One of my main goals with the Chat.The Mng project is to find a way to maximize the efficiency of iBeacon technology, in a way that can enhance the gallery visitors’ viewing experience beyond the gallery space. At the same time, I aim to learn more about the curatorial process of shows like Witness.

During my time at New Media Gallery, I aim to improve my research skills, particularly in learning more about the ways in which galleries engage with their visitors. Bearing in mind that this process will consist of interaction between humans and technologies, I will learn to test different methods of interacting and evaluate them to see which works best. At the end of the process, I hope to gain an increased understanding of the curatorial process, particularly with new media artwork, as well as the way in which technology can make our gallery viewing experience more interactive.

In order to attain my goals, I will need excellent research skills, as well as the ability to continuously re-evaluate and readjust in the process. These are particularly important in the prototyping period when I conduct user-centered research and use the insight gathered from the data to revise my method of interaction with the viewer.

To achieve these goals, I will first create a survey in order to find out what kind of experience people look for when they visit an exhibition, particularly with ones that display new media works like Witness. Do they want some kind of technology to guide them along their way? Would this intervention take place before, during, or after the main exhibition? This survey is important because many people believe that technology, such as a smartphone, could interfere with the relationship between an artwork and the viewer. Most often, artists whose works are being shown would not like this interference either, since they’d prefer having their works installed and viewed in a certain way.

After the survey process, I plan to reach out to different professionals whose careers have a connection with the theme of the exhibition, in order to give the audience an insight into the exhibition from different perspectives. For instance, the work Surface Tension by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer relates to the theme of science, particularly optometry. As such, I might contact an optometrist and ask for a short interview to find out their opinion on the role of the eyes in shaping our perception of the world. Alternatively, I could reach out to an artist whose works revolve around the theme of the eyes and discuss their connection to it.

Finally, I will insert these data into the iBeacons and experiment to see how they can best connect to the visitors’ personal device. This process will require technical support from Neartuit- the startup that provided the iBeacons for New Media Gallery. At this point, many new challenges might arise but I will actively communicate with different groups of people to overcome them. On the last day of the project, I will provide a presentation to showcase my progress and the final outcome. I look forward to this presentation, as it will receive many constructive criticisms that would be highly valuable to me.

[IMPORTANT DATES]

Oct.6- First meeting

Oct.20- Technical demonstration (using iBeacons) given by Judy (CEO of Neartuit)

Oct.27- Project research- refine different groups of professionals to be included in the program

Nov. 3- Program research- show the first set of prototype of the program interface

A date TBD between Nov. 4th and 16th – Technical run through and set up the stage

Nov. 17- Analyze the data collected from the project and make adjustments accordingly

Dec. 1- Final presentation of program

*Schedule subject to change*

October 18, 2016 Week 4

I attended an event held at the Anvil Centre Theatre by the New Media Gallery in collaboration with DOXA Documentary Film Festival’s Motion Pictures Film Series, New West Film Fest, Momentum Youth Arts Movement, and the City of New Westminster.

Mediated Visions was a truly interesting night of film, art, technology and artist talks that addressed the interconnected nature of human society, culture, and technology.

The film presented was Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World, a new film by Director Werner Herzog, that documents the beginnings of the internet to the ungraspable information we have floating around today through technology. It questions how our interaction with technology has changed our understanding and experience with notions of embodiment, public space, and the technologies.

Later on, the evening continued on with two short artist talks from Adam Basanta, award-winning composer, musician and installation artist who exhibits worldwide, and Mazdak Gharibnavaz, Grassroots Development Officer at OpenMedia. Basanta talked about the “various levels of witnessing- personal, interconnected, disconnected, a type of re-enacted cinematic moment and the recursive, circularity and humour that can be described in each of these moments through a discussion of his work ‘A Truly Magical Moment.’ Gharibnavaz, a passionate believer in the power of the Internet, addressed the upcoming challenges of the 21st century and the fight for a free and open Internet.” (New Media Gallery)

October 14, 2016 Week 3

Week 3 was all about brainstorming ideas for an arts program relating to the exhibition, WITNESS, that could be adaptable to all ages of children and teens.

Please excuse my chicken scratch but essentially, these were the sketches and ideas I developed during my day at the gallery.

I had to reference and include the Core Competencies (Communication, Creative Thinking, Critical Thinking, Positive Personal/Cultural Identity, Personal Awareness & Responsibility, Social Responsibility) outlined by the B.C. Education Curriculum and marry it to the core ideas of the exhibition (surveillance, witness, perceiving and being perceived, machine vision, technological connections).

