The Game of Artful Pondering

The Game of Artful Pondering    © 2001 Joan Zalenski
 
Commissioned by Fort Worth Transportation Authority; Installed at the Fort Worth Intermodal Transportation Center, 9th & Jones
Sts.Fort Worth, Texas

Commissioned - 2001; completed 2002.  Area covered approx. 4800 sq. ft. Glazed brick pavers, stamped concrete. 

 
RULES OF THE GAME

 The ITC plaza is a life-size interactive game board.  Departing and arriving passengers are the playing pieces as they move across the board/plaza. You may choose to actively play to pass the time while waiting for the train.  Once a player steps on to the board whether actively or passively, he/she becomes a part of the game.  Players will see brightly colored paths as they approach the board/plaza.  Each color path has a name.  The paths lead to colored squares, the center of which contains a piece of text. The player may pause in the square to contemplate thoughts provoked by the text and may then exit the square by the same path he/she entered from or via a different exit path if there is one.  Players can travel across the board to the various squares by choosing the most appealing path.  Rather than being controlled by the throw of dice or drawing a card or spinning a wheel, moves will be directed by a player’s own desires, or impulses.  Play is for one or more persons.  There are no penalties or points scored, there is no beginning or end to the game itself and moves may be repeated. Squares can be either goals or pitfalls.  As in real life, there may be obstacles in the path that must be overcome to reach a desired goal.  A path may be intercepted by a less desirable or more distracting path or may lead to nowhere.  No one wins or loses.

Example of active play: A player might choose to enter the board via the Straight and Narrow Highway rather than Easy Street but might find himself Deep In The Art Of Taxes.  Or the player may choose the High Rollin’ Shortcut and land on the Dance Floor of Politics!  Ponder that a spell!

The Game is designed to occupy a person’s time while waiting for a train, to stimulate and provoke thought, amuse and entertain.  For those who do not actively choose to “play”, the visual impact of the gameboard may provide a pleasing experience.  And… you may be an obstacle in someone else’s path!

© 2001 Joan Zalenski

The concept and design for The Game of Artful Pondering are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced, copied, or altered in any way without permission of the artist.

 
Special thanks to:

Flora Maria Garcia, Jim Malone, Randy Gideon, Gary Davis and Endicott Clay, J.R. Kimbell, Mark Thistlethwaite, Peter Joe, Kelly Hart, Mitch Geller, Wayne Riddle, Yoga, Paul from UPS, Warren Lynn for driving the forklift, Afren and the template crew, Jason Freeman, Janice Crow and the “T”

Installation crew: The Jack McKnight Legacy – Warren, Travis, and Jordan McKnight, Peter Belleh

Fabrication crew:  Jim Malone, Phil Snipes, Toby Ferril, Melody Phinney, Mike Brenneman, Jeff Poole, Scott Poole, Zack Pritchett