BANKS+Historicizing+a+Project

Historicizing a Project [1]

2008- City of Troy closes The Sanctuary for alleged code violations after political conservatives hear that they will be hosting controversial Iraqi-American artists Wafaa Bilal’s work. The Sanctuary sues in federal court.
 * Diachronic**

June, 2009- The New York Civil Liberties Union and the Albany law firm O'Connell and Aronowitz file the lawsuit against the City of Troy.

July 2011- First fieldwork in Kumasi, Ghana. Work with healthcare professionals to research cell phone usage patterns, way finding practices, and condom purchasing environments. Concluded that initial hypothesis that condoms were plentiful but hard to find was wrong. Condoms are easy to find but not in environments considered safe by women. Lots of shaming and gossiping around who buys condoms.

February 22, 2012- A federal judge approves a settlement between The Sanctuary for Independent Media and the City of Troy. Under the settlement, the city will help Media Alliance apply for a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. If the National Endowment for the Arts awards the grant, the city agreed to provide up to $50,000 in matching funds. The city’s match is contingent on Media Alliance receiving the grant. The city also agreed to pay Media Alliance $5,000.
 * Synchronic**

July 1-14, 2012- field work in Kumasi, Ghana. Installation of initial, off-the-shelf machines fail due to mechanical failure in humid environments and inability to secure a steady supply of condoms in machine-compatible packaging.

July 11, 2012- the National Endowment for the Arts selects the Sanctuary’s “Through Our Town” found art proposal as one of 80 fully funded proposals around the country. The Sanctuary receives $50,000 from NEA and the City of Troy matches the grant award (an additional $50,000) as part of their settlement with The Sanctuary.

September, 2012- soil testing for Freedom Square lot.

September, 2012- first brainstorming sessions for community wireless hub.

September & October, 2012- Design and budgeting begins for Freedom Square

November 5, 2012- decision made to use Commotion Wireless with Ubiquiti hardware after a phone conversation with Andy Gunn, one of the original developers of the Commotion Wireless software.

December 1, 2012- first email sent over pilot access point mounted on the side of the Sanctuary.

December, 2012- Construction documents are written up by TAP for Freedom Square.

[1] Dates and figures regarding the law suit between The Sanctuary and the City of Troy are from: [].