a look into links

relationship matters
a look into links
a thesis investigation by leslie kwok -- mfa graphic design -- www.lesliekwok.info -- november 14 2007 -- all rights reserved
the dymaxion map, 1946
buckminster fuller
the opte project, 2003
barrett lyon
visual complexity.com
manuel lima
theyrule.net // josh on
orgnet.com/hijackers.html // valdis krebs
ahref.info // sala
threadarcs // bernard j. kerr
openstudio relationships
burak arikan
relevant terms
abstraction
a way of simplifying or reducing the form
but still retaining the idea / concept
line
a linear, formal notation that is often used
to demarcate, direct, or connect
link
a line or mark that connects one node with another;
a representation of a transaction or relationship
between two nodes
transaction
an exchange of any nature between two or more nodes
be I, (second version), 1950
barnett newman
POSTNET
usps barcode system
global networks
mark lombardi
social and support network at RISD
graduate studio II, spring 2007
relevant terms
human properties
an umbrella term for what makes something look, feel
or act like human beings; this includes emotions, desires,
preferences, personal stories, conversations, etc.
formally, it could also mean the presence
of the human mark
humanistic nuance
idiosyncratic elements that make us human, like body
language, facial expressions, etc.
human face
(or the human body) an element that automatically
adds to the humanness of the visual
valence
the strength or degree of a bond
between one node and another
how to look at
modern art in america, 1946
ad reinhardt
swiss design connection
bastien aubry
a great day in harlem, 1958
art kane
relational aesthetics
david reinfurt & mark owens
network and teamwork
uta eisenreich
[re]observation
graduate studio I, fall 2006
dramatis personae
andrew enright
social constellations
thesis studio I, fall 2007
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{Fig. 2}
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{Fig. 8}
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{Fig. 6 & 7}
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{Fig. 10}
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{Fig. 1}
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{Fig. 14}
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{Fig. 17}
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{Fig. 19}
{Fig. 18}
{Fig. 16}
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{Fig. 20}
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{Fig. 23}
{Fig. 24}
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{Fig. 27}
{Fig. 22}
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{Fig. 30}
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{Fig. 25}
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{Fig. 26}
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{Fig. 29}
{Fig. 28}
Social Constellations
telling stories of how we know who we know
{Fig. 1} Nicole Dixon
I don't really know any celebrities, except maybe Barbara Bush from being at
Yale. And Jordana Brewster. Plus Jack Dafoe, Willem Dafoe's son. And Josh
Foer, Jonathan Safran Foer's little brother. I know Louise Gluck, who was a
professor at Yale as well as the former US poet laureate. Similarly, my high school
friend Ryan Papi knows Jessica Biel from college. My roommate, Becca Tucker,
knows Monica Lewinsky, as Monica is Becca's step-aunt. Interestingly, Becca also
knows Hillary Clinton, who is a family friend. And Howard Dean. Becca is
uniquely politically connected. My mom (Denise Dixon) dated (and dumped) Bill
Weld, the former governor of Massachusetts. I've met Barney Frank, my
congressman, a couple of times. My ex-boyfriend's father (Herb Allison) is a
really good friend of John McCain. Once, my dad (Bill Dixon) played tennis with
Arthur Ashe. In case she forgets to tell you herself, Jessi got high with Los
Lonely Boys when she worked at Sony. In the musical vein, this weird old guy Ian
Lloyd, who is in a friend's band but who I now (unfortunately) know in person,
was a backup singer for everyone from Phil Collins to Tom Petty. My friend Marc
Holden's family raises zebras, and has sold some of them to Michael Jackson back
when Neverland was up and running. My old boss (Lenora Lapidus) is friends
with Eve Ensler. My other old boss (Don Shaffer) is friends with Paul Newman.
My other old boss (Bob Stroup) is buddies with Mariah Carey. My friend Judy
Alexander spent a week at Tina Turner's Swiss chalet.
{Fig. 2} Eric Neher
i know anne hathaway (or more accurately, i KNEW her.) she went to a nieghboring high school to mine and we did theatrical productions growing up.
