Toward an Isle of Meditation, 1974

drawing text excerpts –

“Sun Rise Video Grid – each day at sunrise a color real time video image of the sunrise would be televised over one or more of the local television stations. To be Boston harbor proposal have over a building looking out over the Boston harbor at sunrise. Actually, sunset is probably better – sunset from one of outer islands to give 15 mins interval between real time video sunset & the sunset that could be seen by most of Boston area residents. Actual ambient light level in room where viewer is watching T.V. will be changing.

Wind instrument at entrance.

Color Video Sunrise – East Equinox

The historic Stonehenge.

One way to approach a TV station would be to suggest that the station could end up with some valuable resalable sunrise footage. The dramatic moment of a sunrise could be replated during remaining day.

Should have special projection facilities of sunrise placed where people are likely to be, such as - airports, train & bus stations.

The video image to capture subtle light shifts on mirror surfaces – water, clouds, land & etc.

Underground meditation chamber section view (could be used in city) chamber to be totally darkened & painted black except surface of obscura projections.

Obscure projection of sky that fills floor.

Walkway to be cushioned so one can lay or sit.

Floor & wall painted with light reflective paint.

Image of landscape should be special and selected for this purpose. Landmarks within the image should not be altered in the course of a year, rather image should remain static.

The “real time” experience and “real time” televised experience offer an interesting paradox. That’s if the camera is set in such a way that it would “see” & televise the real time sunrise that..

(notes & talk with Robert Kramer)

Rockne Krebs, March 1974”

© Rockne Krebs Art Trust/Licensed by VAGA at ARS, New York, NY

* Robert Kramer was an MIT CAVS (Center for Advanced Visual Studies) Fellow, 1973-1974, with a focus on poetry and environmental design.

Rockne Krebs was an MIT CAVS Fellow, 1973-1974.

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“The drawings in a sense have been Krebs’ journal, the only one he has ever kept. In addition to facilitating the development of his sculptures and providing enjoyment for their own sake, they have filled another need as well. Krebs has spoken of the feeling that sometimes, to him, the large public sculptures – particularly the lasers – do not seem personal as works of art. There is, as he says, a ‘private, quirky thing in me that keeps coming out, and the laser pieces can’t make that.’ The drawings can.” Jay Belloli, Rockne Krebs: A Retrospective of Drawings, 1965-1982, 1983

“In addition, notational works on paper provide glimpses into other levels of expression hinted at in larger pieces. The mystic vision that Krebs delineated was spectacular and private, exalted and hermetic, dazzling and still.” Mike Zahn, Considering the Technological Sublime, Pazo Fine Art, 2022