MLAB MISSION STATEMENT


The Mobile Literacy Arts Bus (MLAB) is an artist-run, renovated recreational vehicle that exists as a flexible space open to community members’ proposals for alternative educational and cultural programming.

MLAB is the collaborative effort of the 2007-2008 Social Sculpture class at Syracuse University, comprised of 10 art and architecture students and lead by artist and Director of Community Initiatives in the Visual Arts of Syracuse University, Marion Wilson. Our mission was to transform a used, 1984 Recreational Vehicle Bus into a Mobile Literacy and Arts Bus for use by the Syracuse City School District and the greater Syracuse Community. MLAB serves as a physical manifestation of Syracuse University’s Scholarship in Action initiative, by pairing University resources with community needs in an attempt to address the staggering drop out rates in the Syracuse City School District High Schools. Through the School of Education at Syracuse University, incredible curricula that bridge photography, poetry and literacy currently exist within the public schools-- however due to a crisis of space, the schools don't always have the space or resources to house it. MLAB is this space. The bus serves as a mobile classroom, digital photo lab, gallery space, and community center. As a team, we did it all: demolition, design, and construction.

MLAB is made possible from the generous support of the School of Education at Syracuse University and Entitiative.


Thursday, November 15, 2007

how to make your very own scrap wood floor . . . .




as requested, here is the quick and easy process:




step 1. arrange on the floor 24' or 26' long sections (I recommend adding a couple inches to the finished length) of aggregate wood, approx. 3" in width. note: strips look best if you alternate adjacent wood types




step 2. divide the 24' or 26' long section into approx. three 8' lengths. (for 26' long sections, may alternate to two 8' + one 10', or other arrangement deemed acceptable by zach)




step 3. place one 8' length onto the "gluing jig" (aka. the 20' long c-channel + osb screwed to 2x4s). note: be sure to keep aggregate wood pattern in the same order for all three 8' lengths.




step 4. make sure one end flush.




step 5. start gluing. probably best to work in pairs for gluing, since wood glue can set quickly. note: don't be cheap with the glue, more is better.




step 6. once all strips are glued together, place the extra 3" osb strip on top and the extra c-channel against the side. don't skip this step, the osb/channel is needed to distribute evenly and keep boards flush.




step 7. vertically clamp the freshly glued wood aggregate between the two 3" osb strips. alternate with horizonally clamping the freshly glued wood aggregate between the two steel channels.




step 8. finished with one 8' length? move onto the next two.
*enjoy the dumbed down process diagram, not sure why the wood glue looks blue?

4 comments:

Marion said...

you are the best Julia.
Zach, please add the list pronto of how many are needed!

Marion said...

Student Work Schedule:
Friday am
Zach, David, Arjan in wood shop
Roslyn and Julia gluing

Friday 2-6pm
Samanatha cutting strips in woodshop
Marion and Jessica collecting wood
Marion and Abraham gluing 3-6pm

Saturday
10am Nicolette and Yun Pei gluing
Samantha gluing

Sunday
10am - Roslyn and Marco gluing

Extra Jobs:
Marco - gluing in subfloor
Jessica and Marion - thank you letters

Marion said...

Student Work Schedule:
Friday am
Zach, David, Arjan in wood shop
Roslyn and Julia gluing

Friday 2-6pm
Samanatha cutting strips in woodshop
Marion and Jessica collecting wood
Marion and Abraham gluing 3-6pm

Saturday
10am Nicolette and Yun Pei gluing
Samantha gluing

Sunday
10am - Roslyn and Marco gluing

Extra Jobs:
Marco - gluing in subfloor
Jessica and Marion - thank you letters

jess said...

Julia, Thanks for this. And suprisingly, this process is pretty fun-- I have to say. What a grand time Sam, Marion, Abraham and I had yesterday!

Gail Hoffman also said she though it looked so fun, she wanted to help out too!

-Jess