{Fig. 3} Doug Shimokawa
I know Rich Ting, he’s a college friend of mine. And Dr. Art Ting, his father
(high profile orthopedic surgeon) who notably worked on Barry Bonds’ knees a
few years ago and was involved in press about the whole balco/steroids thing. I
also know Melody Saimo, a JPop star in Japan. She was a classmate of mine at
Punahou. Then there‘s Cash Warren (producer in Hollywood, but more famously
as the former boyfriend of Jessica Alba). Cash was a Yale graduate with Rich.
{Fig. 4} Max Lin
I know Natalie Portman. We were teammates in a dance/community service
extracurricular group at Harvard. My sister was kindergarten play-buddies with
Michelle Williams (from Dawson's Creek).
{Fig. 5} Vanessa Ko
Hmm the most obvious one for me is Erica Yuen who is now a celebrity in HK,
ever since she ran for Miss Hong Kong 3 years ago (she was in the top 5). Not
super famous but she's now an actress, TV show host, and columnist, known for
her straightforward attitude. We went to high school and elementary school
together (St. Stephen's and NMH).
{Fig. 6 & 7} Lauren Lok & Stuart Kwok
Haha- well stuart knows this - Yup, topher grace. He went to high school with
me. Brewster Academy. We did sunday work hours and detentions together,
drama, and winter dance!
Our cousin, Lauren Lok went to Highschool with Topher Grace (Brewster).
{Fig. 8} Shawn Simmons
I used to work for a fellow named Tod Sedgwick back in the DC area. He owned a
newsletter publishing company, which produced a wide range of political and
environmental publications (tho his baby was a duck hunter's guide - yikes!). He
had the worst comb-over I've ever seen, & he would draw notice to it by stroking
it with the stem of his glasses. He was a rich, nerdy, socially-incompetent ass.
And he is the cousin of Kira Sedgwick (actress) who is married to Kevin Bacon.
(Fig. 9} Edith Taichman
{Fig. 10} Jim Maxfield
I had coffee with Bono and his wife randomly at Asiate restaurant in the Mandarin Oriental in midtown -- coolest celeb moment ever!! I met Michael Jordan
through my Mom’s (Karen Miller) friend Doug who was former NBA basketball
coach. I met Piper Perabo through Meredith.
{Fig. 11} Meredith Louis
Benjamin Mckenzie (The O.C.), Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints), Austin Nichols
(John from Cincinnati - HBO). All from Austin, went to school with all of them.
1st through 8th gradewith Ben and Drew, high school with Austin. Also...
George, Laura, Jenna and Barbara Bush. Went to middle school with them -- also
trips with the family to their ranch.
{Fig. 12} Jen Magathan
I know Michael Vick (unfortunately). Although he probably doesn't remember me
:) We used to have Field Hockey practice in the field house at Viriginia Tech after
the football team. I talked to him a few times before my practice started. My old
boss knows Condoleezza (sp?) Rice. My office did a project for the state department and we had to make presentations for her all the time.
{Fig. 13} Kate McGovern
i took a playwriting workshop with maria irene fornes. my brother marc is high
school buddies with ben affleck and matt damon. i have conversed with both of
them on various occasions overthe years. over the years, my brother has met their
various famous girlfriends as well, most notably minnie driver (matt's gf), claire
danes (matt's), and gwyneth paltrow (ben's). nicolas has a photo of him
with gwyneth. i have a sweatshirt that belonged to SJP, because i worked with a
woman named tiffany, who is married to a man named toby, who is SJP's brother.
incidentally in case lex never gets back to you, toby parker is also in wicked LA,
so she knows him as well. double connection there. warren worked at an event
honoring michelle obama, where he met and conversed with her. she is married
to barack. well, here's an obvious one....i worked for geoffrey canada, who
knows mike bloomberg, oprah, hillary clinton. alexis and i took a class at yale
(american culture in the 1920s) with alexandra reeve, who is christopher reeve's
daughter. i tutored josephine becker, who is the daughter of vera wang.
{Fig. 14} Gran Potter
I “know” Jenna Bush through Brooke Getter. They were in the same year at Camp
Longhorn.
{Fig. 15} Hannah Volfson
I know Mara Wilson (”Matilda” in “Matilda” and in ohter movies.) She is the
younger sister of Jonathan Wilson, a guy I dated for a very long time a while ago,
and who is still a close friend. My old boss, David Sandalow knows Al Gore, Bill
and Hillary Clinton.
