ARTISTS TALKING

# 11 [5 August 2009]

Its morning - and have just got in. Connor, the student - he is here again - now helping natacha build parts of the pixy screen. I think he is enjoying himself.

I feel tired this morning. My baby has a cold and was having trouble breathing last night. He has croup again. It made for a night of not much sleep and a bit of worry. I think I have now caught his cold. I feel so tired this morning, but my baby is happy this morning, I got a lot of kisses. I think his cold will be over tonight. We move a lot as a family due to my work...and last night I was laying in bed thinking - what if something goes wrong, what if he stops breathing - who do you call? where is the doctors in Brighton, where is an ambulance? how do you call one. What if you need something like this in a hurry? Its rare that we are in Australia anymore, but these thoughts about the everyday things - how to find doctors, hospitals, etc, if anything goes wrong - how do you cope when you travel so much and each destination is so new.

# 12 [5 August 2009]

I shot last night till about 10.30 pm or so - Sereena first and then Amy. I had shot them the last time I was in brighton - so last night was my third shoot with them - but just wanted to spend some more time with them. I had re-looked at the footage I had, and felt there was some more areas to expand on. More silence, and a little bot more speaking. Each shoot went for about an hour and a half. It was a great shoot -

Each one I am beginning to know  a lot better - a lot is shared and i am feeling more comfortable directing them. We talked about the stories they last shared - what had happened in between. A lot had happened in six weeks. Both were a lot more comfortable and really happy. It was hard to find any sadness last night. It must have been summer, because the feeling was up-beat - much more up-beat than it was in June. They are understanding the process better as well. With Amy, for sadness - I left the room for about five minutes. It felt like that might have been easier for her and she mentioned it was. It will be interesting to digitize the footage today. Interestingly, Amy - who was really still last time, had a lot more movement - naturally as she spoke - she began speaking with her arms and really direct body movements. She didn't do that in the last shoot. It was amazing to see a different side of her revealed. She actually moves really well - but she had no idea she was moving.

We laughed a lot last night. At one stage with sereena  found myself talking a lot more than her. Just stories of past - it was really enjoyable. At one point we thought she should have been on the other side of the camera. It such an interesting process. Exhaustive, but incredible to be able to spend time with these people and get to know them. Having the freedom to ask questions and the space to listen. To really listen. Its rare. Ron told me the other night that he had shared more over an hour an half than he had done with anyone for a long while. It was a privilege. The stories of these peoples lives are amazing. So many different ways to live, so many stories, so much hurt, death, scares, dramas, happiness. Its wonderful.

Sadness was hard to find last night. I wonder why... Sereena was so vibrant - its like she is bursting with an intense interest in life. Amy was a lot happier.

# 13 [5 August 2009]

I asked sereena to extend the shoot - as i am thinking for the pixy screen we need to concentrate a bit more on gesture. She looked relieved - I asked her to move as she spoke, feel free to move her arms and use the space around her. She said that it felt more natural - she doesn't like stillness. It was strange to direct the shoot with more space - and not just concentrate on the face - we only shot this for half an hour - its just an experimentation - we will see if we can extend it - if it works. We are hoping we can start seeing video today...will be interesting - maybe we can flip between closeness and distance? I will look at all the edit points.

I need to shoot one more person with distance and gesture - I am not sure who but will think about it today. I have another shoot tonight, so maybe we can extend it there.

The first screen is up. Not working, but its hanging. It feels exciting.

# 14 [6 August 2009]

Jane McGrath  5th August  2009
So I had a good think on the train down from London, trying to locate what it is about Tina’s work that fascinates me and how I see this as potentially relevant to both my practice and my MA dissertation. The question I am currently thinking about is;

"What kinds of liminal spaces have been developed by recent developments in digital technology, and how might they be used by artists exploring concepts of power and powerlessness? How can these sites create a dynamic shift from powerlessness to ‘power to’ for those who inhabit or pass through them?"

