[dorkbotdc-blabber] interactive video installation at Artomatic

[Philip Kohn]

Hi everyone,

I forgot to announce this during the minidork period yesterday.

I have an interactive video installation up at Artomatic 
(www.artomatic.org).
It allows people to step into old TV programs like Gilligan's Island, I 
Love Lucy, Lost in Space and of course the
original Star Trek.
They can interact with the characters in the show, and also themselves 
since it makes several recording cycles.
It also records sound, and does a couple of effects including a video 
stuttering that makes it look like
the person and the TV characters are doing a little dance together.

It is on the 9th floor near the elevators.  Just go toward the old 
console TV sets.
Capital Plaza I - corner of First & M streets NE - NY Ave Metro (1 block)
Wed-Thu: 5pm-10pm; Fri-Sat: noon-2am; Sun: noon-10pm; closed Mon-Tue
Free admission; donations welcome


I'm attaching the obligatory artist's statement.



MockTV:   YOU control the horizontal

When I was a kid, I watched well over 8 hours of TV a day.
Some shows I loved and many more I hated, but I still watched them.
At a deep and unconscious level I still live in these programs.
It seemed natural, as someone who has become obsessed with video 
manipulation
and interaction, to allow participants to place themselves in tiny 
slices of my core reality.

We put our hands up into the projector's light to cast silly shadows on 
the screen,
maybe even interacted with a character in the movie, hamming it up 
anonymously.
We watch really bad TV with friends making our own humorous soundtracks.
We want to "get back" at the TV, because we have little control over 
it's content
that traps our eyes even when we don't particularly want to see what it 
is showing us.

The installation Mocktv gives it's participants a chance to leave their 
mark on these old TV programs.
It is also a contest where people can vote for MockTV's top clips.

While clips are playing, simply clap to vote.

To record, simply step on stage. The screen will go black and then a 
clip will come on that
you will be able to step into. The clip will not be the same as the one 
you were watching.

If you stand still, you will disappear. Movement makes whatever moves 
reappear.
You can show just your hand, your head, or show your whole body 
depending on what you move.

The clip will repeat several times allowing you to add multiple copies 
of yourself or your voice.
To complete your recording, simply exit the stage area.

Above all, have fun!!