Some ideas were

1. Still life drawings through the view of different objects -> camera, magnifying glass, CCTV, reflection, naked eye, etc
2. Working in pairs, where one person “witnesses the exhibition” and the other person creates a multimedia collage art from the partner’s verbal description. Later they create a fiction narrative based on the final product. Idea of witnessing art and turning it into knowledge.
3. Taking a small frame into the gallery and “framing” a scene, drawing it, and creating a collage. Learn that everyone has a different perception of space.
4. Creating a 3d sculpture of a creature/robot/machine that watches, surveils, and observes something. Developing ideas of what it is created to watch or not watch, etc. Creating a fictional narrative and sharing it.
5. Machine vs. Humans -> Observing an arranged still life for 2~5mins, then in pairs or groups drawing/painting/collaging the still life from memory. (most likely for a pre-activity)
6. Surveillance Scene -> Create a Surveillance holes on the window where kids will watch the city and pedestrians and create work from the scenes.
7. Partner Portraits -> Partnering up and describing each other’s face. Then, drawing a self-portrait from someone else’s perspective/gaze.

Sarah, Kristina, and I got most excited about #4 and decided to develop it up as a program for the Grade 2’s coming in from Fraser Valley Elementary.

October 6, 2016 Week 2 

I attended an artist talk held at the New Media Gallery and did a collage and write up about the event for potential social media posts.

On Thursday, October 7th, New Media Gallery held “For Your Eyes Only,” a Fresh Talk event. Kristina Fiedrich, arts programmer, and Carolina Bergonzoni, dancer and philosopher, collaborated together to create a stimulating evening surrounding the exhibition, WITNESS. The two artists discussed ideas about our perception of objects, our interaction with spaces we see, and how we are seen through interesting drawing activities and heart-racing kinetic exercises. Kristina led participants to pair up and draw a map of their eye movements across each other’s face and also create blind contour drawings, challenging the visual memory and its coordination with the hand. Carolina guided participants into kinetic exercises involving mapping their movement throughout the gallery and switching maps with someone else, encouraging a new perception of the space. Later on, participants again paired up and took part in an intimate activity where they had to connect with their partner’s eyes and hold connection as they explored the space together as one entity. The night was filled with fun yet thought-provoking witnessing, observing, and moving in exploring the exhibition, WITNESS.

1.Visual recording of eye Movement

2. Drawing blind from memory + Drawing from memory

3. Blind Contour Drawing

4. Blind Contour Drawing

These were my drawings from the evening.

[OBJECTIVE]

To develop an art program adaptable to all ages of children and youth, linked to the gallery’s current exhibition Witness. In the process, I will be participating in workshops, writing proposals with budgets, attending artist events, and doing a final presentation of the program.

[PERSONAL GOALS]

-Getting comfortable working with a lot of flexibility

-Research and further understanding of different learning models

-Research and further understanding of the theory of the gaze and the current exhibition

-Networking, supporting artists

[SKILLS NEEDED]

-Research skills

-Programming Skills

-Presentation Skills

[SOLUTIONS]

My research for learning models will mainly take place through observation of the different models in practical application and research of the theories and artists behind the exhibition will happen online through scholarly essays, personal websites, as well as through conversations with the gallery curator. As for programming skills, although I have never created a program in connection with an exhibition, I have experience creating daily lesson plans through my volunteer work with Gr.3 students and have also organized summer camp programs which have probably provided me with a base in developing a curriculum. I will be working closely with Kristina and receiving feedback from Sarah which will guide me in creating a better program. Presentation skills will be improved through practice and participation in workshops throughout the internship. All in all, I am going to start a sketchbook/journal to record my research, design programs, and note inspiration in order to improve all the skills above.

[IMPORTANT DATES]

Sept.30- First Meeting

Oct.6- Fresh Talk Series (Kristina Fiedrich as speaker)

Oct.7- Gallery Tour/ Exhibition & Artist Research

Oct.14- Program Development

Oct.18- Mediated Visions (evening event, DOXA film screening)

Oct.21- Program Development

Oct.28- Program Development

Nov.4- School Group (GR.2) Workshop

Nov.6- End of Exhibition

Nov.18? TBA- Final presentation of program

*Schedule subject to change*

[NOTES]

I will be on site at the gallery every Friday and hours will differ each week. I will also be attending various artist events as a part of my internship which will fulfill my goals in terms of networking and support. My direct supervisor is Kristina who is in charge of developing and running all the programs in the gallery and the city of New Westminster and I will also be brainstorming and sharing ideas with Sarah, the gallery’s curator. I will be receiving feedback from both Kristina and Sarah along the way and also through a final presentation at the end of the internship. Communication will happen via email as often as needed. Things will probably change and be added as the project moves forward.