I was at first a  little surprised  and disappointed  that Tina did not consider her self to be a  “bio digital artist” , well in truth she said that she hadn’t actually thought about it and that she sees her self more as a “physio-psychological ‘  or ‘psycho- physiological’  artist. ( oops - I cant remember which way round!)

In retrospect however,  I  think it was only since recently attending the ‘Biodigital Lives’ Conference at Sussex University and listening to the discussions that the word jumped into my own vocabulary -  I had simply presumed that the term ‘bio digital’ was in wide use ie  artists working with (bio  - study of life) and digital would thus be considered bio-digital. It seems to be a term that is not used much.  So I am now asking my self  - what is bio-digital - how would I define it – does it have a definite set of boundaries and conditions… these questions I clearly need to explore. What artists might consider them selves bio digital?

# 15 [6 August 2009]

Jane McGrath 5th August 2009

So in light of my dissertation question I have naturally been thinking about  spaces of liminality within the Chameleon project. This was proving difficult at home as I had seeemingly  lost the memory of the experience of taking part. It was only coming down on the train today that  for some reason it all came flooding back - I was very glad that I took the time to take part in the filming  process during Tina’s March residency as being able to relate to the experience of the user is important.

To begin I think that when actively involved in research, an artist  is often  existing in a liminal state . During this residency Tina is both participating in the process of  research  by way of  collecting data and by way of the process of collaborative construction, she is at the same time observing the process. She is, I think both artist , researcher , collaborator and project manager and exists in a space of constant flux moving between thresholds whilst existing in the spaces inbetween. In these roles the artist  can consider her self both in relation to others as well as to her positioning in relation to the research material.  I am wondering whether it is by way of the unique ( quiet/still ?) space of just being that exists between all of these roles and functions, the space when she does not function in any mediated role -  when there is a kind of temporal disruption - the pregnant pause before  - where new  and unimagined ideas, perspectives and solutions are born?

What really fascinates me about liminal spaces is the potential for unimagined change,  the potential to disrupt power relations, change perspective.

“Betwixt and Between,  the “realm of pure possibility” and structural invisibility. " (Victor Turner on Liminality)

So I am excited by learning how to construct spaces that are experiential, emotionally and intellectually  - exploring emotions that have the potential to  make you think. Those moments when pennies drop, the “oh I see’ ‘ the  internal wow” Moments that empower and potentially change your life – you may come out changed.

Constructing Empowerment.

# 16 [6 August 2009]

Jane McGrath 6th August 2009

Today was very interesting for me as Gordon Brand was here and working very closely with Tina to develop the other screens that will be used. I was interested in understanding the research that Tina has already done in relation to what size head participants more easily relate to, where they stand in relation to the size of the projected head and how the face reading technology works and its limitations. This concept of space between the work and the partcipant and the technology  is it seems fundamental  ito the work, and for me the space bewteen technology, particpant and the object is something I want to explore with chairs. Today Gordon and Tina  were also looking at the space between layers. 

Using layers had a really amazing effect on the image and how it was perceived, the face of the person seemed to be partially hidden under a steamy gauze as if the emotions were repressed and fighting to get through  - and it took the work into another dimension that was exciting to see develop. It was also interesting to experience trying to read the emotions through the layers which I think is how we have to read emotions of people around us.

# 17 [7 August 2009]

Its been a really busy time - today is Friday, the 6th Day of the residency. I have a fantastic time yesterday with Gordon - working through ideas, playing, experimenting. Gordon is a great person to discuss ideas with and work through how to make things happen. He is informative, inventive and also passionate about what he is doing. I wish I had more time to spend at the Rapid prototyping lab. The possibilities are exciting.  The results are exciting - simple but seductive - feels perfect for the portraits, they reveal themselves and blur war - they look like they are peering in from a misty window. . We hope to move to the second sage of the rapid prototyping on Tuesday - maybe hanging the work next week and bringing the HCI guys in to test it out. Jane, Gordon and I spent quite a few hours discussing size, placement of camera, lighting, shape, projection placement, and creating a more, sculptural screen. The results felt good - like these portraits were revealing themselves and hiding themselves. It really suited the thematics of the work.

