SOMETHING KIND OF WONDERFUL

‘Ōhi‘a Lehua in Massachusetts

It’s been challenging to find spaces that exhibit digital media, so when I do receive the opportunity, I am very grateful. My animation inspired by the mo’olelo of ʻōhiʻa lehua and related to my Rapid Ohia Death project series, Biophilia, is on exhibition at Mosesian Center for the Arts in Watertown, MA. Entwinded: Visual and Textural Narratives features work inspired by the written word.

Massachusetts has a special place in my heart because I went to school at Hampshire College in Amherst, MA. One of my first teaching jobs occurred in Holyoke, MA, where I taught web design workshops with middle schoolers and their grandparents–this started my path down digital media education. I was exposed to experimental films and new media art and theory for the first time and became interested in non-narrative/experimental storytelling. I met my husband there, the list goes on. Basically, I have a lot of fond memories connected to Massachusetts. Now I can add one more. This show is in Watertown, MA.

My friend Valerie, stopped by during the opening reception this past Saturday. I wish I was there to see it in person and to see her, but either way, I was so happy that I was able to share this show, this piece, with her. Valerie and I completed our MFAs at the School of Visual Arts in Computer Art. Valerie is a fellow new media artist and love that we can appreciate digital art together even though we are so far apart. I thought I was crazy lucky to find out she lives near Watertown and was able to see the show. Thanks for the photos Valerie!

Photos Courtesy of Valerie Guinn Polgar (@valerieguinnpolgar)

1906 (Web Version)

Here’s a web version of 1906 that simulates the interactivity with the knob controller that would be in a physical installation. Use the mouse scroll wheel to control the growth of the native Hawaiian plants. I’m planning on making a menu for navigation and will switch out the sandpaper textures with scans of the sandpaper I used with the digital frames, so it’s a seamless transition from physical to virtual world and would also be higher quality.

Update 10/14/23: I made a button that will load a one of the three artifacts randomly. I’m considering putting a pop-up button with a short description, but like letting the user figure it out on their own. Here’s the most current version of 1906 (web version). Six more animations are in the works.

This was a the previous version with no menu navigation.

A Tree: Hala growing on a tiki mug.

A Fern: Kupu kupu growing on a hula girl bobble head.

A Flower: A’alii growing on a pineapple stress ball.

1906 (Interactive Version)

A Tree, a Fern, a Flower: 1906
Digital Media Series

Here is a behind the scenes look at one of three interactive animations that depict a souvenir marketplace being overgrown with native Hawaiian plants. Here we have a hula girl bobblehead being overgrown with kupu kupu ferns. The artifact was scanned using photogrammetry and the ferns were modeled digitally. The participant can control the growth of the plants with a dial knob. The dial produces a series of numbers that will increase or decrease (as seen in the upper right corner). This data is then routed to a switch that controls the playback of the animation. I’m titling this piece “1906,” which is the year the Waikiki Reclamation Commission was established to plan for greater commercial development on Oahu.

SOMETHING KIND OF WONDERFUL