The data sculptures are physical 3-dimensional models. These models are not meant to represent buildings or landscapes. Rather, they physicalize data and information. This transformation and translation of digital data into physical object(s) allow us to make sense of digital data by turning them into tangible and contextual data fabrics, far away from a 2-dimensional computer screen or even paper (Edward Tufte calls it a flatland).
Below are examples of students’ attempts of escaping the flatland.
These examples are not in any particular order.
Last update: March 2024.
^ This data model is a representation of the public tree canopy and green spaces that are located within Stonewall. Composed of acrylic panels that are etched and painted, each panel depicts a specific set of data over a period of 30 years in relation to public outdoor spaces. The dark green circles show the current tree canopy cover composed of deciduous and fruiting trees. Whereas, the light green circles reveal the public tree canopy in the future when/ if the elm and ash trees are no longer alive. This model illustrates the threats to the public outdoor spaces within Stonewall’s core, further exposing the lack of sheltered public spaces both along major roadways and urban green spaces. By Tiana Swintak
^ This data model looks at diversity in the population of Stonewall Manitoba. More specifically this model creates a puzzle in the form of a circle meant to represent Earth, then cutting that circle into percentages of where the resident's family originated. There were 5 different backgrounds looked at Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia, and registered Indigenous. The percentages were 67.5% for Europe, 15.3% Americas, 11.0% Africa, 4.4% Asia, and 1.6% registered Indigenous. I also added glitter to every piece because anyone can also identify as indigenous, whether that be Metis or First Nation. In the end, all the pieces go together to represent 100% of Stonewall’s population. By Rielle Ettawacappo
> This data model shows an abstraction of the movement of people from surrounding towns (Stonewall, Grosse Isle, Rockwood, and Stony Mountain), Winnipeg, and two tourist locations (Oak Hammock Marsh and Boonstra Farms). People are indicated by the smaller circles, locations are justified by the larger circles, and the movement of people are shown by the string of thread. The red thread shows movement from all three variables: Winnipeg, small towns, and tourist locations. The black thread depicts the movement within some small towns within the Interlake. Lastly, the blue thread shows movement from the smaller towns to Winnipeg. By Johannah Javier
^ Modeled in this data model is the amount of people to public trees in the Town of Stonewall. The clear sphere represents a public tree and its space that it takes up spherically. Whereas the white ball represents a current resident of Stonewalls personal space. With the Grey ball representing a future resident of stonewalls personal space. By looking a the picture to the left one can see that there is a current ratio of 4 people to one public tree with the current population of 5,000. The image left bellow is of the current population of trees with the towns goal of 10,000 people this would make the ratio expand to 8 people per public tree. In this depiction this shows the current development trend within the town as the new developments do not have new public trees being planted in them creating a more crowded space and more unbalanced ratio. By Will Kendrick
^ The data model represents two modes of vehicles near Stonewall and Winnipeg, primarily focusing on the connections between Stonewall and its nearby towns. Red strings denote private vehicle usage, while white strings represent public transportation. The number of strings indicates the volume of vehicles traveling along a particular route, where each string symbolizes a certain number of vehicles. For instance, if 100 people use private vehicles, it is represented by one red string. Public transportation is depicted as a single line, signifying its lower carbon footprint and ability to transport more people simultaneously. By Rownak Moutosi
< Presenting my Tetris-inspired model capturing Stonewall's housing diversity! Different colors represent the percentages of various homes, giving a snapshot of Stonewall city's vibe. Notice how there aren't many apartment blocks? It shows they're not so common right now but could play a big role in future city growth. This model is like a fun way to see how different types of homes affect Stonewall city's feel. By Kimia Taghavi
^ This data model is a 5x5 km map of Stonewall and its surrounding landscape based on soil drainage. The metal wires between both sides represent an abstraction of vegetation heigh that was, or is currently grown on the landscape. One side represents pre-settlement vegetation such as tall grass prairie, aspen and oak residing on the well draining soils, and sedges, willows, and grasses residing on the poor draining soils. On te mirrored side, it sows human and forage crops that are currently grown. This data model ais to juxtapose and reveal an invisible scar of the landscape that is present in soil drainage types. By Zach Pankratz
^ The model represents socio-environmental inclusivity. It illustrates the correlation between open spaces and income. In Stonewall, the highest median household income holders reside in the northmost part of the town making an average of $131,584 before taxes. Noticeably, the open spaces around this area are more developed green spaces and parks. Gradually moving to the southern parts of the town, the median household income lowers to $88,640 and the massing of the open space types decreases. The lower the general income the less programmed and smaller (25 acres or less) of open spaces. In conclusion, where there is green space and parks are where the high income is creating discrimination for those that make less. Additionally, the open spaces are isolated overall. So in the model, the size of the circle is influenced based on the income location of the open space. With the group’s vision to increase the connectivity of the town and outwards, the string represents that, uniting all the open spaces and income diversity. By Ipalo Phiri
^ This data model represents a connectivity-based diagrammatic map of the town of Stonewall, which highlights the town’s potential to expand itself in the direction leading towards the limestone quarry. The present quarry land situated on the north-east side of the town has a high probability of being available for use in the near future based on the data collected, marking the future areas up north being presently leased for future quarrying. This indicated that the present quarries would eventually be available for public use. The area where quarries presently exist would be present as scarred landscape zones, which could efficiently be used for future development and settlements. The unique topography that the quarries presently comprise due to human intervention could be considered a varied setting for the development of Stonewall’s future, highlighting the town’s speciality, its limestone! The data model has the main town represented inside a boundary with the previously existing quarries converted into recreational areas marked as mini radars, the main street marked as a rectangle, and other major zones of the town marked as yellow pins. The boundary of the town bursts in the north-east, and new zones marked as green pins emerge in the future, directing the town’s expansion outside its current boundary towards the limestone quarry. By Shubham Mahadik
< This data model displays the available resources within the towns along the number 7 highway down to Winnipeg. The towns include Teulon, Gunton, Balmoral, Stonewall, Rockwood and Stony Mountain. The squares represent whether a resource is available in a specific town, while the strings represent the need to travel in order to access unavailable resources. This model displays the lack of resources available in rural towns, where they may rely on Stonewalls resources. It also shows the resources that Stonewall lacks, and the desire to travel to the city rather than stay in the town. By Teegan Gillich