{Fig. 16} Nikki Chung
I once served popcorn to Paul Newman. I was working in a rainbow colored
weenie wagon, serving hotdogs and popcorn, and Paul Newman parked his
car behind my wagon and asked for a bag. My mom drew blood from Alfred
Hitchcock. Tonya Harding's godparents (Nora and Les) are good friends with my
parents Lillian and Kenneth. My friend Kay's grandfather, Allen played poker
regularly with Frank Sinatra and Spencer Tracy. John Ashcroft (former US
Attorney General) lived next door to my friend Dave. Apparently he
disassembled Dave's tree house and used the wood to build a tree house
for his sons. Asshole.
{Fig. 17} Tanja Geis
The Prince of Bhutan spent a semester at Andover. A bunch of us had lunch with
him. He was very poised and reserved. No one was supposed to know he was a
prince but in the facebook his address was “Punakha Dechenphodrang Palace,
Bhutan.” I spent a couple of days at Sally Mann’s house. She was kind of a cold
bitch. But the house was really nice. There was this shack/house removed from
teh main house and next to this stream where she took a lot of her photos. I was
photographing for the Daily Pennsylvanian at the Penn Relays (the biggest U
Penn sporting event) and Bill Cosby who was refing pulled me aside and told me
to take a bunch of photos of him and these athletes. We chatted a little. He was
real nice.
{Fig. 18} Maureen McGee
My brother and sister met and went out drinking with scott hamilton and tara
lipinski (amongst other figure skaters). I guess Scott and Rick Nielson are good
friends... Rick Nielson is another celebrity (guitarist for Cheap Trick - "I want
you to want me," "Surrender" to name two of their better known songs from the
80's). Anyway, Danny and Bridget (my younger sibs) are friends with Daxx
Nielson, Rick's son... this is how they get to consort with such "celebrities."
Danny said Scott is really nice, after two beers he was totally drunk. Bridget said
Tara is a huge bitch... totally cold, as if being a has been figure skater is soooo
cool. I think its such a funny story.
{Fig. 19} Dana Loberg
I know a celebrity - went to school with Paris Hilton (7th and 8th grade - St. Paul
the Apostle School). Also know Kim Kardashian from H.s. (she cheated off me
in math class- Marymount HS). They both have sex tapes floating around.....
{Fig. 20} Taylor Stapleton
My grandmother, Beverly Stapleton, went on some dates with Ed Ruscha. In the
late 60s/early 70s, she was something like a "Oklahoma cultural ambassador" and
he was (originally from Oklahoma and) emerging as a presence on the LA art
scene. My friend, Hannah Klemm, went to Sarah Lawrence with Larissa Olenik
(sp? Nickelodeon's Alex Mac, of course!). They were good friends.
My other grandmother, Peggy Myers, was apparently childhood best friends with
the woman who played Morticia Addams on the original TV series.
My cousin, Mitzi Kapture (her real name, can you believe that?) played "Rita" on
the USA network trashy detective show "Silk Stalkings." My high school friend,
Margot Adler, went to Wake Forrest and sang in an a cappella group with Lee
Norris, the kid who played "Minkus" on "Boy Meets World," Chuckie Lee
Torkelson on "The Torkelsons," and some role on "One Tree Hill." My cousin
Stephanie Simon just married Nate Hybl, who was once the quarterback for the
Oklahoma Sooners.(and this is MAJOR fame for football fans and Oklahomans,
but probably not for anyone else :-)
{Fig. 21} Jackie Fu
Only person I can think of if Michelle Reis and Julian Hui.......Juilan is
john's father's cousin. He is now dating Michelle (Lee Ka Yan), former Miss Hong
Kong .We hang out once in a while and have family dinners together.
{Fig. 22} Kevin Smith
my wife Susan's 1st cousin, Neil Tardio was married to Tea Leoni for a couple
years before leaving him for David Duchovny. She was at their wedding. Susan
liked her a lot.
.
