New Interactions in Old Environments: NIOE. Mock up. Photoshop. Lasers, fog machine, food table, cameras. Conceptualized 22 April 2019. Proposed duration: 8:00pm to 10:00pm on June 6th and 7th.
NIOE Floor Plan. Mock up. Hand Drawn. 22 April 2019. Approx. 5.5" x 8.5"
Final Proposal
New Interactions in Old Environments: NIOE
Description of why you selected the space you did:
We’d like our installation, New Interaction in Old Environments (NIOE) to be installed in the Argo House space because we chose to work with red lasers and fog. To efficiently work with these materials, we knew we had to work in an enclosed space, rather than the outside area of Platforms.
Description of your proposed project:
For our NIOE project, we would like to install four laser panels to create a maze-like effect on the floor. Using red lasers allows us a way to modernize the historical House. We’ll use a fog machine to make the lasers visible. A table of food and drinks will be placed at the far end of the room to encourage viewers to assess the room and try to find a solution to get to the food without touching the lasers.
Description of your anticipated outcomes or impacts:
We hope to see people come together in a fun way which allows them to interact with the space as well as each other. By placing food at the far end of the room, we expect that certain people will instinctually want to avoid the red lasers, because of pop culture movies like Mission Impossible and James Bond. On the contrary, there will certainly also be those who skip past the activity and go straight for the free food. It’d be a fun experience to see how different people solve the problem differently, some would dance around the lasers to avoid them while others would just walk through. We plan to document the exhibit through recording so as to watch as people interact with the space and see how they communicate with each other to solve the problem of lasers presented before them.
Proposed materials:
The main elements of NIOE are red lasers, a fog machine, a table of refreshments and two cameras to document the interactions. We’ll also have equipment to run each of the electronic elements, as well as some window tint to darken the space, and a black-light spotlight to illuminate the table.
Proposed duration:
There will be two large events on June 6th and 7th, a Twilight Concert and the Art Stroll. During these two days, we’d like our installation to be up for two hours from 8:00pm to 10:00pm. Having NIOE up for these two days for the allotted time would allow the space to be more accessible for majority of the public after they enjoy the other events. The Concert and the Stroll would also draw people to casually walk into our space, rather than having them come out of their way to view our installation.
Identity
The Identity of our piece is that throughout life we are all faced with multiple decisions to make, but we rarely know which path is correct. We expect for every person to interact different in this space, and no two people will walk the same path. We often take multiple paths through difficult decisions, yet we usually end at the same successful outcome.
Why this project in this space/Significance in this space.
Our installation at the Argo House is specific to the area because we’ll have it set up in a way where we encourage people to walk in, interact with what’s around them and socialize with each other. The cultural background of Utah is that of community; People get together to help one another out, and for social gatherings. The Argo House is one of the oldest buildings in the city and was recently fixed up. The Argo House is one of the oldest buildings in Ogden, Utah. A social gathering in a building this old has the culture of Utah and Ogden in mind. By installing lasers, we are attempting to modernize the House and create a space where modern culture and the historical site can create contrasts and perhaps even clash with the personalities of today.
Budget
Artist Credentials
Sean Camp - Art Student Digital media emphasis
Geoff Shaw - Experience in video production/digital media
Kristin Drake- Art student looking for experience in the professional environment
Critique Notes and Reflection
One of the concerns brought up during critique was how the lasers were going to be placed. Our intentions are to place the lasers at 2-3 inches off of floor level. Another concern was signage, how were we going to convey our intentions to viewers before they entered the space? After reflecting, we decided to best communicate with the viewers, we'd place a sign before they entered the space. We'd announce to them that the space is being recorded via live stream, and that they will become performers within the space. We'd also inform viewers that the space has lasers, so they are aware of what to expect. Another concern was how we were going to control our space through the use of the entrance. We decided the best way to control the small room would be to allow groups of 3-4 (or larger upon request) to go at once.
After reflecting, some general changes we would make is to change the documentation style to a live stream via Instagram and Facebook. We also have decided to entirely remove any other artwork within the room, so not to ruin any works with the fog machine.
One suggestion was to place a timed counter to announce to viewers when time was running up, to see how they reacted. Our group thought that instead of introducing this element, it would be more interesting to see how viewers arrived at certain solutions without being provoked.
