I participated in the first annual PNW Art & Tech Symposium both as a speaker and an artist, and while I’ve posted about this across social media channels, I thought pulling all of that content together in one place is worth a few minutes of my time.
On LinkedIn I explained:
Last week’s PNW Art & Tech Symposium has come and gone, but I’m still thinking about the conversations I had, the old friends I ran into, the new friends I made, and the art that I experienced. What a great, filling day!
Installing “The Door” again felt good (I’m faster setting it up now). It was fun watch people figure out how to make it work, but also a little anxiety-inducing… seeing people twist buttons instead of press them made me question whether the UX was clear enough (and grew my appreciation for museum/amusement park installations that have to withstand year-round abuse).
My lightning talk – “All the Things You Know – Creating ‘The Door’” was really a reminder that it’s OK to explore random interests and get lost in your curiosities because you never know what new opportunities your explorations will lead to or skills they will help you grow. I shared examples of many maker projects I’ve created over the years that gave me the skills (and Point of View) to create The Door in a relatively short period of time.
Thanks again to the Organizing Committee who made this happen – I’m looking forward to the next!
Presentation: All the Things You Know
Here’s a direct link to my presentation (3:51:00.00 if direct link doesn’t work):
Art: The Door
Here’s how I described The Door when I first shared about it on LinkedIn:
What if virtual experiences suddenly made their way to the real world?
I scratch at that idea with “The Door”, an interactive art installation inspired by my recently published VR art/game experience, CONNECTOME.
The Door itself plays a central role in the game experience. In fact, learning to create and open the door is one of the very first things the player does in the game. [I’m fighting the urge to write about the intersection of physical and digital, of how bringing certain ideas to life are easier, respectively, in each place. But my main focus with this post is about “The Door”, so I’ll get back on track.]
This installation is intended to evoke a sense of wonder and play, and invites the viewer to touch objects that are both familiar and foreign (stones etched with runes). Opening the door is not something a single viewer can do alone. It requires collaboration, transforming the experience into an act of shared discovery. Where the door leads remains open to interpretation.
In creating “The Door”, I was drawn to the idea of creating a shared experience, an experience that requires collaboration and coordination. In a public space, filled with strangers, you’ll be required (or compelled) to speak to someone you may not know and figure out how to work with them. If you know *how* to open the door, then you can play the role of guide. I’m drawn to the range of social dynamics and expressions that this type of work can lead to.
If you’re intrigued and you’re in the Seattle area, come check it out!
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“The Door” was originally installed a few weeks ago for the “ArtLove Salon”, hosted at Public Display Art/Conru Art Center in downtown Seattle to celebrate Seattle Art Fair
🎥 You can see the video in my original Instagram Post.