The
complete set of flags of the Geology Flags Project are envisioned as a
comprehensive system of geo-taxonomy, an indexing and revealing of the geologic
materials and structures beneath any given site. The full expression of the flag system would have a range
from pure chemical elements through mineralogy, paleontology, processes,
materials, formations, tectonic structures and architectural analogs present
above, beneath and/or extending from a site of study. The diagrams on the flags are derived from geologic and
architectural symbols for materials and processes and can be used in different
combinations to describe any site with new flags for special or new attributes
being generated as needed. The
ideal installation would involve numerous flagpoles distributed throughout an
extended site with appropriate flags on each pole indicating the lateral
changes in geologic information below, like free-standing core samples. The architectural extension of the
geologic materials displayed as flags at appropriate sites correlates the built
environment and the contemporary
Holocene era with subterranean materials and time frames. This idea refers to the concept of
anthroturbation, described in an essay written about the work, Holocene Terrace, shown at Lance Fung Gallery, NY, NY, 1999, an
extract follows:
"Cities,
architecture, roads and other civic constructions made by mankind of earth
materials during our Epoch (the Holocene) may be considered in a geologic
context as forms of Ôanthroturbation.Õ1 This term describes the
disturbance, dislocation and restructuring of geologic formations and materials
by human agencies into new forms.
These processes have analogies in the natural world, such as: mining as
erosion, transport as flow and construction as sedimentation. Likewise, the built topography of a
city can be understood in geomorphic terms: streets as canyons, buildings as
plateaus, sewers as caves and plazas as playas."
The
Geology Flags Project were shown in a prototype configuration for the
exhibition, Topographies, at the
San Francisco Art Institute, in March 2004. These flags, designed for the geology of San Francisco, focused
on the main rock units of the Franciscan Formation, including: meta-graywacke,
radiolarian chert, serpentine and meta-basites as well as a Holocene
architectural material of the built environment, reinforced concrete.
John
Roloff, 2004
1.
This term was developed in conversation with the geophysicist, Paul Spudich.