January 25, 2005
Cremaster Cycle as Public Art
He took over the friggin' Guggenheim! "But Kellee!" you say, "Is this really public?" Well, considering the Guggenheim has free days, including the fabulous Museum Mile Day (which is how I saw the piece), I say yes. Especially since, because I saw it on a free day, there were so many different people partaking in this giant instillation that normally would have never gone. Which is exactly what makes public art so cool.
Here's a brief review.
Here's the site for The Cremaster Cycle.
Can we take over The Quad on campus for a day?
Posted by kellee at 05:26 PM | Comments (0)
Examples of interactive public works
1. Local: there is an Interactive Wall/Mural currently in the process of being installed at the Institute for Multimedia Literacy. This is a product developed by Director Anne Balsamo's group OnomyLabs. For some reason, I am not able to upload files to this weblog, so I cannot right now display some of the pics I took of the wall (I'll show in class today). OnomyLabs' site shows some stills and video of walls that have been constructed for previous commissions. The wall to be installed at the IML will have a couple of default content apps which will always be functioning and available for public display/usage. I contacted Anne about possibly creating original content for the wall and, though our communication has been brief and limited, it seems that it is indeed possible. The wall is beautifully crafted and fully functional. The user scrolls the plasma display horizontanlly to any portion of the wall she chooses to focus on and augmented information becomes available on the plasma which further contextualizes the backdrop. I was thinking that this technology, fully realized already and available, could be interesting for us to develop content for. The content need not be like what has already been produced, and in fact, I am more interested in something more 'deviant'. Also, the physical space it (and user) inhabits could be rigged up with sensors for additional interactivity.
2. Non-Local: Ken Goldberg's Infiltrate: "In the center of the room, on a riser approximately 5 feet tall, a square fish tank, bare, approx 2x3x4 feet, spotlit from above. Inside swim 6 fat koi fish, one gold, the others white. On one wall the video projector displays a computer animated image of up to 5 moving ellipsoidal forms. The forms are white in color, and their movement is synchronized with the real movements of the fish in the tank, as seen from the perspective of the gold fish. Infiltrate involves 3 digital cameras and custom motion tracking software. Fish state, position, orientation, velocity, is estimated and conveyed in real time to a second machine. The video display uses a fast PC with computer graphics card to do real time animation/rendering of 5 shaded polyhedral forms."
Again, check the site for pics and a very compelling mov of it which illustrates what descriptive text can not. The piece is 'public' in that it is an installation in the physical world, most likely a museum/gallery. I find this idea extremely intriguing: through whose/what's "eyes" would you want to see the world?
3. Additional Non-Local: Hello, Peace!: is a project "based on an automated telephone system that lets any Israeli or Palestinian simply pick up their phone at no charge and talk with someone on 'the other side' about peace... When a person calls *6364, they identify themselves as Israeli or Palestinian, perhaps the age of the person they wish to talk to, and whether they want to talk now or later. A computer automatically connects them to someone on "the other side" who fits the profile and has expressed a willingness to talk."
This project may or may not be perceived as fully 'public'. I think that it is in that it inhabits our pervasive and ubiquitous 'cell-phone world'. It is available should a person want to use it, it is a matter of choice. Conceptually, I think it is of import and meaningful - with potential ramifications beyond the scope of art and/or technology; an inspiration for me.
Posted by susana at 01:43 PM | Comments (0)
January 18, 2005
Assignment 01 - 2 great examples of interactive media in public space
LOCAL:
what
The Santa Monica Pier Arcade
This arcade is a fantastic public space of interactivity and stimulation. When so many of our arcades have crashed and burned due to the popularity of home systems, this arcade maintains a great variety of games(digital and analog), performance spaces, and space for people-watching. A must-visit!
When:
Winter Hours:
Mon.-Thurs.:10:00 A.M. - 12:00 A.M.
Friday:10:00 A.M. - 2:00 A.M.
Saturday:9:00 A.M. - 2:00 A.M.
Sunday:9:00 A.M. - 12:00 A.M.
Where
Visit santamonicapier.org for directions.
FAR AWAY:
What:
REACH: New York is an "urban musical instrument" created for the 34th Street N/R subway platform to enhance and connect subway riders with their urban environment in an unusual way.
As passerby reach up and wave their hands in front of one of the eight "eyes" a beam of light will be interrupted. This activates REACH, which emits a beam of range of sounds - from melodic instruments to envirunmental "sound images". The piece is installed on both the uptown and downtown platforms of the station. Since the beams of light are designed to shine across the tracks, riders can play REACH with other passengers.
Who:
Christohper Janney, architect and fantastic interactive artists who has created a number of pieces for the public. Follow the link and check out "Urban Musical Instruments" for more examples of his work.
Bit of Background:
I contacted someone at New York's MTA Arts for Transit, the people who funded this, for more information.
The piece had a two-week trial run in 1993, before being installed under their "Temporary Art" program (since cancelled) in 1996. Due to it's popularity, the program agreed to allow the installation to be permanent as long as Janney maintained it. Ten years later, it still remains!
Posted by brad at 12:09 PM | Comments (0)