Project+4-+Meatspace

**Fall 2011** **New Media**
 * Davis**

**Project 4** **Engaging Meatspace**

Engage \En*gage"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. [|Engaged] ; p. pr. & vb. n. [|Engaging] .]

[F. engager; pref. en- (L. in) + gage pledge, pawn. See [|Gage] .]

1. To put under pledge; to pledge; to place under obligations to do or forbear doing something, as by a pledge, oath, or promise; to **bind** by contract or promise. "I to thee engaged a prince's word." --Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. To **gain** for service; to bring in as associate or aid; to enlist; as, to engage friends to aid in a cause; to engage men for service. [1913 Webster] 3. To gain over; to win and **attach**; to **attract** and **hold**; to **draw**. [1913 Webster] Good nature engages everybody to him. --Addison. [1913 Webster] 4. To **employ** the attention and efforts of; to **occupy**; to **engross**; to draw on. [1913 Webster] Thus shall mankind his guardian care engage. --Pope. [1913 Webster] Taking upon himself the difficult task of engaging him in conversation. --Hawthorne. [1913 Webster] 5. To enter into **contest** with; to **encounter**; to bring to **conflict**. [1913 Webster] A favorable opportunity of engaging the enemy. --Ludlow. [1913 Webster] 6. (Mach.) To come into **gear** with; as, the teeth of one cogwheel engage those of another, or one part of a clutch engages the other part. [1913 Webster] Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

**INSTALLATION**: A type of [|art] in which a given space is redefined by the (usually) temporary arrangement therein of objects and/or materials in quasi-sculptural and/or quasi-theatrical constructions. (From: [] ) Over the last 30 years video and multimedia have been increasingly used for art installations. The combinations of “screen presence” and interactivity create numerous possibilities for the artist to exploit.

**Site-specific** refers to an art work designed for a specif place (and maybe time.) This work comments and is in dialogue with it's setting. The work would have a totally different meaning in another setting.

In this project, you will create a multimedia installation that interfaces with the real world. You may use any combination of the technologies we have studied this semester- both video and PhotoShop, and a few new processes we will study for this assignment. The crux of this assignment is the use and activation of real-space, or meatspace. Your work will be installed in a one-night exhibition in and/or around the building, where anyone may interact with it. This project can take one of several forms, like, but **not limited** to:

**Image projected on to a specific (significant) feature of the building or surrounding area.** **Projection on to or in to an object placed in a specific pace.** **Monitors placed in specific relation to a meatspace feature.** **Closed Circuit TV (live feed from a camera) projected into another area.** **Other media (prints/computers) placed strategically**

We have available for the class: 4 large monitors, 3 7” monitors one with DVD, and access to video projectors. You may all use these, though we may have to view the work sequentially. Additionally, you may be required to furnish your own DVD player or TV.

We will finish the semester with a one night showing/critique of these works in lieu of the final. Date and time TBA.

Artists to research:

Tony Oursler - Jenna Helfman Bruce Nauman -- Evan Honor Peter Campus Rodney Graham Pipolotti Rist Douglas Gordon -- Nick Rice Candice Breitz Rebecca Horn Pierre Huyghe - Alex Wright Laurie Anderson Ann Hamilton - Hannah Jacobs Tim Hawkinson Paul Pfeiffer - Daniel Wright Krzystof Wodiczko Mary Lucier

Due by thanksgiving- 500 words on one of these artists. Focus on strategies, concepts and contexts. Put essay on its own page on wiki with examples of work (photos and video). Also due are idea outlines which include technical specifications like equipment and location.

Part 2

The second part of this project is to create a 11” x 17” poster which advertises your installation. This will be designed using the original media, documentation of the installation and space as well as text and graphics.

Like the previous project where you developed an idea using a “found” strategy, consider employing a similar tactic here. Rather than simply describe the place, setting and time of your work, use the strategies employed in the work to “design” your poster.

For example: if your project is a series of images you photograph on your walk to school projected on the concrete in front of the school door, your poster might be designed by photographing and chopping text from the same route.

If your project is :

Maybe your poster is text projected on the same object.

We will discuss design strategies further in a later class, as well as go over text in photoshop, motion and printing.