Installed 3 April 2019 until 8 April 2019. Red yarn. Approx. 18' x 8'
Line Exercise: String
Description/Statement
For this assignment we were only allowed to use red string. We had to choose any space within the Kimball Visual Hall, so we chose to work with the balcony between the 3rd and 2nd floor, because we felt it would emphasize the words we decided on. The words we chose for this piece was "inviting" and "tight" and "boundary." This large space was perfect for creating a boundary, as we could block off the space without inconveniencing students. It also allowed to tie the strings tightly and allow us to the tensity in the strands of yarn. Because the space was in a hight traffic area, we felt it would also invite students to interact with the string as the got off the elevator.
Our goal for this piece was to create the boundaries one sets for themselves. Sometimes it seems there's a wall we can only glimpse through, and other times feel like the bars of a prison holding us back. The Strings are tied tight because we often pull ourselves thin. We demand ourselves to be strict and perfect but don't realize how it wears us down.
The results from the viewers were wonderful and insightful, as they saw a contrast between the two sides which we hadn't originally intended. Viewers saw chaos and and calm, while we had only focused on creating boundaries and tension. We were pleased with how the viewers had brought their own dualities in their personalities as they viewed what we had created with intention to restrain.
Process Photos
Critique Notes and Reflection
Critique: There was a clear contrast between the two sides. The right side had tension and stress, so it created chaos and a barrier, while the left was organized and calm. It had a movement, as it seemed the strings were falling down, rather than reaching up. It had been noted that a guitar was seen, and it contained a sense of music. Viewers wanted to go to the edge to interact with the space, even though one usually stays away from the edge of balconies. Viewers wanted to be underneath the piece and interact with it, to become a part of the piece. A random intervention had even occurred where someone had played with the strings and had tied them together during our time away from the piece.
Reflection: The piece of identity seen within the piece by viewers was "calm and chaos," and "different personalities." This illusion was likely created due to the empty split down the center of the piece, in the corner, which created the tension between the two sides. The knots and tangles on the right side compared the the smooth lines on the left side created the contrast for "planned and unplanned." We really liked that our viewers wanted to interact with our piece, we were glad to see people touching the strings and wanting to view it from different angles. We think the view of the piece having personality is a wonderful addition to what we were originally trying to create. The viewers perspective of the piece having conflicting elements rather than a balanced thought was enlightening and something to look forward to creating in our next piece.
Installed 1 April 2019 until 3 April 2019. Blue tape. Approx. 20' x 10'
Line Exercise: Tape
Description/Statement
For this assignment, we were only allowed to use 1" blue tape. We had to choose any space within the Kimball Visual Hall, so we chose to work with the window leading to the third floor balcony, because we felt it would emphasize the words we decided on. The words we chose for this piece was "3D" and "illusion." Because of the transparency of the window, we felt we could play around with the depth as well the illusion of space.
Our intention for this piece was to create an illusion of depth with interior space as it plays with the exterior background. By using the 3D backdrop of the outside world against the window, we wanted to experiment with how to bring those features within the boundaries of the window. We added the figure to fill in the space, as well as to create an illusion as the viewer looked at the installation. Because we knew this installation would appear differently to every person passing by, we incorporated this as part of our identity. Every individual has a unique perspective on what they view, what they bring to this installation is their piece of identity as they view the world through the window their own way.
We found our result to be pleasing by our own terms. We enjoyed how it flattened the world when the perspectives lined up perfectly just as much as when it distorted the exterior world. We'd decided on what we chose to highlight because we found it to be the most interesting. We'd discussed a few more things to potentially highlight, however, decided against putting more on, so as not to muddy the illusion.
Process Photos
Critique Notes and Reflection
Critique: The mentioned criticisms were that the person sitting was a nice touch, it seemed this was the most popular part of our piece. The skyline was also a fun play on the outside world, as it both altered the skyline as well as enhanced it. Each student had fun interacting with the piece as it was different per each person.It worked really well from one spot, but was a fun surprise from another location. The piece was connected, yet a little disjointed; it made sense, but still made a conversation about what's going on when the tape isn't lining up with the outside world. We should have made a connecting piece to tell the viewer where to stand to view the installation. Footprints would have been fun and created an automatic response. Students mentioned there was a fun play with the depth between the tape and the world beyond the window.
Words: The illusion was clear and easily came through. The 3D was not so easily identified as it seemed to just the playing with depth, rather than making anything seem 3D.
Identity: The identity that other students found within our piece was that it was encompassing of students because of the taped figure, the location. These elements highlighted our space as students. Because of the varied perspective per viewer, perspective and individuality was a clear part of everyone being unique.
Reflection: Were we to make this project again, we would likely connect the perspective markers with footprints, as to invite the viewer to see it from the suggested perspective. The figure seemed to have the most positive reaction, so we would likely make more for a future installation, to emphasize the popular subject.