We talked about introducing touch to the screen - but how to go about it - I am at a stage where I need to simplify this project, not introduce more elements into it. But the way we were grabbing the screen - Reaching forward with two hands to touch it - in that action of intention - there was something really beautiful - I will discuss it further today with Jeff Mann who is building the video engine. I am also discussing with Jeff the option of using two screens running from one machine. It would really cut the tech costs of the project. Hopefully we can start doing tests by next week.

Jeff has written a patch so the work talks to the pixy project. He has done a great job of it. 

Michael Roy, from EE was here all night last night trying to get the pixy screen to work. We are running about two days behind schedule. Its been difficult - first was hung and then with the worng view point - to view it you needed to be in the other room. Then getting it to work properly has taken a lot of dedication from Micheal and natacha. However, now its running it looks good - we are just about to connect it to the Chameleon video engine. I hope it works OK.  Michael has been tired - he seems and a little stressed about it all, but now its running, he seems to have relaxed. He is laughing now, smiling. 

We have had a lot going on, and making sure everyone feels included in the process has been at the forefront of my mind. We are hear to experiment and play, and keeping the 'environment' happy is crucial to people feeling like they can explore and share ideas.

# 18 [7 August 2009]

Trying to get the timings worked out for this residency has been consuming...when will things be finished by? Natacha and Michael don't really know. I am trying to push things back, but still trying to push things ahead. Now that the first screen is working we can take a breath - but everyone has been working hard. Really hard.

I didn't realise the screen ran with 240 volts of electricity running through it - if you touch it your zapped. It feels dangerous with my little son running around!

For some reason Natacha and Michael haven't bought the plastic tubes that were used when I saw the screen built in Canada. This poses a huge health and safety issue - and I don't want to show it until its worked out. Natacha and Michael agree. I hope today we can work through it, - Natacha has bought plastic sheeting to wrap around it. I imagine that this will need to cut and wrapped around the length of pixels

I was hoping the screen may have been released from its plywood backing, and you may have been able to walk through the screen - but this is not possible for this screen. However, the screen has much more resolution to it.  I have created a lot of video to test on it - have done one shoot for the screen  and then spent some time in aftereffects playing with different scales - a video more focused jut on the eyes and mouth, a video focused on head and shoulder, and then a video shot from the waste up. I have chosen the portraits that talk a bit - to get a secondary channel working. 

I am now thinking it would be great to have the Pixy project run from one screen. Jeff's email mentioned the one computer runnig two cameras. This is exciting. 

So, all is good ,really. Things are running. It feels like a big step forward. We are seeing the potential of something beautiful. more seductive.

# 19 [7 August 2009]

We have the pixy screen working and my first thought is that is looks great. This is exciting.

Karl has arrived. We are putting a black background up. I am going to look at the ratios of the video. 

Re - look at edit points.

then placement of cameras.

# 20 [7 August 2009]

In the afternoon we had a session discussion about the next screen. Its all running behind schedule - but now we get to see what does and doesn't work with the screen. I like the volumetric part of the screen and the image - the face feels holographic in some way - like its some sort of ghost image or something. Natacha doesn't think it works that well. I discussed ways that it could escape from its ply-wood background. we talked about hanging it, with leads. We talked about creating a 'curtain' like screen that you could walk through. I think touching and walking though the screen would be fantastic. Natacha has asked me not to call it a screen, but call it a pixy.

And I guess its this - the more sculptural elements that would be great to explore. how the work views from all angles. The pixy wants you to touch it walk through it. It would be nice to explore it - but the current iteractivity demands that you stay near to the camera that assess your facial expression - here there is a disconnect - and one that we can't work out over this residency. 

We talked about hanging it from a sort of wire, weighting it with leads, finding a rubber tubing. Creating more of a curtain. Its the time to test these things - so that seems great. It would be great to further extend - in a direction that suits natacha and michael. Micheal seems excited by the curtain idea and natacha felt it would work better for the image. I think it would be good to explore. They both say that it will be easier to install - which would definitely be great.