{Fig. 23} Michelle Cheung
My mom (Julie) and his wife have been friends for years (they are both Taiwanese
and are part of the Taiwanese Ladies Association in HK--haha lame i know). I
played with his kids (they went to HKIS) when we were young but we don't really
know each other now since they moves from HK a long time ago when I was still
in elementary school. My parents still get together with him and his wife when
the Woo's visit HK or they are in CA.
{Fig. 24} Rachel Klein
I know Liv Tyler. Her aunt, Anne Noyes, is one of my mom's (Lyndall
Klein) best friends in Maine.
{Fig. 25} Chantal Nong
My boss is Bill (also "William") Horberg. He produced for years for
Sydney Pollack and Anthony Minghella. Among the films he's produced
are "The Talented Mr. Ripley," through which he befriended Philip
Seymour Hoffman and Matt Damon.
{Fig. 26} Brooke Lyons
i've had meals with donald sutherland and bryce dallas howard (in
other people's company). and then you have the people you've worked with.
martin lawrence, joy bryant, james earl jones, michael clark duncan... they all
know me for sure & i know all of them for sure & there's mutual affection and
nostalgia for the work we did together, and i have their numbers in my cell phone
& i would definitely say i "know" them and that they ARE, indeed, "celebrities."
i’ve also KNOWN martha stewart since i was about 8. we don’t keep in touch but
definitely recognize each other as friends.
{Fig. 28} Elana Wetzner
i was telling you that sting's son, joe sumner, went to my highschool.
he was my best friend's boyfriend & a total drag & ruined everything.
he would tell me all about the bad parenting of his dad, taking him to mexico to
do hallucinogens for weeks at a time etc, & this along with the fact that he sucked
made it impossibe for me to enjoy "the police" which is sad because it was great
roller skating music from my childhood & also the soundtrack for the drum
lessons i took from a police-obsessed teenager when i was in jr high. also, rob
lowe's little brother justin went to my highschool. he had good drugs & an
awesome car. he was ok in my book. one time he did these art pieces that were
collages & paintings wherein there were collaged old family pictures in
them...including rob lowe. it was awkward & funny because no one would let on
that they recognized these pictures in fear of making justin realize that we knew
who his brother was....but we all knew. we just never talked about it.
we were nice. also, it was awkward cause this was the year after rob lowe was in
the sex tape scandal....i think that's why we were all so extra hush hush about
who his brother was. that & the fact that we wanted to seem cool enough to not
care. also, i went to elementary school & jr high with john kerry's daughters.
they both kinda sucked but i always thought that their dad was dreamy.
he used to read us stories & had a great speaking voice....i guess he had a lot of
practice. but i was excited for the prospect of vanessa & alex being tabloid figures
for a minute when his presidential campaign was going on....they look exactly
the same.
{Fig. 29} Mary-Jo Valentino
i once had dinner with natalie portman and a group of friends. she knows my
friend jonathan foer who is a celebrity writer. and she drove me home.
my friend michele used to be roommates with sean foley -- brother of scott foley
(noel from felicity). we watched a preview of alias on vhs before jennifer garner
existed. my cousin kristin grew up with rachael ray. i have a photo of them
somewhere in a luge at the olympic village.
{Fig. 30} Rob Giampietro
I know Chelsea Clinton. Like when we see each other on the street, we stop and
say hello and she asks about my job and I ask about hers. She lived across the hall
from my best friend from high school at Stanford, Aarthi Belani. I also know
Claire Danes. We went to Yale together. We had a lot of mutual friends, and
when we see one another we say hello and chat in a friendly way. I'm not sure if
she knows my name, though I did once date her roommate at the time, who is an
architect now. I met Ethan Hawke at a dinner party once. Same thing with
Jonathan Safran Foer and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. I met Chuck Close at the
Parsons Payroll Office once (long story) - he was great. His studio assistant dated
a designer I know
.
.
.
{Fig. 27} Jonathan Mori
emily hall, a classmate of mine from medical school, is married to a comedy
writer for "the colbert report" (a show on comedy central). she has become
friends with various tv personalities by going to dinner parties, the emmys, and
her husband's work-related events. some of her acquaintances include:
stephen colbert (host of "colbert report") sarah chalke (actress on "scrubs")
john krasinski (actor on "the office).
.
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network fever (condensed)
writing workshop, fall 2007
network fever (condensed)
writing workshop, fall 2007
thank you