In 2007 Natalie Campbell and Heidi Neilson had the novel idea of creating the SP Weather Station, a “rooftop base station” in Long Island City. The project would combine interests in making art, meteorlogical phenomonon and generally bringing interesting people together. The hosted a lecture series, organized weather related publications, and organized exhibitions and events. Their contextualization of the project:
SP Weather Station builds on the existing international phenomenon of Personal Weather Stations. Weather station enthusiasts worldwide combine DIY analogue technology with organized web forums for collecting and analyzing data. By recording its neighborhood’s environmental conditions, SPWS participates in and add to some of the many ways people have, throughout history, made their own weather observations. SPWS maintains an interest in new and historical technologies, and in how individuals relate to broader systems and patterns.
In a stroke of genius they invited twelve artists to create a portfolio of prints responding to the previous years weather collection.
To read and see pictures of the prints more follow the jump.
Here’s their description of the project:
The set of 2008 reports were produced as a portfolio trade in response to SP Weather Station data, one report per month during 2008. As Weather Interpreters, artists were invited to respond to any aspect of monthly data with an edition of 33 multiples in any format. At the station base in Long Island City, NY, SPWS logs the following measurements at 5 minute intervals: Relative Pressure, Indoor Temperature, Indoor Humidity, Outdoor Temperature, Outdoor Humidity, Dewpoint, Windchill, Wind Speed, Wind Direction, Precipitation.
The participating artist’s included:
JANUARY – Heidi Neilson
January, 2008, 2008. 8.5 x 11 in., color laser print.
FEBRUARY – Natalie Campbell, Daniel Larson, Heidi Neilson, Jing Yu, Liz Zanis
Leap Day Wind Direction, 2008. 17 x 17 in., screenprint, compass.
MARCH – Katarina Jerinic
Recorded Wind Direction at 12 noon, March 2008, 2008.
4 x 6 in., archival inkjet print with temporary tattoo.
APRIL – Lize Mogel
April is the Crulest Month, 2008. Video, 1 min.
MAY – Chris Petrone
Untitled, 2008. 6.5 x 16 in., folded, double-sided screenprint with envelope.
JUNE – Bridget Lewis
Untitled, 2008. 11.5 x 15 in., screenprint.
JULY – Michael Geminder
Untitled, 2008. 7 x 7 in., lasercut corrogated cardboard.
AUGUST – Leah Beeferman
A Weather-Reading Device Expands and Contracts as the Temperature
Rises and Falls, 2008. Video, 12 min. 25 sec.
SEPTEMBER – Neil Freeman
Untitled, 2008. 11.25 x 11.25 in., archival inkjet print.
OCTOBER – Sarah Nicole Phillips
Entry in a Field Guide: Draft Snakes, 2008. 8.5 x 11 in., laser print.
NOVEMBER – Carrie Dashow
Untitled, 2008. Video 3 min. 23 sec.
DECEMBER – Richard Garrison
Wind (Speed & Direction), December 1-31, 2008, 2008.
11 x 17 in., archival inkjet print.
The 2008 portfolios was also included in the show Natural Histories at the new artists’ book space in Brooklyn, Central Booking.
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