate the creation of a plaque to be placed beside the current memorial, in the same fashion that the student skateboard memorial has a plaque.

 

 

Negative

• Can be considered controversial
• Relies on Electricity to operate
• Care must be taken that the fountain and sprinklers are not turned on during the installation period

 

 

Materials

 

 

Item	Quantity	Cost	From	Total
Projectors	2	Rent/borrow	Media Ctr/ 6th college
Camcorder	1	Rent/borrow	Media Ctr/6th college	$0
Cement	3	$2.48	Lowes	$7.44
Bucket	3	$4.86	Lowes	$14.58
Screws	1 box	$4.87	Lowes	$4.87
1/8" galvanized cable	50ft	$0.27 a foot	Lowes	$13.50
1/8" aluminum sleeves	8	$0.77	Lowes	$6.16
Turnbuckles	8	$1.94	Lowes	$15.52
Laptop	1	Rent/borrow
Ladder	1	Rent/borrow	Media Ctr/6th college
Cords to connect laptops to projectors			UCSD Bookstore / Media Ctr
Extension cord (?)			Lowes
Timber	3	$3.37	Lowes	$10.11
Cloths as screens	2	$10 a yard	Cutting Corners Fine Decorative Fabrics	$165
Duct tape	1	$7.98	Lowes	$7.98
Cart	1	Rent/borrow	Media Ctr/ 6th college
Flowers	a lot
Candles	a variety	$3.99 - $7.99	Ikea	$19.46
Power strip	2	$6.99	Ikea	$6.99
UCSD Maintenance / Electrical	1		Campus Services Complex
Total				$271.61

 

Schedule

 

1. Meet with Provost Dan Wulbert and Revelle's Dean of Students to gain approval for the project.
2. Test scrim materials to ensure projection quality.
3. Confirm budget is approved, and purchase materials with the money allotted.
4. Construct what is possible prior to installation.
5. Send press releases to department listservs, the Guardian, the Californian, and the Union Tribune. Post flyers for event around Revelle dorms.
6. Set-up and film the memorial in the evening with camcorder.
7. Upload filmed footage into Director MX and create a loop file. Burn copies of the file to discs to be uploaded onto the other projectors.
8. Call Campus Services Complex to shut off the fountain, and establish power source (unless a generator is rented). Pay for their services.
9. Truck materials for the constrction of the scrims to Revelle Plaza, and begin installation at 2pm.
10. When the fountain is dry, install projectors and laptops inside. Arrange projected image on screens to ensure quality display.
11. Project begins at around 4pm, time of self-immolation. Project ends at 2am, time of death.

 

 

Group members

 

 

Christin Turner (AIM: Jesus_Christin, ceturner@ucsd.edu)

Sasanna Yee (AIM: sas12984, sayee@ucsd.edu)

 

 

Sources

 

1. The Invisible Shape of Things Past
2. Robert Smithson
3. Non-Site (1)
4. Non-Site (2)
5. Wormhole