TEDx Creative Coast

tedx:

Setting the Stage For Great Ideas

From intricate “X” shaped sculptures to toilet paper roll walls and cardboard box furniture—TEDx events’ stage designs run the gamut of creativity.   “Stage and venue design seems to be one of the things that can go a long way to affecting how people perceive your event,” says John Mardlin, organizer of TEDxJuandeFuca.  For their most recent event, they decided on minimalist stage.  A local sign maker constructed the TEDx foam letters, something that Mardlin recommends because it added “a level of professionalism.”

Organizer of TEDxPhoenix, Tomas J.Carillo reports that their upcoming event in September will have a simple and colorful stage in order to shine the spotlight on the speaker.  He offers this tip to TEDx organizers: “Don’t be afraid to add some spice to your stage design.  Just be sure it doesn’t detract/distract and make sure it looks good on video!”

Get inspiration from these cool spaces!  Check out more tips on how to create a warm and inviting atmosphere for your audience here.  

(Source: tedx)

A great story on stage design and installation art, from TEDxConcordiaUPortland -

Salvage: Creating the TEDxConcordiaUPortland Stage

When my curator, Matt Wagner of Hellion Gallery and I took a trip to the Concordia gymnasium for introductions and research for creating the TEDxConcordiaUPortland stage, we fortunately took the wrong road when we approached the school and ended up on the far north side of the campus where a small neighborhood of houses were being demolished or moved elsewhere for low income housing.

We both marveled and dreamed about the materials that potentially reside in these homes. We learned that Concordia University had purchased the land to create an outdoor athletics field. Through the understanding and generosity of the Physical Plant, we were granted access to the house and could take whatever we wanted. So, with an army of friends, we spent 2 days salvaging what we could.

It was the drawers that became the spark for this installation. It was these drawers that became the loudest voice and were unaltered, left in their natural state. All the other materials you see in the installation were also left as I found them, only trimmed. By the time this project was complete, I had only one box of scrap wood, which we respectfully honored in an evening fire pit of celebration & completion.  

Other local community organizations, such as The Rebuilding Center, Pistils Nursery, Salvage Works, and Orange Carpentry also generously donated materials. In addition, the installation includes leftover cedar fencing from my Aunt Becky, cedar siding from my grandfather’s house, and pieces of a dining room table formerly owned by TEDxConcordiaUPortland’s Organizer’s father. So the palpable history and source of materials added a rich dimension of creative sustainability.

Many of these materials were doomed for the landfills. By using sustainable materials, using sustainability as inspiration, and wood rich with history, this was effortlessly created without the need of fresh cut timber, or materials that take centuries to decompose.

Written by Blaine Fontana of The Fontana Studios, creator of the TEDxConcordiaUPortland stage installation

[via: tedx]

(Source: tedx)

tedx:

A green art project is happening in Amman during June and July: a competition that was launched in schools around Jordan — inside and outside Amman — that calls on students to create artwork on environmental topics.

The project gives a tree made from recycled materials to 30 artists from Jordan to create their own artistic reproduction of it, their creation is exhibited in public spaces in Amman.

So as part from my initiative “Zawayed” — which is using waste to create functional products and services — I will be decorating one tree with students from Jabal Al Natheef.

To make the tree meaningful, I wanted to use TEDxDeadSea empty water bottles to shape the tree, so as to share my great experience as a speaker at TEDxDeadSea with everyone.

Now, 600 - 700 used TEDxDeadSea water bottles are now a “tree”, which will be exhibited in public in Amman during the months of June and July.

Written by Mohammad Alhajji, Founder of Zawayed

(Source: tedx)