Walking on the Wild Side Priscilla Sample

Always, Priscilla		Walking on the Wild Side
Home About Me Dyslexia Game Lost Item Locators, Inc. Walking Wild ActLab Home		My final project was inspired by some of our class discussions. Over the course of the semester, we had discussed how technology had not only changed the way people communicate with each other, but had actually changed our social structure. How we establish and maintain friendships, communities, and even intimate relationships has been changed by our ability to connect globally. However, despite our ability to easily communicate with almost anyone, any where, our lives have become more fractured and isolated. We do not gather or congregate within families, neighborhoods, or communities in the way people did 50 or 100 years ago. Additionally, perhaps in response to this isolation, domestic animals have been elevated to a near-human status, and have often become many people's constant and dearest companion. Over the last decade a whole new market has developed. There are gourmet food stores, exercise classes, daycare, and clothing stores dedicated to pets. I was speculating that in the future, we might realize that pet clothing does not have to mimic human clothing, as pets do not need to cover their bodies to protect themselves from the elements or for reasons of modesty. I decided to make a 'garment' for a dog that would cover it in lights -- sort of a 'party outfit'. I wanted to build a wire frame to keep the garment light weight but stable and let the dog's hair show through. So that the garment would be portable, I found 12-volt lights that could be operated by batteries. I cut and bent the wire, fitting it to the dog, leaving it hinged in the middle (around the hind-quarters) so that the dog could easily walk or sit down. I attached several strings of lights together with a battery pack at one end, and then attached them to the frame. Although the next photo does not show how dramatic the garmet looks in the dark, it can give you an idea of how the frame fits on the dog. Special thanks to a very patient dog.

Always, Priscilla

Walking on the

Wild Side

Home

About Me

Dyslexia Game

Lost Item Locators, Inc.

Walking Wild

ActLab Home

My final project was inspired by some of our class discussions. Over the course of the semester, we had discussed how technology had not only changed the way people communicate with each other, but had actually changed our social structure. How we establish and maintain friendships, communities, and even intimate relationships has been changed by our ability to connect globally. However, despite our ability to easily communicate with almost anyone, any where, our lives have become more fractured and isolated. We do not gather or congregate within families, neighborhoods, or communities in the way people did 50 or 100 years ago. Additionally, perhaps in response to this isolation, domestic animals have been elevated to a near-human status, and have often become many people's constant and dearest companion. Over the last decade a whole new market has developed. There are gourmet food stores, exercise classes, daycare, and clothing stores dedicated to pets. I was speculating that in the future, we might realize that pet clothing does not have to mimic human clothing, as pets do not need to cover their bodies to protect themselves from the elements or for reasons of modesty. I decided to make a 'garment' for a dog that would cover it in lights -- sort of a 'party outfit'.

I wanted to build a wire frame to keep the garment light weight but stable and let the dog's hair show through. So that the garment would be portable, I found 12-volt lights that could be operated by batteries.

I cut and bent the wire, fitting it to the dog, leaving it hinged in the middle (around the hind-quarters) so that the dog could easily walk or sit down. I attached several strings of lights together with a battery pack at one end, and then attached them to the frame.

Although the next photo does not show how dramatic the garmet looks in the dark, it can give you an idea of how the frame fits on the dog.

Special thanks to a very patient dog.