Starting from the idea that New Media didn't have an art gallery space, I proposed that as a team project, we build an interactive gallery space using the space New Media already had (since space was very limited). Using surplus hardware and custom built components, our plan was to make new gallery space out of what we had, and show New Media talent to the community.
Ty Harder - Architect, Graphic Designer
Allen Bevans - Fabricator, Coordinator
Chris Amyot - Programmer, Designer
While each of us had our primary tasks, we all pitched in with everything when the help was needed (like good friends do!). I never thought I'd be using a power sander and a blasting gun until I worked on this project!
With my team, we went out with an army of measuring tape and mapped out the area we planned to turn into our multimedia art gallery. We had to do the mapping ourselves because sourcing the actual blueprints from the University archives would have taken longer.
To visualize our future gallery space, I created a base model of the area as it was in our measurements. This helped us determine the dimensions of the support structures we'd have to build, and whether or not we might run into problems running out of space.
With the base model as a reference, I transcribed our support structures and visualized the gallery with the monitor sizes we planned to use all assembled. This let us demonstrate how the screens would appear from different spots in the area.
Using the concept art, we got approval (and funding!) to build the components and source the computer hardware, program the controller and display software, and source in some exhibition art, completed just in time for our department-wide grand opening!
